Vavavooms 12 Hour Rare Soul Spectacular Returns - London

Going to get on this for sure!!

Tickets sales are hotting up, unlike the weather & the nearest accommodation at The Crown & Greyhound pub in Dulwich village is nearly sold out of rooms. If you can’t get in there, check our link for alternative local hotels, b&bs & guesthouses. Don’t forget Belair House does have a limited capacity so book your tickets in advance to avoid any potential disappointment.  

As you know we’ve always liked to mix up our guest dj’s with an assortment of big names & perhaps lesser known fellow collectors & soul aficionados. One such case is Andy Dawes. 

Andy Dawes has been around for over 34 years as a punter, collector and DJ. Now playing out funky uptempo soul, crossover and quality slow and low soul. Try to catch one of sets if you can, he’s sure to impress.

Here’s 10 of his current spins.  . 

People are coming from far & wide, thanks to everyone who have already bought their tickets. We recommend buying your tickets in advance, not only will this guarantee you in but you’ll also save a few quid. 

Here are a few more dj bios & current spins from Mr Phil Raines & secondly Lars Bulnheim. 

I don't get asked to dj often but haven been lucky enough to have played at a few great events such as the Frankfurt Allnighter, The Gloucester Allniter, Soul Funktion, Backstreet Boutique , The Caliente Club and as a resident at the Ely Soul Club events . I like to mix it up with lesser played oldies and some rarer stuff plus overlooked cheapies. They all add something!

Some current faves from my playbox which may get played at Va Va Voom include :-

Sebastian Williams - Hometown boy
Huns Review - Don't make me love you
Rivingtons - Years of tears
Sammy King - She's moody with her love
Eddie Bo - Lucky in love
Gwen Owens - Mystery man
Clarence Jackson - If it don't fit don't force it
Dolly Gilmore - Don't you know you're the yes
Neil Reed - Gonna find a way to get you back
Buddy Lamp - Devil's gonna get you
Barbara Jean and the Lyrics - Why weren't you there
Judy Clay - Haven't got what it takes
Gerri Shivers - Let's try it again
Winstons - Ain't nothing like a little lovin' 
Jimmy Docket - Take a chance"
Jimmy Delphs - Almost
Lou Bond - You shake me up
Tom Green - Endless confusion
Amazers - Without a warning
Young folk - Lonely girl
Roy Wright - You change my whole life around
Betty Everett - Please love me

I started collecting Soul 45s in the 80’s  and started DJing with these things maybe ten years later. I’m a regular at „The Soul Shakers Weekender“ in Bamberg  and I DJ around the world maybe twice a month; so far I’ve been to Italy, Sweden, Niederlande, Spain, USA, Russia, UK, and Portugal.

Introducing another of our guest & friend Kevin Higham!

Kevin Higham is rooted in the Rare Soul Scene, having collected records at varying depths from the age of 15.
Always hunting 45s and pleased to hear something new, these days focussed on a narrowed collection and djing.
Attends functions every other weekend, pleased to play a broad variety of styles but primarily; Northern Oldies, Rare and Underplayed and a mix of Crossover/70ts with odd new releases thrown in.
Co-runs Face Book forums for Rare Soul Sales/Wants/Valuations/Talk/Events/Playlists/Feedback/GospelSoul/SweetSoul with over 28,000 combined members and YouTube under the banner Rare Music Direct which currently has 10,984 subscribers and 7,009,616 views
Following a debut at United Sounds Of Soul (via Kevin Spittle) has since gone on to play Aberdeen Allnighter, Edinburgh Weekender, Skegness Weekender, Stoke Second Room, Va Va-London, Southampton Alldayer, Farnborough, Empty Bottles-Leeds, Go Go Children-Bristol, St Ives Weekender, Bridgewater, Cinderford, Soulvation, Too Darn Soulful-Brighton, Soul Kitchen–Tunbridge Wells, South of France Weekender, Hamburg Weekender, Towcester Soul Club, State Of Soul, Stubborn Heart – Sweden, Nottingham Alnighter, Crossfire, Rugby Soul Club and the 100 Club.
Founder Northants Soul Club and co Promoter of Northants Soul Club Alldayer.
 

Few from the current playbox :
Kings of Soul - Is Your Love For Me – Down To Earth
Grant Street Exit – I Got Soul – Del-La
The Montclairs – Hey You – Arch
The Invincibles – Can’t No One Man – Ciray
Survivors – Good Baby - Valli
Profs – Look At You – Curr
Bernie Moore – Which Way To Turn – Lark
Toni Ross – Hurry Back – Har Town

Less than 2 weeks to go & the ticket sales have been very promising, looks like we’re in for a great day! 

Thanks to everyone who have bought their tickets in advance! 

We still recommend you book in advance if you’re planning to come. From experience the week before the event seems to be when most people get on the case & book, the venue does have a limited capacity so don’t leave it to chance & miss out on a great event!

Another Dj’s choice of tunes for your perusal. This time from Roger Saint. 

Roger’s been a serious collector for many years & a font of knowledge when it comes to rare soul records & artists. 

It is a unique pleasure for us to have Roger on board & spinning some tunes for us at VaVaVoom. 

Whether it’s big hitters like The Magnetics , Imperial C’s or a £5 obscurity you’re bound to hear something you like, something you don’t know & further more plenty you’d like to know! 

Hope to see you there!

Cheers,

Ady

Shaping up to be another great party at Belair House on the 16th!

Between us resident rascals you can expect to hear 45s like:

Mr Lucky - Born To Love You - Stardom

Benny Harper - My Prayer - Harper Soul

Inell Young - What Do You See In Her - Libra

Shirley Edwards - Dream My Heart - Shrine

Talmadge Armstrong - This Life Is Tearing Me Down - Dap

Emanons - Bird Walkin - All Brothers

Masqueraders - That's The Same Thing - Soultown

Benetia Miller - You Can Say Goodbye - Soul Groovers

Ascots - Just A Few Feet From The Gutter - American Playboy

The Tiaras - Foolish Girl - Op-Art

...oldies, newies, rarities, crossover and loads more - hope to see y'all there!  

Jx

Only a day or so to go - been loads of interest on this - we're looking forward to seeing you all at Va Va Voom this Saturday!

A quick update. 

As predicted, ticket sales have picked up even more so. I suspect by Saturday we will nearing capacity so if you haven’t already, we do recommend you book your tickets in advance. If for any reason you can’t or you won’t know until the day whether or not you can make it then please try to arrive early as we cannot guarantee quite how busy it will be. We will try to keep you updated through the remainder of the week & up until early Saturday if we can. The venue will open another bar downstairs if we are very busy upstairs so don’t be put off coming we don’t want to turn anyone away but we do recommend you arrive as early as possible.

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO ENTRY AFTER 10PM. 

This fine winter weather looks set to remain into Saturday, so no doubt they’ll be coats, bags & brollies en mass. There will be an attended cloakroom on the lower ground floor, this will be safe & secure, there is a small charge for this £1 payable to the poor wretch who has to sit there all day & night. Please use this as there will not be room for coats & bags etc upstairs once it gets busy.

Typically the weather on Sunday should be nice & sunny, at least that’s something to help nurse your hangover.....

Bar food will be available from 2-9pm. A menu of different bowl foods, meat, fish, vegetarian & vegan options available. 

We have arranged 3 different cask ales, there will also be an range of draft & bottled lagers, ciders, Guinness, wines & spirits. 

The Crown & Greyhound, the local pub/hotel has been fully booked now for a few weeks. If anyone needs somewhere to stay, I have a spare double room reserved there. It is the less than 10 minutes walk from the venue & a very nice place to stay right in the heart of Dulwich village. Let me know if you’re interested by Friday otherwise I’ll hand it back to the pub. 

So if you haven’t already, book your tickets, get on your glam rags ready & get set for another 12 hour Soul spectacular at Belair House! 

Look forward to seeing you there!!

Cheers,

Ady  

Another quick update.

There are now 2 double/twin rooms available at The Crown & Greyhound, the local pub/hotel closest to the venue. Get in touch with them https://www.thecrownandgreyhound.co.uk/stay-with-us or 02082994976 if you’re looking for some nice digs for the night. 

Tickets for the alldayer still available, please get in touch if you want to come. 

Tickets for the Liverpool Tuff Love Soul weekend will be available for purchase on Saturday too. 

Not long now, see you tomorrow hopefully!

Cheers,

Ady

First of all just like say a big thank you to everyone who supported us on Saturday! 

We had folks from all over the UK, Germany & almost 20 Spaniards in attendance supporting Mardi & JosepA & helping Jose Mardi celebrate his soon to be 50th! 

It was fairly busy from the start & soon filled up, got busier & busier still pretty much right up until 2am. 

We had a few sound issues in the ballroom for the first part but seemed to get on top of that halfway through the evening. It was a bit of a learning curve in many respects as we’re working with new management. 

A big thanks to all the dj’s who kept the crowds going with some fantastic records! 

There was a bunch of keys that we found quite early in the day plus a Visa debit card. Any ideas on whose they might be if not yours? Get in touch.

Everyone I spoke to seemed enjoy the event but if you have any views on how it went and or anyways we could improve on future events should we have any, then please get in touch? 

Here’s looking forward!

Cheers, 

Ady