Distant memory

[Stephen Houghton 237]

Hi I'm just thinking when all this covid segregation is gone ,what was your soul venue memory .mine is walking to through the car park after getting dropped off by the taxi ,and hearing the distant hum of a tune getting louder as you walk in the place .then the walking in paying and finding a seat or a nice corner then the mates you haven't seen for at least a weekend or so .what's your memory your missing 

[Len 5,073]

I'm missing taking for granted that I could go to a do every weekend more than once if I so wished - I'm even missing moaning about there being too many events on.

Who'd have thought this would happen?

I miss chatting outside an event 

Len 

[Algsoul 1,638]

cig and a chin wag outside

 

[Winsford Soul 14,927]

Missing the whole experience.  From the anticipation of getting ready  travel to friend's houses or they to mine . The journey talking about anything and everything,  parking up especially in strange towns for the first time or places that you have been 20 times. Doesnt really matter. Greeting fellow carpark lurkers, then finally getting to the venue,  getting in well that depends on who's outside to say hello to first.  Walking through the doors   more hello,s, .I've even  been known to make it into the main room  on occasions  

[Fish Fingers 192]

For various reasons I had only just started back on Soul nights in 2019 after well over a decade away. 

With a new Mrs in tow, I needed to see if she liked it. She hadn't been to a Soul do before and after 10+ years of me playing my music non stop..... she had got to know a lot of it, but had never ever been to a Soul night. 

For me it was like putting on an old pair of slippers. Something I had been doing for decades, but had lapsed.....and rediscovered. 

I just can't wait to carry on introducing the Mrs to a fantastic thing that was all too familiar to me, but unknown to her. 

It's interesting looking at it through a fresh pair of eyes. Stuff we all take for granted (friendliness / love of the music etc) is a revelation to someone who was only used to mainstream clubs - where it was all people getting pi55ed and starting fights etc. 

I actually think we are all incredibly fortunate to be part of the soul scene in the UK. Its no wonder everyone is missing it so much and desperate to get back. 

 

[Martyn Pitt 2,446]

8 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Missing the whole experience.  From the anticipation of getting ready  travel to friend's houses or they to mine . The journey talking about anything and everything,  parking up especially in strange towns for the first time or places that you have been 20 times. Doesnt really matter. Greeting fellow carpark lurkers, then finally getting to the venue,  getting in well that depends on who's outside to say hello to first.  Walking through the doors   more hello,s, .I've even  been known to make it into the main room  on occasions  

Very true Steve ... hard to believe, but I have even seen you on a dance floor ... once 

[Leicester Boy 771]

Missing that feeling of being in your own little world when you hit the floor to something you love. Missing friends just missing it all. 

[Stephen Houghton 237]

Nice to see I'm not alone with this post ,

[Monny1916 218]

Missing dancing to tunes I LOVE ,, what northern soul was made for ,, Monny 

[sir cumference 253]

On 05/12/2020 at 10:22, Stephen Houghton said:

Hi I'm just thinking when all this covid segregation is gone ,what was your soul venue memory .mine is walking to through the car park after getting dropped off by the taxi ,and hearing the distant hum of a tune getting louder as you walk in the place .then the walking in paying and finding a seat or a nice corner then the mates you haven't seen for at least a weekend or so .what's your memory your missing 

Looking for a seat?

Never in this wide world!

To each his own.

[Girdwoodinc 493]

talking complete bollocks at weekenders and nighters with friends

[Stephen Houghton 237]

Coming out in the morning and getting on the wrong train to the opposite end of the country, priceless 

[fiftyboiledeggs 37]

Dancing in synchronicity with strangers who become friends.

Edited December 22, 2020 by fiftyboiledeggs

[Stephen Houghton 237]

Wont be long now ,so get them shoes polished 

[soulacola 13]

i really did take for granted i could dip in and out of soul nights when i felt like it. often pulling out of a long drive to stay in with a takeaway and a can. i really regret now not supporting more local nights and making more effort to travel to some of the great venues on the soul scene. ive learned a lesson here, its a short life and then youre gone. im going to make sure i pass on the night in and get busy dancing before the hour glass runs out. i miss the simple joy of dancing in a sweaty room to old vinyl played loud and proud. you really dont know how lucky you are to be able to do this til its taken away. 

Cant work with masks and table service so i dont think personally this will happen in 2021 but im looking to get sweaty again in 2022.

[Timillustrator 632]

On 05/12/2020 at 20:13, Len said:

I'm even missing moaning about there being too many events on.

Who'd have thought this would happen?

 

What's the betting that as soon as things fully return to normal there'll be 10 times as many clashes!  That first weekend - 400 events.

[Len 5,073]

10 hours ago, Timillustrator said:

What's the betting that as soon as things fully return to normal there'll be 10 times as many clashes!  That first weekend - 400 events.

Hi Tim,

I hope you're doing ok, and your business is surviving.

I had this conversation with a mate just yesteday - I said, I was thinking that because this lock-down has been so long, maybe people won't be bothered about coming out to play again.  Whereas he said it will be the complete opposite (as you have allured to) Adding that the only thing that may well effect it, is the amount of venues that manage to stay open (Availability)

Watch this space I guess.

Len 

[Leicester Boy 771]

Open and they will come.

[Timillustrator 632]

Hi Len,

All good thanks and hanging in there (just) but I really do think the end is in sight. Hope you're all OK. 

I think you are both right - some people will give up altogether either because they've just changed their mind, moved away, retired or are just wary of going out again. Others will have had a good rest and re-emerge with new enthusiasm and there will be some new faces who've 'discovered' soul through lockdown, livestreams, Facebook etc. I think the only thing that is certain is that there will not be the same old people at venues there were before (or the same venues   )

The same is probably true of business, I know a few people (my accountant for one) who've just decided now is a good time to pack it in and retire, others haven't survived financially but equally a lot will have been made redundant and will be setting up on their own for the first time. 

 

 

Edited February 14 by Timillustrator

[Petesi 158]

Memories ? Well quit a few but from the1970`s I would say Friday nights at the Casino and Tiffs Newcastle on Sunday`s,  and in my more recent escapades the Kings H allnighter`s and probably The Grosvenor rooms.

In a strange way its gonna a bit like a re-wind back to the 1970`s for me as in... a weekend escape from the troubles of every day life and work! Only now  being in my sixty`s and not my teens the escape is from covid lock down. So can`t wait to get back to finding a spot on the dance floor, lost in my own little world with not a care in the world  just reveling in the sights, sounds, atmosphere and venue ..wherever that may be. 

BUT remember just how lucky we will be when that finally comes around ..as sadly quite a few won`t have been so lucky, both punter`s and DJ`s.

Keep safe, fit and well.

Edited February 14 by Petesi
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[soulacola 13]

im not going to let a flu bug change my lifestyle completely but i wonder how nervous i might get on a packed sweaty dance floor. thinking about the sweat dripping from the ceiling in Eggborough it would be Butlins for a virus. i guess with a jab ive got to just get lost in the music. the thought of a sanitised , dettol flavoured version of the same style of night is a horror im even more scared of . i thought the smoking ban reduced the feel of the "lager,cigs and soul' i loved. still it could be much worse. Health and safety  might make laptops mandatory in DJ booths siting the sharp edges on vinyl as a risk.

[Timillustrator 632]

So what's the betting that 200 odd events will now all be scheduled for the weekend of the 25th/26th June!?

[Leicester Boy 771]

1 minute ago, Timillustrator said:

So what's the betting that 200 odd events will now all be scheduled for the weekend of the 25th/26th June!?

Hope so. Attend what takes your fancy and ignore the others. Seriously dont understand the too many events argument, the good will survive the crap will wither and fade away. But anyway be happy to attend anything.

[Timillustrator 632]

16 minutes ago, Leicester Boy said:

Hope so. Attend what takes your fancy and ignore the others. Seriously dont understand the too many events argument, the good will survive the crap will wither and fade away. But anyway be happy to attend anything.

True enough, a bit of "natural wastage" wouldn't be a bad thing. The main problem round my way would be when there were up to half a dozen events on the same night within 20 miles, you have to pick one but when you got there it was half empty; don't think that'll happen now, not for a few months anyway. 

[Leicester Boy 771]

9 hours ago, Timillustrator said:

True enough, a bit of "natural wastage" wouldn't be a bad thing. The main problem round my way would be when there were up to half a dozen events on the same night within 20 miles, you have to pick one but when you got there it was half empty; don't think that'll happen now, not for a few months anyway. 

That is true but i firmly believe that most regular attendees at events be it nighters dayers or weekender, very quickly know if said event is for them. The age of technology gives you every chance to gage what the event has to offer. I do plenty of weekenders and know a newquay will be completely different playlist wise to somewhere like the tower at Blackpool.  Both appeal to many including me but are chalk and cheese. Anyway role on freedom day.