With Classic Ibiza’s return to Burghley House on Saturday 27 July rapidly approaching, Urban Soul Orchestra, the show’s headliners, assembled in a London recording studio last week to put the finishing touches to their performance ahead of their eight-night tour of our country’s best-loved stately homes.
Having worked on the orchestrations over the winter, Stephen Hussey, USO’s founder and Classic Ibiza conductor, led his musicians and vocalists through their paces to perfect the 16 new tracks in this year’s orchestral set of over 40 house classics. You can get a taster of one of the new tracks, Don’t You Want Me by Felix, recorded at the rehearsal here.
Stephen Hussey says: “Hearing the orchestrations that I’ve been dreaming up being brought to life for the first time is always something very special. This year is particularly exciting though, as we’ll be performing more new tracks than we’ve ever played before. For me, musically, this is our best show yet. I think we’ve got a perfect mix of some absolutely belting new tracks and some firm Classic Ibiza favourites. I can’t wait to share what we’ve got in store with our awesome Burghley House audience.”
The general rule at Classic Ibiza is that the BPM goes up as the sun goes down. The evening starts at 5.30pm with a vibe straight from one of Ibiza’s iconic beachside bars, before building to an alfresco nightclub by the time the concert reaches a crescendo at 11pm. Headlining the event is Urban Soul Orchestra, known for working alongside dance music greats like Groove Armada, Robert Miles and Nightmares On Wax. They’ll be delving into house music’s rich archive with former Ibiza Rocks resident, DJ Krystal Roxx, reinventing the most iconic tracks from the last 30 years. Along the way, highlights include a set by former Pacha Ibiza resident, DJ Jose Luis, and an awe-inspiring laser and light show.
If you can’t wait until the summer to get a taste of the Classic Ibiza experience, USO yesterday released a new live album, Classic Ibiza III, recorded at multiple venues on last year’s tour. The album is available on all major streaming platforms.
Stephen Hussey adds: “I’m really proud of our new album. Although there’s nothing quite like being at the show, I think it captures the energy and musicianship of our performance, as well as the incredible vibe of the audience. Featuring some of the tracks that we’ll be playing this summer, it’s the perfect appetiser ahead of this year’s tour. Turn it up and enjoy!”
Classic Ibiza at Burghley House has now sold out. People wishing to see the concert should head to Twickets, the show’s authorised ticket resale site. The show is proud to be supporting East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.
Visit classicibiza.co.uk for tickets and more information.
Image: USO at rehearsal. Credit: Classic Ibiza
