So… spent my Saturday at Walton Hall & Gardens for FAC51 Headliners were Orbital and Leftfield. Then there was Danny Tenaglia, Mike Pickering, a back-to-back from Erol Alkan & DJ Paulette, plus the likes of Jon Dasilva, Peter Hook, Justin Robertson.

And even though a bit of house and a rave are my thing, always will be, this line-up was on the harder house end than I’d usually go for. But it really didn’t matter. We still had a wicked time, and it felt like the perfect send-off to summer. Mr Ravin & Misbehavin’, one last dance before (the winter raves begin).

It was meant to chuck it down all night but the storms held off. And other than the muddy groud (wellies were a must) and teh warm beers. It was a really good night. I love these early start, early dart gigs where you can be home and in your bed for midnight.

The crowd was mostly the 40 – 60+, with hardly any younger people knocking about, which was equal measures of cool and also sad as I’d like to think the Haçienda will always have its pull.

Outfit for this gig was my Adidas Ballet Dress and my wellies, from Joules.

What’s Next

• FAC51 – Manchester, 22nd Nov 2025 at Depot Mayfield.
• Next year: Le Poney Club in Toulouse – outdoor raves at an airport in the South of France. Is 100% on the list.