Irish Clubnottingham Quality Of Soul

Great place spent a long time on the Dance floor DJS Played for the dancers, Exceptional Vinyl Bring it

on for the next hope its soon.xx

Musically and socially QoS goes from strength to strength, one of the best rare soul allnighters in the UK. Numbers were down a bit though, probably due to a combination of factors. Over the last few weekends there have been several weekenders, Cleethorpes, Blackpool and on this weekend Bridlington, certainly some regulars had gone there. And I think that some had gone on holiday to take advantage of lower prices before the kids break up from school.

I travelled up to Nottingham by train and arrived outside the Irish Club at 9 pm, however the door was locked, but soon opened. I went into the downstairs room, where I usually spend most of my time, found somewhere for my bag and jacket, got a drink and got ready to enjoy the music.

I forgot to pick up the DJ timings list so not sure of who played what. I did write on my phone a list of some tunes played but the battery run down quicker than expected so had to stop later in the night.

The first three DJs in the rare and Crossover room (downstairs) played a mix of mainly mid tempo tunes, e.g. Dream Girl, I'd Think It Over Twice, Down And Out, Wind Kept Laughing, Breakaway (had to ask the DJ what that one was, it had totally slipped my memory),

At 11 pm Nige Mayfield began his set downstairs with the Hesitations' Is This The Way To Treat A Girl, Call On Me by Barbara Mercer, and in the room on the first floor Calvin began his. I popped between them, danced to the New Yorkers that Calvin played but missed Like A Rolling Stone that he'd played for me, sorry about that. The trouble with two rooms is that you can only be in one place at a time. Nige continued with I Can Feel It, Ordinary Joe, I Thought You Were Mine, etc.

Downstairs Nige was followed by 100 Club stalwart Russ Vickers, nice to meet his son and his wife whom I'd not seen since one of the very early MonuMental Soul weekenders. Russ played a set that I'd call fairly cutting edge, Jerry Washington, Grey Imprint for example, thanks for my request My Sense Of Direction Is Blown. But he also included more conventional NS tracks like Can You Win and Too Much Love.

James Pogson, from the Inner City Soul Club and other London venues followed Russ. Starting with Who You Gonna Run To, he continued with Let Your Light Shine, Fluorescent Smogg, Alvin & Calvin Carter, Talkin' Bout Love, Love Tempo, Pro Fascination's Try Love Again, finishing with Sweet Memories.

Next on downstairs was Cliff Steele who was effusive about James' set, and started off his selection with I'd Like To Get Near You, following with Love Is Gone and the Appointments' Steppin' Closer, You're Gone, My Prayer, and my favourite classic oldie Ooh Boy by the Adorables. In the Crossover style he played the Honey Bees beautiful Never In A Million Years and Reggie Soul's My World Of Ecstasy. The next one he played was New World's We're Gonna Make It. At that point I discovered my phone was about to pack up so my tune listing stopped. I do remember Cliff playing quite a few that I didn't recognise.

He was followed by Andy Dyson, then Dave Thorley. I heard all of the latter's set, most I didn't know but really good. I did know What About Me, I Can See Him Loving You (another of my favourite oldies), Jewel's Paradise, and Welfare by Antonio Castro. Dave nuxed them up extremely well. When he finished it was time to finish in the rare room and go upstairs.

Matt Sneath was just finishing and then Mick H took over for the last hour and 45 minutes. Thanks for including Pee Wee, Shucks & Huey for me, plus It's All Over Baby, Life Is A Miracle and many more favourites. The nighter ended with the club anthem Count The Days and I Have No Choice. Then we had no choice, we had to go home. I did have a long wait for a train and a slightly convoluted journey, but got home at 11.30, not too bad really.

It is always good to see your friends at a soul night, even if you've seen quite a few of them the week before at Rugby and the week before that at Cleethorpes. Great to see you all. It was James Pogson's first visit to QoS, hope he enjoyed it, his music went down very well.

Apologies to any of the DJs whose sets I've missed. And big thanks to Mick and Co for the night, and of course to the staff of the Irish Centre.

Great night in both rooms enjoyed the young lad James Pogsons spot