As the 1960's London Mod / Soul Clubs thread has seen renewed action recently, thought I'd post up this related thread. Some local soul clubs grew in stature & went on to become famous soul venues (the Place, Hanley for instance), others were known of because live soul recordings were made there (Birdcage, Portsmouth, Bolton Casino, Nite Owl, Leicester, etc). Some hosted R&B / soul nights in the 60's / 70's and have returned to the spotlight due to more recent events staged there (Brid Spa). But many have just slipped away in the mists of time. Never to be written about like the Wheel, Casino, Blackpool Mecca, etc. Some local clubs did become iconic to the crowds who attended their soul nights and so have registered in print (the Broken Wheel, Retford, California Ballroom, Dunstable; Gliderdrome, Boston & more).

But venues such as the Skyline & Gondola, Hull; the Boulevard, Tadcaster; Plebeians, Halifax; Attic, Doncaster; Clouds., Derby; Assembly Hall, Aylesbury; Central R&B Club Gillingham and numerous other soul clubs are all but forgotten these days. Even some clubs that staged niters seem to get little attention these days -- Va Va's Bolton, Chateau Impney, Droitwich & Up The Junction, Crewe being amongst these. 

It would be good for folk on here to make mention of the venues that meant a good deal to some back in the day in places such as Birmingham, Northampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Grimsby, Liverpool, Newcastle (the Club A GoGo being the only one there with a profile) & any in Scotland.

 

This place has a decent profile these days due to the NS weekenders staged there.

It was also a popular venue with mods / R&B and soul fans back in the 60's ... 

In passing, just noticed that a UK beat group seemed to be getting some high profile gigs back in the mid to late 60's -- at soul venues such as the Gliderdrome, Boston (alongside Otis Redding) and with the Orlons & Bluesology (Elton John's outfit) at Aylesbury Assembly Hall. 

Never came across them myself at a live gig and their 45's never registered on my radar (though they do seem to have loads of fans out there) ... 

 

Edited February 17Feb 17 by Roburt

The main club for rare soul in Bolton was The Cromwellian Club (The Crom), The small upstairs room was were all the rare soul was played like Mickey Lee Lane, Mitch Rider "Breakout" Bobby Freeman "I'll never fall in love again" The Prophets "I got the fever" etc. The main DJ was Phil Coventry, rumour had it he didn't even have a record player at home to play all of his top sounds on. I can't remember what night of the week was best but it had quite a good reputation for all of the Bolton & Farnworth soul lads and lasses. 

Edited February 18Feb 18 by Jessie Pinkman

I was at The Twisted Wheel most weekends from 1966-70 & saw some brilliant bands there - way too many to list them all! The Drifters. Junior Walker, Ike & Tina, Root & Jenny Jackson,  Oscar Tony Jr, Jimmy James, J.J. Jackson, Jimmy Ruffin, Jamo Thomas, Bandwagon, Flamingos..........that's just off the top of my head - I could go on forever! I tried a few other clubs - Golden Disc in Keighley - Plebs in Halifax - Birdtrap in Burnley - String o Beads in Bradford to name just a few - but the Wheel was always favourite.

Happy days - we didn't realise at the time just how lucky we were!

Edited February 17Feb 17 by Kathryn Magson

Nottingham was quite unusual back then as it had around 5 soul venues, all going at the same time (mid to late 60's). There was the Beachcomber, the Dungeon (that has it's own Facebook group I believe), the Boat Club, the Britannia Rowing Club and the Palais. In addition to their local clubs, the Notts crowd used to travel to attend allniters in Sheffield, Leicester & Manchester. 

notice Mike Morton - Which did “these things will keep me loving you” - which was covered up as the blue sharks / Soul Sam 76 ish - St Ives All-nighters 
 

 

I’ve mentioned this one before we had a club in Wigan Room at the Top opened in 1964 a good RnB and mod club ran regular weekly Saturday all nighters from 1965 till 1969, 8pm till 8 am,the crowd there were from Wigan St Helens , n Liverpool I was a regular there from 65 till 68, Geno Washington n the Ram jam band were frequent guest band there in 67 to 68, great memories of great times, 

cheers Mick L

For those who haven't already seen this great video of Plebs , Halifax 1967. They seem to be having a good time especially the girl at 1min 17 secs. Anyone go there or know anyone in the clip?

 

 

 

 

42 minutes ago, Rick Cooper said:

For those who haven't already seen this great video of Plebs , Halifax 1967. They seem to be having a good time especially the girl at 1min 17 secs. Anyone go there or know anyone in the clip?

 

 

 

 

The quality of that film is excellent I’ve seen far worse footage from the 90s.  

43 minutes ago, Rick Cooper said:

For those who haven't already seen this great video of Plebs , Halifax 1967. They seem to be having a good time especially the girl at 1min 17 secs. Anyone go there or know anyone in the clip?

 

 

 

 

I went there a few times but mostly went to The Wheel. Can't see any faces I recognise but it was SO many years ago! You're right Rick - they all do look to be having a good time...some big eyes there...😜

I used to go to 'The Broken Wheel' at Retford, big carpark outside and up an outside staircase to the door. Brillo atmosphere, wooden floor with large stage at the far end.  It must have been 1969/70 when I went, had great all dayers on Sunday's.  Basic Soul/Motown music but well attended.

My Big Brother told me how he went to see the Who at ' Bridlington Spa' in the 60's.

Keith Moon went into a 'manic' drum solo, eventually collapsed and fell onto the drum kit, they carried him off and played  on without him.  🤣

On 17/02/2025 at 10:03, Roburt said:

As the 1960's London Mod / Soul Clubs thread has seen renewed action recently, thought I'd post up this related thread. Some local soul clubs grew in stature & went on to become famous soul venues (the Place, Hanley for instance), others were known of because live soul recordings were made there (Birdcage, Portsmouth, Bolton Casino, Nite Owl, Leicester, etc). Some hosted R&B / soul nights in the 60's / 70's and have returned to the spotlight due to more recent events staged there (Brid Spa). But many have just slipped away in the mists of time. Never to be written about like the Wheel, Casino, Blackpool Mecca, etc. Some local clubs did become iconic to the crowds who attended their soul nights and so have registered in print (the Broken Wheel, Retford, California Ballroom, Dunstable; Gliderdrome, Boston & more).

But venues such as the Skyline & Gondola, Hull; the Boulevard, Tadcaster; Plebeians, Halifax; Attic, Doncaster; Clouds., Derby; Assembly Hall, Aylesbury; Central R&B Club Gillingham and numerous other soul clubs are all but forgotten these days. Even some clubs that staged niters seem to get little attention these days -- Va Va's Bolton, Chateau Impney, Droitwich & Up The Junction, Crewe being amongst these. 

It would be good for folk on here to make mention of the venues that meant a good deal to some back in the day in places such as Birmingham, Northampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Grimsby, Liverpool, Newcastle (the Club A GoGo being the only one there with a profile) & any in Scotland.

 

Enjoyed reading your 'write up' about forgotten Mod & Soul Nights . Love hearing about these places & the history behind them. The pictures/newspaper/magazine cuttings are great as well, adding a bit more dimension to your 'piece' . Thank you for sharing =0)

6 hours ago, Rick Cooper said:

For those who haven't already seen this great video of Plebs , Halifax 1967. They seem to be having a good time especially the girl at 1min 17 secs. Anyone go there or know anyone in the clip?

 

 

 

 

Nice clip thanks for sharing=0)

7 hours ago, STEFAN BURLAK said:

My Big Brother told me how he went to see the Who at ' Bridlington Spa' in the 60's.

The wife was from Hull & she used to hitch up to Brid to see the likes of the Who, Small Faces & Spencer Davis Group @ the Spa ... but later in the 60's, they used to book US soul groups to play the venue. The Mandrakes were on there a lot too (they were from Scarboro), at that time Robert Palmer was their lead singer (ahead of him joining Alan Bown).

Edited February 19Feb 19 by Roburt

Wow!!!!!!! What Glorious times where to be had in the sixties. I would have LOVED to see some of the bands you mentioned back in the day... Magic=0)

3 hours ago, Roburt said:

The wife was from Hull & she used to hitch up to Brid to see the likes of the Who, Small Faces & Spencer Davis Group @ the Spa ... but later in the 60's, they used to book US soul groups to play the venue. The Mandrakes were on there a lot too (they were from Scarboro), at that time Robert Palmer was their lead singer (ahead of him joining Alan Bown).

 

Who could forget the King Mojo in Sheffield?

Another less well remembered one was Club 67 in Burton on Trent.

One of Stringfellow's clubs that I almost forgot, Down Broadway but I'll never forget seeing Billy "Fat Boy" Stewart there.

In 1966 Stockport the place to be seen at was The Tabernacle Club. Opened in January 66 in a former church close to the police station and opposite what used to be Strawberry Studios. I was too young to go then but from online chat it sounds like it was a busy little club that many people remember fondly. 

Lots of live acts appeared there including most famously, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and The Riot Squad (incl David Bowie). Soul acts mentioned are Edwin Starr, Jimmy Cliff, Bobby Hebb, Jimmy Ruffin, The Fantastics and The Showstoppers. Another site lists Sly and The Family Stone, The Temptations and The Impressions, not sure about these, although the last two were probably fake versions. The music played was mentioned as being RnB and soul.

In 1968/69 it was sold to a new owner who named it Sgt Peppers with a change of music featured. I went to see Johnny Johnson and The Bandwagon there but whatever music the DJ played was completely forgettable.

 

 

23 hours ago, Tykebike said:

Another less well remembered one was Club 67 in Burton on Trent.

Do you mean 76 Club in Burton ?

Retford's Broken Wheel has a book detailing it's life. I'm also attaching a few more old club ads -- wonder how the group appearing at the Welsh club in late 1966 came up with their name ? 

Edited February 20Feb 20 by Roburt

Magic=0) Love looking at this old clippings/adverts for 'Nights' particularly like the silhouette picture/image for the ' Ritz Entertainment Club, Skewen'. Such a simple image but evocative of the times & atmosphere a sort of '2 in the morning -Spooners Crowd vibe'. Thank you for sharing=0) 

I believe Ady used to frequent these nights ... 

would the guy on with Herbie Goins (Howling Robin) have been the old Nite Owl DJ Owling Robin ?

+ a big night @ Chareau Impney ... 

Edited February 21Feb 21 by Roburt

Roburt, you're quite right it was the 76 Club in Burton on Trent, I should have had a rummage in my drawer before typing. 

I'll scan and post some other memorabilia shortly.

A few memories recovered from my drawer all stored in the post card sized envelope from the Wheel with a 4D stamp dated 22 October 1970 which is now rather tatty.

Ben E King.pdfJimmy Ruffin.pdfWheel Letter.pdf

Not sure if the pdfs are going to come through.

Another famous R&B / soul club from back in the 60's; based out of gentile Cheltenham Spa ...

This place was so influential that when the Bristol based ITV company's pop music show wanted to update itself (from a more R&R format to an R&B format), they sent scouts up to this club to get 'mod dancers' to be the studio audience on their TV show (see Nov 65 ad)  ...

the show had tried to establish itself in the R&R era by putting out an EP of the acts doing live stuff on the show ...

On 19/02/2025 at 19:35, Rick Cooper said:

In 1966 Stockport the place to be seen at was The Tabernacle Club. Opened in January 66 in a former church close to the police station and opposite what used to be Strawberry Studios. I was too young to go then but from online chat it sounds like it was a busy little club that many people remember fondly. 

Lots of live acts appeared there including most famously, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and The Riot Squad (incl David Bowie). Soul acts mentioned are Edwin Starr, Jimmy Cliff, Bobby Hebb, Jimmy Ruffin, The Fantastics and The Showstoppers. Another site lists Sly and The Family Stone, The Temptations and The Impressions, not sure about these, although the last two were probably fake versions. The music played was mentioned as being RnB and soul.

In 1968/69 it was sold to a new owner who named it Sgt Peppers with a change of music featured. I went to see Johnny Johnson and The Bandwagon there but whatever music the DJ played was completely forgettable.

 

 

I am doing a lot of research for a book on all of these clubs. all over the UK ....2 i have found in Chester  in 66 were Quaintways Ballroom and The Wall City Jazz Club

Edited February 27Feb 27 by Wiggyflat

This is really worth watching, great footage, Soho, and the 2 'i's' coffee bar which has been mentioned a load of times on here... it's about Brigitte Bond.

 

Very interesting to see, thanks

In 68 a Chester venue that booked soul acts on a regular basis was the Clockwork Orange ... 

Edited February 27Feb 27 by Roburt

4 hours ago, Roburt said:

In 68 a Chester venue that booked soul acts on a regular basis was the Clockwork Orange ... 

Yes i got quite a bit on this club.

A slight divergence from the main theme of this thread, but the UASF bases in the UK also had a part to play in the 1960's mod / soul scene.

Quite a few GI's based over here would go out to local British soul clubs -- to enjoy a night out dancing but sometimes also to pester the live acts on there to let them get up on stage & perform themselves. Thus, we got Geno Washington, Sonny Childe and more.

In addition to military folk based here, US based acts would be signed up by the USO to tour to perform for troops based in Vietnam, Germany or the UK. I know quite a few US recording acts that came over here to play concerts in bases in Germany, Norfolk / Suffolk, Oxfordshire, etc. (Kenny Hamber being just one of these).

Taking just one base as my example, UPPER HEYFORD in Oxfordshire. This base (as did every other US one in the UK) had it's own shops, bowling alley & theatre. The US also ran the AFN radio stn in Europe as well as on-base radio stns (& newspapers). Most US personnel lived on base but in the case of Heyford, whole housing estates were built for officers & their families in local towns such as Brackley & Bicester. While lots of the time, the families would use the on-base facilities, they also frequented local shops, schools and pubs. Thus the opportunity was there to pal up with a Yank serviceman or two. If you did get to know any, they could take you on-base to go bowling with them or even to attend an on-base concert.  The Norfolk bases such as Alconbury, Bentwaters, Mildenhall and Coltishall had more going on but Upper Heyford also had it's attractions. The theatre there; the SKYKING (where they showed movies & staged live shows) was quite small, so didn't accommodate huge numbers.  But if the demand was there, a visiting act would have to do 2 shows on their visit.

No doubt, others have tales to tell about getting onto British USAF bases or getting hold of copies the US military newspapers printed over here. I know I have seen a few of these newspapers & they plugged upcoming live act visits quite extensively in order to keep locally based folk from getting too bored or homesick.   

Edited March 1Mar 1 by Roburt

Back to the UK clubs ... 

the TAMLA-MOWTOWN sound of MAJOR LANCE !!!

On 01/03/2025 at 06:12, Roburt said:

Quite a few GI's based over here would go out to local British soul clubs -- to enjoy a night out dancing but sometimes also to pester the live acts on there to let them get up on stage & perform themselves. Thus, we got Geno Washington, Sonny Childe and more.

This is a bit of topic but I'm convinced that I saw a live singer in late 60's,  "Don L Jackson" who was a US serviceman. Sort of  Geno style doing soul covers. I've made several attempts to verify this but without luck. Main problem is I can't remember where he was playing.  Anyone else, or am I just imagining it?

Hump

The Bournemouth area got in on the blues / R&B / soul scene quite early (after having hosted jazz music allnighters ahead of this) ... don't think the area has figured that much since the mid 60's ... 

seems the same building was used for a number of different clubs between the early & late 60's ...

A few more related bits .... photo was taken @ Derby Clouds ....

Edited March 9Mar 9 by Roburt

TOP STAR on @ the GOLDEN TORCH (and I don't mean J J Jackson either) ... 

The above includes an ad for Stringfellow (King Mojo Club) appearing @ the Torch (after the Mojo had been shut down) ...

Here's a couple of bits for another iconic Stoke area club ...  

Ah yes, The Original Drifters - whether they were or not they were still great to see and hear.

I believe that set of Original Drifters WERE the Original Drifters ... they weren't the Atlantic recording group or Roy Tempest's fake outfit (actually the Invitations) but were Bill Pinkney's group (who'd been the 'Atlantic' Drifters in the 50's till sacked by George Treadwell /  Atlantic). 

To tie in with the book of Manc 60's photos that just got a thread on here, a few Manc club related bits ... 

Think some useless more modern group may have taken the name of a famous old Manc club ...  ...  ... ALSO the group pic I've posted up (THE MOTOWN SECT) is of a Manc based mod / soul group who played lots of Manc area venues in the early to mid 60's (BTW, the guy in the middle in the college scarf is LEMMY of Hawkwind & Motorhead fame) ... 

I've seen mentions of a club in Halifax from the mid 60's; Big DADDY'S ... It was owned by the Crabtree bothers (one of who wrestled under the name of BIG DADDY). It booked lots of R&B / mod groups before being reinvented as THE SCENE late in 66.

Anyone known much about this venue ?

1 hour ago, Roburt said:

I've seen mentions of a club in Halifax from the mid 60's; Big DADDY'S ... It was owned by the Crabtree bothers (one of who wrestled under the name of BIG DADDY). It booked lots of R&B / mod groups before being reinvented as THE SCENE late in 66.

Anyone known much about this venue ?

The wrestler was Shirley Crabtree, I'm sorry I don't know anything about the venue.

My 1st niter venue (though the Stevie Wonder gig was a dayer) ... 

Edited March 12Mar 12 by Roburt