Reading about the recent Northernsoul Weekender and I must say right from the off that I wasn’t there but looking at the comments, have we as the Northernsoul Community reached critical mass and we are no longer a real underground scene of which we once were? Now some, the uninitiated will not ever understand the desire to keep the music “Secret” and many will think nothing of sharing and enjoying and this is a very hard argument to win unless you fully understand why it was, and is, so important for some to have an escape route from the “norm” and the “benign”.

 

I think most, not all, of the venues are merely Nostalgia Trips that now resemble a Derby and Joan Coach trip that is as removed from my idea of Northernsoul as you could possibly think of. I may be to cynical but there is a real and measurable change in the etiquette, it has gone from a underground dance scene to a New Years Eve type party that resembles the tackiest of weddings, the main differences that I have noticed creeping in are Beer swilling men and women who get loaded at the bar or encamp around their chosen tables with Trev and Sharon who at the designated time attack the dance floor taking no prisoners whilst clutching their ubiquitous hand bags. I like stilettos, that’s another story for a different web site but when I watch the inappropriately dressed ladies tottering around doing that “I'm just about to fall over” dance it makes me cringe.

 

Beer and drinks on the dance floor, well this make me weep and I am afraid that neither the punter nor the Nouveau Promoter seems bothered about this disgusting practice that dogs so many venues of late.

 

All is not lost though! There are still some blinding Allnighters and I have no interest or desire to do a Soul Night nor an Alldayer now days but we do have an extremely healthy Allnighter Scene and for this I thank my lucky stars.

Stockport is hanbagger heaven

have to agree Mark....and I live there

Plenty good soul nights too Imber that don't turn into a circus.... Keep your curtains closed chin strikers, the circus is big business and gonna get bigger with the release of the film......

I suppose you're right Steve. Let's hope the film attracts at least some people who fall in love with Northern and have enough about them to, in time, look beyond the circus ring and graduate to the real scene that has kept the true Northern Soul ethic alive. It happened with some of the This England and Mod revival generations.

If any of the indignant ones want to hear some quality rare Northern Soul sounds they won't hear anywhere else in the world, feel free to visit us down at the 100 Club in sunny London. I do get the feeling some people don't know we're here sometimes. Maybe I should promote it?  But then it wouldn't be underground anymore  Though it is in the basement

The genie got out of the bottle a long time ago, he gets bigger & uglier as time goes on though

 

Actually the only thing getting my goat is the assumption that all soul nights are of a poor standard and that all Allniighters are brilliant, cos they're not and they're not...

 

Well said.

 

Len  

If any of the indignant ones want to hear some quality rare Northern Soul sounds they won't hear anywhere else in the world, feel free to visit us down at the 100 Club in sunny London. I do get the feeling some people don't know we're here sometimes. Maybe I should promote it?  But then it wouldn't be underground anymore  Though it is in the basement

 

I was just about to type.......When I used to leave my house at Midnight as 'The Pub People' were coming home, to meet Rob Leach to go to The 100 Club - I thought that was pretty underground.

 

Nice one Ady (whoever you are) 

 

All the best,

 

Len  

At Skeggy my wife was on the dance floor to Gloria Jones and a chappie in Kermit fancy dress was next to her handbagging; the distraction ruined the prospect of a good dance. Perhaps we the soulies are to blame for trying to broaden our audience; we advertise events as Northern Soul and then attendees make requests of the DJ's for R&B, Crossover, Modern soul and disco tunes; Handbags, high heels and short skirts on the dancefloor happens when DJ's try to accommodate these requests (yes I'm guilty of playing tunes that aren't northern at venues because of requests).

A DJ will spin about 24 tunes in an hour so the period where the requests are played reduces the time available for Northern classics these then get forgotten. New people on the scene aren't even aware of many overlooked classics and these tunes get forgotten and we get DJ sets that are too often same old same old.....

As a consequence The Olympics 'Philly dog', 'secret agents' and 'The same old thing', Sherlie Matthews - 'My sugar baby', Little Joe Roman - 'When you're lonesome' and Jimmy Raye - 'Philly dog round the world' to name but a few are left unplayed in the DJ's box.

I don't want people to misunderstand me there are some good R&B, crossover, Modern and disco tunes but are they proper plays at a Northern soul event?  

KTF      

At Skeggy my wife was on the dance floor to Gloria Jones and a chappie in Kermit fancy dress was next to her handbagging; the distraction ruined the prospect of a good dance. Perhaps we the soulies are to blame for trying to broaden our audience; we advertise events as Northern Soul and then attendees make requests of the DJ's for R&B, Crossover, Modern soul and disco tunes; Handbags, high heels and short skirts on the dancefloor happens when DJ's try to accommodate these requests (yes I'm guilty of playing tunes that aren't northern at venues because of requests).

A DJ will spin about 24 tunes in an hour so the period where the requests are played reduces the time available for Northern classics these then get forgotten. New people on the scene aren't even aware of many overlooked classics and these tunes get forgotten and we get DJ sets that are too often same old same old.....

As a consequence The Olympics 'Philly dog', 'secret agents' and 'The same old thing', Sherlie Matthews - 'My sugar baby', Little Joe Roman - 'When you're lonesome' and Jimmy Raye - 'Philly dog round the world' to name but a few are left unplayed in the DJ's box.

I don't want people to misunderstand me there are some good R&B, crossover, Modern and disco tunes but are they proper plays at a Northern soul event?  

KTF      

The tracks you have listed are the tracks I definately dont want to hear and am sick of hearing at NS events , there is so much more to this northern soul thing the depth and diversity is staggering over the years . Even in that seventies time warp the boudaries were being pushed just look at the stuff being played at the Mecca and Ritz not even on the radar anymore .

At Skeggy my wife was on the dance floor to Gloria Jones and a chappie in Kermit fancy dress was next to her handbagging; the distraction ruined the prospect of a good dance. Perhaps we the soulies are to blame for trying to broaden our audience; we advertise events as Northern Soul and then attendees make requests of the DJ's for R&B, Crossover, Modern soul and disco tunes; Handbags, high heels and short skirts on the dancefloor happens when DJ's try to accommodate these requests (yes I'm guilty of playing tunes that aren't northern at venues because of requests).

A DJ will spin about 24 tunes in an hour so the period where the requests are played reduces the time available for Northern classics these then get forgotten. New people on the scene aren't even aware of many overlooked classics and these tunes get forgotten and we get DJ sets that are too often same old same old.....

As a consequence The Olympics 'Philly dog', 'secret agents' and 'The same old thing', Sherlie Matthews - 'My sugar baby', Little Joe Roman - 'When you're lonesome' and Jimmy Raye - 'Philly dog round the world' to name but a few are left unplayed in the DJ's box.

I don't want people to misunderstand me there are some good R&B, crossover, Modern and disco tunes but are they proper plays at a Northern soul event?  

KTF      

Why play tunes you don't want to ? Why do you own tunes you don't want to play and most of all if the handbaggers get what they want played then who really is to blame for them being dressed like kermits dancing like twats .......

Just tell them to fook off to the local disco and play something you know they won't a like :-)

Why play tunes you don't want to ? Why do you own tunes you don't want to play and most of all if the handbaggers get what they want played then who really is to blame for them being dressed like kermits dancing like twats .......

Just tell them to fook off to the local disco and play something you know they won't a like :-)

And what handbag are you favouring these days me dear old pikey lad?

 

Hiya mate.

 

Hope yer well.

 

 

Peter

 

 

Not like me to quote from the Bible but Corinthians;

 

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

The Corinthians? What label? Thought it was Freddie Scott 'I'll be gone' :-)

At Skeggy my wife was on the dance floor to Gloria Jones and a chappie in Kermit fancy dress was next to her handbagging; the distraction ruined the prospect of a good dance. Perhaps we the soulies are to blame for trying to broaden our audience; we advertise events as Northern Soul and then attendees make requests of the DJ's for R&B, Crossover, Modern soul and disco tunes; Handbags, high heels and short skirts on the dancefloor happens when DJ's try to accommodate these requests (yes I'm guilty of playing tunes that aren't northern at venues because of requests).

A DJ will spin about 24 tunes in an hour so the period where the requests are played reduces the time available for Northern classics these then get forgotten. New people on the scene aren't even aware of many overlooked classics and these tunes get forgotten and we get DJ sets that are too often same old same old.....

As a consequence The Olympics 'Philly dog', 'secret agents' and 'The same old thing', Sherlie Matthews - 'My sugar baby', Little Joe Roman - 'When you're lonesome' and Jimmy Raye - 'Philly dog round the world' to name but a few are left unplayed in the DJ's box.

I don't want people to misunderstand me there are some good R&B, crossover, Modern and disco tunes but are they proper plays at a Northern soul event?  

KTF      

 

Overlooked? Are you serious? Those records are about as overplayed as it gets

Why play tunes you don't want to ? Why do you own tunes you don't want to play and most of all if the handbaggers get what they want played then who really is to blame for them being dressed like kermits dancing like twats .......

Just tell them to fook off to the local disco and play something you know they won't a like :-)

 

Yep, remember Jo Wallace telling me she had some soul people in one of her venues once but they didn't like what was being played. They were moaning about the music I think, and so she went marching up to them, gave them all their money back and politely told em to fook off as only Jo can! :

Yep, remember Jo Wallace telling me she had some soul people in one of her venues once but they didn't like what was being played. They were moaning about the music I think, and so she went marching up to them, gave them all their money back and politely told em to fook off as only Jo can! :

 

I can picture Jo doing that Steve

I attended KGH on Saturday night for my ten yearly nostalgia trip.  I must admit, a lot has changed in the ten years since I went to the 30^th Wigan Anniversary at the same venue.  Although I’ve attended hundreds of soul nights in between, when I compare Saturday’s event with the 30^th, things have definitely gone downhill in my opinion.

I can remember having a great time at the 30^th, dancing most of the night, the DJs doing some great spots.  On Saturday I had to wait until the last hour for the floor to clear of the inebriated Dad Dancers, Grab a Grannies et al, and for the DJ to start playing some of the better sounds from the Wigan era.  To my knowledge, the DJ line-up was similar to the 30^th, with Richard Searling being the notable absentee (although he was advertised on the bill).  Most of the DJs could have put a Wigan compilation CD on and I wouldn’t have known the difference.  In fact, their playlists could have been lifted straight from any of the latest epidemic of 40^th Anniversary CDs.

 

It would have been nice to see the clips of the Northern Soul film that were being screened, but some over enthusiastic pensioner decided to get up and start "dancing" on the spot directly in front of me.

 

Maybe I’m just turning into a grumpy old bastard.  The one ray of light was the youngsters who were in attendance, who conducted themselves better than some of the “grownups”, and showed real passion and enthusiasm.

 

Sounds like the latest incarnation of Parr Hall, Warrington, to a tee.

I avoid, even though its on my doorstep.

Radcliffe is quality by all reports.

Prob my next destination of choice, now Lowton seems to be off.....(again) :-(

The latest incarnation of Parr Hall....I went to that.  I won't be going again.

Maybe the two scenes - Oldies and Rare will now respectfully part, each acknowledging the other whilst knowing its not really for them.  Pays your money and takes the choice.

 

The Oldies crowd will have it rougher because the "handbaggers" will go and stay there. Two seconds in a Rare environment and they would be gone.

 

I hope ALL are welcomed with open arms (if they cause no trouble and follow etiquette) because I am always hearing its the friendliest scene  - so keep it that way...........I may not be at those events that greet them, but the ethos should surely remain

Maybe the two scenes - Oldies and Rare will now respectfully part, each acknowledging the other whilst knowing its not really for them.  Pays your money and takes the choice.

 

The Oldies crowd will have it rougher because the "handbaggers" will go and stay there. Two seconds in a Rare environment and they would be gone.

 

I hope ALL are welcomed with open arms (if they cause no trouble and follow etiquette) because I am always hearing its the friendliest scene  - so keep it that way...........I may not be at those events that greet them, but the ethos should surely remain

 

Hear hear. It would be nice to have some kind of clear demarcation between the two ( I know thats not possible before anyone comments )

After this last week or so I want to be as far away as possible

Handbaggers tend to have their own sounds as well...they love midtempo.Just loving you...When We get there...No one there.They seem to go into spasms and hold their arms in the air to just loving you.Bob sinclair is big on the handbag scene as well.Any other handbiggies?

Plenty of venues playing rare underplayed and still plenty of records for us to hear for the first time. Choose the venues you go to wisely, the underground scene still exists at these venues and the northern soul circus and it's clowns don't find their way there!!!

Yep, remember Jo Wallace telling me she had some soul people in one of her venues once but they didn't like what was being played. They were moaning about the music I think, and so she went marching up to them, gave them all their money back and politely told em to fook off as only Jo can! :

Ah, I miss that girl  When we double decked at Soulgate she did similar to some knob head which had me rolling with laughter behind the decks. Oh and she's the only other person I met who had a 'f*ck Art Lets Dance' T-shirt in 1980 like me - its a Mod thing 

Edited October 2, 201311 yr by TheBigO

Handbaggers tend to have their own sounds as well...they love midtempo.Just loving you...When We get there...No one there.They seem to go into spasms and hold their arms in the air to just loving you.Bob sinclair is big on the handbag scene as well.Any other handbiggies?

 

Because Of You - Jackie Wilson

Ah, I miss that girl  When we double decked at Soulgate she did similar to some knob head which had me rolling with laughter behind the decks. Oh and she's the only other person I met who had a 'f*ck Art Lets Dance' T-shirt in 1980 like me - its a Mod thing 

 

It's a Stiff thing you mean.

Handbaggers tend to have their own sounds as well...they love midtempo.Just loving you...When We get there...No one there.They seem to go into spasms and hold their arms in the air to just loving you.Bob sinclair is big on the handbag scene as well.Any other handbiggies?

Made me laugh out loud Wiggy I do have to own up to liking 'No one there', and not being averse to Bob Sinclair either.... no hope for me then lol

Ah, I miss that girl  When we double decked at Soulgate she did similar to some knob head which had me rolling with laughter behind the decks. Oh and she's the only other person I met who had a 'f*ck Art Lets Dance' T-shirt in 1980 like me - its a Mod thing 

I can remember Jo chasing someone out of TOS when they crashed into the decks, she's a legend, and a great DJ 

It's a Stiff thing you mean.

Indeed, utter Madness on my part not mentioning  Also, if my aging brain recalls The Name used it too but I cant remember which T I had!

Is there an independent and objective review of the Butlin's weekender anywhere? I was meant to be on but it clashed with my future son-in-law's stag do.

remember once at morecambe a women in stilletos brought her heel down on my ankle,swelled up like a bloody balloon.ever since had a pathological hatred of high heels on the dance floor

Is there an independent and objective review of the Butlin's weekender anywhere? I was meant to be on but it clashed with my future son-in-law's stag do.

 

Great Ady, your street cred has just shot back up!! :lol:

 

BTW like Brownie, they can't spell your name correctly  either....

The latest incarnation of Parr Hall....I went to that.  I won't be going again.

Same here mate, well you know excactly what I mean then Reg, original post sums it up.

Because Of You - Jackie Wilson

Lou Pride

Lou Pride

 

Has it come to this?

Get on with what exactly ? accepting the lowest common denominator , accepting the missrepresentation of a much broader scene that the media and time warp soulies deny the existance of ,

 Sorry Krissi but I do disagree with you now and I do fu''ing care  I do give a shit and I do give a toss and I come from Stockport  

 

Isn't stockport, runcorn etc mildly posh? a world away from hovis ad townscapes, right? I guess those stiletto teetering handbaggers are bored broker's wives airing a totally different kind of bloomer of a saturday?  

Isn't stockport, runcorn etc mildly posh? a world away from hovis ad townscapes, right? I guess those stiletto teetering handbaggers are bored broker's wives airing a totally different kind of bloomer of a saturday?  

 

Stockport town is pretty much like the other Manchester "satellite" towns, but some of the suburbs and bordering villages are pretty up market and occupied by the "Cheshire Set".  

Stockport town is pretty much like the other Manchester "satellite" towns, but some of the suburbs and bordering villages are pretty up market and occupied by the "Cheshire Set".

Nowt wrong with the Cheshire Set, I'm part of that, I live in Crewe !!! LOL

Ps :- There are more Bentley's in Crewe than anywhere in the world !!!

Edited October 2, 201311 yr by Brav

Nowt wrong with the Cheshire Set, I'm part of that, I live in Crewe !!! LOL

Ps :- There are more Bentley's in Crewe than anywhere in the world !!!

 

 

Green and Pleasant Land.......My A*re 

 

 

You Ok Bud ??

Green and Pleasant Land.......My A*re 

 

 

You Ok Bud ??

Yes mate doing just fine and hope you are.

Just the same in Rochdale with the Lancashire Set !!! LOL as I know your part of it !!!

Take care mate and don't let them drag you down

Ps :- There are more Bentley's in Crewe than anywhere in the world !!!

But do the rightful owners know that they're there

Cheers

Martyn part of the East Hull set...........membership of one  

Nowt wrong with the Cheshire Set, I'm part of that, I live in Crewe !!! LOL

Ps :- There are more Bentley's in Crewe than anywhere in the world !!!

 

I thought Julian Bentley lived in Worsley?

Nowt wrong with the Cheshire Set, I'm part of that, I live in Crewe !!! LOL

Ps :- There are more Bentley's in Crewe than anywhere in the world !!!

 

Indeed there are... until they are delivered to the buyers...

Maybe the two scenes - Oldies and Rare will now respectfully part, each acknowledging the other whilst knowing its not really for them.  Pays your money and takes the choice.

 

The Oldies crowd will have it rougher because the "handbaggers" will go and stay there. Two seconds in a Rare environment and they would be gone.

 

I hope ALL are welcomed with open arms (if they cause no trouble and follow etiquette) because I am always hearing its the friendliest scene  - so keep it that way...........I may not be at those events that greet them, but the ethos should surely remain

 

 

out of all the arguments and back and forths on this subject particularly over the last week or so this surely has to be the most sensible comment made to date and I salute you

Edited October 2, 201311 yr by Andy Kempster

Lou Pride

Please god no!     

Maybe the two scenes - Oldies and Rare will now respectfully part, each acknowledging the other whilst knowing its not really for them.  Pays your money and takes the choice.

 

The Oldies crowd will have it rougher because the "handbaggers" will go and stay there. Two seconds in a Rare environment and they would be gone.

 

I hope ALL are welcomed with open arms (if they cause no trouble and follow etiquette) because I am always hearing its the friendliest scene  - so keep it that way...........I may not be at those events that greet them, but the ethos should surely remain

Nearly spot on,the only thing I take slight exception to is the "cause no trouble & follow etiquette" bit?From previous answers on this thread we are to dissolve all previous rules that has taken us the best part of 40+ years to put in place & respect in a spirit of including all,because we should be open to all & not expect people to behave in the way we have been brought up to do.So if they want to fight & throw beer on the dancefloor so be it,because they're new & we want to include them & put no pressure on them with our elitist ways..........yes I'm been pedantic & I'm sorry I've used your answer to make my point because you make some very good points.

We seem to be pussy footing around here..........I'm proud to be elitist,I'm proud I'm dedicated,I'm proud I'm not like everyone else,I'm proud I don't have to make apologies for that.

I'm aghast that some people think it's OK for people to come in and not learn our ways & start dictating how we behave?Why if someone turns up at a couple of soul night's should they expect the same respect that those who have shown the dedication & commitment over time get.I would hope they would aspire to want such respect,so to get that they would learn our ways & after time they will get it.........just like we had to.

Cheers

Martyn 

Edited October 2, 201311 yr by hullsoul

out of all the arguments and back and forths on this subject particularly over the last week or so this surely has to be the most sensible comment made to date and I salute you

 

Hardly a new statement Andy, it's at least 5 years old  

Isn't stockport, runcorn etc mildly posh? a world away from hovis ad townscapes, right? I guess those stiletto teetering handbaggers are bored broker's wives airing a totally different kind of bloomer of a saturday?  

 

Gets quite/very posh just a stones throw from Stockport, in fact, all the real money is South Manchester, but not Stockport itself.

Runcorn, completely separate, only good thing bout Runcorn is the road out (Bar Grumpy Soul), the mice throw themselves on the traps in Runcorn.

Ah, I miss that girl  When we double decked at Soulgate she did similar to some knob head which had me rolling with laughter behind the decks. Oh and she's the only other person I met who had a 'f*ck Art Lets Dance' T-shirt in 1980 like me - its a Mod thing

''f*ck Art Lets Dance' T-shirt in 1980 like me - its a Mod thing'

indeed it is & memories of The Name , 79 mod band and title of their 1st 45 scheduled for release on Virgin's Din Disc label in 1980 but then label put out as 'forget..' to get airplays - original recording surfaced on Detour LP 'Whats in a Name' - happy times

Edited October 2, 201311 yr by andybellwood

Nowt wrong with the Cheshire Set, I'm part of that, I live in Crewe !!! LOL

Ps :- There are more Bentley's in Crewe than anywhere in the world !!!

Indeed.  In fact I often mistake the café culture of Nantwich Road for that of Alderley Edge.

Handbaggers tend to have their own sounds as well...they love midtempo.Just loving you...When We get there...No one there.They seem to go into spasms and hold their arms in the air to just loving you.Bob sinclair is big on the handbag scene as well.Any other handbiggies?

 

 

Don't forget the forming of a circle and swaying from side to side to No one there,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Indeed.  In fact I often mistake the café culture of Nantwich Road for that of Alderley Edge.

Total quality mate   I nearly fell off me Chair laughing

Maybe the two scenes - Oldies and Rare will now respectfully part, each acknowledging the other whilst knowing its not really for them.  Pays your money and takes the choice.

 

The Oldies crowd will have it rougher because the "handbaggers" will go and stay there. Two seconds in a Rare environment and they would be gone.

 

I hope ALL are welcomed with open arms (if they cause no trouble and follow etiquette) because I am always hearing its the friendliest scene  - so keep it that way...........I may not be at those events that greet them, but the ethos should surely remain

The rare scene soulies are the lucky ones....

They still love 1000s of oldies but they still love to hear something new so keeping it fresh and real instead of stuck in groundhog night ....

Goodnight I'm off to watch the Dave channel its full of all my favourite repeat programmes I've seen a thousand times ;-)