I was at the Radcliffe nighter last night and made my way in to Steve's room at 3am. What I heard simply blew me away. The music from the dj's in there was amazing. This is proper rare soul. Every genre was covered and the consistency and calibre of each record was staggering.

But where are the supposed 'big name' dj's? Why would they not want to sit in that room and listen to these amazing records? Are they scared of what they hear because they can't compete with that or does it genuinely not interest them?

Dj's like George, Val, Wayne and Paul are playing exciting, fresh and inspiring music but it almost seems like they get ignored in favour of the classics from 30 years ago.

What inspires the supposed 'big guns' of the soul scene? Are they happy filling dancefloors with oldies and safe bets? For me its lazy and boring and isn't really going anywhere.

Personally, I've been buzzing all day about some of the tunes I heard last night in that room. I've no idea what they are called, how much they are, what genre they even fall under, whether they are available on a cd or whether i'll even hear them again. But rooms like that make me realise that there's enough of these amazing records to keep me digging for a long time yet and most importantly keep me excited about it all.

I don't want this to be an oldies v's newies debate, its more about the attitude of the soul scene and how UN inspiring it can be at times compared to the total opposite in rooms like Steve's.

Maybe there's only a few of us that feel this way?

JOEY DELORENZO...........SURELY YOU'RE AVIN A LAUGH UP THERE IN THE BIGGEST PILE OF POP SHITE EVER

NEXT YOU'LL BE TELLING US YOU LIKE UP AND OVER JAY TRAYNOR LOL. THIS IS ALSO UP THERE ON THE SAME PILE OF SHITE

I have only been going to events for about 6 months after a 20plus year break so at first it was really great to hear oldies and to be honest made me feel young again! But there are lots of 'oldies' that aren't played and it seems to be the same old songs that are! Even after just 6 months I am hankering for newer, fresher sounds and enjoyed a Rare Soul Event at Bradford in February, knew some stuff but not many of them and I loved it. Tis great to hear quality soul music whether well known or not.

'When did get like this' It has always had an element of this, big rooms have always been about common denominator. Wigan, Yate, Cleethorpes, Stafford. At all of these venues you could look at the DJ line up and would know much of what was going to be played if you went regularly. There was never a time when DJ's went on and played one new thing after another. Even Richard in his hayday would play 80 % of his set the same as the week before at Wigan. Also many new things were played in smaller clubs first and then pick up on by other DJ's, so it was and so it always will be.

As for the ego thing often it's reversed, well known DJ's will pick up on a thing and play it and then it's the ego of another DJ that is hurt. 'It's not fair, why is everyone talking about this or that record he palyed, I played it 2-10 years ago'. Stop worring about what other DJ's do and make sure that you do the very best you can, that is play good music and entertain the paying public.

Lastly 'Punters need to set them free..... Never gonna happen, the majority will always feel more comfortable with what they know, it's human nature.

Like Arthur I have been sacked, not asked back to many venues for playing what ever!! and I strongly believe in new things being played. The more records that are played, then the more memories we will have. But it has to be done in balance.

Not much to add to this you could close the thread now for me.

I have only been going to events for about 6 months after a 20plus year break so at first it was really great to hear oldies and to be honest made me feel young again! But there are lots of 'oldies' that aren't played and it seems to be the same old songs that are! Even after just 6 months I am hankering for newer, fresher sounds and enjoyed a Rare Soul Event at Bradford in February, knew some stuff but not many of them and I loved it. Tis great to hear quality soul music whether well known or not.

Great post, especially bit's I've put in bold :thumbsup: