Soul at the Crossroads - What’s Going On and What’s Happening Brother?

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Cant see your name included.

I have got to laugh at your comments about you and frankie bringing the records to the north east.

Is this same frankie who deserted the northern soul scene with the macmillans squad to play funk with alex.The same ones who called us poppy soul fans only to come back when there was no call up here for jazz funk.

The same poeple who ostrasised paul mooney for being the first to play more modern soul.

You have just casually missed out the real person who was playing all originals and first time.

Matty Turner.

The real reason the scene  up here is rubbish is because of all the people who have come back can not get past wigan.

so called big named d/js searling/roberts to name two are only in it to make money.

There are plenty of good collectors and d/js in the north east.

P.s I agree with a lot of your comments.

The scene will not change up here till we get our heads together, Two manys do s on for the wrong reasons.

And promoters telling the d/js what to play thats why the same sounds get played over and over.

Good article and well-written. Shows that there's some real passion and thought about what the local scene is offering up there.

 

I guess the challenge would be to start something yourself that will fulfil your own expectations and then see how it manages to maintain?

 

Ian D

Ian.

Speaking to the local d/js they are afraid if they play the rarer stuff that has being getting played else where they will clear the floor.

These local d/js have as many rare records as anywhere in the country.

The problem as i see it is all the ex soulies who have come back do not want to hear good music just the wigan sounds.

When talking to a couple of good freinds who are the main stay d/js for the last 25 years.in the north east.

Asked why they do not play whats in your boxs they say they get so many reqests they feel obliged to play them as these are paying customers. (and they said what is the alternative) meaning going back to small turn outs.

As was commented above about the R.A F.A.Club in aycliffe the are not scared to play up to date soul but it is only the last few months that they are getting the support they deserve.

These d/js have been playing the rarer side for years in ayclffe with very little support from so called soul fans.

It is happening at the soul weekenders they would rather have a full turn out from some of the handbaggers.

Thats why they have 5 rooms at bridlington/ Prestatyn to accomadate all tastes.

You can not do that at one room venues.The swallow has tried to no avail.

Maybe the rarer side of soul need to go back underground.

Cant see your name included.

I have got to laugh at your comments about you and frankie bringing the records to the north east.

Is this same frankie who deserted the northern soul scene with the macmillans squad to play funk with alex.The same ones who called us poppy soul fans only to come back when there was no call up here for jazz funk.

The same poeple who ostrasised paul mooney for being the first to play more modern soul.

You have just casually missed out the real person who was playing all originals and first time.

Matty Turner.

The real reason the scene  up here is rubbish is because of all the people who have come back can not get past wigan.

so called big named d/js searling/roberts to name two are only in it to make money.

There are plenty of good collectors and d/js in the north east.

P.s I agree with a lot of your comments.

The scene will not change up here till we get our heads together, Two manys do s on for the wrong reasons.

And promoters telling the d/js what to play thats why the same sounds get played over and over.

My question to anyone knocking what other people are playing (no matter where) would be, "write down on a bit of paper what you think should be played, giving specific examples" simple really, its easy for people to come out and have a go, and go on about the "so called" good old days and good old boys. Personally speaking its the "same 200 record" venues that piss me off, and we are awash with those up here in the NE, to be quite honest, learnt and heard more (soul wise) from CD swaps with lads on here, a lot of them don't really go anywhere but are as sharp as a tack when looking for and buying soul records, all tempo,s and era,s included, like you say Dave, theres loads of great collections up here that have left the Wigan days for dead and moved on big style. Soul collectors and lovers are a lot more aware nowadays about the real stuff that was deemed not  compatible in the so called "golden era,s". Love buying and selling still today, in fact even more so, and don,t give a toss if people don,t like or want to hear what I do. In my opinion, there ain,t enough up here in the NE who like all things soulful to maintain a regular class venue. Too much pigeon holing still. The soul room in your own home is as good as it will ever get up here

 

Kev

well said kev dozens of times ive chewed on what to play and when, some people just dont want to know the underplayed stuff, and definately wont dance to it ,i remember you playing ruby andrews j,l,y more than 25 years ago and they didnt dance , now look at it,, most people follow the crowds and not the music these days ,ive been to more allniters than i can remember all over the country in the last 40 years and thats where my taste in music has come from , and its hard to see it slipping away to people who just want a full house at any cost, col

Edited April 6, 201312 yr by colsoul

Our view at Darnall Horti is that we play what we want - mainly rare and underplayed, all on OVO. Our guests are under no instructions. We fill a niche that does attract a regular, though not massive, solid level of support, some of whom travel quite long distances. Those that don't like what we play go elsewhere. We don't feel under any particular pressure to fill the dancefloor, but it is, of course, good to see when it happens. We have recently noticed a slow trend towards appreciation of our DJs and music. Hopefully that will continue. We don't have issues with anyone else, we just provide an alternative. It seems to work reasonably well, though we would, of course, love to welcome a few more along.

My question to anyone knocking what other people are playing (no matter where) would be, "write down on a bit of paper what you think should be played, giving specific examples" simple really, its easy for people to come out and have a go, and go on about the "so called" good old days and good old boys. Personally speaking its the "same 200 record" venues that piss me off, and we are awash with those up here in the NE, to be quite honest, learnt and heard more (soul wise) from CD swaps with lads on here, a lot of them don't really go anywhere but are as sharp as a tack when looking for and buying soul records, all tempo,s and era,s included, like you say Dave, theres loads of great collections up here that have left the Wigan days for dead and moved on big style. Soul collectors and lovers are a lot more aware nowadays about the real stuff that was deemed not  compatible in the so called "golden era,s". Love buying and selling still today, in fact even more so, and don,t give a toss if people don,t like or want to hear what I do. In my opinion, there ain,t enough up here in the NE who like all things soulful to maintain a regular class venue. Too much pigeon holing still. The soul room in your own home is as good as it will ever get up here

 

Kev

Well said Kev, we know that there are good collections up in the NE purely from what you lads played at the H & G.    

I suppose we could bring the H & G to you      

C U soon

well said kev dozens of times ive chewed on what to play and when, some people just dont want to know the underplayed stuff, and definately wont dance to it ,i remember you playing ruby andrews j,l,y more than 20 years ago and they didnt dance , now look at it,, col

 

HI COL,

 

What many of the posts allude to is country wide and not just applicable to the north east. The forward thinking element of dj's unfortunately will always be in the minority and least supported at venues basically because of the fact that people when they attend a "soulnite" just wish to socialise and dance the night awayas opposed to listening to unknown sounds and having the occasional flurry on the dance floor.

 

As for blaming the old soulies who have been absent from the scene for years and just returning, although some truth in this, its a bit of a cop out. I myself came back from family commitments some fifteen years ago and was happy to return to records being played that were familiar to me and some that were not. It was a great comfort zone at the time. I visited some of the rare and underplayed nights/nighters and was dismayed at some of the stuff that was offered up as quality soul music.

 

Although i personally have moved on, and now attend underplayed/70's and crossover venues. There are still a lot of venues around the country and so called top dj's that play a load of dross and offer it up as quality soul music.I believe this is what deters an increase in numbers at the smaller venues, thats playing an alternative choice in music to the top 500 venues.

 

If you have an open mind you will always tap your feet to some of the northern classics and likewise will enjoy venues like the Horse and Groom-Doncaster, Carlton Club-Leeds,Taste of Honey-Manchester and Cricket Club at Bishop etc. At the smaller venues the one thing you will always get is variety, passion and a love of good soul music.

The debate goes on and on and on.................

 

regards roy

Our view at Darnall Horti is that we play what we want - mainly rare and underplayed, all on OVO. Our guests are under no instructions. We fill a niche that does attract a regular, though not massive, solid level of support, some of whom travel quite long distances. Those that don't like what we play go elsewhere. We don't feel under any particular pressure to fill the dancefloor, but it is, of course, good to see when it happens. We have recently noticed a slow trend towards appreciation of our DJs and music. Hopefully that will continue. We don't have issues with anyone else, we just provide an alternative. It seems to work reasonably well, though we would, of course, love to welcome a few more along.

Same as Horse and Groom Sunday Chillout John, as Mick suggests, they could fetch that up to the NE, I,d love that, but people would have to travel, cos it wouldn,t happen up here, we tried back in 2001 at The Cumby Arms, was OK for a couple of years, but pressure to play same old same old disillusioned us so we folded it. Now everyone is a DJ/Promoter with their own do.

The lads at Donny have it sussed, and a great logistic advantage, its only an hour away from nearly everywhere on the train, diverse playlists everytime, ballads, mid-tempo, 60,s, 70,s 80,s, it don,t matter, it has to be soulful though

 

Kev

For a minute there I thought someone had booked the function room at Crossroads Motel for another bloody soul do lol

You're entitled to your opinion ,whoever wrote this article , but I consider " Just Soul " to be one of the best Soul nights in the country , overflowing with brilliant records and both DJ's and customers who really know their Soul music .It would also be respectful if you could at least learn to spell Retford correctly .Yours ,Eddie

Same as Horse and Groom Sunday Chillout John, as Mick suggests, they could fetch that up to the NE, I,d love that, but people would have to travel, cos it wouldn,t happen up here, we tried back in 2001 at The Cumby Arms, was OK for a couple of years, but pressure to play same old same old disillusioned us so we folded it. Now everyone is a DJ/Promoter with their own do.

The lads at Donny have it sussed, and a great logistic advantage, its only an hour away from nearly everywhere on the train, diverse playlists everytime, ballads, mid-tempo, 60,s, 70,s 80,s, it don,t matter, it has to be soulful though

 

Kev

Yes, the H&G is in a good location. We alternate with them at the Washington Sunday Soul Sessions, and many of the same group attend all three venues (Horti included), but that's about it for rare stuff around here. Shame about the Cumby Arms. There's a small do in Rotherham at the Three Horseshoes and they struggle for numbers as well. They keep going though, 'cos they just love playing the sounds, and good luck to them.