Tag: Manchester

378. Dave Haslam – The Haçienda, Manchester and Beyond | Leeds Lit Fest: Hyde Park Book Club [8.3.20]

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Artist: Dave Haslam

Event: Leeds Lit Fest 2020

Venue: Hyde Park Book Club

Date: 8.3.20

It turns out that superstar DJs can also be perfectly amiable people. Dave Haslam comes across as a real people person; hence his success at authoring fascinating insights on the lives of others.

With few places to hide at the intimate Hyde Park Book Club, Haslam seemed happy to mingle at the bar and enjoy the atmosphere of one of Leeds’ most laid back venues.

A concise but informative talk (in the basement) reflected the nature of Haslam’s ‘Art Decades’ series; short reads of intriguing detail that leave you wanting to further investigate the subject matter. I contently left the evening with three signed books from a collection which will hopefully extend to many titles.

227. New Order: The Warehouse Project, Manchester [5.12.15]

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226a_new-order-051215Artist: New Order

Support: Erol Alkan [DJ Set] / Factory Floor

Venue: The Warehouse Project, Manchester

Date: 5.12 15

So much anticipation . . . followed by so much disappointment.

Reinvigorated by the release of their critically acclaimed album, Music Complete; New Order tried to recreate their Haçienda heyday, at The Warehouse Project in their home town of Manchester.

When the gig was announced, many fans were bemused by the relatively small venue, and late stage time. Had the band considered their long-term fans and target audience, in an attempt to be cutting edge and hip?

The evening started off well, with Factory Floor playing a blinding set in the fairly spacious venue, consisting of three disused arches below Manchester Piccadilly Station. However, as Erol Alkan’s DJ set progressed, and anticipation built for the main act, most of the crowd converged in the venue’s central arch.

By the time New Order took to the stage, there were simply too many people in the available space. Many of the audience could not see or hear the band properly, and some left the gig early, in disappointment.

The band played a varied set with an emphasis on new tracks from their ‘Music Complete’ album. Songs featuring Elly Jackson (La Roux) on guest vocals were particularly good. However, the overall atmosphere was marred by being crammed in, with difficulty to see and no space whatsoever to move. At times the situation felt dangerous, and I left with a sense of ‘regret’.

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Setlist: Singularity / Crystal / Restless / Your Silent Face / Tutti Fruitti / People on the High Line / Bizarre Love Triangle / Waiting for the Sirens’ Call / Plastic / The Perfect Kiss / True Faith / Temptation // Atmosphere / Love Will Tear Us Apart / Blue Monday

215. Elbow: Manchester Apollo [7.2.15]

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214a_elbow-070215Artist: Elbow

Support: Black Rivers

Venue: Manchester Apollo

Date: 7.2.15

Justifying their reputation as ‘the nicest band in the world’, Elbow chose to host a four-night residency of smaller hometown gigs at Manchester Apollo, rather than play a stadium or arena.

A perfect performance by the band, accompanied by the usual sing-along from the crowd.

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199. Peter Hook & The Light: Manchester Cathedral [18.1.13]

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198a_Peter Hook [180113]Artist: Peter Hook & The Light

Support: Modern Blonde

Venue: Manchester Cathedral

Date: 18.1.13

Movement / Power Corruption & Lies [Live]: A marvellous and moving live performance of the first two New Order albums, in a historic and prodigious Manchester venue.

Setlist: In a Lonely Place / Ceremony / Procession / Dreams Never End / Truth / Senses / Chosen Time / ICB / The Him / Doubts Even Here / Denial / Mesh / Cries & Whispers / Everything’s Gone Green / Age of Consent / We All Stand / 5-8-6 / Your Silent Face / Ultraviolence / Ecstasy / Leave Me Alone // The Beach (Interlude) // Hurt / Temptation / Blue Monday.

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The gig was released as a digital download by Play Concert.

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191. New Order: Manchester Apollo [26.4.12]

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190a_New Order [260412]Artist: New Order

Support: DJ Tintin [DJ Set] / Jake Evans

Venue: Manchester Apollo

Date: 26.4.12

A typically rainy day in Manchester set the scene for New Order’s return to their home town. The absence of Peter Hook from the band’s line-up was compensated for by the welcome return of Gillian Gilbert on keyboards.

The set list included a range of career spanning classics, many of which were given a subtle contemporary twist to bring them up-to-date and keep them sounding fresh.

Setlist: Elegia / Crystal / Regret / Ceremony / Age of Consent / Love Vigilantes / Here to Stay / Waiting for the Siren’s Call / Bizarre Love Triangle / True Faith / 5-8-6 / The Perfect Kiss / Blue Monday / Temptation // Transmission / Love Will Tear Us Apart.

A series of limited edition screen printed posters were produced to commemorate the tour.

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187. Peter Hook & The Light: FAC251 The Factory, Manchester [18.5.11]

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186a_Peter Hook [180511]

Artist: Peter Hook & The Light

Venue: FAC251: The Factory, Manchester

Date: 18.5.11

Closer [Live]: Finely crafted recreations of classic tracks, as Peter Hook & The Light (featuring Rowetta) played a live set of Joy Division’s ‘Closer’ album in its entirety.

For a second consecutive year, this special night at The Factory commemorated the anniversary of Ian Curtis’s death.

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178. Peter Hook & The Light: FAC251 The Factory, Manchester [18.5.10]

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177_Peter Hook [180510]

Artist: Peter Hook & The Light

Venue: FAC251: The Factory, Manchester

Date: 18.5.10

Unknown Pleasures [Live]: A poignant performance of Joy Division’s ‘Unknown Pleasures’ album, in its entirety – to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Ian Curtis. Rowetta performed vocals on several songs, adding a stunning contemporary edge to timeless tracks.

The occasion was complemented by an exhibition of Joy Division memorabilia, displayed in the legendary Factory boardroom.

176. Peter Hook & The Light: FAC251 The Factory, Manchester [5.2.10]

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175_Peter Hook [050210]

Artist: Peter Hook & The Light

Support: Freebass

Venue: FAC251: The Factory, Manchester [Opening Night]

Date: 5.2.10

Twenty years since the birth of ‘Madchester’, the evening saw the revamp and relaunch of the building that conceived the scene, and facilitated its demise.

FAC251 was the legendary head office of Factory Communications. Created by Tony Wilson, designed by Ben Kelly, endlessly funded by New Order (along with The Haçienda), and finally bankrupted by artistic ideology (expedited by Happy Mondays).

Nearly two decades later, the iconic building was rescued and resurrected by Peter Hook, Ben Kelly and Function One – and reborn as FAC251: The Factory.

In true Factory style, the building was barely completed on launch night. The freshly plastered walls were still damp and certain fittings and fixtures required finishing – but there was special sense of occasion, as those in the know mingled with Mancunian legends and celebrities.

Support act Freebass was a bass player ‘super group’ including Peter Hook (New Order), Mani (The Stone Roses) and Andy Rourke (The Smiths), with Gary Briggs on vocals.

Peter Hook & The Light performed a poignant set of Joy Division songs, with Rowetta (Happy Mondays) adding a beautiful and emotional twist to some of Ian Curtis’s haunting lyrics.

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021. Inspiral Carpets: G-MEX, Manchester [21.7.90]

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021_Inspiral Carpets [210790]

Artist: Inspiral Carpets

Support: The La’s

Venue: G-MEX, Manchester

Date: 21.7.90

‘Baggy Mecca’ as thousands dressed in flared jeans and hoodies swaggered their way to ‘Madchester’ G-Mex.

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The La’s Setlist: Son of a Gun / Freedom Song / Way Out / There She Goes / Doledrum / Come In Come Out / Feelin’ / I Can’t Sleep / I.O.U. / Timeless Melody / Liberty Ship / Callin’ All / Failure / Looking Glass

Inspiral Carpets Setlist: Real Thing / Directing Traffik / Besides Me / This Is How It Feels / I’ll Keep It in Mind / Sackville / Song for a Family / Weakness / Move / Beast Inside / She Comes in the Fall / Further Away / Find Out Why / Grip / Commercial Rain // Joe / Biggest Mountain

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The gig was filmed and originally released on VHS as ‘21790 Live’ (also recently re-released on DVD as part of the ‘Life’ Extended Edition CD/DVD). Four live tracks were originally released on the ‘Island Head Live E.P.’