Ashton Ukrainian Club Ashtonunderlyne - Ashton-under-lyne

Running out of superlatives for this event!! Another packed house and more first timers at The Ukrainian Club the word is definitely out!! 

Quality opening set from "Mr Reliable" Phil Dunn got to say I really enjoyed Carol Burgess Set, really nice mix !! Chris Penn followed making a long awaited return to The Club he didn't disappoint "ain't gonna give you" The Volumes was a great start to the set some rare soul big hitters and perennial favourites followed. Baz Maleedy made the journey down the M6 and wowed us with classic rare soul The Sonatas "going down the road" set the bar high Kenny Gamble "the jokes on you" lit the dance floor up, some classy 70s Guitar Ray, Montclairs "hey you" were all received with an appreciative crowd.

Main Man Chris Churm ended the night in style with some classy crossover Ascots " a few feet from the gutter" Reggie Soul, Marshall Donovan and Broomfield sounded the business. Finishing off with with some heavyweight 60s Brooks Brothers, Ivories, Sam Dees and many more.

This venue goes from strength to strength, keep your eyes on the soul-source events page and Facebook for The June event!!       

What a night!

I was chuffed to bits to be asked back by Chris Churm after 2 1/2 years away, COVID-19 and moving 200 miles away to the North East.  I've missed both the club and the people who always made the event something really special for me.

Huge thanks to Carole Burgess and Dave Beech for putting me up (or should that be putting up with me), feeding me and buying me a special gift of my favouritest beer, Robinson's Dizzy Blonde.

I won't risk offending anyone by accidentally omitting names of those who I managed to catch up with on the night, so all I'll say is "I've missed you and was delighted to see you again...and thanks form the hugs!".

Musically a belter, as per usual, with great sets by everyone.  It's especially pleasing to see so many through the doors early on so that they had chance to catch well thought out sets from Phil Dunn and Carole Burgess, both of who played some records with which I was unfamiliar that that found their way straight to my 'wants' list.  Carole's copy of Sonny Rhodes, You Better Stop sparked special interest by more than a few peeps.

My playlist is posted at the foot of this note, but to hear Baz and Chris' sets immediately after MY 9:30 - 10:30 set was a treat and a half...I'm glad I wasn't following those guys!  Mick's previous write up has named a few of these guys' standout plays so I won't reiterate, but it was great to hear such a great cross-section of rare, ultra rare and excruciating rare 45s that saw the floor rammed for the next two hours.  Two 'masterclasses' in my humble opinion.

A sea of happy faces left at the end of the night having had their soulful desires sated for the evening.  I hope to be back again in the not-too-distant future, as 2 1/2 years without The Ukrainian has almost been too much to bear.  Thank you to all of you for making my 'homecoming' so very special.

Plays were (mostly in the correct order):

Paul Sindab – I Was A Fool

The Volumes – Ain’t Gonna Give You Up

Jimmy Bo Horne – I Just Can’t Speak

Otis Lee – Hard Road To Hoe

George Pepp – The Feeling Is Real

The Chandlers – Your Love Makes Me Lonely

Nat Hall – Why

George Tinley – Ain’t Gonna Worry About You

George Blackwell – Can’t Lose My Head

Duke Browner – Crying Over You

The Honey Bees – Let’s Get Back Together

Just Brothers – Carlena

The Professionals – That’s Why I Love You

The Fascinators – In Other Words

The Servicemen – Sweet Magic

The Inverts – Time Will Change

Emory & The Dynamics – Let’s Take A Look At Our Life

Timmy Williams – Competition

The Dynells - Call On Me

Pat & The Blenders – Just Because

The Jades – Lucky Fellow

The Constellations – I Don’t Know About You

Rhonda Davis – Can You Remember

Stepped over from 'Modern' to Northern last night at the brilliant Ukranian Club in Ashton Under Lyne and had a great time doin' it. Great to see a great crowd in there and so many familiar faces. Thanks to Chris Churm, also Mick Howard, Si Ingham, Bob Hinsley, Robbo for your company, Darren Carroll for the banter (as always) and Bill Mailey for keeping 'score' Nice to see Bahar Ahmed there as well...

For anyone interested here's my playlist

Ukaranian Club Ashton Under Lyne May 21st Playlist

In no particular order

The Sonatas Going On Down The Road

Kenny Gamble The Jokes on You

Jesse Johnson Left Out

Hayes Cotton Black Wings Have My Angel

Gerri Hall Who Can I Run To

Robert Tanner Sweet Memories

Vikki Styles The Tears Won’t Stop Falling#

Ron Baxter This is It

Clarence Jackson If It Don’t Fit Don’t Force It

Rudy Love Suffering Wrath

Guitar Ray You’re Gonna Wreck My Life

Districts One Lover (Just Won’t Do)

Montclairs Hey You! Don’t Fight It!

Frankie and the Damons Man From Soul

Toni and the Showmen Try My Love

Jesse Dixon Wade in the Water

Joe Matthews Ain’t Nothing You Can Do

Johnny De’Vigne I Smell Trouble

Four Voices Your Love is Getting Stronger

Firestones I Just Can’t Win

Tobi Lark Sweep It Out The Shed

Pervis Lee You Don't Care

Temptations I Want a Love I Can See

Edited May 23, 20222 yr by Bazm

Another great night at the Ukrainian - the team had no idea how it was all going to progress! a familiar story for all the promoters out there working hard to deliver their events I'm sure...

All I can say is that it continues to tick my boxes in terms of quality music and great company - For anyone interested here's a breakdown of the DJs who've graced the decks so far this year

If you haven't managed to make it yet there's plenty more to come, with some more great guests lined up for the second half of the year - next month we welcome back Stu Cheetham alongside Geoff Stubbs with Scotlands' finest Alan Jenkins and that man Chalky 

Edited May 23, 20222 yr by Eddiefoster

My third visit to the Ukrainian Club rare soul night and it was up to the same standard as my previous visits.

Sandy didn't join me, she has developed a rotten cough and cold, not like her to miss a soul night but it couldn't be helped. And when I arrived at Derek Watmough's house I found that his better half, Janet, was afflicted and had lost her voice. So with the addition of Paddy it was going to be a boys' night out.

We arrived at the club fairly early, took our seats and listened to the music. To be honest I'm not sure which DJ played what tune but musically the whole evening was excellent. There was a good mix of musical styles: R&B, Northern and Crossover. For example: Bobby Hutton's I've got a memory, played just after we got out seats; Dynells' Call on me; Jimmy Bo Horne's Just can't speak; Otis Lee's Hard road to hoe; Can you remember by Rhonda Davis; Chimes' Beginning of my life; Robert Tanner's Sweet memories; Ivories' Please stay; Pervis Lee's You don't care, didn't know this one till a friend told me what it was; Emory & Dynamics' Let's take a look at our life; Jesse Dixon's Wade in the water, revived my interest in this tune, and so many others, a veritable treasure chest of rare and underplayed soul music.

Funny how time whizzes by when you're listening to our music, soon it was time to go. The night ended with a beat ballad that sounded familiar, can anyone enlighten me to what it was please?

Not quite so many in as last time but the holiday season is starting, many people are abroad at the moment. More room on the dance floor. Good to see friends there, always good to meet up at a soul night.

Thanks to organisers and DJs, and club staff for an excellent night; and to Derek for driving and to Paddy for his company.

My second visit and another top night with a great selection from all the Djs.  Great friendly crowd as well.  A venue highly recommend.

Looks like I have to go next month as well 🤪

Thanks to Simon for his hospitality once more as well.