Soul At Grimsargh Village Hall

My second visit to Grimsargh Village Hall, and it didn’t disappoint. An excellent night with a two- room setup catering for Northern Soul fans and seasoned crate diggers alike.

The main room provides a spacious, moody setting with a superb dancefloor and just the right amount of atmosphere. The elevated DJ setup gives it a proper club feel. I didn’t spend as much time as I would have liked in this room, but I did get chance to test the great surface and savour the atmosphere. The DJ’s kept the patrons happy: Gamekeeper Jones playing the incredible Al Macarther, Tony Mundey spinning the dance favourite, the Constellations “I Didn’t know How to”, and George Falzon treating us to some Motown, including the gem that is Francis Nero.

I was in the 2^nd room for all of Derek Robertsons main offering, and I certainly missed out, his playlist was an impressive selection of sought after tracks: That included the dictionary definition of Northern Soul: The Professionals. The Antellects, The Admirations and the superb crossover track, Eddie Billips ‘Ask My Heart’.

The dancefloor remained busy late into the evening.  Stephen Condron playing September Jones’ haunting anthem ‘I’m coming home’, the Marvellows ‘Your Little Sister’ and the uptempo Jimmy Seals. The final spot in the main room was taken by Mick Smith, who signed off we a few real nighter tunes: Jaywalkers ‘Can’t Live with You’ and Paul Sindab’s palpitating ‘Do What You Wanna do’.

The second room, aka The Dolly room has a different vibe altogether – smaller, more intimate.  Here, DJs had the freedom to dig deep into their collections to include some obscure gems and forgotten treasures.

Dolly’s first set gave us the rarely heard and serene Party Favours ‘Changed Disposition. Wonderful harmonies with the Vows ‘Tell Me’ and Sunday ‘Ain’t Got No Problems’. New to me, the bluesy Tyrone Wonder Boy ‘If You Don’t Need Me’. Concluding with a rhythmic tonic: Talmadge Armstrong ‘Give it Up’. Gamekeeper followed with the Hypnotic Dream Merchants, Mighty Joe Young and another track new to these ears: Tony Owens ‘I’ll be There’, a soulful forte with mournful horns.

Derek Robertson gave us an excellent set, certainly from personal perspective, laced with 70’s gems: Bobby Thurston, Garfield Flemming and j. B Bingham ‘All Alone by the Telephone’. The magical dancer Flame N King ‘Ho Happy Day’ and Carol Andersons crossover diamond, ‘Sad Girl’.

Karl Bodi offered up a great mix: a standout was the quality vocal and rhythmic bass of Barbara Lynn ‘I Don’t Want a Playboy’. The deceptively inexpensive Emotions ‘Stealin Love’, the entreating refrain from T.S.U Tornandos ‘Please Heart Don’t Break and The Stafford anthem: The Righteous Brothers ‘It’s Up to You’.  Karl concluded with a track I’d not heard before, a blue eyed and a Marleena Dietrich esq ballad Cheryle Thompson ‘Don’t Walk Away’.

Tony Mundey’s short set gave us Little Johnny Taylor ‘Zig Zag Lightning’ and another R&B offering this time with a funky groove, Cecil Garett and Fascinations ‘Bearcat’.

Gamekeeper and Dolly took us on the home straight.  Including some popcorn tracks, the pick of the bunch Clydie King ‘Only the Guilty Cry’. The big production, Jewel Akens ‘my First Lonely Night’. Dance magic with The Invitations ‘Watch out Little Girl’. Followed by the regretful tones of Paul Sindab ‘I’m a Fool’ and Bobby Blue Blands finest ‘I Ain’t Myself Anymore’.

A superb night of Soul music dancing and friendship came to an end far too soon, to the sound of Johnnie Mae Matthews ‘I Have No Choice’.