Someone asked me last week... is there a Northern Soul Museum we could visit when we visit England?? Got me thinking...

The whole Northern Soul phenomena is something really special and something that has impacted the lives of so many. Its history, roots in black America, cradle in North of England and more recently the development globally is on a par with anything culturally significant, I suspect.

Just supposing, loterry money could be securred to establish a 'Northern Soul Museum'. .... Where would it be, what would it look like ( humidity controlled cabinets preserving those 45s etc). What kind of artifacts would it contain??? Which individuals, venues, artists, DJs, badges, etc would it feature??? Would it be a worthwhile spend of public money??? (considering some of the things the lottery money is used for at present).

Good idea??? or not??? Suspect, there would be plenty of contributors of artifacts, 45's etc. Who could and would organise such a project? Who would sponser such a project? (KFC, Persil, EMI perhaps??)

Just thinking about the future and how we might be able to preserve something, thats all.

Thoughts???

What kind of artifacts would it contain???

quite a few dinasaurs still on the scene

Hi Andy,

That's a good, question and idea. I'm going to ask Jimmy about that.

The Free Jimmy Gresham Foundation.

The quote about "roots in black American, cradle in North England", says it

all. Will think on that and post again.

Thanks Andy,

Carla

quite a few dinasaurs still on the scene

Have this picture in my head of the Natiuonal Trust running round buying up all Northern Soul DJ's childhood homes .....

Round plaque on the outside that says "Russ Winstanley lived 'ere 1856 - 2056"

Sorry Andy ... you know i'm only messing.

Interesting idea

Not quite the same thing but there is to be an Archive of African American Music based in Gloucester https://www.euroblues.org/archive.htm

This is being set up by the European Blues Association which is a UK registered Charity. It is currently on a funding mission and because of its tax status donations can be gift aided. Either check the website or PM me if you want further details

I believe I am right in saying that one 'soul' collection has already been bequeathed to this organisation

quite a few dinasaurs still on the scene

Seriously though in the Victoria and Albert Museum they have two models decked out in 70's original Roxy thread clobber, it has been on exibition a couple of times

quite a few dinasaurs still on the scene

Nice one Chalky, but I think we've already been beaten to it!

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/dep.../palaeontology/

Someone asked me last week... is there a Northern Soul Museum we could visit when we visit England?? Got me thinking...

The whole Northern Soul phenomena is something really special and something that has impacted the lives of so many. Its history, roots in black America, cradle in North of England and more recently the development globally is on a par with anything culturally significant, I suspect.

Just supposing, loterry money could be securred to establish a 'Northern Soul Museum'. .... Where would it be, what would it look like ( humidity controlled cabinets preserving those 45s etc). What kind of artifacts would it contain??? Which individuals, venues, artists, DJs, badges, etc would it feature??? Would it be a worthwhile spend of public money??? (considering some of the things the lottery money is used for at present).

Good idea??? or not??? Suspect, there would be plenty of contributors of artifacts, 45's etc. Who could and would organise such a project? Who would sponser such a project? (KFC, Persil, EMI perhaps??)

Just thinking about the future and how we might be able to preserve something, thats all.

Thoughts???

I`m not really in favour of this sort of thing, museums tend to be for things that are no longer with us ( not all but most). The best museums are folklore ..... real peoples experiences passed on through magazines, film & word of mouth, the recent play "once apon a time in Wigan" would be a good idea a "live" performance where people can feel the vibe & hear the music & get a better feel for what this scene gives its followers. It also has a better chance of attracting new people to a club as they already have a idea for it through a more interactive experience.

Garv.

Only one place it could ever be, the most famous of all northern soul towns WIGAN and noooo im not from there im a yorkshireman.

I know quite a few people who have already donated their hair to this museum

quite a few dinasaurs still on the scene

Chalky leave Karen.C out of this

Chalky leave Karen.C out of this

I trhink I'd better cause she's already gonna give me a kicking....you'll be next I reckon

Chalky leave Karen.C out of this

I trhink I'd better cause she's already gonna give me a kicking....you'll be next I reckon

Don't worry, its all going in my book

Don't worry, its all going in my book

Your running a book glad im your bestest friend then (and safe)

Someone asked me last week... is there a Northern Soul Museum we could visit when we visit England?? Got me thinking...

The whole Northern Soul phenomena is something really special and something that has impacted the lives of so many. Its history, roots in black America, cradle in North of England and more recently the development globally is on a par with anything culturally significant, I suspect.

Just supposing, loterry money could be securred to establish a 'Northern Soul Museum'. .... Where would it be, what would it look like ( humidity controlled cabinets preserving those 45s etc). What kind of artifacts would it contain??? Which individuals, venues, artists, DJs, badges, etc would it feature??? Would it be a worthwhile spend of public money??? (considering some of the things the lottery money is used for at present).

Good idea??? or not??? Suspect, there would be plenty of contributors of artifacts, 45's etc. Who could and would organise such a project? Who would sponser such a project? (KFC, Persil, EMI perhaps??)

Just thinking about the future and how we might be able to preserve something, thats all.

Thoughts???

I've been told there's a northern soul museum in Wigan 1 or 2 people told me there's a picture of me on the dancefloor at the casino doing the lambert walk there words not mine can any1 comfirm this 1 at a time please lol.

Billy

Seriously though in the Victoria and Albert Museum they have two models decked out in 70's original Roxy thread clobber, it has been on exibition a couple of times

And one of the exhibitions was Streetstyle which I helped curate. I also donated my 1969/70 Prince of Wales check skinhead dress to the Textiles and Dress collection....and that was in the same exhibition and appears in the catalogue. I worked at the V&A for 14 years and there are examples of 'Northern Soul' clothing in there....

I think a section within a larger institution would probably work, but to support an entire museum of 'Northern Soul' probably wouldn't be viable. It would be interesting to have memorabillia on display stretching back to the Scene and the Wheel and going forward to the present day....record label designs, stock bags, clothing etc...the only problem with such a varied selection of media is that the music/ design/ posters would fit into, say, The National Museum of Music, Radio and TV in Bradford but the clothing would probably have to go to somewhere in Manchester or Stoke - finding one museum that would exhibit all this is difficult. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any museum in Manchester or Stoke that has a permanant Textile collection....let me think about this as I'm sure there would be a smaller museum that would embrace the idea - as many of the items would be gifts/ donations and the museum wouldn't have to buy them......Jo

I know quite a few people who have already donated their hair to this museum

Dont know what you're talking about Rob

Edited February 14, 200619 yr by CUNNIE

The Liverpudlian`s got 9billion sob`s off the euroboffins,to be the city of culture,maybe they might make Wigan city of sub culture,i wanna` be a trustee so i can buy loads of records,and a good dancefoor

I know quite a few people who have already donated their hair to this museum

Dont know what you're talking about Rob

Edited February 14, 200619 yr by CUNNIE

Salford Museum are doing an exhibition in a couple of months time.. can't find much detail, although you can make a 'mini northern soul dancer'...

https://www.familyfriendly.org.uk/events.asp?EventID=1387

Why not go the whole hog here and get Madam Tussaud's involved, get life size wax works of all the famous people on the scene...lol maybe even have a second room dedicated to the 'chamber of horrors' of the scene and i can think of a few people who would go in there...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Why not go the whole hog here and get Madam Tussaud's involved, get life size wax works of all the famous people on the scene...lol maybe even have a second room dedicated to the 'chamber of horrors' of the scene and i can think of a few people who would go in there...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

They'd need really skilled modellers to get the eyes 'just right'......

I've been told there's a northern soul museum in Wigan 1 or 2 people told me there's a picture of me on the dancefloor at the casino doing the lambert walk there words not mine can any1 comfirm this 1 at a time please lol.

Billy

I live in Wigan and can tell you that there is no northern soul museum here! although Wigan council did run an exhibition about the Casino in Wigan library last year. (organised i believe by Russ Winstanley!) Sadly, on the site where the casino stood is massive on-going building work for a new shopping centre. Perhaps they may have a placque or something in there? I know i would have preferred a new build of the casino personally, but who am i to suggest such a thing??

Why not go the whole hog here and get Madam Tussaud's involved, get life size wax works of all the famous people on the scene...lol maybe even have a second room dedicated to the 'chamber of horrors' of the scene and i can think of a few people who would go in there...lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Will there be a lifesize bar for you to be sitting at Mr B? xxxx

I live in Wigan and can tell you that there is no northern soul museum here! although Wigan council did run an exhibition about the Casino in Wigan library last year. (organised i believe by Russ Winstanley!) Sadly, on the site where the casino stood is massive on-going building work for a new shopping centre. Perhaps they may have a placque or something in there? I know i would have preferred a new build of the casino personally, but who am i to suggest such a thing??

Thanks for the info Carolyn,that must it been the exibition about the casino in the Wigan library,did you go to the casino in the early days if you did you would'nt have far to walk home used to be around 10 hours trip there and back for us.

Billy

Will there be a lifesize bar for you to be sitting at Mr B? xxxx

Who says i would be in there...plus they would need a hell of a lot of wax to make me....lol

Mark Bicknell.