The Up North Soul Groove

Third time for this event and it's certainly starting to take off. I would support this one anyway because it's only 3 miles from home but it ticks all the usual boxes - close to Birmingham City Centre so doable by public transport, nice woodstrip dancefloor, reasonable enough bar, car parking, good crowd, not bad price in, 8 - 2am (good to see this as a few venues seem to be moving to a 1am finish); so really deserving of support. It's in Digbeth which is the currently trendy part of the City (other side of the main road which may put some off but still only 500yds from the Night Owl and other packed out venues). Nice to see a similar all-ages crowd to the Night Owl as well, but with no beer on the dancefloor and cheaper drinks - lets hope this keeps up.

The hidden secret, though, is the DJ's. I'd seen Steve Glover here before and for whatever reason it didn't make much of an impression on me but tonight he was on fire, someone was telling me about his legendary record collection (allegedly more comprehensive than Ted Massey's) he was followed by Ken Onions (from Wolfies) who kept up the pace nicely and finally Tony Reynolds who is a really underrated DJ - Each time I've been he's pulled out some fantastic, underplayed stuff - always a few stormers that you never hear anywhere; has great little anecdotes about some of the records too. To my mind a bill like this would wipe the floor of some of the bigger "civic hall" venues where some of the DJ's play the same old stuff.

It struck me tonight that there is a soul scene in Birmingham (I'm talking about the City not the West Midlands which has a massive scene) but it's just a bit fragmented and difficult to find - but well worth seeking out. When the Night Owl opened a few years ago with maximum PR everyone seemed to say "Wow Northern Soul is back" and it generated a lot of interest and crowds, since that time they've diversified a lot so actual NS events there are few and far between but they have promoted Birmingham Town Hall Big Soul Night, which is up there with Stoke certainly; but at the grassroots there's this on four times a year, Old Brogues in Great Barr monthly, Steppin' Up in Selly Oak 4 times a year and the Night Owl Town Hall twice a year plus a couple of events at the club; so that's about 24 events - not bad at all.

I've continued drawing on grey paper - seem to be getting the hang of it a bit now, but realised I need some thinner brown pens and a dimmable battery light as well?! Because I can't see a bloody thing I am drawing (maybe I need new glasses too?).

I rarely give 5 stars - I've noticed most reviews are by the promoters of the events who inevitably give 5 stars to everything. I am trying to be objective.