Peter’s Field – Sean Cooney, Sam Carter & Rowan Rheingans – The Old School Rooms, Middleton: Live Review

By Dominic Walsh on 13th March 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

Sean Cooney and his musical telling of the events of the Peterloo Massacre of 1819 are laid bare in Peter’s Field onstage close to where events took place.

THE PLAYERS

Sean Cooney, Sam Carter and Rowan Rheingans are no strangers to the At The Barrier pages. A cursory search of any of their names will bring up a myriad of reviews and live reports from the past few years. All three are award winning musicians, so to see them all performing together is an absolute treat, even if the subject matter is tough.

PETERLOO

The Peterloo Massacre took place on 16th August 1819 at St Peter’s Field in Manchester. Around 60,000 people gathered peacefully to demand parliamentary reform and better political representation, led by speakers including Henry Hunt. Local magistrates ordered cavalry to arrest the leaders and disperse the crowd. Soldiers charged into the crowd with sabres, killing at least 18 people and injuring hundreds more. The event shocked the nation and increased public pressure for democratic reform and expanded political rights in Britain.

Cooney’s vision is an in depth, greatly researched piece that serves as an incredible historical document. It focuses heavily on individuals and their respected plights as well as the masses that were brave enough to stand up for what they believed in.

HEAVY EMOTION

For anyone that has followed Sean Cooney and his work with The Young’uns, you’ll know the emotional clout that he can bring forth in song. His voice can lilt like a lullaby at one end of the spectrum as well as send shiver up the spine as it soars. It’s these shades that help deal a knockout blow from the words sung and spoken here.

Sam Carter is himself a great songwriter. Through his solo work and contributions elsewhere, he has a stellar body of work. It is he that sings the tale of Sam Bamford (whose local watering hole still stands next door to this venue) with Cooney and Rheingans offering beautiful harmonies.

Then, you have Rowan Rheingans. Her voice is exquisite. On Prinny, she takes the lead; her tone, timbre and phrasing is perfect. Throughout the performance she contributes superbly on violin as well; be it subtle licks or hefty bowing.

MANCHESTER WAS MURDER

When events get violent, the volatility and ire in the words and music are inescapable. The Monkey Rides The Mare is devastating. The high roofed acoustics of the room at The Old School Rooms play their part in helping create the macabre soundscape. It is another example showing the quality with which the trio shift gears and emotions so expertly.

Stoic throughout, you can see that Sean Cooney has lived with this project for a long time. There is something extra in the way he goes about doing things when writing. The process is outlined in the superb book and album that will be available soon.

As the vicious deeds are carried out, the closing part of the album talks of the injustices of the day. No one was held accountable and exact numbers of dead has never truly been authenticated. The tragic tale of John Lees is utterly heart breaking with Cooney delivering a standout vocal wrought with emotional gravitas.

A light hint of light comes in the form of John Brierly’s Cheese. It’s introduced by Cooney as a ‘song with a happy ending…and it’s about cheese!’ Although there is a hint of light, and some reform did eventually see the light of day, on 19th August 1819, Manchester was murder.

We will have a more in depth look at the book and album, released via Hudson Records, in the coming weeks leading up to it’s release on 23rd March 2026.