Review: Hacienda Classical, Lancaster

I've lived in Lancaster for nearly two years now and every week I take a trip to Williamson Park.
Hacienda Classical, Williamson Park, Lancaster.Hacienda Classical, Williamson Park, Lancaster.
Hacienda Classical, Williamson Park, Lancaster.

The views from the top of the Ashton Memorial can be taken for granted, even the iconic building itself, the magic of the place can fade.

But on Sunday night it was back, the park reawakened to one of the biggest events it had seen.

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DJs from the Hacienda nightclub partnered up with the 40-piece Manchester Camerata orchestra for one night only.

Hacienda Classical, Williamson Park, Lancaster.Hacienda Classical, Williamson Park, Lancaster.
Hacienda Classical, Williamson Park, Lancaster.

I fell in love again as the Ashton Memorial turned various colours dancing to the beat, shooting lasers into the night sky.

I will admit the Hacienda days are before my time but this did not stop my enjoyment. It was nice to see people who were around during the original Hacienda craze dancing with students who were immediately recognised dance classics - Technotronic’s Pump Up The Jam and Candy Staton’s You’ve Got The Love.

Although DJs Graeme Park and Mike Pickering got the crowd going, and Peter Hook from New Order surprised many, the set was too short. But this is a good thing.

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The Hacienda Classical is, and will be known for many months, as a Lancaster festival. I wanted more, I wanted a Glastonbury, because it felt like a Glastonbury.

The Ashton Memorial, picture by Ammie Watts.The Ashton Memorial, picture by Ammie Watts.
The Ashton Memorial, picture by Ammie Watts.

Yes there were issues with the bar and toilet queuing, but lessons can be learnt, maybe permission for another bar could be granted next time. But this was a first of a kind, a unique event kissed by the sunshine. The magic is back, please let’s leave it that way.

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