The Sex Pistols w/Frank Carter, The Undertones, Panic Shack – Piece Hall, Halifax – 11th July 2026

THE SEX PISTOLS

It’s fifty years since the dam broke. Cause for celebration and the chance for another round of Sex Pistoleering around the Summer open air circuit that takes in Halifax’s Piece Hall, a haven for all comers. Ironically, it’s the Pistols’ Silver Jubilee-ish that ties in aptly with memories of ’77 and all that. The sweaty clubs and pubs have been superseded for something more refined, although upgrades to the VIP privileges don’t tempt the beer chuckers down in the mosh pit.

The stage is uncluttered and clean as we await their arrival. Then they’re there. Paul Cook scurries behind his kit; Steve Jones has donned his England footy shirt as he and Glen Matlock have their weapons of mass destruction lifted into their shoulder, Glen pops out a comb to sort his locks (not something you see every day – and Frank Carter steps out and admires the venue. He declares it “beautiful” yet allows himself a little smirk with the sort of slightly manic glint in the eye that all hell is going to break loose. Oh yes. And he’s going to be leading the charge. Literally.

COOL

The effortless cool (could be nonchalance) that oozes from Jones and in particular Matlock, is in stark contrast to the frenzy right at the barrier. Another ‘not something you see every day’ moment at Piece Hall gigs. And as the power chords of Holiday In The Sun explode into life, all hell breaks loose. We’ll by-pass the ‘No Johnny, no Pistols’ debate. Those down the front are totally committed, while around the historic quadrangle, the spectacle is there to be observed.

They may be the same dozen songs from NMTB, plus some fillers, which have been polished for the occasional celebration, but they are part and parcel of musical history. The back screen displays offer a variety of lurid pink and yellow visuals plus various images that remind us of the stir that the boys caused back in the day. The raucous singalongs abound as Carter not unexpectedly joins the crowd as early as Pretty Vacant (song #4) and he’s not interested in what might now be viewed as a Kenneth Williams informed Rotten sneer. Instead his delivery is aggressive and at times fearsome.

NEVER MIND…

There’s no way that the Punk faithful of West Yorkshire and the environs are passing up the chance to celebrate the spirit of ’76 regardless of who might be singing or playing the instruments It’s a professionally tidy version of what was once a fleeting ship in the night, but sharing an outpouring of the gleeful spirit of the punk National Anthem and cry for anarchy; all a part of his-tor-eee.

THE UNDERTONES

Nostalgia is also the name of the game – new material not a necessity – as The 2026 Undertones serve and volley a constant flurry of the hits we know and those you didn’t know you knew – but you do. Teenage Kicks, placed mid set, has some latecomers dashing through the gates lest they miss Peel’s fave few minutes and a genuine punk anthem. And yes, there are several of those to play this evening.

There’s actually a sense of losing track of how many songs they race through as it becomes quite energy sapping to cheer and applaud after every two to three minute blast. That was always The Undertone MO though; short sharp bursts of power punk pop. Here Comes The Summer feels like it has to be played twice and still comes in under two minutes. The Summer of 2026 might be remembered for the trend of hydration breaks, yet tonight they’re a necessity.

A genial frontman guarded the long term Undertones, Paul McCloone throws the Male Model shapes whilst adding some familiar Sharkey quivers at various points throughout the set. They’ll be back in October – “when it’ll be really hot!” on the back of these support slots, the’ll have added the alternative to bums on seats witha few extra feet on the floor.

PANIC SHACK

The early finish in time for the footy necessitates the sort of early start for Panic Shack whereby the dedicated early arrivals get a dose of South Wales bravado as their stake their claim for a prime sport for later.

Adding their presence to the gender balance of the bill, and with their modern Punky musical approach right on point. Like The Undertones, hey rip through music from their eponymous debut album and Baby Shack EP. Living up to the “Welsh Punk upstarts” label, Tit School and Girl Band Starter Pack send a musical middle finger out to the masses and kick start the evening with a rebellious swagger.

Panic Shack photo courtesy Cuffe & Taylor

The Sex Pistols: Website

The Undertones: Website

Panic Shack: Bandcamp

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