We had a chat with legendary Hacienda house duo K-Klass ahead of their set at Highest Point this month about house, The Hacienda, and what they hope to bring to their set.

Date published: 3rd May 2023

House legends K-Klass have created some of the genre's most adored tracks over the years. Starting in the late 80s, the group went on to perform at the truly iconic Hacienda, perform at countless prestigious festivals across the globe, and bring the sweet, freeing sounds of house to thousands and thousands of music fans. 

With K-Klass ready to blow people’s minds at Highest Point Festival this May, we had a chat with the group about their Hacienda days, their upcoming performance, and why they love festivals so much. 

 

What is it about house music that’s so unique? What does it do for you, and what does it represent?

"House music is the perfect music to dance to. It lifts your mind, body, and soul and has been a defining force in our lives since the late 80s."

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Can you pinpoint the moment when you thought, “yep, this is it. We have to create music?” Was it a certain track, performance, or something else that sparked your desire?

"Yes, very much so. It was on the dancefloor at the Hacienda one Friday night in 1988. We were so blown away by what we were hearing and experiencing, it wasn’t even a choice - it was a must! No one track - it was just the music in general and the electric vibe in the place. Our only aim as a band was to make a track that would get played in the Hacienda. We eventually achieved that goal and a few more too."

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It’s safe to say you’ve performed at a fair few festivals over the years; what’s special about festivals that ordinary gigs lack?

"As a rule, we actually prefer festivals to club gigs these days. The whole outdoor vibe seems to make the music more intense. That always feeds back from the crowd, which, in turn, makes you deliver more from your performance. It also takes you back to the original outdoor raves in the North West like Joy, Blastoff and Live The Dream back in the day."

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You played at Highest Point back in 2018; what was it like? Any stories or memories?

"We performed live in support of the Hacienda Classical and also performed a DJ set later on in the wooded area with the banking surrounding. Two very, very different gigs in one festival but both really enjoyable."

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You guys have been creating huge house bangers for a while now; how has the scene changed since you started? And how do you feel about the genre becoming more mainstream over the years?

"There’s no doubt the scene has changed over the years; it’s had to. If nothing changes, things fade away. That’s the beauty of the House scene, it keeps reinventing itself. The mainstream aspect has always been there on and from the early 90s. We think it’s a positive thing. The more people it brings to the table, the better!"

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How did your involvement in the Hacienda scene influence you as artists and performers?

"Massively. It shaped the music we make and the way we present our live shows even to this day."

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Do you remember the moment when you realised you “made it”? What was going on, where were you?

"We remember it well. It was a rare Saturday night off from touring in Summer 1991. We heard that ‘Rhythm is a Mystery’ was being played in the Hacienda, so we went along. We were all stood on the balcony just after midnight when we heard it being mixed in. By the time it broke into the piano, the entire club erupted. We all just looked at each other and said, 'oh my god, what have we done!'"

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Tell us about your upcoming set at Highest Point’s this year. What vibes are you hoping to bring? What can attendees expect from your performance?

"To say we are excited is an understatement. We always love Highest Point. We will bring our usual mix of positive vibes and uplifting tracks from the past 30 years, the majority edited and remixed for today’s dance floors."

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What artists on the Highest Point lineup are you excited to see perform or share a stage with? 

"Hacienda Classical never disappoints; the show just gets stronger every year. Really looking forward to catching the House Gospel Choir too."

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Catch K-Klass bringing heavenly house tunes at Highest Point Festival in Williamson Park next weekend! As always, it’s guaranteed to be incredible and packed with songs that cover house music’s most legendary and crucial tracks. Head over to dance your troubles away! 

 

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Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.

 

 

  

 

 

Header image credit: K-Klass / Facebook.com