The Bolton Spitfire Soul Club

For those of you who are uninitiated, the Spitfire Soul Club’s Sunday gathering is a cut above your usual Sunday Soul session; this bijou club can be a bit special. This was a packed event, great atmosphere with outstanding Soul music.

We arrived just after 3pm and it looked like standing room only. Vance Butterworth was on the decks welcoming us with the Marvellos ‘Something’s Burning’. Jimmy Knowles took over, his set included Jimmy Seals, a real nostalgia overload in The Friendly People ‘I ain’t Got Nothin’ But The Blues’ and included the evergreen Silky Hargreaves. Steve Thomas kept the mood going, The Trends, The Four Perfections and included Bobby Valentin’s Latin banger.

Fred Benson set was a bit special from a personal point of view, playing three particular favourites: The Dynamic Three, Charlene & the Soul Serenders and the Voltair’s. His box of high end tunes also included the Magnetics ‘Lady In Green' and the ultimate ballad in Al McCarther.  

Pete Eccles took the last hour feeding a very busy dancefloor, Gene Woodbury and The Peoples Choice. A great modern track by Soulutions, ‘Listen’, (Drizabone Incarnate). A great day was rounded off to the heart broken overtures of Timi Yuro.

Edited February 10Feb 10 by Mickyfinn

Always enjoy DJ'ing over in Lancashire and The Spitfire is one of the best. A very friendly little club attended by knowledgeable soul folk who seem to prefer music which is not overplayed. Not much room left in the car park at 1.45 when I arrived and the room was almost full at the start. A great atmosphere with the dancefloor active almost all afternoon 😉.  Really pleased to hear the club can continue for at least the next 2 years and so thrilled to be asked if I would DJ again in the future.  Not for you if you want to hear a 'top 50 always played' set of music, this is a real deal OV venue, playing quality soul records across the spectrum. Well worth a visit! 

Have attached my playlist for those who are interested.

PLAYLIST BOLTON SPITFIRE 9 FEB 2025.pdf

Now that the cloud hanging over the D'Havilland Club has been lifted it was all systems go for the Spitfire. And there was a good crowd in to enjoy the music.

Good to see Linda back at the door with Julie collecting the money and fitting wristbands. Vance started proceedings and was ably abetted by guests Jimmy Knowles, Steve Thomas and Fred Benson and of course Pete Eccles.

Each DJ bought something different to the afternoon, classics, lesser played and some “big tunes”, including I Don't Mind (Carolyn Cooke); I Can't Stand To Lose You (E J Chandler); She's My Beauty Queen (Joe Matthews); Pretty As A Picture (Moses Dillard); Sugar Coated Love (Barbara Lynn); Miss You So (Ted Taylor); Look At That Girl (Otis Redding); Good Things (Toni Washington); Don't Give Me Love (Dorothy Berry); Mama, I Think I'm In Love (Beverly & The Del Capris); Since You've Gone Away (Cliffhangers); Don't Make Me Love You (Huns Review); Wrapped Around My Finger (Poets); Count The Days, Lady In Green (Magnetics); Up And Over (Jay Traynor); My My My Baby (Voltaires); She'll Be Gone (Betty O'Brien), etc. I think this illustrates the depth of music played.

I've always found The Spitfire a very friendly club and I spoke to two people who'd not been before and they both told me they had enjoyed it and found it friendly.

My thanks to the DJs and to the club staff.