The legendary Hacienda returns today – virtually at least – with Scotland’s most groundbreaking DJ at the helm.
Aberdonian Graeme Park, resident of the Manchester club and the man who curated the Hacienda Classical shows with a full orchestra, including at Glasgow’s SSE Hydro, is recreating that insane collaboration online.
He said: “Rather than wait until everything gets back to normal, we thought we’d try to
do a mini Hacienda Classical show online.
“Obviously it’s impossible in the lockdown to get the Manchester Camerata orchestra, the choir and our singers all together, so we’re going to get everyone to perform their parts at home
while me, Yvonne Shelton and our percussionist Chris Cruiks perform our parts in the United We Stream studio.
“It’s very exciting but quite nerve-wracking too. We had a tech rehearsal earlier this week and it turned out well, looking and sounding great.
“Peter Hook will be performing from his home studio – as well as a very special guest from Chicago.
“Massive shout to the tech team from United We Stream and to our conductor and arranger Tim Crooks for working hard to make this happen.”
The last Hacienda stream, on Easter Sunday, attracted more than 1.6million viewers.
Graeme said: “To perform in front of my fellow Scots at the SSE Hydro was a truly proud moment and I really hope that once we’re through this pandemic we can return to Scotland with the Hacienda Classical show.
“My late Aberdonian grandpa, who used to have his own orchestra (The George Wood Orchestra) would be very proud of his grandson.”
For now, Graeme believes streams like the Hacienda one have a part to play in keeping people’s spirits up.
He said: “I do enjoy them but it’s a bit strange DJing to an empty room or on your own.
“I do miss the anticipation of a crowd, who you ultimately feed off of when DJing.
“However, knowing that over a million people are watching keeps you focused and provides a different kind of adrenaline that I need to perform.”
For more information, go to www.thisisgraemepark.com.
Watch The Hacienda House Party Part II from noon to midnight today at unitedwestream.co.uk.
