This year’s Hacienda Christmas party sees the club back at The Warehouse Project for its first event with the club in over three years. Taking place Saturday 30th December, the night once again sees some of the finest US DJ’s guests taking charge alongside The Hacienda’s own original DJ influences.
One of the finest DJ’s and producers in the world, Todd Terry, whose unique blend of tough garage beats, hip hop, techno and classic vocals have seen his records shape dance music heart and soul. Beyond the smash number one hit of Everything But The Girl’s “Missing” produced by Todd, his productions such as “Keep On Jumping”, “Something’s Going On” and remixes for the likes of Pamela Fernandez, Bjork and George Michael amongst others are considered some of the very best works ever produced. With a body of work stretching back three decades, just to mention these few tracks scarcely does justice to Todd’s catalogue.
A regular at the original Whitworth Street venue, who headlined many New Years Eve and Birthday parties in the nineties, Todd remembers that the “the club was always exciting. What was great for me was that I always got a chance to break new records, laying down new tunes such as Weekend, Bango and Orange Lemon’s Dreams of Santa Anna which the crowd took to straight away. That gave me real confidence in the material.”
Equally Told, much admired and well loved in Manchester also remains a great fan of the city and its scene. “Every time I visit Manchester, the city is always vibrant. People are always ready to party there and it has a unique vibe to it that doesn’t compare to anywhere else.”
A name known to any dance music aficionado as Reese, Inner City, E-Dancer and as himself Kevin Saunderson, Kevin is also one of the most influential producers in dance music history. A core member of Detroit’s “The Belville Three” with Derrick May and Juan Atkins, Kevin’s tracks, “Good Life”, “Big Fun” and “The Colour Of Love” were huge worldwide hits in dance music’s early days and remain seminal today. Again like Todd, that’s aside from his huge body of work including more underground tracks like “Star Dancer” and his “History Elevate” series.
Active across the Northern scene at the original Hacienda and clubs like Soak, Basics and more when he was living in the UK and recording for Neil Rushton’s Network Records in the late Eighties, Kevin also recalls the sprit and influence of FAC51.
“The Hacienda was always a classic feeling kind of venue. Even then it was obviously very historical and had been around for a few years. What I remember most is that it was all about the music and that gave it one of the greatest atmospheres I’ve experienced in a club.”
“When I first visited back in early 88 the Northern scene didn’t feel that developed but by the latter part of the year it had shot up and everyone was on the same page and the same vibe. Everyone was so enthusiastic. They really cared about what the DJ played and were in tune to this great new music.”
Todd and Kevin also agree. Here’s Todd first up, “the WHP is always a good party. I get to play what I want such as old school house, disco, funk, and old school hip hop. Can’t wait to hang with you guys, see you soon!”
While the last word for now goes to Kevin. “I ‘m looking forward to it for sure. Get ready for a combination of classic tracks and music from the future. Some bits of house, lots of techno, cause that’s who I am!”
Gallery
Check out the full gallery here.
FAC 51 The Hacienda @ The Warehouse Project, MCR
Danny Tenaglia, Todd Terry, Kevin Saunderson, Graeme Park, A Guy Called Gerald, Greg Wilson, Danny Rampling, Justin Robertson, Allister Whitehead , Tom Wainwright & Russ.
Venue
Warehouse Project, Manchester
Store Street