Back in the Summer of 2015 I was on a solo trip to Florence and my soundtrack of that holiday was Pete Tong’s ‘Ibiza Classics’ performed with Jules Buckley and The Heritage Orchestra. It’s been a regular play ever since and whenever they have been on tour I’ve been unable to get tickets. I finally managed to tick this off my bucket list as I got tickets for my husband’s birthday and we had an amazing night!

If you aren’t familiar with The Heritage Orchestra, they are awesome. HER_O are a British orchestra founded by Chris Wheeler and Jules Buckley (uber talented musical genius – he is a composer, conductor, curator, arranger and also plays the trumpet), they perform with some of the world’s top artists across various music genres. Some of their previous work has been a collaboration with DJ Yoda performing Gabriel Prokofiev Concerto with turntables and orchestra. They have also performed with Aphex Twin as his ‘remote’ orchestra back in 2012.

I wanted to keep a note of the full set from last night, but I was loving it too much to be constantly writing notes as I was busy dancing my arse off with my arms in the air. I was totally gutted I had forgotten to bring any glow sticks with us, I think Tim was relieved as he knows I have a stash of them at home and I’ve been known to crack them and have a mini rave at home… for a party of one, whilst he watches me with a bemused look.

I am a huge fan of big light shows, I just love bright, shiny things, in particular lasers (I reckon I was a cat in a previous life) and they certainly delivered on the lights and the visuals were beautifully stunning, seeing all the clips from various Ibiza club nights was a reminder of how much I love music and have shared so many fantastic nights out with friends, even strangers who have become friends. I am always blown away by The Heritage Orchestra, to finally see and hear them live was utterly brilliant. The sound was amazing, everyone in the crowd was dancing and singing, the atmosphere was electric, it was an incredible, beautiful, sensory and audible experience.

Stand out tracks from the night (hard to choose as every track was phenomenal) were:

  • The Bucketheads – The Bomb (these sounds fall into my mind)
  • ATB – 9 PM (til I come)
  • Joe ‘Promised Land’ and Adamski ‘Killer’ with vocals sang by Rick Astley who did a great job. I really wanted him to sneak in a verse from ‘Never gonna give you up’
  • Rui da Silva – Touch Me
  • Faithless – Insomnia
  • Tale of Us – Time (such a beautiful track)
  • Robert Miles – Children
  • Moloko ‘Sing it Back’, Baby D ‘Let Me Be Your Fantasy’ and The Source ‘You Got The Love’ with vocals by Becky Hill (wearing a fab sequin outfit which looked incredible and now I really want one)
  • Energy 52 – Cafe Del Mar (was soooo good)
  • De’Lacy ‘Hideaway’ and Farley Jackmaster Funk ‘Love Can’t Turn Around’ with vocals by Vula Malinga who totally smashed it. She is absolutely brilliant

The highlight of the night was a special guest performance from Ultra Naté who sang ‘Free’. It’s such an iconic tune and has huge sentimental value to me. There was also one track which was absolutely BANGING!! but I don’t know the name of it and I hope they release a full set list ‘cos I really need to know what it is. Can anyone name this track?

Thank you to Pete Tong, Jules Buckley and The Heritage Orchestra, the performers and all the crew for bringing Ibiza Classics 2021 to the stage. It was an amazing night that will be in one of my most memorable life experiences ever.

If you want to capture some of the Ibiza Classics experience at home, you can check out Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics playlist

Jules Buckley and Chris Wheeler released an amazing album this year called The Breaks which is a collection of ‘70s tracks that have influenced Hip Hop culture. Performed by The Heritage Orchestra and Ghost-Note with guest vocalists, it’s an homage to funk, soul and disco.

I’m off to find my glow sticks and learn to play an instrument so I can audition for The Heritage Orchestra. I reckon techno triangle or bongos breaks will be my forte!