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Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic, better known as Royel Otis, brought their grungy Australian indie-pop sound to The Piece Hall for a night of soaring melodies and magnetic live energy, with excellent support from Luvcat.
Luvcat’s set felt like a carefully curated stroll through a dark gothic fairytale, albeit one unfolding beneath blazing Yorkshire sunshine. Somehow, it still worked perfectly. That said, it’s easy to imagine her songs about electric chairs and dedications to vampires taking on an even richer atmosphere in a dimly lit venue. If you get the chance to see her indoors, we’d wager that’s where the full experience truly comes to life.
After a short break, Royel Otis bounded onto the stage, with Royel parkouring over the front monitors before launching straight into i hate this tune, instantly sparking the crowd into what became one huge, shared celebration.
Their live sound was far heavier than expected, leaning further into grunge than their recordings suggest. Royel, looking like he’d been teleported straight from 1994, spent much of the set hidden behind a mop of sun-drenched hair as he ferociously attacked his guitar, while Otis balanced the chaos with effortlessly smooth vocals and an unflappable stage presence.
By the time Sofa King rolled around, the digital screen behind them flashed the message, “Halifax – you’re so fucking gorgeous,” and any lingering formality between band and audience had disappeared. The love affair was complete.
Huge singalongs greeted crowd favourites, including their viral covers of Linger and Murder on the Dancefloor, the songs that helped catapult them onto the global stage. They closed, fittingly, with their biggest hit, Oysters in my Pocket, sending the audience home on a euphoric high.
This was the perfect storm: a band whose music is tailor-made for bouncing around with your mates, one of the country’s most beautiful outdoor venues, and glorious summer weather that couldn’t have been better if it had been ordered in advance. The only thing missing was a barbie to throw some shrimps on.
