Radcliffe District Soul Club Formally The Shirt Club
Manchester Fri 15 Aug 2025

Goodbye to The Shirt, hello to St Mary's Catholic Social Club the new home of the renamed Radcliffe & District Soul Club. I always liked The Shirt with the exception of the stairs but it was time for a move. And in my opinion St Mary's is a better venue with a larger dance floor and better seating. Of course many of us will remember it as the home of the K&D Soul Club, run by Keiron Woodward and Diane R Parry, a very nice club, I even did a set there. I'd say the only downside to the venue is that it isn't easy parking.

We arrived to be greeted by Bob Spendlove looking good after his Spanish sojourn. Sam McConnell the first guest was on the decks. Good to see him, back from Thailand for a short visit, he's been missed by his friends. Sam likes uptempo tracks and he included the Mamselles' Open Up Your Heart plus R&B records like ZZ Hill's You Were Wrong and Lenny Johnson's Am I Still Your Fool, both of which I didn't know. Luckily Sandra, who knows her R&B recognised them.

Regular DJ Dave Cartlidge was unavailable so Dave Flint substituted for him. While Sandra has known him for years I only made his acquaintance a few months ago, a nice guy with phenomenal good taste musically. He got me out on the floor when he played Something About My Baby by The Sweets and followed it with Willie Kendricks' version of What's That On Your Finger.

Second guest Bernard Lowe took over from Dave continuing good soul music, including Almeta Latimore's These Memories, Sweep It Under The Shed, Tobi Lark's version I presume, Cajun Hart's Got To Find A Way, and It's Better by Reggie Alexander.

Bob followed Bernard and kept us on our feet with tunes like That's Why I Love You and Sweet Memories. He was then joined by Sam McConnell for a double decking finale to the night, I remember Sam playing the Floyd James version of Green Onions.

There were a good number in, that is good for the first night at a new venue, including some folk I'd not seen for a while at The Shirt, plus some newies.

Now looking forward to the next episode which is on Friday 5 September. My thanks to the DJs and to the staff of St Mary's.