Hacienda at Castlefield Bowl: when acid house meets classical

What happens when you combine club anthems with classical music? Hacienda Classical.

This nationally-famous touring event transformed Castlefield Bowl for a full evening on Saturday night combining legendary Hacienda tunes with a gospel choir, string orchestra and plenty of star guests as part of the Sounds Of The City Festival 2017.

It is just over 20 years since the original Hacienda closed. The club on Whitworth Street West founded by Factory Records in 1982 was the hub of the ‘Madchester’ scene and acid house music.

Saturday’s sold out Hacienda Classical concert captured the spirit of the club with many people dressed in the iconic clubbing gear of the 80s and 90s – vests, bucket hats and plenty of yellow and black tape to match the original club’s iconic colours.

Peter Hook got the night going with an electrifying DJ set followed by a re-interpretation of a number of house music classics from Manchester Camerata Orchestra, original Hacienda DJs Graeme Park and Mike Pickering, plus the AMC gospel choir.

From the brass section delivering a bold version of Needing You to Strings of Life played literally on strings, this was a powerful performance of some of Manchester’s favourite music.

A number of special guests gave their all to this house music mash-up. Bez performed some signature dancing whilst Peter Hook returned to the stage to play his own version of New Order’s 1983 hit Blue Monday. The night was concluded with Rowetta singing You’ve Got The Love wearing a Manchester-inspired bee-design dress.

The Sounds Of The City festival is on until Saturday 8th July 2017 and has featured Richard Ashcroft and The Levellers, with James and Blossoms playing at Castlefield Bowl this week.