Following a resounding cry of “When’re ya’ coming back?” from just about everyone on the clubbing circuit; their calls reverberating through the chest like 70,000 volts from a Defibrillator and two damp pads, the Hacienda Tour has stood-up with a jolt and announced: “We’re coming back now our kid, so turn-up the fookin’ bass!”
Yep, all the ol’ favourites, including Graeme Park and Peter Hook, will be playing three locations North u’the border over the next month. Some of them will also be making the trip to Ibiza, but we’ll keep events to our blustery shores for now to save unnecessary confusion…
Kicking off at King Georges’ Hall, Blackburn, on June 7th, Factory Records and Hacienda legend Peter Hook will be taking to the decks for a live DJ set. As well as one of the countries legendary bass players, first with Joy Division and later with New Order, Hook has produced work for Manchester bands including Inspiral Carpets and Stone Roses.
Hook has recently been working on a new project, Freebass, a bass-playing three-piece including Smiths bassist, Andy Rourke, and Primal Scream and ex-Stone Roses icon, Mani. As a champion of the Manchester music scene, Factory Records, and The Hacienda, Hook has also written a number of acclaimed books on the subject.
As well as kicking-off in Blackburn, Hook will also play Sankey’s Soap in hometown Manchester, where he’ll be joined by Acid House innovator and all-round legend of the 80s dance scene, Graeme Park. The DJ, who played at the Hacienda until its closure in 1997, will also play Birmingham’s ‘Rainbow Warehouse Party’ on Friday 13th. Described as “The Eric Cantona of House Music” (despite a low-temperament), original Hacienda DJ, Jon DaSilva, will also be playing all three dates in June.
Tech, house and electro DJ/producer, Justin Robertson, innovator of the New York house scene, Todd Terry, and DJ Buckley, Elliot Eastwick, and funk and soul supremo (sic) Jason Boardman, will also be playing selective dates. Factory Records founder Tony Wilson once commented: “When you have to choose between truth and legend... I say choose the legend.” With the likes of Blur, Oasis, Echo and The Bunnymen, The Happy Mondays, Joy Division, and New Order having graced the Pride of Manchester before its destruction, it’s good to see the Hacienda legend being kept alive. Choose it.
Sat 7th, King Georges’ Hall, Blackburn
(Peter Hook, Graeme Park, Jon Dasilva, Justin Robertson)
Fri 13th, Rainbow Warehouse Party, Birmingham
(Graeme Park, Jon Dasilva, Buckley)
Friday 21st, Sankey’s Soap, Manchester
(Todd Terry, Peter Hook, Graeme Park, Jon Dasilva, Elliot Eastwick, Jason Boardman)
The Hacienda Tour 2008 is supported by fashion label Bench who’ve long been associated with FAC 51. Started in 1989, Bench’s original founders came to form the label because of the strength of Manchester music culture as well as the Hacienda’s sense of fashion style. Named the coolest street-wear brand by the 2007 Cool Brands panel, Bench is involved in supporting The Hacienda Tour in 2008 across its UK, European and word-wide gigs and the label has consistently been a devoted sponsor of high profile music events and continues to be steeped in the heritage of Manchester music culture.
