I write this as a fan of one of the longest running and greatest underground music scene's ever and proud of it, but a scene which now seems full of conflicting opinions and politics!

I get very irritated when at a soul night, I often get asked the same questions?

How long have you been into soul music? did you go to va va's/wigan/torch/twisted wheel/cleethorpes/samanthas? -to name a few iconic 70's & early 80's allniters/soul nights!

If i dare to reply with a NO these people look at you in disbelief and then tell you've never lived and therefore are not worthy of being a soul musin fan!

I don't want to sound like I didn't appreciate these great venues at the time, as there wouldn't be a healthy soul scene today if it wasn't for these nights, but it dosen't encourage new & younger people to seek out the current soul scene, if they feel they'll be quized by the "soul gestapo"!

The soul gestapo are trying to hold on to a era which has gone & not forgotten, and totally want to re-live all again maybe after having time out of the scene to have a family/career etc.

We need to realise that times have changed/progressed and what does the future hold for the current soul scene? There's now access to more diverse soul music and these new sounds should be embraced rather than slated! I feel however that the new and old DJ's on the scene are being slated for not playing some "favourite floor stomper" from over 30 years ago?! If they give it a chance the "soul gestapo" may hear and like some of the new sound which could possibly become future favourites??

Here's to another 30 years

I write this as a fan of one of the longest running and greatest underground music scene's ever and proud of it, but a scene which now seems full of conflicting opinions and politics!

I get very irritated when at a soul night, I often get asked the same questions?

How long have you been into soul music? did you go to va va's/wigan/torch/twisted wheel/cleethorpes/samanthas? -to name a few iconic 70's & early 80's allniters/soul nights!

If i dare to reply with a NO these people look at you in disbelief and then tell you've never lived and therefore are not worthy of being a soul musin fan!

I don't want to sound like I didn't appreciate these great venues at the time, as there wouldn't be a healthy soul scene today if it wasn't for these nights, but it dosen't encourage new & younger people to seek out the current soul scene, if they feel they'll be quized by the "soul gestapo"!

The soul gestapo are trying to hold on to a era which has gone & not forgotten, and totally want to re-live all again maybe after having time out of the scene to have a family/career etc.

We need to realise that times have changed/progressed and what does the future hold for the current soul scene? There's now access to more diverse soul music and these new sounds should be embraced rather than slated! I feel however that the new and old DJ's on the scene are being slated for not playing some "favourite floor stomper" from over 30 years ago?! If they give it a chance the "soul gestapo" may hear and like some of the new sound which could possibly become future favourites??

Here's to another 30 years

Who the hell let this guy on here.

He's actually talking sense

Great post Realsoulman

I write this as a fan of one of the longest running and greatest underground music scene's ever and proud of it, but a scene which now seems full of conflicting opinions and politics!

I get very irritated when at a soul night, I often get asked the same questions?

How long have you been into soul music? did you go to va va's/wigan/torch/twisted wheel/cleethorpes/samanthas? -to name a few iconic 70's & early 80's allniters/soul nights!

If i dare to reply with a NO these people look at you in disbelief and then tell you've never lived and therefore are not worthy of being a soul musin fan!

I don't want to sound like I didn't appreciate these great venues at the time, as there wouldn't be a healthy soul scene today if it wasn't for these nights, but it dosen't encourage new & younger people to seek out the current soul scene, if they feel they'll be quized by the "soul gestapo"!

The soul gestapo are trying to hold on to a era which has gone & not forgotten, and totally want to re-live all again maybe after having time out of the scene to have a family/career etc.

We need to realise that times have changed/progressed and what does the future hold for the current soul scene? There's now access to more diverse soul music and these new sounds should be embraced rather than slated! I feel however that the new and old DJ's on the scene are being slated for not playing some "favourite floor stomper" from over 30 years ago?! If they give it a chance the "soul gestapo" may hear and like some of the new sound which could possibly become future favourites??

Here's to another 30 years

[/quote

Not every one from the good old days thinks like you describe, I for one dont, but do bear in mind that to some, northern soul ended 30 years ago and all they want to hear is the stuff they are used to, please dont knock them fot it as they know no better.and remember if we all had the same taste in what we call northern soul, the scene would of gone and passed, and would not be the thriving and diverse scene it is today. Dont let no one put you off, try a venue with a more open minded music policy, failing that you will just have to try and convert the people who are stoping you in your drive for a more divese music policy. Good luck you will need it

I write this as a fan of one of the longest running and greatest underground music scene's ever and proud of it, but a scene which now seems full of conflicting opinions and politics!

I get very irritated when at a soul night, I often get asked the same questions?

How long have you been into soul music? did you go to va va's/wigan/torch/twisted wheel/cleethorpes/samanthas? -to name a few iconic 70's & early 80's allniters/soul nights!

If i dare to reply with a NO these people look at you in disbelief and then tell you've never lived and therefore are not worthy of being a soul musin fan!

I don't want to sound like I didn't appreciate these great venues at the time, as there wouldn't be a healthy soul scene today if it wasn't for these nights, but it dosen't encourage new & younger people to seek out the current soul scene, if they feel they'll be quized by the "soul gestapo"!

The soul gestapo are trying to hold on to a era which has gone & not forgotten, and totally want to re-live all again maybe after having time out of the scene to have a family/career etc.

We need to realise that times have changed/progressed and what does the future hold for the current soul scene? There's now access to more diverse soul music and these new sounds should be embraced rather than slated! I feel however that the new and old DJ's on the scene are being slated for not playing some "favourite floor stomper" from over 30 years ago?! If they give it a chance the "soul gestapo" may hear and like some of the new sound which could possibly become future favourites??

Here's to another 30 years

As someone who attended some of the venues mentioned(i.e. not the Wheel Or the Torch), and do not attend todays venues(for personal reasons). I feel that the general concensus on this site is more anti oldies/Wigan etc and the politics really piss me off. I cannot comment on the scene as it is today, I am just glad that it still exists. But with all the genres within the "rare" Soul scene today there is something for everyone. If you don't like Oldies nights don't go to them. if you don't like modern or R & B don't go to those venues. Apart from the Wigan/Mecca thing in 75 people just went to Northern soul nights and got on with it and had a good time. Looking at the venue listings nowadays the scene as a whole appears to be very healthy, but reading various posts and criticisms on here everyone appears to have a go at everyone else. It is like the old funkateers possees in the 70s & 80s. In the "old" days we all read check out the north and went to Wigan & Mecca the real splits in the scene were meerly something in the mind of Tony Cummins in Black Music, which we all still bought anyway.

We used to take the piss out of the general public in the glam rock discos and thought we were special because we know of a music they didn't know about. and we were special, and still are.

We used to be Brothers & Sisters(perhaps that's why the arguments happen)

Paul

PS I agree heres to the next 30 years, but there is no future without a past.

Answers simple...

Move to the States, at our venues we're too out of breath dancin' to talk this ole bollocks all the time.

Just celebrate your music, the rest is all crap!

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

Answers simple...

Move to the States, at our venues we're too out of breath dancin' to talk this ole bollocks all the time.

Just celebrate your music, the rest is all crap!

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

Who was that aimed at?

Paul

Answers simple...

Move to the States, at our venues we're too out of breath dancin' to talk this ole bollocks all the time.

Just celebrate your music, the rest is all crap!

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

WELL SAID Dave your the man!!!!

Im a returnee who would say yes you havnt lived but would never say your not worthy coz you never went and anyone who does think like that is an imbaceeeele (cant spell it).

The scene is strong and well and lets keep it like that!!!!!

And heres living proof we were and still are a scene of fantastic people ALL OF US

Heres my brother at wigan 1975 and at Stoke 2005

and me at Stoke still on the dance floor after 32 Years

As Dave says celebrate the music and all the rest is crap

Edited November 26, 200519 yr by OoooRICKoooO

Who was that aimed at?

Paul

No one in particular Mate. Certainly not a reply to your posting, think you got the wrong end of the stick. Probably due to the postings being in chronological order). I was commenting on the amount of "offputting comments" that the lad had to put up with. In fact I agree with nearly all that you posted, there's a place in all our souls for the past, just don't need think there's a need to ram it down youngsters throats that's all.

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

Answers simple...

Move to the States, at our venues we're too out of breath dancin' to talk this ole bollocks all the time.

Just celebrate your music, the rest is all crap!

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

Here, here Dave and say so all of us well me anyway, love the music always have always will but the scene well! it is what it is different things for different people......house parties it's the future...lol

Mark Bicknell.

No one in particular Mate. Certainly not a reply to your posting, think you got the wrong end of the stick. Probably due to the postings being in chronological order). I was commenting on the amount of "offputting comments" that the lad had to put up with. In fact I agree with nearly all that you posted, there's a place in all our souls for the past, just don't need think there's a need to ram it down youngsters throats that's all.

Regards,

Dave

https://www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

That's the point i was trying to make, i love all soul music and don't need a badge to proove it wether i'd been into scene 1 year or 40 . Just wished people would be opened minded and let it grow.

That's the point i was trying to make, i love all soul music and don't need a badge to proove it wether i'd been into scene 1 year or 40 . Just wished people would be opened minded and let it grow.

You're absolutely right, but bloody hell, i think today's scene is the most relaxed it's ever been. Twenty years ago if you didn't know every new sound and could recite the soul bible you got ripped to pieces by a lot of very unpleasant people who were stuck up their own arses.

It's much more easy going these days because everyone is older and wiser. At least in my experience. I'd never consider anyone less of a soul fan because they didn't go to wigan/stafford/wherever and in fact most of the younger soulies know more than i've ever known, as i read regularly on this site.

Maybe you need to hang around with a different crowd at soulnites/niters.

You never went any of those venues?...I`m not talking to you on here then

only joking,dont worry about it mate,i still get it when i talk about the casino...."when did you go? (me)well 78 onwards...78 it went crap from 77 so i stopped going blah blah blah".

To be fair i like listening to most stories i get told but if they do give you the old boys tale i usually find telling em to f**k off helps.

Btw how old are you?.l

I write this as a fan of one of the longest running and greatest underground music scene's ever and proud of it, but a scene which now seems full of conflicting opinions and politics!

I get very irritated when at a soul night, I often get asked the same questions?

How long have you been into soul music? did you go to va va's/wigan/torch/twisted wheel/cleethorpes/samanthas? -to name a few iconic 70's & early 80's allniters/soul nights!

If i dare to reply with a NO these people look at you in disbelief and then tell you've never lived and therefore are not worthy of being a soul musin fan!

I don't want to sound like I didn't appreciate these great venues at the time, as there wouldn't be a healthy soul scene today if it wasn't for these nights, but it dosen't encourage new & younger people to seek out the current soul scene, if they feel they'll be quized by the "soul gestapo"!

The soul gestapo are trying to hold on to a era which has gone & not forgotten, and totally want to re-live all again maybe after having time out of the scene to have a family/career etc.

We need to realise that times have changed/progressed and what does the future hold for the current soul scene? There's now access to more diverse soul music and these new sounds should be embraced rather than slated! I feel however that the new and old DJ's on the scene are being slated for not playing some "favourite floor stomper" from over 30 years ago?! If they give it a chance the "soul gestapo" may hear and like some of the new sound which could possibly become future favourites??

Here's to another 30 years

You say you get annoyed by people not taking you seriously and call for change, but then you call people who like to talk about the old days and listen to an oldie every now and then the 'soul gestapo'. So basically everyone should shut up about their past and what they used to listen to because it's not progressive?

There have been quite a few threads on here recently about tolerating new sounds and new ideas, but every one of them also seems to advocate burning down the rest of the scene to make way for the new dawn. Everywhere i go i meet great people who don't care if you went to the Torch or wherever and most are listening to new stuff all the time. I don't recognise this old-timers scene that you are talking about. Why don't you name names?

People can't suddenly forget where they come from or stop talking about the past. Maybe you should go to the bar or have a dance while they are chatting about Wigan/Stafford/Morcambe etc.. if it upsets you so much. It's there and it always will be, so deal with it mate.

its now 1 in the morning and ime all alone got the decks and ime on my 3rd bottle of red and i just wont to shout

I Love Soul Music

The Words SAD GIT comes to mind I Should be out

There have been quite a few threads on here recently about tolerating new sounds and new ideas, but every one of them also seems to advocate burning down the rest of the scene to make way for the new dawn...I don't recognise this old-timers scene that you are talking about. Why don't you name names?

i don't recognise the posts you're talking about, matt. why don't you reprint them?

there were lots of people talking about new sounds and new ideas and some of them might have advocated 'burning down the rest of the scene'. but every one of them? no.

its now 1 in the morning and ime all alone got the decks and ime on my 3rd bottle of red and i just wont to shout

I Love Soul Music

The Words SAD GIT comes to mind I Should be out

Yep`.......

Yep`.......

Whch bit are you agreeing with , Sad git or I Love soul, And dont shout I've got a headache

IMO...nah, actually, I think I'll keep my mouth shut on this one