The Wedding Present + more across Manchester Academy.
Square headed Manchester music producer and urbane auteur Mike Bennett reviews Hacienda Classical at The Royal Albert Hall in London
I was very much looking forward to witnessing Peter Hook‘s legendary Hacienda Classical, especially at the iconic Royal Albert Hall. The idea of a repertoire of stalwart hits emanating from the legendary club complete with a full orchestra, DJs and a star-studded cast to boot, amid the magnificent architecture, was certainly an exciting prospect. Rest assured, the lavish production was magnificently mesmeric, and the way the likes of noted DJ Graham Parks and the orchestra ensemble were able to ring the changes & transcend the genres was remarkable from both an aural & visual perspective.
All the hits, including Ride On Time, You’ve Got The Love, Street Prayer and The Bomb were performed in a scintillating and stylish way by the likes of Yvonne Shelton, whose ability to inhabit space & communicate to a capacity audience is clearly not just a well homed routine but a god-given gift, that certainly had the ecstatic audience enraptured.
Drifting on and off the stage during the inspirational installation was Happy Mondays’ legend Bez, replete with maracas and freaky dancing and the superb Nicky “MC Tunes” Lockett, whose long list of credits includes The Dust Junkys, Fat Boy Slim, 808 State, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and other diverse collaborators.
I have to say the cornerstone of this lavish production, to my mind, was sizzling soul diva Melanie Williams, who quite literally had the audience eating out of her hand with her subtle but strong performance. She’s gained vast experience working with the likes of Carl Cox, Franky Knuckles and Mark Refoy of Spiritualised. Melanie belted out her classic Ain’t No Love, Ain’t No Use as the audience went into a euphoric, frenetic frenzy.
I genuinely did not know what to expect but was so impressed I shall most certainly be capturing this encapsulating production again when it hits Burnley on 2nd July 2022.
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All words by Mike Bennett, Manchester-based punk producer (The Fall, Fat White Family, Fuzzbox, Ian Brown, The Specials). Tune in to Mike’s Freak Party on Louder Than War Radio, Thursdays 7pm and Sundays 4pm.
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What I liked was it was classical but had the E vibe of the hedonistic days , but the audience was vert young .good music travels the generation gap . Melanie Williams and Mr Parks made my night . Bez too ,what a visual guy
Loved it but Mel is one to love, live her performances are electric she leaves no one out and makes everyone feel special a must-see and top of my list this year congratz Mel keep them coming :)
Another brilliant review from Mr Bennett. ( AKA Square head ??)
Have caught footage of Melanie & Yvonne Shelton on SM and both are obviously awesome Manchester dance queens .
Bez , 808 state & the rest of the Hacienda classic tour stand out . But Melanie William stood out with her pure charisma and ain’t no love kicked it off.
Looking forward to Burnley retro in the park next weekend.
Also heard the stuff Melanie is doing with Peter Hook who started a trend and glad he is doing indie stuff with Melanie Williams as it is like full circle.I know that they are releasing stuff soon. It would be great if they put it on the show .
I gather also that Melanie Williams and members of hacienda classical are in a film with the Specials and The Sex Pistols and other legends inc Mr Otway
Horror film with no blood .
Brilliant review, having seen the show before I agree Yvonne Shelton and Melanie Williams are superb.
I’ve heard the new material Mel has done with Peter Hook and her own song the amazing ‘Lilly White Lies’ featured in the film ‘Vegan Vampires from Zorg’, which I have a small part in.
It looks like I’ll be working on a charity World Cup football track with the legend this week. fired up
Excellent show. I was there. Weird not seing Ms Williams name on the posters though.
too right. MELANIE WILLIAMS is the star her. read feature. saw Burnley gig. she made my day. give da grrl credit. peach