Midlands Soul Venues -- 60's / early 70's

[Roburt]

Lots of threads on here about the legendary early soul clubs -- the Wheel, Torch, Nite Owl, Catacombs, Mojo, even Up The Junction ... + lots of the London ones (& the Club A Go Go t'up north).

But not too much else on other Midlands soul venues. I was from Yorks, so only went down into the Midlands to go to the Nite Owl on a regular basis. However, there were lots of other great soul venues in the Midlands. Birmingham was early onto the R&B kick, with lots of R&B style clubs and then mod clubs. Nottingham always had a strong mod / soul following so had decent clubs too (Dungeon, Boat Clubs). Cheltenham had the famous Blue Moon. Dunstable had the California, Boston the Gliderdrome, Leicester's Il Rondo,.

Did St. Ives (Cambs) have soul clubs in the 60's, I know it did later on. I attended a good soul club in Norwich in 67 but that's a bit far too east to qualify as the Midlands. Cambridge would count though & with all the students there, I guess they had soul venues in the 60's. I now live in the Oxford area but don't know of any decent 60's soul clubs in the city (their were venues on Botley Rd & on CarFax that booked beat groups / R&B outfits, etc but I think they'd gone before the late 60's influx of live US soul acts).

Many of the Kidderminster, Walsall, Northampton, Peterboro, Derby, Notts, Lincoln soul crowds would travel to venues such as the Mojo, Nite Owl, Wheel, Catacombs (& to later clubs too). but they had to have more local venues they attended.

The memories about lots of Midlands soul venues will surely just be 'slipping into darkness' unless aired on a site such as this .. What other venues need a mention here ?      

Edited May 8, 2023 by Roburt

[Lukpete]

Used to go to The Caves in Stafford St Walsall, dj,s were the two lads from the George Hotel, names lost in the mists though.

[Roburt]

I became mates with a guy from Walsall who used to go to the Nite Owl. His name was Brian (no idea of his surname).

Also mates back in the late 60's with Sinbad from Wolverhampton area & two lads from Kidderminster; Mick & John (again, no idea of surnames).

[burt weedon]

10 hours ago, Roburt said:

Lots of threads on here about the legendary early soul clubs -- the Wheel, Torch, Nite Owl, Catacombs, Mojo, even Up The Junction ... + lots of the London ones (& the Club A Go Go t'up north).

But not too much else on other Midlands soul venues. I was from Yorks, so only went down into the Midlands to go to the Nite Owl on a regular basis. However, there were lots of other great soul venues in the Midlands. Birmingham was early onto the R&B kick, with lots of R&B style clubs and then mod clubs. Nottingham always had a strong mod / soul following so had decent clubs too (Dungeon, Boat Clubs). Cheltenham had the famous Blue Moon. Dunstable had the California, Boston the Gliderdrome, Leicester's Il Rondo,.

Did St. Ives (Cambs) have soul clubs in the 60's, I know it did later on. I attended a good soul club in Norwich in 67 but that's a bit far too east to qualify as the Midlands. Cambridge would count though & with all the students there, I guess they had soul venues in the 60's. I now live in the Oxford area but don't know of any decent 60's soul clubs in the city (their were venues on Botley Rd & on CarFax that booked beat groups / R&B outfits, etc but I think they'd gone before the late 60's influx of live US soul acts).

Many of the Kidderminster, Walsall, Northampton, Peterboro, Derby, Notts, Lincoln soul crowds would travel to venues such as the Mojo, Nite Owl, Wheel, Catacombs (& to later clubs too). but they had to have more local venues they attended.

The memories about lots of Midlands soul venues will surely just be 'slipping into darkness' unless aired on a site such as this .. What other venues need a mention here ?      

The Locarno.

 

10 hours ago, Roburt said:

Lots of threads on here about the legendary early soul clubs -- the Wheel, Torch, Nite Owl, Catacombs, Mojo, even Up The Junction ... + lots of the London ones (& the Club A Go Go t'up north).

But not too much else on other Midlands soul venues. I was from Yorks, so only went down into the Midlands to go to the Nite Owl on a regular basis. However, there were lots of other great soul venues in the Midlands. Birmingham was early onto the R&B kick, with lots of R&B style clubs and then mod clubs. Nottingham always had a strong mod / soul following so had decent clubs too (Dungeon, Boat Clubs). Cheltenham had the famous Blue Moon. Dunstable had the California, Boston the Gliderdrome, Leicester's Il Rondo,.

Did St. Ives (Cambs) have soul clubs in the 60's, I know it did later on. I attended a good soul club in Norwich in 67 but that's a bit far too east to qualify as the Midlands. Cambridge would count though & with all the students there, I guess they had soul venues in the 60's. I now live in the Oxford area but don't know of any decent 60's soul clubs in the city (their were venues on Botley Rd & on CarFax that booked beat groups / R&B outfits, etc but I think they'd gone before the late 60's influx of live US soul acts).

Many of the Kidderminster, Walsall, Northampton, Peterboro, Derby, Notts, Lincoln soul crowds would travel to venues such as the Mojo, Nite Owl, Wheel, Catacombs (& to later clubs too). but they had to have more local venues they attended.

The memories about lots of Midlands soul venues will surely just be 'slipping into darkness' unless aired on a site such as this .. What other venues need a mention here ?      

 c. king(r i p ) terry. etc. 1st djs. myself. s sam. etc. plus bali hi jazz funk room. c curtis. g walls. dez. etc. alldayer. 

[Ian Parker]

Doug Hall (makemyvinyl) & Barry Cooper are your 'go to'  guys, for midlands clubs .   not sure if they come on here much, nowadays?

[burt weedon]

Just now, burt weedon said:

The Locarno.

 

 c. king(r i p ) terry. etc. 1st djs. myself. s sam. etc. plus bali hi jazz funk room. c curtis. g walls. dez. etc. alldayer. 

 

1 minute ago, burt weedon said:

The Locarno.

 

 c. king(r i p ) terry. etc. 1st djs. myself. s sam. etc. plus bali hi jazz funk room. c curtis. g walls. dez. etc. alldayer. 

Laffette wolvo. brill place.  Upstairs Downstairs. w bromwich. alias Boogies. Darlaston town hall. brill old style place.Bilston baths. Etc. some good old early places. ah St Giles y club brill place. xx there’s more. more. thanx burt. x

[burt weedon]

1 minute ago, burt weedon said:

 

Laffette wolvo. brill place.  Upstairs Downstairs. w bromwich. alias Boogies. Darlaston town hall. brill old style place.Bilston baths. Etc. some good old early places. ah St Giles y club brill place. xx there’s more. more. thanx burt. x

if you need more let me no i think i’ve done most of em in the country haha. wearing out   but loved em all xxx ktf. burt x

[Roburt]

Thanks for the responses. I'm not doing anything with the info. Just thought it needed airing on here before much of the info is lost as attendees keep passing.

Ian, Dougie is a big mate of mine & we have talked endless bulloks on soul related matters @ many Cleggy weekenders.

Edited May 9, 2023 by Roburt

[Roburt]

There are a few books out there but they don't cover the whole geographic area. Of course there are books about the bigger / later venues --  Casino, Wheel, Mojo & the 60's London scene.

There's also book that's mainly about the mod /soul scene in Leicester in the 60's ('High Flying Around'). There are web sites for the Blue Moon in Cheltenham & for the Dungeon in Nottingham. There used to be (& may still be) a web site about the Dunstable California Rooms. I seem to recall a book about the Gliderdrome in Boston. Leicester council staged an exhibition a couple of years ago about the mod / soul scene in the city in the 60's, this being staged in the local museum.

There has been a decent newspaper article about the Catacombs. Nothing I know about to do with any 60's scenes in Northampton or that general area., Same situation for Mkt Harboro, Peterboro & Lincoln.

I guess there has to be a book about the R&B / mod / soul scene in 60's Birmingham, but I don't know the details. There is an article about Brum in the 60's on the RETROWOW web site but that deals with everything; architecture, shops as well as clubs, etc.  

[Theothertosspot]

On 10/05/2023 at 16:44, Roburt said:

There has been a decent newspaper article about the Catacombs. Nothing I know about to do with any 60's scenes in Northampton or that general area., Same situation for Mkt Harboro, Peterboro & Lincoln.

Frolicking Kneecap is the place people from Mkt Harboro, Northampton, Leicester went to, so I understand. 

Regards 

[Ian Parker]

What about the place near the river trent, at Draycott?

[Vadnochka]

Just picked up this thread and actually busy getting ready for a big 1940's weekend so will be back another time with a look at the Leicestershire scene as enjoyed by myself and two brothers from '66 up till moving off the scene for the 1st time in '75 - Burlesque / Chicane / Fantasia / Saracens / Top Secret / Grand / Hearst and numerous others from when my elder brother Andrew kicked off with his Andy King American Hot 100 show - hosted in Mohair suit or as Herbert B Cecilwinkle in bubble perm & kaftan - last years big mod / soul reunion in Loughborough brought out so many pics and photo memories of bands / flyers / venues - I remember my brother taking me to a record shop on St. Nicholas Circle -long since demolished to make way for the underpass and the Holiday Inn which I'm sure was the first place to sell imports.

Back later

[Theothertosspot]

40 minutes ago, Vadnochka said:

Just picked up this thread and actually busy getting ready for a big 1940's weekend so will be back another time with a look at the Leicestershire scene as enjoyed by myself and two brothers from '66 up till moving off the scene for the 1st time in '75 - Burlesque / Chicane / Fantasia / Saracens / Top Secret / Grand / Hearst and numerous others from when my elder brother Andrew kicked off with his Andy King American Hot 100 show - hosted in Mohair suit or as Herbert B Cecilwinkle in bubble perm & kaftan - last years big mod / soul reunion in Loughborough brought out so many pics and photo memories of bands / flyers / venues - I remember my brother taking me to a record shop on St. Nicholas Circle -long since demolished to make way for the underpass and the Holiday Inn which I'm sure was the first place to sell imports.

Back later

Yes, the Grand in Coalville along with the Railway Pub the Engine and the Leicester Inn. Terry Smith amongst others provided the sounds of the day. 

Regards 

Edited May 11, 2023 by Theothertosspot

[Mrmick]

1 hour ago, Vadnochka said:

Just picked up this thread and actually busy getting ready for a big 1940's weekend so will be back another time with a look at the Leicestershire scene as enjoyed by myself and two brothers from '66 up till moving off the scene for the 1st time in '75 - Burlesque / Chicane / Fantasia / Saracens / Top Secret / Grand / Hearst and numerous others from when my elder brother Andrew kicked off with his Andy King American Hot 100 show - hosted in Mohair suit or as Herbert B Cecilwinkle in bubble perm & kaftan - last years big mod / soul reunion in Loughborough brought out so many pics and photo memories of bands / flyers / venues - I remember my brother taking me to a record shop on St. Nicholas Circle -long since demolished to make way for the underpass and the Holiday Inn which I'm sure was the first place to sell imports.

Back later

Hi Steve 

When you mentioned record shops in Leicester do you remember the one near the polytechnic as it was then , there was a row of shops in a sunken area with an underpass going to Newark Street and it came out also near the start of the underpass.  I vaguely remember a newsagents and the record shop but nothing else. Must be 78 79 as I was still at school. 

[Roburt]

Muddying the water here (as not Midlands related) ... but it's a pity more venues didn't get celebrated in the way this club (located to the north of Yorkshire) was immortalised   ...  

[Ian Parker]

12 hours ago, Ian Parker said:

What about the place near the river trent, at Draycott?

BLUE ORCHID

[Wiggyflat]

I am doing research for a book on the Mod Scene 1954-1990 and have started going through all the local papers for these sort of clubs. I got some great stuff on the Frollicking Kneecap yesterday. The term Mods was still in use up to around 1971.Derbys Clouds nightclub seemed interesting around this time.

[Roburt]

Would love to see a couple of the Frollicking Kneecap ads. No doubt Ady would too, as he used to attend the sessions there.

I have started & added to similar threads (on here) in the past about London 60's clubs, the Mojo Club, Nite Owl Club, etc.

I have quite a few ads for similar clubs located right across the UK.

Edited May 12, 2023 by Roburt

[Julianb]

31 minutes ago, Ian Parker said:

BLUE ORCHID

Went there a few times. Last time we travelled in (Les Cokell's van) we took all our keep awake additives just before we arrived to find it was closed! Not the best night ever!

[Roburt]

Just now, Julianb said:

Went there a few times. Last time we travelled in (Les Cokell's van) we took all our keep awake additives just before we arrived to find it was closed! Not the best night ever!

A couple of mates of mine found their way into a UK store that stocked such additives way back in the day. They came away with bag loads of stuff. So much in fact, that if they were bored & had nothing else to do, they'd partake of some of the product even on midweek nights when there was no where at all to go.

[Wiggyflat]

One thing that i have found in abundance is the amount of chemist burglaries there were and the amount of reports that were naming clubs that  the burglars were going to. The Wheel and The Nite Owl feature. Going through the Wigan stuff is funny as you would get a piece on The Policemans Ball at The Casino, a pic of Russ with a gold disc for Wayne Gibson and the opposite page a drug raid on the Niter.

[Roburt]

Lived in Northampton for a while (had Lou Ragland as a house guest while there). Back in the 60's / 70's it had a thriving mod / soul scene but that had all gone by the time I got there (apart from the Detroit Academicals Soul Club dos) ...

Seem to recall becoming pally with a guy from N'ton at the Nite Owl -- Mick Murphy.

Lots of R&B / soul venues there in the 60's. The Maple Ballroom had many top UK acts on (Animals, Who, etc.) in the mid 60's. Later on it staged soul disco nights with pirate radio stn DJ's starring & it ran the White Bicycle club style nights..

My memory may be playing tricks on me (I'm an ol' gibba) but I seem to recall a soul weekender being staged at Billing Aquadrome Caravan Park (near Earls Barton) about 25 years ago. Then there were the Northampton Soul Weekenders in the town centre that featured live acts (Impressions, Chris Clark, Falcons, etc.). Went to a couple of those.

Edited May 12, 2023 by Roburt

[Soulagogo]

The place in  Draycot  near Derby was The Blue Orchard 

Edited May 12, 2023 by Soulagogo

[Beryl & Fred]

Coming from Kettering The Nags Head Wollaston and The George in Wilby were top venues. I was far too young to attend but have been discussed on this site. 
One venue I don’t think has is The Tin Hat Kettering. From 67/69 it put on acts such as Fantastics P P Arnold JJ Jackson Edwin Starr. Soul & Motown would be played on these nights. Would love to hear if anybody on here attended.

Garagehangover have some flyers and is well worth a read 

[Roburt]

Kettering it is then ... 

 

Edited May 12, 2023 by Roburt

[Roburt]

Some one off soul events across the midlands; there were similar promotions staged in Spalding & another in Nottingham (@ a footie ground I think) ...

think the Sherwood Rooms ad was a bit misleading as they describe James & Booby Purify as being a T/Motown act and say the same about the Fab Isley Brothers (who were really Sam, Erv & Tom aka the Diplomats).

Edited May 15, 2023 by Roburt

[Dayo]

Well, the Chateau Impney of course in Droitwch.  Plus the Bankhouse and Coppertops in Worcester.  

Actually, an all dayer at the Bankhouse was the first "do" I ever went to.  Back end of 1971 maybe?  I was way too young and should never have got in but it changed my life forever. The place was rammed, not an inch of space on the dance floor and the crowd was wildly enthusiastic and sharply dressed (tail end of the mods).  I remember hearing Gene Chandler's version of There was a Time for the first time; the place just erupted when that brass intro blasted out and there was whoops and claps at the end.  The low ceiling was dripping with condensation and I recall a guy called Froggy selling imports out of a suitcase.  Human Beinz was another one that got a massive reaction as did Charge by the Dreams Band.   There was also a lot of talk and consternation about the Soul Sounds bootlegs that were doing the rounds and people were a little upset that Baby Reconsider had been pressed.  You never forget your first time do you?

Edited May 17, 2023 by Dayo

[Ian Stacey]

On 11/05/2023 at 22:57, Greedy Mick said:

Hi Steve 

When you mentioned record shops in Leicester do you remember the one near the polytechnic as it was then , there was a row of shops in a sunken area with an underpass going to Newark Street and it came out also near the start of the underpass.  I vaguely remember a newsagents and the record shop but nothing else. Must be 78 79 as I was still at school. 

I used to go there 1978/9  also black books had a vinyl section . City centre Leicester. Think it burnt down .  Ally mayer had a stall in the indoor mrk  . I imagine there where more but that over 55 years ago .Not that many left alive from the Midlands. I went to the lorcarno too . Every time  from 79 -81 then the electric theatre took over .I have al the names of djs wrote down  when they played .. 

[Leicester Boy]

35 minutes ago, Ian Stacey said:

I used to go there 1978/9  also black books had a vinyl section . City centre Leicester. Think it burnt down .  Ally mayer had a stall in the indoor mrk  . I imagine there where more but that over 55 years ago .Not that many left alive from the Midlands. I went to the lorcarno too . Every time  from 79 -81 then the electric theatre took over .I have al the names of djs wrote down  when they played .. 

Ainsley's near the clock tower.

[Bo Diddley]

1 hour ago, Ian Stacey said:

I used to go there 1978/9  also black books had a vinyl section . City centre Leicester. Think it burnt down .  Ally mayer had a stall in the indoor mrk  . I imagine there where more but that over 55 years ago .Not that many left alive from the Midlands. I went to the lorcarno too . Every time  from 79 -81 then the electric theatre took over .I have al the names of djs wrote down  when they played .. 

Hi Ian,

I went to the Locarno All-Dayers at the same time. I'd be interested to see a list of DJ's, and, if possible, when they were on. Hope you are able to post up some info.

Cheers,

Kev Bod

Edited May 17, 2023 by Bo Diddley

[Roburt]

Leicester record shops have been mentioned ...