Movin On A Groove

Movin’ on a Groove’ at The Ivory, Harrogate. Sunday 19th May. 

With the ever increasing number of venues, in many cases little more than a distraction with small numbers attending, this ones’ certainly refreshing on many counts. 

Venue wise, its impressive. Smart, upmarket, aircon  - a Sunday soul chillout - think the Waterfront Blues & Soul Club (York) a few years ago and currently SoSa at Hoochie Coochie (Newcastle ). Great in-house sound system, with dj booth and despite being Town centre, no visible ‘soul tourists’ nor retro dressing ‘Northern’ traditionalists  - it’s not that sort of event/venue.

Music wise, more progressive than most - resident dj’s ‘soulful’ choice with enough ‘nouse‘ and moments of inspiration to understand what’s in front of them audience wise. Hence a smattering of northern classics & Motown, but in the main it’s dance floor or attention catching  /foot tapping  7ts, modern (lovely to hear Maze featuring Frankie Beverly ‘joy and pain’ getting a spin again) and crossover with a guest to bring their particular individual flavour to the proceedings. In this case it was Dee Hazelgrove with his funky /raw /gritty/uptempo tunes interspersed with some mid-tempo gems. Also caught a set each from all the residents - Graham Spink, Mike Lowcock and Dave Cervi, though in fairness we missed early doors and later ...

Busy throughout , friendly & welcoming and caught up with many I hadn’t seen for a few years - a re run of the ‘Spirit of Soul’ (Scarborough) Weekender, the previous weekend and indeed a few who had attended both . 

A three hour round road trip for us, but well worth it. ‘Movin’ on a Groove’ at the Ivory continues to be bi monthly and one for the diary. In its 2nd year, guess it’s now one of the fastest growing events in the popularity stakes - and deservedly so.

Finally, at ‘Movin’ on a Groove’, Kirsty beaming and to marry Dee in July - the anniversary of when they first met at the Whitby Weekender a few years ago.