Are There Any Young Northern Soul Fans ?

[Teacherman]

There's a few in their twenties floating about, but don't expect a massive influx onto a scene that is currently fixated by it's own unwritten rules, because it just won't happen. For me, for a younger element to get truly involved then the music has to be able to stand alone, as we can't rely on the ''coolness'' element because as PTP and others have pointed out, we're all very old so not cool. For the music to stand alone it has to be accessible, because of the chosen format of the current scene, it isn't, and yes I know there's lots of good 10 and 20 pound records available, but it's still a fair bit of wedge for someone on a low income (due to age) when all the other elements are taken into consideration, beer, women/men clothes etc etc, I suspect that these sorts of things will not create the dedication seen on todays scene. What might happen is a mirror of our own scene amongst youngsters but with the rules and regulations much more relaxed, which is probably the best we can hope for as a legacy?

Very well put Winnie

Edited April 18, 2012 by teacherman

[Marc Forrest]

Hi Marc,

just a quick post from me to say that since our step into the European niters and weekenders over ten years ago the youngsters we have met over the years there

have truly been responsible for injecting a renewed vigor and I would like to think that is happening here too.

If you have never ventured over to the continent, and thinking about it I would start by checking out flights to Berlin pronto, and PM Marc for more info...........

you won't be disappointed very knowledgeable enthusiastic crowd and great ovo played.

Have fun wherever you go,

Karen xxx

wow, is it already ten years ago that we first met indeed :o ?! the world has become much more sunny since we have the privelege of your friendship karen (and pete)

Edited April 18, 2012 by Marc Forrest

[Roddy]

i meant to add to this ages ago im very young !

Edited April 18, 2012 by Roddy

[Geeselad]

If you were in your teens or early twenties, would you want to get involved in a scene full of grumpy 50-somethings moaning about who plays what and how? (I'd probably include myself in that description by the way)

not really but then again I'd probably still want an alretnative to the mainstream, comercial, or highly derivitive dance scenes that exist today. as uncool a choice as northern may seem, there certainly doesnt seem to be that much going on in terms underground subcultures and contemporary black music is generally the pits!

[Dylan]

^{I went to a mod club in nottingham on sat night in a city centre location and they manage to pull in a reasonable amount of younish people.}

the soul scene realy does not seem to be as accessible to these people for whatever reason.

i'm sure there will always be a healty interest in soul music by a few and I agree with what geeselad has to say the alternatives to the soul scene are all pretty dire. People just need to realise that

[WheelCity45]

Think this is a question that hits us all,

Edited March 20, 2013 by WheelCity45

[Geeselad]

^{I went to a mod club in nottingham on sat night in a city centre location and they manage to pull in a reasonable amount of younish people.}

the soul scene realy does not seem to be as accessible to these people for whatever reason.

i'm sure there will always be a healty interest in soul music by a few and I agree with what geeselad has to say the alternatives to the soul scene are all pretty dire. People just need to realise that

its interesting and maybe signifigant that the mod side of things sems to draw younger punters in, it certainly lured many a london mod into the 100 club in the 8ts. I wonder what will happen to modern scene? is there any interest in 70's to modern day soulful sounds from 'the youth of today' cor blimey I feel like Warren mitchell!

[Realpeoplesmusic]

well dressed , well behaved 20-30ts plus a few oldies the norm at Waterfront evening events - seems the location , venue (chic and contemporary) is as much of a 'must have' criteria as the music ?

I agree...if the venue isn't upto it it can have an effect on the everything to do with the night. I have been saying it for years. Get a cool city centre venue, promote it well and play a mixture of quality sounds such as Soul, Rnb, Funk, Latin, Boogaloo etc and young people will love it...they certianly did at Soul-ed Out in Newcastle. I ran three nights there, the first pulled in 183, the second 208 and the final night (xmas special) was the quietest at just over 100. The problem is getting a venue in a busy City Centre on a saturday night is tough and expensive but ran correctly can be a successful and worth it.

The last weekender i went to in London LBB8 was a healthy mix of young/middle/older people partying and loving the sounds on offer all three nights. I reckon there's plenty of life left in this music scene we all love and are so passionate about. Lets make sure we make the most of it and enjoy it .

Callum

[Guest Bluebell]

I think as well that younger guys want to go to nights where there are girls and in a lot of the NS dos I've been at, it's mainly older people so for younger guys, there's no "eye candy" for them to look at (though I'm sure there are some very pretty "older" ladies!!)

That seems to be a pretty big factor for the younger group, so a lot of them don't bother going to the nights. I'm sure for a lot of people who are into the NS thing, it's not about going to a do "on the pull" and it's mainly about the music but realistically, for young 'uns nowadays, it's pretty important to them.

I suppose if thats what they are looking for its a good thing they dont attend. I am in my mid 20s and love the music but most importantly getting lost in it on the dance floor .

[Guest bigwiganer]

The scene is full of us young uns we're taking over!!!

[Keeper]

The scene is full of us young uns we're taking over!!!

I can vouch for "bigwiganer "....only last week i told some of the group he was with how pissed off i was dancing nr them ....not only do they make me look old ......they make me feel old !!! long may they keep doin that too !!!"! You won't ever hear me knockin them !!!!....well not properly anyway 

[Mellorful]

The scene is full of us young uns we're taking over!!!

Hi Ben

I thought you are soon to be one half of a married couple.....

That'll age you bloody quick. 

Atb

Stu

[Mtay9778]

Wow, just seen this thread is 3 years old now. How things have changed in that time. Soul nights up and down the country have a regular following of young folk in attendance, dancers, djs and collectors. I think the scene is in safe hands. I met one of the Spanish guys djing at different strokes a few weeks back, plenty of young people into the music from all over (which I know has been the case for a while now) but great to see.

[Guest bigwiganer]

Hi Ben

I thought you are soon to be one half of a married couple.....

That'll age you bloody quick. 

Atb

Stu

Haha that's true mate....  but she'll keep me young ;)

[Guest GeoffB]

Just to add, I'm a youngun.

Not been to an event yet but hoping to head down to 6T's after GCSEs!

[Robbk]

There is a pub here in Sheffield called the Washington which specialises in all kinds of musical styles. One monthly night is all Mod stuff - northern soul, Motown, R&B, ska, 60s beat sounds etc., etc. There is always a large crowd of very enthusiastic young 'uns in, who dance to everything and really get into it. Yet, I don't think the vast majority have too much idea what it is they're actually dancing to, or care particularly. The point may be that there is such an enormous range of music available to younger people now (far more than we ever had a chance to hear) that following any single style, be that rock, soul or whatever, isn't the same issue to them. Did any of us in the 70s go out to hear music from 40 years earlier? Not a chance on earth - our music started about 1960 or so! The fact that any of them appreciate our sounds at all is tremendous. I believe that, in general, musical appreciation has changed to a more eclectic base. Are we to see, therefore, soul music being played as part of a mixed music scene more generally? Possibly, but whatever form it takes in the future, it won't match the way we have seen it over the last 40 years. Hopefully, the tunes will survive and be loved. We'll see.

John Moffatt

My music started in the mid-late 1930s, and lasted to about 1970.  Your music started at the beginning of the 1960s and lasted to about 1980.