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Soulvation Bar-B-Q @ Lea Hall,rugeley


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Many thanks to those who attended - trouble was there weren't enough people to create any atmopshere,

Some lovely folk did turn out, and they were treated to fantastic sets from the DJ's - very big thank you's to Rob Haigh,Ted Massey, Harpo, Bill Baker, Gary Holyman,Nige Brown,John Fisher, and Jellyban & Mart. I was proud of the music this all-Midlands DJ line up conjured up, but I cannot justify charging people to come out on a Saturday night, and have to listen to music (however superlative) in an half empty room..

The music (lots of underplayed stuff, some classics, all great Soul) was outstanding, but as the poor turnout shows not appreciated by those in the area who would rather hear the same 100 Oldies one after another. At events like our annual Catacombs reunion lashings of non stop classics gives you goosebumps, but how can you be into Rare Soul and not want to hear something new for the first time(cue the Willie Jones discovery which shares the same backing track as Jackie Beavers "I Need My Baby" to get the adrenalin rushing) instead of the same old same old every weekend? It's a Northern Soul version of Groundhog Day .Get a life, or better still come up to our Soulvation Modern Room at Radcliffe, and,,er, ..Change Your Ways.

Personally,It's a shame that it has come to this but after 11 mostly hugely enjoyable years of co-promoting and then solo promoting at Lea Hall,, six of them under the Soulvation banner, it is obviously me that is out of out of synch with "what the peope want" ..but if I hear one more request for Frank Wilson I I fear I will start screaming.

I love Lea Hall as a venue, but it has got to the stage where I am more enthused about the other (and popular) Soulvation events - Newquay Weekender, Great Wyrley FC (next one is Wolverhampton Old Vic/Cavendish Suite Official Reunion with the original DJ's Chris Plant - Neil Rushton - Harpo - Mick Holdsworth from that great groundbreaking venue where you heard so many new tunes every month the current "We Want Oldies,The Same Old Oldies Every Week" brigade would have had a heart attack), and the return to the front line of one of the Midlands most iconic Rare Soul venues, Queen Mary Ballroom @ Dudley Zoo.

It is fair enough that people vote with their feet, but over the past 2 yearsat Lea Hall I have so much ill-argued abuse from so called Soul fans with crap taste (in my opinion) and even more crap manners, it has soured things for me. I mean if you are going to have a go, at least know enough basic stuff not to tell me you are boycotting Lea Hall because too many new records are played ,and instead you are going to a "a club where they play proper Northern Soul" but is in fact one of the UK's leading cutting edge 100% Modern venues.

To probably misqutoe Dave Godin (can you imagine what the great progressive visionary who was dedicated to introducing NEW MUSIC to his readers would have made of the oldies only stalwarts?) I would rather drink muddy ditchwater old son, than take serously some pillock who thinks paying me £6 gives him the right to be an abusive prat..

It's a mostly free word, but if all people want to listen to is a non stop stream of t "Gone With The Wind Is My Love", "Nobody But Me" and "There's A Ghost In My House" then it's a shit show. The same stalwarts must be sick that Peter Osgood, George Best, Norman Hunter and Nobby Stiles don't still appear on Match Of The Day every Saturday night. OLDIES ARE GREAT IN THE RIGHT CONTEXT (like the annual December 30 "Eve Of New Year's Eve" bash at Lea Hall, funnily enough,and I am looking forward to doing an 100% Oldies DJ set at the he next Crossfire) BUT NOT ALL THE BLOODY TIME.

To be clear nobody who was there on Saturday night moaned, - I did not receve one complaint - but if anyone felt lt down by the poor turn out and consequent lack of atmosphere then I apologise.

Neil

PS - But the burgers and hot dogs were great. Top job Melvin,

PPS - Extra,Extra Read All About It, Headline News,Wigan Casino closed Dec 6/7, 1981. Really.

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MY PLAYLIST

O'Jays..........."Just to be with you"

Lifestyle......"Trying to make it up to you"

Lakeside......"Eveready man"

Ron Matlock......."You got the best of me"

Visitors......."Something to be worthwhile"

Rena Scott....."We can make it better"

Bill Spoon......"Love is on the way"

Bileo......"You can win"

Webster Lewis...."Let me be the one"

Al Mason....."Good loving" 12" remix

TSU Tornadoes...."What good am i"

Chimes....."The beggining of my life"

Controllers....."Pictures and memories"

Ronnie Savoy......"Loving you"

Jimmy Soul Clark......"Tell her"

Otis Clay......"Show place"

Fred Hughes....."Don't bring me down"

Spyder Turner....."You're good enough for me"

Invitations...."Look on the good side"

Originals......"Don't stop now"

John Gary Williams...."The whole damned world is going crazy"

Wee....."Try me"

Good to be back out after a lay off to accomodate Sangi's ill health, had lots of great nights at Lea Hall over the years, it set the standard for venues in and around the Cannock area.

Got there for the last half of workmate Bob's spot, clasy stuff!!! The Ted proceeds to play music that leaves me in awe, it was a journey through great and in many cases expensive rare soul killers, sadly missed by many due to its time slot. Had to play him up, asking if he could ease off the quality towards the end, as i was on next, i know what i would have said if said to me, but it was just banter.

In hindsight i can confirm my feelings at the time, and i didnt let down the guys, with a differen slant, playing through the 60's to 80's, and concentrating on what i believe to be quality tunes, very enjoyable , and well recieved.

John Fisher was next a great spot, with a few new ones to my ear, but i would have expected nothing else!

Finally befor having to leave to play at the Poma tribut for Sean and Sammy, i caught Bill Bakers early plays, he sent us on our way with, "Girl i love you" Garland Green, and lastly a favourite of mine i hadnt heard for a long time out, Edward Hamilton and the Natural Looks "My darling baby"

No fear of saying i missed the later spots that were equally good, but next time!

Thanks to Neil for asking, to Maz for her words of support, and finally to everyone on behalf of Sandi, for their concern and best wishes.

Harpo

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Oh Neil I really don't know what to say on this night it was such a strange night , I agree the atmosphere was lacking but my goodness some great music was played personally it was worth coming for Teds set alone for me as he played virtually my top five sounds . I was saying that if I owned that box it would be attached to me at all times.

I can't express the amount of pleasure I received in hearing all those sounds in the one set !

We got there early as you know because we wanted to at least support the earlier Dj's as at dayers these tend to get the lesser numbers , Ialways lean to the earlier sets as I think you get the underplayed and better sounds at that time, plus we thought more would be around at midnight. Which as it turned out was the case more came later than sooner.

All the Dj's played very adventurous and soulful sets , I didn't hear a bad tune all night and I was impressed with many a sound from each one of the Djs that I heard play.

What I admired most about them all was they didn't buckle under the pressure of a lack of participation by the people that were there ( dancing ) There was a point where I did wonder if this type of event would work in this location. Not knowing the area that well I would have thought it would have had a better vibe ?

I think going to a smaller room is the right way to go if you want to promote whats in your heart , that's not to say oldies arn't , if you know what I mean.

It just feels like you want to do more the underplayed side of things. If you had that number in upstairs it would have been a disaster. My goodness what a contrast to Newquay eh ?

I don't know what to suggest really perhaps its not worth your trouble ? or perhaps it would be better to have a change of venue , much smaller that wont cost much and expect 15-30 people to enjoy and share a soul passion session ?

To perhaps focus on the things you enjoy doing because saturday must have been soul destroying for you.

I have been to do's where they listen , and this can be the case sometimes , but you see feet tappin people talking and laughing... I didn't see that saturday , it was like dead pan ? I must admit I would have buckled and stuck some known tunes but underplayed like say Sam E solo Love is not game or perhaps Roscoe Robinsons Thats enough .. do you think that would have got them up ?

Life is too short mate to struggle trying to take a horse to water and go through a pain barrier every time you try.

I applaude all those that I heard play you were all very brave and I personally enjoyed every one of the sets .

I wish I could have danced more but wore those bloody skyskrapers again. ( My feet were all bent and out of shape in the morning )

We left around midnight , which was 5 hours in , plus my tooth started to kick off again and I thought it would be best to return home and try and settle it.

What a shame that you get the feeling the interest just isn't there because that room would be brilliant if it could just lift a lttle.

Now what would be nice would be to see is if some people tell me I am talkking a load of rubbish and try and fight for something that could be amazing in Rugely.

Edited by Carms
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What an HONEST , LIKE IT IS review of Sat and Things in Geneal Neil

I APPLAUD YOU!!

I have been honoured to have been part of the SOULVATION Team :lol:

Its been a real pleasure for me TO DJ FOR YAS MATE :lol:

No one can fault your passion ,enthusiam in trying to create a GENUINNE accross the board SOUL MUSIC evening

I now think the phrase " Northern SOUL" is a bit of a curse when promoting !

The music as far as i was concerned was SUPERB!!

Heres my 45 Mins from memory

RHONDA DAVIES -- CAN YOU REMEMBER -- DUKE Dem

PATTI YOUNG ------HEAD & SHOULDERS -- ERNSTRAT

PATTI AUSTIN -- GIVIN ALL MY LOVE - CORAL

TONY HESTER -- WATCH YOURSELF -- KARATE

SAM WILLIAMS - LOVE SLIPPED THROUGH MY FINGERS - TOWER Demo

JAMES FOUNTAIN - SEVEN DAY LOVER - PEACHTREE

WILLIE TEE -- FIRST TASTE OF HURT - GATUR

ROBERT PARKER - CAUGHT YOU IN A LIE -- NOLA Demo

LIL MAJOR WILLIAMS - GIRL DONT LEAVE ME - WILLIAMS III

LUTHER - DONT WANNA BE A FOOL - COTILLION

DIFFERENCES - FIVE MINUTES - MON'CA

BONNIE HERMAN - HUSH DONT CRY - COLUMBIA Demo

FABULOUS APOLOS - THE ONE ALONE -VALTONE

ADAMS APPLES - DONT TAKE IT OUT ON NEIL RUSHTON- BRUSWICK Demo

ELLUSIONS - YOU DODNT HAVE TO LEAVE -- LAMON

PAPA BEAR & CUBS - YOUR SO FINE - SMS ( REQUEST)

MASQUADERS - THATS THE SAME THING - SOULTOWN

Keep ya chin up Neil it was musicall and socially a top few hours!!

Nige

Edited by Nige Brown
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Couldnt agree more with you Neil. People need to get off there arses and listen to something different for a change. I go to venues and sometimes wished id stayed in and know that i could play better sounds in my living room.

People are stuck in an oldies rut sometimes , too many d.j's play the same old same old , week after week month after month. Theyre to scared to play something new or different.

Saturday was a breath of fresh air to me , i knew lots played , also there was lots i didnt know , but bloody hell i enjoyed every tune played. EVERY d.j played brilliant sets and they should all be proud of themselves. There is more to life than boring old northern folks...Try a bit of crossover or modern for a change or even a bit of R n B if thats your taste..................go on you just might like it.

Well done Neil , you at least try your hardest .

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bitterly disappointed for you neil, i refused any remuneration on the grounds that no person who endeavours to put on a gig and breaks their back to make it a success, should feel honour bound to pay their djs at a substantial loss....a big, wholehearted thanks to those who did make the effort to travel and were royally entertained. RECORDS REPEATED? = ZERO!, BOG STANDARD?.....TOTAL MYTH!, QUALITY?....BY THE SPADE!!.

well impressed with uncle ted,...i noted his playbox was colour-coded in order of rareity and value....YELLOW - RED - GREEN!!:lol::yes: bit like butch's sales box you know,...work right to left and the price goes up!, top drawer tunes though and infact everybody concerned contributed great sets: nige brown, bill baker, paul and sandi, jellybean and mart, john fisher and of course, our host mr. neil rushton...oh,....and lest i forget,...the silver fox, gary holyman, purveyor of some wonderful unissued material....SPOILT FOR CHOICE WE WERE!!.

and then...of course, there was little ole me...

A PLAYLIST ON SOULSOURCE? YOU ARE JOKING?? well i spun a few bits and pieces, nothin outlandish you understand!

6 -7 set one:

detroit spinners - memories of her love keep haunting me - unissued

supremes - dont let true love die - unissued

tommy tucker - thats how much - festival

luther - dont wanna be a fool - cotillion

lovelites - oh what a day - lovelite

albert jones - up to the sun - bumpshop

skip jackson - im onto you girl - dot-mar

identities - when you find love slipping away - together

jean battle - ive got to come in - clintone

spinners - ive got to make it on my own - atlantic

pamela stanley - that'll be the day - emi int.

the new sound - dont take your love - p-vine

hearts of stone - what does it take - vip

jackie wilson - somebody up there likes you - coral

soulettes - let me be the one - scope

jerry butler - the right track - unissued

1 - 2 set two ;

isonics - sugar - kammy

trends - gonna have to show you - abc

denis edwards - take him back - unissued

isley brothers - my love is your love - alternate take

pat & the blenders - just because - fast eddie

ronnie mcneir - isnt she a pretty girl - de-to

dee dee warwick - dont you ever give up on me - mercury

mary wheeler - i feel in my heart - atom

mamie lee - i can feel him slipping away - mgm

sweet three - thats the way it is - decca

paula parfitt - runaway - c/up

liz verdi - think it over - columbia

dean barlow - third window from the right - lescay

baby washington - leave me alone - sue

tobi lark - sweep it out in the shed - topper

vicky baines country girl - parkway

ritchie adams - i cant escape from you - congress

florence devore - kiss me now, dont kiss me later - phi-dan

ruby winters - better - diamond

darrell banks - im the one who loves you - volt :thumbsup:

hope that sounded alright?....TIME TO FIND SOME SALVATION.....WITH SOULVATION

AS BERRY GORDY SAID: "IF IT AINT IN THE GROOVES,....IT AINT GOT IT"

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Couldnt agree more with you Neil. People need to get off there arses and listen to something different for a change. I go to venues and sometimes wished id stayed in and know that i could play better sounds in my living room.

People are stuck in an oldies rut sometimes , too many d.j's play the same old same old , week after week month after month. Theyre to scared to play something new or different.

Saturday was a breath of fresh air to me , i knew lots played , also there was lots i didnt know , but bloody hell i enjoyed every tune played. EVERY d.j played brilliant sets and they should all be proud of themselves. There is more to life than boring old northern folks...Try a bit of crossover or modern for a change or even a bit of R n B if thats your taste..................go on you just might like it.

Well done Neil , you at least try your hardest .

Sad, but not surprised is how I would sum up Saturday night at Soulvation.

For many months now Neil has been fighting a losing battle with this venue, and, if ? he has now decided to call time then I for one would not blame him, in fact I would have pulled the plug a lot sooner.

The lack of local souls in attendance (who claim to like Proressive Soul) over the last 18 months, is, quite frankly a disgrace.

Unfortuanatley in 2010, (IMHO) the soul scene in the UK is split into so many factions that it is impossible to satisfy everyone in one night.

The nighter scene is generally alive and well (finding new tunes) as are the Modern (Y2K) venues, the major weekenders, both at home and abroad are thriving. Crossover nights are still slowly moving forward,with apologies I don't know enough about the R&B scene to comment.

The Northern "Oldies" scene however, particularly in the West Midlands has now become an embarassment to anyone who really cares about this truly wonderfull music of ours.To coin a phrase used by ###### (you know who you are) Its........ become the "New Bingo" ..............a cheap night out for the over fifties, where....... the same old shite is churned out, week in week out.

Organised by people with and for.... (mainly) intollerant people with little musical immagination and with even less ambition. Anyone trying to promote a night, employing credible guest Djs (who need to be paid) in a nice venue ( that needs to be paid for) will usually find that someone has put on a night for £2 .............or free of charge the night before, thus ensuring a diluted audience.If thats your bag then fine but pass me a litre of that "Dirty Ditch Water" please.

I have no doubt that the last paragraph will infuriate the "baggie trousers brigade", and they will argue that "we get the numbers", however the revivalist period (at its height five years ago) is now well and truly over guys, and I am genuinly sorry but it ain't gonna come back a third time !!!

(TIME WILL PASS YOU BY)

I have every sympathy with Neils frustratations (eminent in his post) however, maybe its time to move on and to "stop banging your head against the wall" Soul is an enjoyable part of , but, certainly ain't the most important part of life.

The " UK SOUL SCENE" is very much alive and well.

Edited by local
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This really is very sad because you have such great talented collectors in this region , the selections on the night were superb in fact you know how can have these clubs where you have your private dancer I felt like i had my own private Dj in Ted lol ... must get him a pole :thumbsup: Yes I can see him giving it some to lets get together ( its going to be my mission to get him to sell this record to Browny )

Really don't be too down about it guys the rarer underplayed cuts will always come through in one shape or another like I said before , aim for a smaller crowd if you want to carry on in this location perhaps incorporate some pub grub before it ?.

Just a thought Perhaps the dj's will just share and not charge , at the end of the day we get a great night out with a nice bunch of mates and get to hear what we want to hear not what we would like the mass to enjoy ?

Like I said you can't make the horse drink .And only two can have a party if they have the mind set.

Pity you can't get a room for free , with a small sound system and just have a meet-up where no money is charged but if someone wants to put some cash in the jar , bit like a museum , they just put some coins in to share amongst the players.. You know a bit like guys that get together and show their scooters off ... only with records the Toggle club !

As the bishop said to the actress it starts small but ends up Massssssssive !

Hope my post has cheered you up .. Keep the faith and straighten the wrist John :thumbsup:

Carms

x

Edited by Carms
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Neil you are wonderful and have always, over the many years, kept pushing so the music remained cutting edge and fresh - don't let those who want to stand still suck the energy out of you to carry on doing what you have always done so well.

Lorraine

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Guest karen b

Hi Neil,

I am saddened to read this thread, but it did remind me of a bit of misery thrown at the Lifeline crew after a niter at the stables

which I think is about in your area, by people from the area.

Apparently they were challenged on the night by someone for their money back and the whole thing kicked off on this very forum

by one sentence in reply to Dolly, she had said she was gutted not to be there, and the reply was simple 'gutted I was'.................

well it panned out that the person who was not happy to be there was accused of being a Wannabe DJ which was furiously denied,

of course as it has panned out over the year or more since this happened that not only have they turned out to 'have a box of fifty'lol

but do now dj at the other stables night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!under the 100% oldies banner and the other odd events locally and will play

Just like a Yo Yo if requested! All makes very interesting reading and agenda led, I am not prepared to name and shame but is on ss lookbacks if anyone can be bothered to trawl through.

I was at the same niter and had a great time and musically was a typical Lifeline, fantastic for me.

Sad thing is I truly believe that what is played by the forward venues playing rare soul is always picked up five years after the event by the stalwarts of Northern it just takes longer for them to embrace and this is not just a Midlands/Black Country thing.

The conversation with Marc Forrest on his way back to Stansted yesterday was interesting to say the least, he was surprised that the gap or chasm is very wide and getting more so every week in the UK.

I will finish up with a phrase I first heard at Wigan ....."Keep the Faith DON' T Spread It"

Karen x

Edited by karen b
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Guest karen b

Neil you are wonderful and have always, over the many years, kept pushing so the music remained cutting edge and fresh - don't let those who want to stand still suck the energy out of you to carry on doing what you have always done so well.

Lorraine

Hi Lorraine,

well said, hope to see you both soon.yes.gif

Love Karen xxx

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Hi Neil,

I am saddened to read this thread, but it did remind me of a bit of misery thrown at the Lifeline crew after a niter at the stables

which I think is about in your area, by people from the area.

Apparently they were challenged on the night by someone for their money back and the whole thing kicked off on this very forum

by one sentence in reply to Dolly, she had said she was gutted not to be there, and the reply was simple 'gutted I was'.................

well it panned out that the person who was not happy to be there was accused of being a Wannabe DJ which was furiously denied,

of course as it has panned out over the year or more since this happened that not only have they turned out to 'have a box of fifty'lol

but do now dj at the other stables night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!under the 100% oldies banner and the other odd events locally and will play

Oceans of Love, Nancy Wilson if requested! All makes very interesting reading and agenda led, I am not prepared to name and shame but is on ss lookbacks if anyone can be bothered to trawl through.

I was at the same niter and had a great time and musically was a typical Lifeline, fantastic for me.

Sad thing is I truly believe that what is played by the forward venues playing rare soul is always picked up five years after the event by the stalwarts of Northern it just takes longer for them to embrace and this is not just a Midlands/Black Country thing.

The conversation with Marc Forrest on his way back to Stansted yesterday was interesting to say the least, he was surprised that the gap or chasm is very wide and getting more so every week in the UK.

I will finish up with a phrase I first heard at Wigan ....."Keep the Faith DON' T Spread It"

Karen x

Karen I was just about to do my lookback for Saturday night,but I noticed your comment,so before I say my bit can you please tell me why you felt the need to bring this up about Lifeline?????

And if you have a problem with me why didn't you come and introduce yourself to me on Saturday night and tell me all about it?????

I wouldn't mind but the facts are misleading,plus I don't even know you!!!

And if I were you I'd have left the "name & shame" bit out of your comment,because its pretty obvious that it is directed towards me.You have used me as a scape goat to prove a point and its totally inappropriate!!!

Oh and by the way what does Oceans of love by Nancy Wilson go like lol ????? Cuz I ain't got it!!! no.gif

Don't forget 100% OLDIES NIGHT @ THE STABLES 25th SEPTEMBER 8 - 2.30 SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!! :lol:

JB

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Hi Karen

What you probably dont realise ,,,,, Helen ( Jellybean) and her Hubby Martin,,, where nothing bet supportive for the Soulvation Event on Saturday!

They even supplied the Sound System for the Event and were part of the Team on Saturday!

I wasnt at the Lifeline event you quoted so i really dont know all the details but i really coulbnt see the point of bringing all that up again !!

To be fair you werent even there,,,, and i cant see that you ever would attend in the West Mids apart from Lifeline etc

Mart and Helen are passionate about the music i KNOW that for a fact and for people who dont REALLY know them or to believe all the shite they read on this forum is a bit rich i think!

We cant all have Boomerang/ / Europe girl lol wink.gif

Hope you and Pete are good

Love n SOUL

Nige B

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Guest karen b

Nige, you know full well the amount of travelling we do, always went to Albrighton, USOS if thats close enough, Rose Royce

and Dave Thorleys thing at the Aston Villa ground, Birmingham Locarno and Hinkley also saw our money.rolleyes.gif

What I was trying to get across was my support for Neil and try to explain how vocal people in the local area can sometimes be when not happy.angry.gif

Helen I am sorry for the Nancy Wilson mention, I meant Just like a Yo Yo, I have had to wade back through some of your 3288 posts to check my facts, and can only wish you well in whatever you do in the future.

No doubt Carms will be next to post on my comments, before you do though, great Idea about the meal before the eventwink.gif

I know when I am beat, so Love to Nige and Carms, see you both soon,

Neil may see you on my way to work

and Peace and Goodwill to All.thumbup.gif

Karen xxx

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No doubt Carms will be next to post on my comments, before you do though, great Idea about the meal before the eventwink.gif

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Am I so predictable Karen ? :lol: I am dissapointed I want to be unpredictable rolleyes.gif

These are my views ... and my views alone as nobody has agreed with them :sleep3:

To get back to the matter in hand we really should respect the fact that most ( the majority) of people in this area have been voting with their feet.

Maybe they were locked up here for the night

See photo , well worth a visit if you go to Rugely

It's what They have CHOSEN to do and we have to ACCEPT that as they are adullts and can make their own minds up.

If it was my baby I wouldn't insult them by preaching that they should be more adventurous in what they should be spending their money on and spending their free time doing.

I would rather coax them into my soulful web , entice them with a nice unpretentious environment where they are free to listen and maybe come back for more. And if they bring food all the better wink.gif

Or I wouldn't bother trying and spend the time going to a function that was going to please me personally. Its supposed to be enjoyable at the end of the day

I applaud Neil for trying and if he went down the cosy toggle snug route I would support him knowing that maybe it would be a small WELCOMING party

post-9590-020591800 1282112961_thumb.jpg

Edited by Carms
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These are my views ... and my views alone as nobody has agreed with them :yes:

To get back to the matter in hand we really should respect the fact that most ( the majority) of people in this area have been voting with their feet.

It's what They have CHOSEN to do and we have to ACCEPT that as they are adullts and can make their own minds up.

If it was my baby I wouldn't insult them by preaching that they should be more adventurous in what they should be spending their money on and spending their free time doing.

I would rather coax them into my soulful web , entice them with a nice unpretentious environment where they are free to listen and maybe come back for more. And if they bring food all the better :no:

Or I wouldn't bother trying and spend the time going to a function that was going to please me personally. Its supposed to be enjoyable at the end of the day

I applaud Neil for trying and if he went down the cosy toggle snug route I would support him knowing that maybe it would be a small WELCOMING party

Hi Carms,

Your comments are very well observed and impartial.

You are correct people have voted with their feet, and as you state, they are adults and can make their own minds up as to where they spend their time and money.

I started my original post by saying that it is almost impossible these days to put on a night that doesn't specialise in one of the many accepted genres.This is proven by the recent demise of what once were very popular "across the board" venues,Willington & Broad Lane are to name just two, (others are suffering falling attendance and only survive through the benevolance of the promoters). Why is this so ?

You say that you would entice people into a "nice unpretentious enviroment", by that I assume you mean, one where people are familiar with most of the records played and then drip a few new ones in.This is how it used to work, hence things like Drizabone, Kirk Franklin, DJ Genisis etc etc came to be such favorites in the big rooms.

You attended most of the Soulvation events at Lea Hall last year, can you honestly say that the music policy was orientated towards the extreme.......I think you would agree , it wasn't.

Most nights usually ran something like this :-

8-9............ Alan & Pat Carter.................classic northern

9 - 9 -30 Max ...............a .bit of everthing but usually leaning towards Northern

9-30 - 10-45 Myself................... 70s, 80s a bit of well known Y2k

10 45 - 11 - 30 Nige Brown .............Northern and a few nighter sounds.

11- 30 - 12 -30 The Guest...............usually a northern based set with a few exclusives and unknowns thrown in.

12 - 30 - finish Max (occasionally Neil) ..........Classic Northern, Motown

When you really analize it, it was hardly cutting edge at all , and was certainley nothing to get upset about.

One of un - answerable and hard to accept facts about Soulvation @ Lea Hall is, why people ( and there is a lot of them ) who in conversation claimed to want things a "bit more progresive" couldn't be bothered to turn up.If they had done so maybe the atmosphere would have been that much more condusive to a succesfull night.

In my opinion there a several reasons why across the board nights particularly in the Midlands cant get the attendances, namely............

Too many events within too small an area. In December last year, and within a 12 mile radius of Rugeley , an amazing 10 different nights were available.The majority of these were either free of charge or a couple of quid admission.To put on a quality event (with expenses) is always going to be a struggle unless its a nighter or specificly targeted genre were travellers form the backbone of the attendees.

The vast majority (not all) of people attending local soul venues were in the mid 70s, "On the fringes" and rarely or, never went to venues like The Torch, Blackpool,Wigan etc. That doesnt make them any less worthy, but the reallity is they arn't that bothered as long as they get their fix of "Northern" once or twice a month, as long as they dont have to put in any effort to get there or pay very much for it,and only if the music on offer stays within their comfort zone.Four or Five years ago the revivalist "lets re live our youth" period was at its height and as such attendances were booming, sadly this is no longer the case.

The out and out Y2k venues are going from strength to strength at the moment, city centre venues like The Jazz club on Broad Street, Birmingham are rammed each weekend and both attract a generally younger audience.

Most of the nighters "Lifeline",Radcliffe etc do good numbers and the smaller crossover events such as Dab of Soul, "The Soulfull Sessions" and my own venue , "Nu Soulutions" are going well by attracting travellers (locals probably only making up for 10%) however unless we move with the times and attract a younger element to our events "Time will indeed pass us by"

None of this post is meant to be negative or aimed at any particular person or individual event, its just my observations on Saturday night and across the board soul in 2010. It is in essence what i tried to say in my first post (which on reading back was a tad aggresive)laugh.gif

Edited by local
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Nige, you know full well the amount of travelling we do, always went to Albrighton, USOS if thats close enough, Rose Royce

and Dave Thorleys thing at the Aston Villa ground, Birmingham Locarno and Hinkley also saw our money.rolleyes.gif

What I was trying to get across was my support for Neil and try to explain how vocal people in the local area can sometimes be when not happy.angry.gif

Helen I am sorry for the Nancy Wilson mention, I meant Just like a Yo Yo, I have had to wade back through some of your 3288 posts to check my facts, and can only wish you well in whatever you do in the future.

No doubt Carms will be next to post on my comments, before you do though, great Idea about the meal before the eventwink.gif

I know when I am beat, so Love to Nige and Carms, see you both soon,

Neil may see you on my way to work

and Peace and Goodwill to All.thumbup.gif

Karen xxx

Thanks for the half hearted apology Karen,although it wasn't the mention of the record that I was bothered about,it was dragging all that up about Lifeline that got me wound up!! :yes: Especially when there was no need for it and as Nige as mentioned you weren't even there on Saturday,but you knew full well I was and knew that I would be reading this thread.

As far as I can see it seems you have a BIG problem with me ever since that Lifeline night and have left it a long long time to voice your opinion of me!!How SAD are you for trawling through some of my 4106 posts (not 3288 as you stated lol)

And not only have you slagged me off,but you've also slagged off the Stables oldies nights,that happen to be the roots of Northern soul,or have you forgotten that?Last month we had soulies there that prefer the rarer side like yourself,but they all commented on the quality of music that they heard and said they were very pleasantly surprised by it all and they all had a fantastic time!!!!!

Also I am no wannabe dJ,I was encouraged to carry on d'jyin after doing a one off charity night that Max Millward (THE EPITOME OF NORTHERN SOUL) asked me to do.He must have seen something in me after that night to encourage me like he did these past 5 years or so BLESS HIM. wub.gif

And Neil me & Mart are very saddened that you've decided to call it a day at Lea Hall,we have had some great nights there these last few years and will continue to support you when ever we can. :no:

Here is our playlist for what its worth started off with some classics first off and all OVO!!

Bobby Garrett - My little girl

Billy Butler - Right track

Garnett Mimms - Prove it to me

Jr Walker - I ain't going nowhere

Gladys Knight - Noone could love you more

Bobby Taylor - Oh I've been blessed

Gwen Davies - My man don't think I know

Dorothy Williams - Watchdog

Fontella Bass - My good lovin

Little Willie John - I'm shakin

Four tracks - Like my love for you

Barbara Mason - You better stop it

Collins & Collins - Top of the stairs

Ella Woods - I need your love

Bobby Reed - The time s right for love

Bessie Banks - Don't you worry baby

Carl Hall - Mean it baby

Daddy Maxfiled - I've always been in love with you

Connie Laverne - Can't live without you baby

Teddy Randanzo - You don't need a heart

JB

Edited by JELLYBEAN
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Guest karen b

sorry to post again,

but I have made no derogatory remarks about the stables oldies night, and wish it well.yes.gif

and I too love my oldies.wink.gif

Karen

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None of this post is meant to be negative or aimed at any particular person or individual event, its just my observations on Saturday night and across the board soul in 2010. It is in essence what i tried to say in my first post (which on reading back was a tad aggresive):boxing:

------------------

I think you are all just hurting a little bit and its understandable you have all put a lot into it.

I would agree the bounderies were never really stretched at Rugely too far because those that attended didn't encourage it. But you did try and full credit for trying. And that opinion is based on my few visits . I have never seen this venue packed over the last year say.

My opinion is that Rugely in the last 12 months tried to please everyone instead of having one main focus and unfortunately the "everyone " banner is a hard banner to maintain. It was like a battle of wills. I can't speak for before 2009 as I have no experience of this venue in its heyday.

I will say it again don't give up hope , just set your expectations a little lower , a smaller room with a smaller crowd .

Big turn out events will always be the home for traditional Northern soul enthusiasts and like you said there is loads of them in that area so people will go for the best fit , be it price and location environment and personalities.

With the cutting edge rare and underplayed environment, you are in a specialized market place where you depend on people travelling and if we are realistic it is a much smaller band of people. Its never going to be a big crowd , but it will be the RIGHT crowd for that event.

I must end on a High note .... I will never forget ( as per the Tempo's) hearing such classy tunes in one complete set on that afternoon.... it was bliss to my ears.

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  • 2 weeks later...

This is the 1st time for a few weeks that we have had the p.c. up and running after the thing went and blue screened on us g.gif:wicked:.

Coming on here to catch up on things has left me feeling quite proud of most comments made by fellow soul bro's and sisters, at long last more and more of you are voicing your true heartfelt feelings about the state in which the scene is in and has been for many a year.

In a way l'm happy now that our p.c. was out of commisssion because as most who know me know l have no reservations about speaking my mind, over the years it wears you down to try and encourage "stuck in the mud soulies" to progress forward.

I'm not gonna get on my "Soap Box", l'll still voice my opinions when and how l feel fit to, but casting pearls before swine was turning out to be a very costly affair, l'm not into wasting money and time on lost causes.

After saying that though l applaude everyone who has posted a supportive and soul uplifting comment on here for a great promoter, and friend, lt makes a refreshing change to read on here that peeps are in full agreement with Neil and giving him verbal backing.

Are we going to be united in backing a pysical war, it's about time we thought back.

John Fisher made a very poignant point that l and Paul saw many years ago about the demise of the "Modern soul scene" and John l fully agree at the moment that scene is now done and dusted , however l refuse to believe lt is dead buried.

I have my own views and idea's on how it could be salvaged but thats for future debate.

Neil whatever you choose to do in advancement of forward moving events we will be there right next to you with all the support and encouragement we can possibly give.

Helen you had every right to reply, the unfortunate events surrounding the lifeline thing should be left where it ended.....way back months ago in the past. Lifeline has'nt suffered to it detriment, it's still this countries biggest rare soul all-nighter, and you have continued to be a part of the scene in the west mids gone out and enjoyed yourself. End of.....is'nt that what it's all about??

Last thought the D.J. on the night played to their audience, sadly much to my frustration as all records played were right up my street, alas l was on crutches after having surgery to my leg. :).

Sandi x

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