Fans of the ‘Madchester’ Music Scene have a chance to relive the hedonism of The Haçienda when Bez, best known as the Freaky Dancer with Happy Mondays and Black Grape, arrives in Hereford on May 14th to play a DJ set at The Jailhouse.
Despite it being his debut appearance at the Gaol Street club, he has visited Hereford before, when a reformed Happy Mondays played Hereford Leisure Centre in April 1999.
Bez has more recently made his mark on the alternative dance scene with his festival appearances; ‘Bez’s Acid House’ appearances are widely revered as a must-see by festival goers across the country.
Bez joined Happy Mondays shortly after they originally formed and was the band’s mascot and dancer during their chaotic presence in the charts, which was notable with top ten hits ‘Step On’ and ‘Kinky Afro’. Bez stuck with Shaun Ryder when the Mondays split, forming Black Grape, and went onto enjoy a number one album with ‘It’s Great When You’re Straight…Yeah’, which in turn produced three top-twenty singles. On leaving the band in 1997 he enjoyed success with a presenting slot on BBC 2’s The Sunday Show.
Following the second revival of the Happy Mondays, Bez became popular with new audiences as well as his loyal fans following the release of the biographical movie ’24 Hour Party People’ in 2002 and his Celebrity Big Brother triumph in 2005.
Whether you are an original fan of Bez and the music scene that made him, or discovering ‘Madchester’ for the first time, this night promises to be a memorable one. Support comes from the fantastic Farcical 3, Monty and The Emperor and DJ Glass. It all kicks off at 10pm, with entry costing £5 before 11 and £6 after.
The Jailhouse Hereford 