Next year will mark four decades since the opening of Manchester’s infamous Hacienda nightclub: the birthplace of modern clubbing and arguably, for many, the spiritual home of acid house music.
In classic Hacienda spirit, such an occasion can’t be allowed to pass without a big old Mancunian party.
The team has been hard at work putting together a huge show to mark the 40th anniversary of the FAC51 nightclub.
The Hacienda Classical gig at Castlefield Bowl will see all hits from the ‘Madchester’ era, plus other iconic tunes from the Hacienda’s heyday, performed by a live orchestra.
But that’s not all. The 70-piece Manchester Camerata orchestra will be joined by original Hacienda residents Dj Paulette, Graeme Park, Tom Wainwright, and New Order member Peter Hook on the decks, as part of a huge line-up that will also feature 80s chart-toppers Soul II Soul.
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Expect to hear everything from Inner City’s Good Life to Snap!’s Rhythm Is A Dancer, as the Hacienda Classical crew takes well-known favourites and new versions of club classics and mixes them into a non-stop live set.
Considered the UK’s cathedral of house music and the epicentre of the ‘Madchester’ scene, The Hacienda first flung open its doors back in 1982, transforming the run-down Central Manchester yacht showroom into what has become one of the most iconic and influential nightclubs in history.
The now-infamous venue chronicled the emergence of indie to the mid-’80s, then redefined club culture, as the scene adapted to the emerging dance music sounds coming out of the US and the UK.
Today, it continues to inspire generations new and old, producing world-class events that pull in partygoers of all ages and still remain true to the ethos that guided the original club in its heydey.
Hacienda Classical is now entering its seventh year and has performed to audiences nearing 750,000, with more reportedly tuning into recent successful streams.
As well as the Manchester show at Castlefield Bowl, which will take place on Friday, July 8 2022, there will also be an anniversary show in London next at the Royal Albert Hall on the following Friday, July 13.
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Speaking on the upcoming 40th-anniversary show, Graeme Park said: “It’s amazing for myself and Hacienda Classical to be back at Castlefield Bowl for our sixth show and also our fifth appearance at Royal Albert Hall.
“It’s astonishing what we’ve all achieved since 2016 and I’m really proud of everyone who’s taken part. To see it going from strength to strength makes all us very proud.”
The collaboration between The Hacienda, Manchester Camerata, DJ Graeme Park and musical director, Tim Crooks has proved remarkably enduring, especially with the revisions and renewals made year on year to the set.
The Hacienda Classical shows are always massively popular and sell out every year. Tickets for both dates will go on sale on Friday, 19 November 2021 at 9.30 am here.
Popular night-time indie shopping market returns to Manchester tomorrow
Emily Sergeant
A unique indie shopping market is returning to Manchester, and you’ll be able to shop from 50 local small businesses all under one roof.
In case you hadn’t heard, the hugely-popular Night Market UK is back by popular demand, and it will be stopping off in our city centre for one night only tomorrow as part of the current leg of its tour across the country.
Returning to Manchester, but this time at a new location down at Fairfield Social Club in the Green Quarter, the unique night-time shopping experience will be showcasing more than 50 local small businesses – with everything from bespoke fashion items and beautifully-crafted homeware, to candles, artwork, silverware, and more on offer.
Brutal Fashion, Lost in Music, Urban Botany, and Dapper Alice are just a handful of the indie traders you’ll be able to shop from.
With event organisers promising there’ll be “a stall for everyone” to browse on the night, some of the other traders in attendance, include artisan producers, artists and bakers, as well as Fairfield Social Club’s resident street food purveyors Isit Kitchen, and pizza pros Killa Carbs.
DJ Clara B will also be taking over the club’s sound system too, and will be blasting tunes to set the scene all night long.
From bespoke fashion items and silverware courtesy of Brutal Fashion, to dazzling musical art prints from Lost in Music, and sculptural candles from Urban Botany to beautifully crafted homeware by Dapper Alice, there will be a stall for everyone on the night.
A popular night-time indie shopping market is returning to Manchester tomorrow / Credit: The Night Market UK | Kunal Mahesh Tewari (via The Night Market UK on Facebook)
The Night Market UK will open at Fairfield Social Club from 6pm tomorrow (Friday 26 July), and will run right through until 11pm.
Tickets are now on sale from just £4 each, and can be purchased in hourly entry timeslots – which organisers say “keeps the atmosphere just right” and ensures there’s enough space for everyone to be able to stay as little or as long as they’d like.
You can buy on the door or grab your tickets in advance here.
Featured Image – Supplied
City Centre
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.