Section 25

Event information

Formed in Blackpool by brothers Larry and Vin Cassidy in 1978, Section 25 were initially mentored by Joy Division, and went on to record four albums for Factory Records between 1980 and 1986. The first of these, Always Now, combined post-punk textures with spacey psychedelia, produced by Martin ‘Zero’ Hannett. Their third, From The Hip, produced in 1984 by New Order‘s Bernard Sumner, explored electro terrain, and spawned the oft-sampled techno hit Looking From A Hilltop. After a lengthy hiatus in the late 1980s, Section 25 eventually regrouped to release fifth album Part-Primitiv in 2007. This was followed by Best Of collection Dirty Disco in 2008, and a string of powerful live shows across Europe and America.

Outstanding sixth album Nature + Degree arrived 2009, on which SXXV were joined by Beth Cassidy on vocals and keyboards. Sadly Larry passed away in February 2010, having completed work on new album Retrofit, released to great acclaim September 2010. Now recognized as a leading genre band, Section 25 continue to play across the UK, Europe and America. The band contributed three tracks to the recent Warners/Rhino box set Factory Records: Communications 1978-1992, while the oft re-issued From The Hip was lauded as one of ’1000 Albums To Hear Before You Die’ by The Guardian newspaper. The group also feature prominently in recent definitive Factory biography “Shadowplayers” while their latest release, the ‘Invicta’ EP on Hacienda Records is out now.