The Coral Bring the Heat Home - A Sweaty Night at Liverpool’s The Dome at Grand Central Hall
- Desh Kapur
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
The Coral - The Dome at Grand Central Hall - Liverpool - 30th August 2025
WORDS / IMAGES DESH KAPUR
Saturday night and i was in Liverpool for a night with The Coral, arriving at Grand Central Hall the que was snaking around the corner, on entering the venue it was swelteringly hot—so intense that my camera lenses fogged, and sweat dripped down the crowd’s faces—made even capturing images a challenge. Beneath the dome’s old bones and modern upgrades, the air was heavy,
Grand Central Hall—now known as The Dome at Grand Central Hall—is a Grade II listed Art Nouveau masterpiece nestled on Renshaw Street in Liverpool. Originally opened in 1905 as the Central Hall of the Wesleyan Mission, its domed architecture later hosted the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra while their main hall was being rebuilt, and served as one of the city’s earliest cinemas After years of reinvention—including a nightclub phase as Barcelona Bar, and a period as a retail bazaar—the venue was refurbished and reopened in 2023 as a high-capacity live music and event space, complete with cutting-edge sound, lighting, and air conditioning that marries historic grandeur with modern utility
If the heat inside Grand Central Hall was overwhelming, Brooke Combe somehow managed to make things even hotter. The Dalkeith-born singer has been steadily rising through the ranks of UK soul and indie circuits, and tonight she proved exactly why she’s tipped for big things. From the very first notes, her presence was magnetic—smooth, soulful, funky, and conjuring the timeless grooves of Motown and Stax, yet with a modern edge that grounded her firmly in the here and now.
Her voice, rich and husky like molten chocolate, filled the room with ease. At times she seemed to channel Amy Winehouse in her phrasing and raw honesty, but without ever slipping into imitation—this was Brooke in full command of her own artistry. Moving fluidly across the stage and weaving through her bandmates, she gave the performance a communal energy, making the show feel bigger than its parts. Each song carried a raw, lived-in emotion, and you could sense the crowd leaning closer, caught between admiration and awe. For a solo artist, it felt remarkably full, dynamic, and unrelenting. By the end of her set, the audience was buzzing, warmed up not just by the sweltering hall, but by the fire she had lit in the room.
Headliner Time — The Coral Play Liverpool Like Only They Can
When The Coral finally walked onto the stage, a roar erupted from the Liverpool crowd. This wasn’t just another gig for them—it was a homecoming, Nearly three decades into their career, their catalogue has grown rich and varied, and tonight they dipped into every corner of it.
Opening with tracks that showcased their early indie-pop sensibilities, the energy was immediate and infectious. Songs like Pass It On and In the Morning had the audience singing every word, their choruses bouncing off the hall’s ornate dome. Yet what makes The Coral so enduring is their willingness to evolve. The set shifted effortlessly into the lush psychedelia of albums like Coral Island and the cinematic flourishes of Sea of Mirrors, blending jangly guitars with swirling textures and atmospheric harmonies.
James Skelly, now a veteran frontman, sang with a voice that has aged like fine wine—deepened, more assured, and brimming with character. His delivery gave familiar tracks a fresh potency, while newer material shimmered with confidence. The rest of the band, tight and intuitive, created a wall of sound that somehow felt both expansive and intimate, pulling the crowd deeper into their sonic world.
The atmosphere was sweaty and euphoric, yet undeniably joyful—proof that The Coral are not just Liverpool’s band, but one of Britain’s greats. By the time the final notes rang out, the Dome felt like it was levitating, the audience united in celebration of a group who continue to push forward while honoring their roots.
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