ONE of the North East’s leading open air concert venues is gearing up to follow in the footsteps of the Royal Albert Hall.
On 19 August, Sunderland’s Herrington Country Park will play host to Haçienda Classical – a one night only tribute to classic acid house and rave hits, performed by a 40-piece chamber orchestra with the backing of two of the UK’s top DJs.
Around 5000 people are expected to descend on the park for the concert, which features a set list full of dance music classics from the heyday of Manchester’s legendary Haçienda nightclub.
The tracks, by bands such as New Order, Inner City, Black Box and Marshall Jefferson, have been reinterpreted by the club’s original DJs, Mike Pickering and Graeme Park and will be performed alongside the Manchester Camerata Orchestra.
They will be joined on stage for the concert by the AMC Choir along with New Order’s Peter Hook and Happy Mondays’ Rowetta.
And plans are now underway to accommodate the show, which has been performed to rave reviews and full houses across Manchester, London, Glasgow, Lancaster, Brighton and the famous ‘Last Night of the Proms’ venue.
Along with a special, three- tiered concert stage, with a performing area of 48ft by 40 ft, organisers are laying on a festival-style food and drink offering with concessions selling everything from hog roasts and coffee, to gin and doughnuts.
However, it is the natural acoustics and atmosphere provided by the Park, one of the largest in Sunderland, that ensured its place on the tour schedule.
“As a venue, it’s got numerous practical advantages such as plentiful parking and superb access to the region’s two leading roads; the A19 and the A1,” said Karen Makepeace, in-house promoter for Northern Sessions which is bringing the event to the North East.
“Plus the venue is perfect for an outdoor concert like this. We can’t wait to bring Haçienda Classical to Herrington.”
General admission tickets are £35 and are available fromhttp://www.ticketline.co.uk/hacienda-classical-northern-sessions#bio or through 0844 8889991.
VIP packages, at £100, are also available, including on-site car parking, entry to a VIP enclosure with outdoor deckchair viewing area, arrival drink, access to pay bar facilities, VIP toilets and a barbecue buffet.
Further information is available atwww.thenorthernsessions.co.uk.