Have we gone full circle in Northernsoul?

Are we failing as a music scene?

Have we gone full circle in Northernsoul? Just been reading the posts about why we need DJ's, the great bun fight at Manifesto's Soul Night and Keb Darge - Scotland's Finest Export since Whiskey.

It seams to me that we have different groups who seam unable, unwilling or even uneasy to hear new and unfamiliar tunes and one of these groups seam to be on the up and up, are these all the people who left the Northernsoul scene when it was pronounced dead after the Casino closed?

I feel like I am about to paint my self into a corner but it is my personal opinion that we have a large group, who are now the majority, who stopped listening to Northernsoul after the casino and they have missed the third wave and a change in music when the likes of Richard Serling, Guy, Keb and Ady plugged away when all but the very faithful remained.

Now I do not intend to take any high ground because I was there, I was at that age, too young for the Casino I was amongst the group who where, as it turns out, to be privileged to hear and absorb the newer sounds. I believe that the legacy of this gives a more open minded approach to Northernsoul and that is why the likes of Middleton and now Maxim's separates some groups like oil and water, this is the only tragedy of Northernsoul.

Robbo once said to me that at the age of ten you have heard every sound you will ever hear and only the frequency will be different, but we were both off our tits at the time so this may well be bollox?

I can honestly say that a stop you in your tracks record is rarer than hens teeth, you more than likely need to hear some thing a few times before it sits well in your mental duke box and I think this is why a certain group don't or wont listen and dance to new stuff, to say its all shit is just a cop out, most of the Northernsoul records sound shite when played cold, try it on a none soulie.

If we are not carful we are going to become a pack of cats and dogs with those clinging to the likes of frank Wilson (nothing wrong with the track but the example stands) and the others who can and do want progressive new sounds.

I saw this kind of thing happen in the early eighties on the scooter scene when the Southerners and the Northerners met to find their particular takes on Mod where as different as chalk n cheese.

I also think that we have our fair share of shady promoters who just want to cram their venues with Soulies wearing baggy pants, no disrespect to baggy pants mind but you get my drift. (I do wear them from time to time)

I also think some of you DJ's need to remember us dancers more and at least bring the tempo mid way when the floor needs it, I will dance to anything new, I have danced to some howlers but I have also danced to music that sounded as if it had come from heaven. Dj's stop blaming the audience and the audience stop blaming the DJ's, just dance and enjoy it1

Lets get back to our Northernsoul roots and stop holding on so desperately to the past, you can listen to the snake on the way home.

sarahleen not you.

thanks imberboy. phew !

i sometimes worry on here , i think northerners can be a bit blunt sometimes but i dont think we mean to be rude or impolite . it just comes across that way sometimes i guess

"we like what we say and we say what we bloody well like "

I think the topic has now disintegrated into people taking pops at each other, time to close it I think.

keep the faith

simon owd luv

you started this post and now you are chickening out

a post like this was bound to cause robust arguements and polarize people but hey thats because some are passionate about our scene,

some of the music you post on facebook is diabolical simon , but can say that to your face we can still be mates though, think we can all agree on more things than we can find to disagree on , as been stated we are a broad church and most people on here who know you can put up with your squaddie mentality and barracks humour

and remember a friend is for life

not just for christmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YzfJjPfhXE

Thanks Barney, I just dont want any one to fall out, her is a record for ya xx I know you love it

Its one of my all time faves and one that made me look over the edge for soul.

I will go to hell for it I know but........... how can I tell her?

Iwouldnt say the scene is failing musically as there are soooo many events on each week it makes it so easy for individuals to get what they want from the scene and not having to travel so keeping expenditure down, more progressive events would be great and less non progressive events would be even better imho but really i think any problem there is out there is because of the amount of events on every given weekend, over 50 week in week out less is better i say

off topic posts removed

I understand the basics of the thread but not sure simon what the middleton,maximes and oil and water comes into it.. R the 2 mentioned venues the saviour of the scene....

Certainly not,just very popular venues for a lot of people. Been an interestin read this thread the strange world of the rare soul scene.If half the people that sound off on here supported venues,everywere would be full.

Edited October 2, 200915 yr by Soultown andy

I'll keep this short as these threads are a variation on many other threads that go around and around in circles.

Now, for me Im a Soul Music and Black Music fan in general. I first got in to Northern then Modern then Jazz and Funk. I love all genres but probably lean more towards the Modern Scene and Jazz stuff these days.

I still enjoy a good Northern Soul night and I will always enjoy the music both oldies and newies. However, I have to say i find many people, not all, on the Northern Scene, to be very closed minded about Soul Music. Each to their own and I would never fall out with some one over their musical tastes but I just dont get it. A whole night of just 6ts Northern gets a bit boring as would a whole night of any one style of Soul. I like a good mix of different black dance music but I recognise that Im in a minority and dont expect the Northern scene to cahnge to accomodate me.

I agree with the posts about the Northern Scene having turned in to a fancy dress party in some quarters. Its cringe worthy to put it mildly.