Back to Basics locks Basement Jaxx & more for Leeds orchestra concert

Back To Basics, the long-running Leeds club-night, is holding a big open air classical concert in the city centre on Friday 28th July. The show will see a 50-piece orchestra re-interpreting an assortment of electronic music classics that have been popular on the Basics dancefloor over the past quarter of a century.

 

The Symphonic Sounds Of Back To Basics is being played by the Orchestra of Opera North, and there will be a number of dance music acts on hand to participate in the show.

 

Basement Jaxx, MC M.A.D from Groove Armada and neo soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae are just some of the acts who will be joining Basics main man Dave Beer to perform in the show.

 

While there have been other classical shows — Hacienda Classical, Pete Tong & The Heritage Orchestra and so on — none have worked with the original artists. Other artists involved on the evening include rave pioneer Adamski, legendary house vocalist Robert Owens, The Beloved, Saffron from Republica/N-Joi and Sally Rodgers from A Man Called Adam. 

 

The whole shebang is being funded by Leeds City Council. Basics founder Dave Beer initially feared the worst when he was called into Leeds Civic Hall for a meeting. “I was bricking it, thinking, ‘What have we done?’” he told DJ Mag. “Acid house has always been on the outskirts, so I just assumed we’d done something wrong.”

 

On the contrary, the city council wanted to celebrate the club’s history and fund this collaborative orchestral spectacular.

 

“It’s totally overwhelming and humbling,” Dave Beer added. “It’s amazing for the council to honour us this way.”

 

Tickets are still available for the landmark show on Friday 28th July, available here.