Greatstone Soul Club Has Finished

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Edited February 21, 201213 yr by mark.b

Which of the two nights is it that is finishing mate,the first Saturday or the third Saturday of the month.

Ta

Which of the two nights is it that is finishing mate,the first Saturday or the third Saturday of the month.

Ta

Third saturday

Blimee shocked. Richard S once told me I need to get along there, and I never did!

SAD NEWS GUYS,HAD SOME GOOD NIGHTS UP THERE,BUT ALAS COULD'NT GET TO EVERY ONE, A SAD DAY FOR A VENUE THAT STRIVED TO PUT SOUL MUSIC TO THE FORE,AND THE SAMO'S WERE'NT BAD EITHER.

Very very sad day but I understand. So many good friends and memories from the venue. Just keep me in touch with what ever you do next.

Tony

have featured original post as an article and have just added a few links to it

certainly enjoyed my visits there and like to pass on thanks to all involved for that

mike

Bloody hell.

Sad news indeed. Couldn't get down so often because of work, travelling and other family comittments on Saturdays, but always enjoyed the music, the company and the odd dance or two there.

Will surely see you all at other venues in the area soon.

Thanks for the memories, as they say !

Dave

Sorry to hear this news...

I only attended a couple of times over the years, but I always thought it was a great little venue with a superb music policy!

Good luck in whatever you decide to do in the future

regards, Paul

Hi fella's, it's been an education musically to have known you people, fabulous taste in soul and always with the originals only ethos, i've spent many an enjoyable night down at the Greatstone, you gave me the opportunity to hear some of the finest music ever made and thanks to your friendship allowed me the information to obtain a few of these memorable and cherished items, i sincerely hope you find a new venue, everyone's collections deserve to be shared. Lastly thanks for giving me the chance to play my records some years back, a tremendous honour and privilege.

Take care and be lucky

Brett F.

sorry to hear that, not been there since ross was around, kept saying i would get over, now its too late,ah well.

Just got home from work and Lydia told me the news about the closing of Greatstone rare soul club event.. So so sad, its been the cornerstone of my diet on quality rare soul all these years, i have been a regular there for how long,?? maybe 10 years or more.. Introduced so many others to this little gem.. The music as been of the highest order and i have met so many freinds through going there.. Always made the effort when possible to attend and also bring along others too.. I know that nothing lasts forever and not enough younger folk to take the place of many regulars that have stopped going for various reasons.. Thanks Tony/ Paul/ Mark for so many good times/ great tunes and freindship over the past dozen years or so.... One door closes and another one opens maybe, i should know that with rare soul promotions.. Will catch up soon...

sorry to see such a icon of a soul venue close its doors too many nights cancel out the best as its always follow the leader rather than follow the music,

Hope you reorganise and come back one day

was recommended to get across to the Greatstone by two of the best people i know on the scene ..the much travelled Mick n Mo ...and believe me ,if they recommend something or someone..i listen!

Everything i hoped it would be and more...and a top set of guy's running it ...all with great taste in music and knowledge to match ...and willing to share too!

I even got to bring a box on my first visit and had the pleasure of double decking with Budgie ,and then an invite to dj on the same bill as Karl Heard

No ego's ...just true soulies, putting on a night to share with us their different tastes in the rare and underplayed tunes ,that make travelling from the four corners of the Uk a easy choice .

Thanks for a few great memories ..and let's hope we see /hear it's all just a bad dream ...and it's business as usual down the basement ..known as the GREATSTONE

Sad to hear this lads. Just makes me think I should have attended more. Wont forget the times I did go though and the quality dj's and tunes i heard. ut me onto loads of good stuff. Like Mark says, long live the Greatstone.

so sorry to hear this tony and mark, not been for a while due to regular babysitting duties, but will always remember the great times i had there as a punter and d.j...the music was always second to none and would just like to close with a big thanks for all the great tunes and times i had there.

Hi guy's

Been expecting this for a while really ! I have been a regular for the whole

trip, met some great people, heard many great tunes, and enjoyed some

great nights over the years, I even went to the nights in the 70s,

A great little place that i will really miss, thanks to all the promoters

past and present for all the effort they put in over the years, cheers

Jim.

Really sorry to hear this especially as the Greatstone represents the grandaddy of the current resurgent Manchester soul scene. As Maxwell says, i wish i'd been more often in recent months, but family , dj'ing and other commitments haven't made that easy.. besides, we thought it would always be there and i'd be able to go to the next one, or if not the one after that!! I'm sure it feels like a bereavement now for you guys but you're all too deep into it and still have the fire for new tunes so I'm sure you won't be down for long.

This is very very sad. Musicwise and from the people involved one of the UK`s premier nights. In my boook anyway.

Had some brilliant times at the Greatstone made quite a few new friends there, heard some great music over the years from some of the scenes best dj,s and collecters , the club as always been a very friendly place to visit and who could forget those famous currys the club put on free awesome.

All the people connected in running the Soul Nites over the years can hold their heads up high in giving the soul scene such a wonderful place to visit

THANKS From the bottom of my heart for all the good times..

Love, Peace & Happiness

Ian & Jane

sad day boys - ive not been in a long time

as it reminds me too much of Alan Pollard - a great loss

i know that sounds daft but hey - were all different

Sorry to read about the closure of the Greatstone. I always planned to go there, but typically left it too late. John Baxter gave me a couple of CDs of music played there, the sort of records I like to hear on a night out. Well done for keeping it going for 13 years, I hope you find a new venue. Good luck.

Living abroad, only managed a couple of visits but had a great time on both occasions. Really hope that the ethos of the club manages to stay alive in new surroundings maybe.

All the best guys,

Dave

always a shame when a great venue closes i talways clashed for us as usual, but always had great time there,

Sorry to hear that lads - I know I was only a recent attendee but I enjoyed it immensely. The couple of times I came down (both times on my own I felt very welcome - which is testament to the people as much as it reflects the good music policy).

all the best for the future.

Gary

Sad to hear that lads,had some fab times there,always enjoyed myself behind the decks always for the more progressive Soulie,top tunage always

,last year when I was flooded behind the decks while djing, bucket and mops everywhere ha ha

Such a great achievement over 13 years,well done tony,Paul,mark

Mick h

i have been racking my brains but finally remembered this is the last record played at The Greatsone soul club.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXVf1Rq3aBA

we went out with a piece of class that was played on and off from the start off the club

So sorry to hear this guys. The quality of the music was second to none; you guys kept unearthing gems from everywhere and each time you went there would be tunes you didn't know - it was a musical journey! More than that, getting to know you all over the years I'm proud to call you firm friends and there were so many laughs along the way in that iconic little venue. So hats off to you all and long live the Greatstone! Wonderful memories.

As has been said, when one door closes another one opens so bang your heads together and get your thinking caps on as to where you go next. Too much wonderful music to sit on your dusty shelves. Besides, Jackson owes me a pint and a Woodbine.....

Rich

I never got to the Club but seriously heard great things about this venue. Soul ambassadors Mick and Mo were always raving about it as were many others.

RobSorry to hear its closed

So sad to here this guy's.....Took Janet & I a few years to come back after Ross died,but I'm glad we finally did!! Happy memories we'll treasure forever.

Sad to hear this news used to come up from London about 10 years ago when Girlfriend was living in Lowton was always made welcome sad to see it go

Rob

Dont know where to start really,such a shame that the GREATSTONE has called it a day.

From the moment mo & me walked down them rickety stairs we knew we'd found our soul heaven,

the music,the people,the passion, the vibe, hell they even liked our records !!!.

Had some really magical nites down that little cellar,met some wonderful people,many of whom have become firm friends for life.

But the music played down there really was second to none,that GREATSTONE sound will stand the test of time,from records that broke out,to those that are still waiting in the wings the quality is a legacy to this little club with a big,big soul,

We as a scene really need places like the GREATSTONE to flourish,as it's such places where our future lays, ground zero for records to aire and grow,with out them the future looks bleak i think.

We've lost some proper soul venues, kev + linda's 3 GREYHOUNDS, karl,steve + bob's ROOM WITH A VIEW, and many,many more,could never get my head round the fact we would drive from one side of the country to the other for a soul night to hear fresh,exciting new records,that people would'nt cross a post code to support a venue that play's fresh and different music .

folks that shout it from the roof top's we need more venues that play something different from the same old,same old .

We should hang our heads in shame as another proper soul venue has gone.

To the GREATSTONE collective and all the top people and collectors we have shared nites with down there, a big thank you.

3rd sat nites will never be the same.

GUTTED.

Sorry to hear you've decided to call it a day, but totally understand that you can't carry on with declining numbers. A very big thank you to all at the Greatstone for making the soul nights so special.

I was really shocked when I heard that the Greatstone was closing as I assumed that such a fabulous night would just go on and on.

Over the years I have been lucky enough to have DJd a few a times and had an absolute ball every time, The amount of brilliant records I first heard there or was put onto from Paul, Tony, Mark, Stevie Z and Budgie is also unreal.

I took a couple of guys from Dundee with me once and I pre-warned them there would be lots of record they wouldn't know so we went in at 8 o'clock so we could hear the brilliant records early.

They started writing down records as soon as we got in but they gave up as they got fed up going to the decks, I told them they would need to write them on a toilet roll the because of the amount of paper they would need.

I just wish the Greatsone was closer to Dundee because I would have been at every one.

Hopefully the guys will do something else in the future but it is like banging your head agsinst a brick wall sometimes getting people to attend venues especially ones with upfront music policy.

A big thanks from me also for some brilliant nights and fabulous hospitality for both me and Sandra.

All the best in the future

Keith

A sad reflection of the many people on this scene who say they want something different but when it is delivered on their door step they dont bother to get off their fat arses and support it.

This could be the first of many quality soul venues to fold in the near future due to lack of support.

I had the pleasure of DJing there a few times and loved everything about it.

Well done for what you achieved guys, you should be very proud.

Chris

Never got down there nearly enough in recent years to be honest for various reasons but always loved it when I did. Cheers and the very best of luck to you lads whatever you decide to do; hope to see you out and about

atb

Phil

sorry to hear the news lads,good memories of all our visits,especially for myself. the first time steve and i went there i was sitting ina corner watching and listening, completely out of my depth as I had never been "on the soul scene" when a lady came and sat next to me and started chatting to me , found out we both were in the same line of work as teaching assistants, me with 5yr olds and she with 15 yr olds. I never looked back after that thank you Mrs Willingham

The Jenks'

What can I say? I could use any of the above posts as a fitting eulogy for the passing of the Greatstone Soul Club. Thank you so much for the kind words,I really think you've summed things up superbly, it really means a lot to us all, thank you.

Big respect to everyone, and I mean everyone who contributed to the soul nights over the years. John Roche, AKA Ross R.I.P.our dear departed friend,still sadly missed. Started the first nights back in the 7t's, but in its current guise his first night was January 17th 1999. With Carl Willingham as special guest. Carl of course went on to be resident, and was so influential in shaping the way the club progressed, top man. Stevie Z then took over the residency after the passing of Ross. A job he continued to do until ill health prevented him from doing so a year or so ago, and what a fantastic job he did too, turned up some fantastic tunes.Big thanks to Adrian and team, for providing us with the best little soul venue on the scene, period.

We've had some fantastic guests over the years too, I do have a list, but I won't inflict it on you. Needless to say its lengthy and reads like a who's who of the soul scene, again thank you guys and gals!

I feel a waffle coming on, so I'll be brief. Far too many friends to mention on here, you know who you are, and you know the contribution you made over the years. See you out and about in Soul Land, when we'll raise a glass to a lost friend.

P.S.watch this space...

The Greatstone closure is sad news indeed, because here was a club that dared to be different with its musical content. Myself & Ann had some very eventfull nights there. Well done to all who ran & supported such a "cutting edge" venue.

Regards, Ricardo.

sad news indeed, anwhere with a progressive music policy deserves support imho.

First time i've had chance to get on my pc due to work commitments not even dj'ed at the last 2 which makes it all the more harder to take in having been involved first as an atendee then as a guest when Ross ran the club. I have watched the club go from strength to strength musically and sociably, i can honestley say i have personally had some of my best years down the cellar.Its been a long and emotional journey one i would not changed for anything. i have met some of the most passionate and truly fantastic people on our soul scene to date but unfortunately all good things come to an end. i would personally like to thank everybody involve in the running of this great soul club and every single person who ever walked through the door and participating in something truly memorable. Tony, Mark,Pete,Stevie, Adrian and every Dj who graced the decks and everyone who came to listen thanks for the memories Paul.

Sad news. Probably like a lot of others, i've heard great things (pun intended) about the Greatstone over the years and kept saying to myself that I must get there sometime. I've met some of the Greatstone regulars at the Hitsville week-enders over last few years and enjoyed their company and sounds. Damn ! there's a lesson to be learned eh ? Don't put off........

cheers,

Denny

A fantastic night gone. When Tony & Mark considered & then asked me to become resident DJ, I was thrilled. Just one answer.

When you stepped down the stairs into the cellar, you immediately knew the Greatstone was a venue to savour. All the guys & girls are brill and those of whom had the good fortune to be behind the decks, were honoured. Friends danced, listened or did both.

Let's not forget Martyn, who in the early years performed, without exception, some truly tasty food; chilli, curries (both meat & veg) amongst other succulent fayre. Many thanks to Martyn from us all.

The Greatstone has over the years, had most of the best British (please note Keith) playing their quality, known & unknown tunes for all to appreciate.

I do remember I used to go behind the decks around midnight, to occasionally turned 3am. One night in particular, the dance floor being mopped of perspiration and condensation; twenty three dancers crammed on the dance floor on an already packed night. Brilliant! Superb Jo.

The conversations I had with too many to mention, especially about N.S. where enlightening. Those conversations about everything else.......so many laughs.

Soul fans from around the country Scotland & Wales and occasionally from abroad, were always made very welcome.

I loved it!!!

Cheers to Tony,Mark, Paul, Pete (Budgie), Adrian & the Oswestry Gang.

Thank you to everyone from the bottom of my heart; there will never be another night like the Greatstone.

As the Artistics sang..." I'm gonna miss you".

Lastly, a super big Thank You to Mike for this tremendous site- Soul Source.

So many happy memories. Goodbye; but I hope to see you all in the future.

Stevie Z

Sad news indeed but what an achievement too,we travelled from North Wales on several occasions over the years,met some top people and heard an enormous variety of quality tunes.

Last one we did was when John Manship was on,another top night.

Never realised that the attendances were down,always was rammed when we went.

Nice drop of scram too!

Well done guys,history made no doubt.

John Elias

If this night would have had the support of all the people lamenting it's demise "it would not have finished".Simple as.!!!!