Haçienda Classical at First Direct Arena

If the novelty of taking 20 or so dancefloor bangers from a bygone era and embellishing them with a live orchestra and a handful of guest vocalists may have worn off a little in 2017, what made this collaboration between three Haçienda stalwarts – Graeme Park, Mike Pickering and Peter Hook – and Manchester Camerata stand out was the sheer joy it was capable of evoking.

From the opening bars of Do You Want It Right Now? to Rowetta inspiring a mass singalong to You Got The Love, this was a two-hour party and a half, performed, as Hook had promised, with heart, soul, passion and enthusiasm. They return to the First Direct Arena with a new set in September 2018. You’d be a fool to miss it.

Duncan Seaman