The Post Wigan Years - Northern Soul

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6 hours ago, chalky said:

Yep I've Westhoughton and The Orwell to add at some point.

Ey up Chalky it wasn't a reprimand on your spelling It's just that I have lived in Westhoughton for over 30 years, therefore I know how it should be spelt.  Plus I thought I'd mention it before Triode did as he lives in the posh bit

Not to forget Soultown promotions run by myself and Ion for a few years in London concentrating first  on Friday night events and occasional 100 Club warm ups taking in at least 10 different venues/ pubs where we where allowed back ?

We then moved on to Manchester and launched  at the dance club international, but due to the management receiving strange phone calls saying the all night club would be full of druggies and the unexpected move of Bradford moving their anniversary to clash with our first night, we found a new venue ,hired some double decker buses and went ahead at the Abraham Moss Centre and held 3 fabulous strange but brilliant nights there.....

 

Nice one Chalky ,Great to see this detailed captured while our memories are still realiable.

There's lots of stuff that went on locally too , (for me) especially in Norwich with the Backstreet soul club (founder ,Mark Chamberlin 1982'ish).

Good times , good tunes ,good people !

 

10 hours ago, Tony Smith said:

Not to forget Soultown promotions run by myself and Ion for a few years in London concentrating first  on Friday night events and occasional 100 Club warm ups taking in at least 10 different venues/ pubs where we where allowed back ?

We then moved on to Manchester and launched  at the dance club international, but due to the management receiving strange phone calls saying the all night club would be full of druggies and the unexpected move of Bradford moving their anniversary to clash with our first night, we found a new venue ,hired some double decker buses and went ahead at the Abraham Moss Centre and held 3 fabulous strange but brilliant nights there.....

 

The Abraham Moss niters were superb including the bizarre footy / record bar combo.

3 hours ago, Byrney said:

The Abraham Moss niters were superb including the bizarre footy / record bar combo.

 

was that allnighter at a venue on cheetham hill? can remember a football match?sports hall type venue was a good times 

Great read chalky and some memorable venues... still my favorite time on the scene..  shooting off to venues to listen to records you knew only certain djs would have. no sat nav, no f..king idea were you were going.. proper adventures..lol

 

13 hours ago, Tony Smith said:

Not to forget Soultown promotions run by myself and Ion for a few years in London concentrating first  on Friday night events and occasional 100 Club warm ups taking in at least 10 different venues/ pubs where we where allowed back ?

We then moved on to Manchester and launched  at the dance club international, but due to the management receiving strange phone calls saying the all night club would be full of druggies and the unexpected move of Bradford moving their anniversary to clash with our first night, we found a new venue ,hired some double decker buses and went ahead at the Abraham Moss Centre and held 3 fabulous strange but brilliant nights there.....

 

Soultown before Four Beat Tony? What venues and what was the years etc.  Any flyers?

If anyone can supply me with either original flyers or send me a 300dpi scanner any venue they ran that you think should be included in an expanded article or indeed a book that would be great.

 

You can view a load of flyers I scanned here 

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjKmkiZt

38 minutes ago, chalky said:

Soultown before Four Beat Tony? What venues and what was the years etc.  Any flyers?

If anyone can supply me with either original flyers or send me a 300dpi scanner any venue they ran that you think should be included in an expanded article or indeed a book that would be great.

 

You can view a load of flyers I scanned here 

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjKmkiZt

 

 

 

 

On 30/12/2015 at 15:36, Louis said:

It is spelt Westhoughton.

Oops sorry Louis, been a long time :-)

Great article , brings back some good memories of the old days .KTF

Fabulous read Chalky . 

Quote

 

Yes indeed its a great read mate, nice to see the facts in print, having gone what was before start to finish the post Wigan era date wise I can never remember in what order all of those fantastic times came in, now I do

What a fantastic read that was! 

Great work Chalky, ...Good to see this period documented before it becomes even more of a blur...Can't get my head around that we are talking up to 35 years ago here! Strange but true!

A book would be briliant !

Shame a lot of the flyers never had the year printed on them .  Guess we never thought it would lead to this level of detail.

Is there anyone else out there that would have documented these dates and details ? 

1 hour ago, Bossfourpart1 said:

A book would be briliant !

Shame a lot of the flyers never had the year printed on them .  Guess we never thought it would lead to this level of detail.

Is there anyone else out there that would have documented these dates and details ? 

I have the date for every flyer and pretty easy to find out as well.  If you go to my flickr album there are something like a 100 flyers from the period in high quality with the date.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjKmkiZt

7 hours ago, Robin S said:

Great work Chalky, ...Good to see this period documented before it becomes even more of a blur...Can't get my head around that we are talking up to 35 years ago here! Strange but true!

Thanks mate and where does the time go? I'll be in touch when I get this book started 

On 12/28/2015 at 02:08, viphitman said:

 

Absolutely fab article. The perception of the post wigan ‘’dark years of northern soul’’ also seem to ignore the spreading of Northern Soul all over Europe and beyond. Not by expats like in Australia but by people from the local mod scooter skin and 60’s scene in Germany. Italy. Spain, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, USA…..since the early 80’s

Just need to make a point of correction here:   the "scene" in Australia was started in Sydney in '79/80 by Australians born in Australia ...

For my sins I've decided to have a go at the book...as If I don't have enough in my life to keep me busy

If you think a venue is worthy of inclusion shout up.  Any memories, dates anything you feel; might be relevant let me have it.

I'm also looking for flyers, and memorabilia.  Scans 300dpi or a loan so I can scan and I will return.

I am also looking for copies of the Echoes post 1980.  Again a loan with promise of return after scanning.

Full credit also given.

1 hour ago, chalky said:

For my sins I've decided to have a go at the book...as If I don't have enough in my life to keep me busy

If you think a venue is worthy of inclusion shout up.  Any memories, dates anything you feel; might be relevant let me have it.

I'm also looking for flyers, and memorabilia.  Scans 300dpi or a loan so I can scan and I will return.

I am also looking for copies of the Echoes post 1980.  Again a loan with promise of return after scanning.

Full credit also given.

Brilliant Chalky, someone needs to set the record straight as it's never been done and no better man for the job.

Thanks Chalky. Very enjoyable. If you're going to write a book then the controversy of The Rocket is probably worth a chapter on its own. It would also be interesting to get an indication of attendances at some of these places in order to get some perspective.

FYI, just some corrections on names:

 

Lin Taylor

Jo Wallace

Paul Thomas Peter

Chalky that was brilliant, people often don't appreciate that what takes them 5 minutes to read, can take days or weeks of preparation and proofing, I really enjoyed that especially as was down south for the entire period and missed lots of what was going on up North.  Take a bow mate.

Thanks Pete and everyone else for the really great comments.  Really is appreciated and nice to see the article so well received.

23 hours ago, chalky said:

For my sins I've decided to have a go at the book...as If I don't have enough in my life to keep me busy

If you think a venue is worthy of inclusion shout up.  Any memories, dates anything you feel; might be relevant let me have it.

I'm also looking for flyers, and memorabilia.  Scans 300dpi or a loan so I can scan and I will return.

I am also looking for copies of the Echoes post 1980.  Again a loan with promise of return after scanning.

Full credit also given.

Way to go Chalkie. I'm sure it'll be a great read.

Only had a chance to skip through but bloody hell Chalky you've put some work into that but then wouldn't expect anything less of you. Is this the piece that you contributed to that CD release last year ? No wonder you only wanted bare details 

Can't wait to sit down & work my way through that, nice one mate 

Enjoyed reading you article Chalky, brought me up to date with the bits I missed out on. Cheers mate!

On 5 January 2016 at 23:18, SHSDave said:

Only had a chance to skip through but bloody hell Chalky you've put some work into that but then wouldn't expect anything less of you. Is this the piece that you contributed to that CD release last year ? No wonder you only wanted bare details 

Can't wait to sit down & work my way through that, nice one mate 

I'll be back for a more comprehensive version for the book 

Excellent read lots of memories there,and a good overview of the scene post Wigan.

  ✊

Great read Chalky, I can remember some of it but most is a blurrrrrr !

The days of ringing around or scanning Echoes to see what was on and walking into a Nighter and knowing 95% of the people in there have long gone. great times X Oh even some weekends with NOTHING on !¬

 

 

Hi Chalky  what a write up spot on  great era to be part of like suggested you really should write a book I have hundreds of photo's from that era plus d.j's top 10'20's  and loads of venue adverts etc you could use this era defines everything I believe in musically today 

21 minutes ago, speedlimit said:

Hi Chalky  what a write up spot on  great era to be part of like suggested you really should write a book I have hundreds of photo's from that era plus d.j's top 10'20's  and loads of venue adverts etc you could use this era defines everything I believe in musically today 

Hi Steve. If I could loan the photos etc that would be great, especially dancefloor and venue type ones. I can scan whayt I need and return them, full credit of course.  Just need to sort my room out, nearly done painting and then I can start on the book.

Hi Chalky let me know when your ready for them and ill get them to you '

 

3 hours ago, Rob Wigley said:

Great read Chalky, I can remember some of it but most is a blurrrrrr !

The days of ringing around or scanning Echoes to see what was on and walking into a Nighter and knowing 95% of the people in there have long gone. great times X Oh even some weekends with NOTHING on !¬

 

 

Not many blank weekends for quite some time though Rob.  I have a diary boxed up somewhere with 104 allnighters in one year  1987 or 1988.  I can also remember one weekend with six allnigters.....so not a lot changed in reality in some instances.  Like you say, great times for many.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. I didn't put it down (Metaphorically speaking), until I'd read every word - You have written what so many folk have been 'chomping at the bit' to SCREAM from the rooftops!

Well put, and informative to anyone who missed all, or part of these great times.

Good luck with the book mate 

All the best,

Len 

P.s - One that springs to mind would be Ions' 'Londons' Chosen Mass' (Great name that)

18 minutes ago, LEN said:

A thoroughly enjoyable read. I didn't put it down (Metaphorically speaking), until I'd read every word - You have written what so many folk have been 'chomping at the bit' to SCREAM from the rooftops!

Well put, and informative to anyone who missed all, or part of these great times.

Good luck with the book mate 

All the best,

Len 

P.s - One that springs to mind would be Ions' 'Londons' Chosen Mass' (Great name that)

Pretty sure I have the flyers still for one of the Chosen Mass venues.  Paddocks club another of Ion's, can't remember if Paddocks was Chosen Mass, will check the flyer.

Lenny's Embankment nights in Wellingborough deserve a mention in dispatches ... 

It will be basically the allnigter scene as that is what it is all about really.  There will be a chapter for influential soul nights, ones people travelled too so Lenny's may get a mention  there is no way I could mention every soul night as there are simply too many.  I couldn't mention all the allnigters either, far too many that ran just briefly.

I will devote a chapter or two to the rest of the world so any of our oversees Soul Brothers and Sisters who have promoted let me have your story.

same for weekenders, chapter for those.

will probably devoted some space to the influential Djs of the time as well and to soen of the music too.

Plenty to go at so any info will be greatly appreciated.  Any scans (flyers/adverts) and photos would be magic.  Need to be 300dpi though if scan or a loan of the material if possible and I wil return everything.

15 hours ago, chalky said:

Pretty sure I have the flyers still for one of the Chosen Mass venues.  Paddocks club another of Ion's, can't remember if Paddocks was Chosen Mass, will check the flyer.

Wasn't London's Chosen Mass held at a place in Tooley Street for some time? Modern room on the ground level and northern room upstairs. Great do!

2 hours ago, daved said:

Wasn't London's Chosen Mass held at a place in Tooley Street for some time? Modern room on the ground level and northern room upstairs. Great do!

I can't remember.  I remember the Paddocks Club, opposite The Mirror building.  We couldn't find so dumped car at St Pauls and got a cab  we werevsurprised the car was still where we left it  cant remember if that was a Chosen Mass event.  

London's Chosen Mass.......

Great article and well written. Nice one Chalky

A really good read with obviously a lot of hard work put into it. excellent work looking forward to the book .

Just got round to reading it all Chalky,very interesting  and a great read. 

good article its about time some one wrote an article about these times as majority of us are still going from those times  .I was just lucky enough to most of these venues at this time .the scene never tailed off at all Morecambe was packed every time I went & Clifton hall .

              good un chalky  well written .

        KTF IAN STACEY  

On 29/12/2015 at 19:27, solidsoul said:

I also remember the great allnighters at Manchesters Ritz in the 1990's, especially the rarest of the rare nights.  Great atmosphere, some nights reminding me of the atmosphere in the Casino.

Great article Chalky, thanks - I only came in at the tail end of the 80's but caught a lot of the spirit at places like Bradford and Droylsden

NB. would deffo include Manchester Ritz as above, some blinding nights there - Butch, Sam, Searling, Ady sometimes - in the days before it was done up and still a bit rough and ready, one of the best niter venues I've been to - balcony, tunnel underneath, big crowds, bouncing dancefloor, etc - great stuff.

Still got the potential to be a regular central niter IMO though it has been tried recently with surprisingly poor attendance

Nice read and hits the nail on the head post the Casino.

As a local lad when Clifton Hall opened it's doors it was very exciting and me and my mates could not wait for the 1st one :-) but by the 3rd one we were looking for somewhere else to go :-( 

Over the next few years we went to as many places as we could get too but the scene had changed into Disco and I found myself less and less into the Music that was being played at the venues and I along with most of my old Casino mates drifted away from the scene for a few years but we never stopped loving the music.

Every now and then I would catch wind of a new venue and I would give it a go but always seemed to walk away feeling let down :-(

I eventually stopped going to any venues either new or old because I got fed up of wasting my time traveling for up to 6 hours for Disco Music.

Then one day my old mate Bill Snow invited me to a little pub gig he was doing in Rotherham and it was fantastic :-) and from that day to this I have never looked back :-) and that was roughly 35 years ago. (nice one Snowy)

 

KTF!

 

On 02/08/2016 at 22:13, Chris Turnbull said:

Great article Chalky, thanks - I only came in at the tail end of the 80's but caught a lot of the spirit at places like Bradford and Droylsden

NB. would deffo include Manchester Ritz as above, some blinding nights there - Butch, Sam, Searling, Ady sometimes - in the days before it was done up and still a bit rough and ready, one of the best niter venues I've been to - balcony, tunnel underneath, big crowds, bouncing dancefloor, etc - great stuff.

Still got the potential to be a regular central niter IMO though it has been tried recently with surprisingly poor attendance

I will hopefully cover the Ritz in more detail later but it was after all a Bank Holiday night usually (some great nights too) and I didn't have the space to cover everything so stuck to what was happening on a weekly or more often than not monthly basis.

Thanks. Outstanding piece of work and one of the only people narrating the history of the post-Casino years of the underground Northern Soul scene. A period that contributed so much and is too often overlooked by lazy media researchers or deliberately forgotten by those who are economical with the historical truth about the scene in interviews and memoirs. Mind you, its often the case that they just weren't there, they had abandoned ship, so had and have no idea still. Still, no excuse for trying to wipe it from history and pretend that the scene died when the Casino closed its doors, only to re-emerge this century. Important work mate and well done.

11 hours ago, paul-s said:

Thanks. Outstanding piece of work and one of the only people narrating the history of the post-Casino years of the underground Northern Soul scene. A period that contributed so much and is too often overlooked by lazy media researchers or deliberately forgotten by those who are economical with the historical truth about the scene in interviews and memoirs. Mind you, its often the case that they just weren't there, they had abandoned ship, so had and have no idea still. Still, no excuse for trying to wipe it from history and pretend that the scene died when the Casino closed its doors, only to re-emerge this century. Important work mate and well done.

Many thanks Paul for the kind words, same for everyone else, really is appreciated.