Hacienda Classical 2016

For the first time, the DJs who shaped the Haçienda sound, Graeme Park and Mike Pickering, are set to perform a continuous set of Haçienda classics alongside the Manchester Camerata orchestra and special guests at a string of shows over the next few months.

Having sold out two dates in Manchester at the Bridgewater Hall and a night at London’s Royal Albert Hall in a matter of minutes, Hacienda Classical continues to announce shows including its first show in Scotland at SSE Hydro Arena Friday 22nd April, a visit to Williamson Park, Lancaster Sunday 8th May and its first outdoors date at Sounds Of The City, Castlefield Bowl in Manchester.

Both Lancaster and the Castlefield dates are now on sale with Glasgow on sale this coming Friday 29th January 10am.

All of the events see FAC 51 The Hacienda and Manchester Camerata collaborate with the DJ’s who shaped The Haçienda’s sound – Mike Pickering and Graeme Park.

The legendary DJ’s perform a continuous set of signature Haçienda tracks  alongside the orchestra performing in this innovative live fusion event which has been well supported and widely anticipated.

Graeme said: ” The Hacienda was always exciting and ahead of the game and although other electronic DJs and artists have dabbled in the classical genre, I don’t think anyone has done what we’ve done and created a classical concert out of a DJ mix – taking a DJ mix and turning it into a continuous live performance. “We’ve created a series of movements out of the DJ mix and the performance is scored as a mix as opposed to individual tunes which I found quite innovative.

“The Hacienda was always a kind of maverick , it kind of got made up as it went along and this is in a way a more modern equivalent of that.”

M People star Pickering commented: “The Hacienda is a great club with a great history and we now have chance to relive it in a very special way.

“The Hacienda was the most forward thinking club . It was the prototype for the whole of the dance culture which has continued up to the present day.”

“I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t wait. it’s an experience that neither Graeme and I have had before, that’s what I’m most looking forward to about it.”

And Bob Riley, Chief Exec of the Manchester Camerata, one of Europe’s best chamber orchestras, is thrilled to be involved.

He said: “For quite a long time we’ve wanted to do something like this and we met Paul Fletcher from The Hacienda early in 2015 when Mike Pickering and Graeme Park first came up with the idea for the project, so the pieces all kind of came together.

“It’s great for Camerata to be working with The Hacienda, it’s a great fit to bring together two Manchester musical institutions for this project.’ “It’s just two different worlds colliding. The thing that’s really novel for me from a classical point of view is that we’re constantly trying to create that euphoria and experience that just the mention of The Hacienda’s name creates in itself.”

While both shows at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and the show at London’s Royal Albert Hall are sold out, there’s no need to panic because tickets are still available for the following:

22/4/16                SSE Hydro Arena, Glasgow

8/5/16                  Williamson Park, Lancaster

2/7/16                  Sounds Of The City, Castlefield Bowl, Manchester

Tickets for all shows are available from Skiddle

For full details and info on all events please check www.fac51thehacienda.com or www.facebook.com/fac51thehacienda.