As FAC51 The Hacienda rounds off a huge year of 40th-anniversary celebrations, the team behind Hacienda Classical has announced it will be making a return to Castlefield Bowl in 2023.
The live party, which sees a full orchestra perform reworked renditions of iconic club classics, will mark a huge return to the open-air amphitheater as it returns to the Castlefield ‘Sounds Of The City’ event for its seventh year.
The annual homecoming is one of the city’s events of the year as The Hacienda’s crowd, DJ Graeme Park, Manchester Camerata, and special guests come together for what is now becoming a legendary Manchester party.
Image: FAC51 The Hacienda
Image: FAC51 The Hacienda
Sold out year after year, Hacienda Classical sees Tim Crooks lead the collective of artists and musicians on stage in performing well-known favourites and new versions of club classics all mixed continuously into one non-stop set.
All of its Castlefield events have previously fully sold out, and next year is likely to be no different with tickets going on sale this Friday 4 November at 9am.
ADVERTISEMENT
The announcement coincides with BBC2’s transmission of the much-awaited documentary The Hacienda: The Club That Shook Britain, set to air this Saturday 5 November 2022 at 10.15pm.
This unique documentary tells the incredible story of a revolution that rose up from within the walls and dancefloor of a former shipbuilding warehouse.
It will chart The Hacienda’s cultural legacy and combine rare and unseen archive footage with first-hand insightful testimony from those involved during The Hacienda’s heyday, some of the key players in the club’s history and famous regulars.
Speaking on Hacienda Classical’s return to Castlefield for the seventh year, Peter Hook commented: “I’m so happy to be coming back to ‘Sounds of The City’ in 2023. I can’t believe this will be our seventh year! Amazing! Without a doubt The Hacienda and its crowd know just how to light this city up and party like there’s no tomorrow. Tony and Rob would be so proud.”
Graeme Park added: “Seven appearances at Castlefield Bowl? Really? This show is always very, very special and I really can’t wait to return for another epic evening in July.”
2022 marks four decades since FAC51 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.
Considered the UK’s cathedral of house music and then epicentre of the “Madchester” scene, The Hacienda continues to inspire generations new and old, producing world class events that remain true to the ethos and integrity that guided the original club.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tickets for the 2023 Castlefield Bowl show will go on sale this Friday at 9am and can be purchased here.
Feature image – FAC51 The Hacienda
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
The Manc Audio -
1st November 2022 
