Just to let you all know, there's a new edition of the mag Soul Renaissance just out

It's 98 pages packed with record reviews, venue reports & articles & is well recommended!

5quid +a quid postage from Martyn Bradley C/O 26a Stafford Road, Huntington, Cannock, Staffs WS12 4PD

GOT MINE LAST WEEK FULL OF INFO A BRILLIANT READ WELL WORTH THE PRICE

Got our copy a couple of weeks back, Martyn puts a lot of time and effort into this it's well worth the money.

Sharon

Got our copy a couple of weeks back, Martyn puts a lot of time and effort into this it's well worth the money.

Sharon

Indeed he does & he writes some brilliant articles on the way the scene is going

This is number 11 & I believe that he has reprinted copies of all the previous numbers & every issue is well worth getting hold of

Indeed he does & he writes some brilliant articles on the way the scene is going

This is number 11 & I believe that he has reprinted copies of all the previous numbers & every issue is well worth getting hold of

Absolutely!

Got all the back issues. The best soul mag by a mile.

Martyn tells it like it is - reminds me of Pete Lawson at times.

Great stuff

Got mine last Saturday, 98 pages paced with info and reviews. Good work Mr Bradley, (pass the message on Dave I know he's not on line)

Anyway of buying these through Payapl, Ebay etc?

I got the first 4 then moved to Canada and ask this question everytime a new copy is released.

Just had a thought, will anyone have copies at Soulfusion?

Kevin

Superb mag , the last of the old style fanzines ? Loads of info. Best ,Eddie

Martyn's a top bloke and full of passion for the music. I agree that this has got to be the best read about, however I have to smile when I read the "political" views:- the scene needs fresh and exciting venues etc etc, and then do an 11 page review of your own venue could be viewed as a little unbalanced reporting, especially when many venues that are consistently trying to be interesting and "exciting" don't even get a mention. I appreciate that this is only a personalised view of "how it is", but can you see how this could be construed as a little bit of biased self promotion, though personally knowing Martyn, I know this couldn't be further from the truth, but it could easily come across this way.

Des Parker

Martyn's a top bloke and full of passion for the music. I agree that this has got to be the best read about, however I have to smile when I read the "political" views:- the scene needs fresh and exciting venues etc etc, and then do an 11 page review of your own venue could be viewed as a little unbalanced reporting, especially when many venues that are consistently trying to be interesting and "exciting" don't even get a mention. I appreciate that this is only a personalised view of "how it is", but can you see how this could be construed as a little bit of biased self promotion, though personally knowing Martyn, I know this couldn't be further from the truth, but it could easily come across this way.

Des Parker

spoke to martyn and he thanks you all for your support, martyn welcomes any input from any anyone that is willing to send venue reports he will gladly include them in the mag be it half a page or eleven pages.. Martyn will gladly advertise any bodys venue or sales business free of charge as you can well confirm des.

As we dont yet have a web site one of the ways we try to advertise the AP club is through the pages of the mag, anyone who wants to write an article on their venue can just send it along to martyn and it will get published in the next mag.

Though there was eleven pages on the ap club this included playlists from over the last twelve months plus feed back direct from soul source forum, plus a brief history to date of the venue that has been running for almost 18 months. Martyn likes to give value for money and feels that 98 pages for £5.00 is excellent value for money, as this takes martyn nearly approx 15 monthes to compile.

Once again Martyn would like to thank everyone for their support.

Edited September 8, 200816 yr by munchkin

great read,thanks for mine Saturday,,KEV.

Just to let you all know, there's a new edition of the mag Soul Renaissance just out

It's 98 pages packed with record reviews, venue reports & articles & is well recommended!

5quid +a quid postage from Martyn Bradley C/O 26a Stafford Road, Huntington, Cannock, Staffs WS12 4PD

Is Martyn still a 100% 60s man?

Is Martyn still a 100% 60s man?

no martyn likes across the board but with a hint of sixties

martyn asked if you would be interested in doin the ap club in the future

I'm certainly not having a go at the mag, coz overall it is very GOOD - just kinda feel that the "politics" lets it down. In the editorial it states "Unfortunately most of what we'd call the mainstream comprises of events that are either too political, musically average (at best) or are run by inept promoters who don't have a clue" Now, unless you state which venues you're on about, it leaves seeds of doubt - Who are these "inept promoters" - Andy Mcabe, Kev Roberts, Adey Croasdell, Phil Kowalski, Mace????? It also states, in a review about Burnley "Not a bad night, although not the dog's bollock's as some suggest. But different, so I'll probably return to this one as i've heard enough to give it another try" - what doesn't sit right with me about these "political statements" is that the "unbiased" view of the state of the scene comes from another venue promoter!!!! It really is a great magazine, run by a great guy, but for me the judgements on the scene, could be viewed as a bit biased, to say the least!!

Des Parker

Edited September 8, 200816 yr by SOUL.INC

A good solid read as usual...always enjoy reading Martyns views weather i agree with them or not.

Great value at a fiver...highly recomended.

Chris.

I'm certainly not having a go at the mag, coz overall it is very GOOD - just kinda feel that the "politics" lets it down. In the editorial it states "Unfortunately most of what we'd call the mainstream comprises of events that are either too political, musically average (at best) or are run by inept promoters who don't have a clue" Now, unless you state which venues you're on about, it leaves seeds of doubt - Who are these "inept promoters" - Andy Mcabe, Kev Roberts, Adey Croasdell, Phil Kowalski, Mace????? It also states, in a review about Burnley "Not a bad night, although not the dog's bollock's as some suggest. But different, so I'll probably return to this one as i've heard enough to give it another try" - what doesn't sit right with me about these "political statements" is that the "unbiased" view of the state of the scene comes from another venue promoter!!!! It really is a great magazine, run by a great guy, but for me the judgements on the scene, could be viewed as a bit biased, to say the least!!

Des Parker

fair comment des but martyn has been doing this mag for a number of years and his style of writing hasnt changed just because he runs another venue, martyn was the same when he ran lea manor, plus zanzibar and other venues, of which you were involved,................ Des its like when you cook a meal for yourself, you season it to your liking, if anyone else cooks it its never perfect......... in the end its martyns opinion. its not the sun for sale on every street corner, it is sold personally by martyn and hes out there to take the comments, and not on here to put his point across.

its not too often i comment on here because of this type of thing but because martyn is not on here to reply i felt the need to put martyns corner forward

As I say, yes it's free speech, opinions etc etc but take the example of Bidds, where I'm resident. Not one mention of the venue in 96 pages yet 11 pages on Holmes Chapel, which is no problem in itself - it's Martyn's mag and venue, but when you see the political rhetoric about "inept promoters", "musically average" etc etc and there's no favourable mention about the venue I'm involved with, you can't help but think...........is he having a pop at us!! I'm sure this isn't the case, but it isn't clear for us, or a great deal of promoters,D.J.'s who weren't mentioned in the magazine.

Des parker

By the way, if I cook a Meal for myself I don't say that everyone else in the street is a crap cook.

As I say, yes it's free speech, opinions etc etc but take the example of Bidds, where I'm resident. Not one mention of the venue in 96 pages yet 11 pages on Holmes Chapel, which is no problem in itself - it's Martyn's mag and venue, but when you see the political rhetoric about "inept promoters", "musically average" etc etc and there's no favourable mention about the venue I'm involved with, you can't help but think...........is he having a pop at us!! I'm sure this isn't the case, but it isn't clear for us, or a great deal of promoters,D.J.'s who weren't mentioned in the magazine.

Des parker

Hiya Des

Think you may find that Martyn hasn't been to Bidds for quite a while now so I think he would find it hard to write a report on the venue, at the end of the day there is that much on these days you cant go to every venue every weekend.

As stated earlier in the thread if anyone wants to write a venue report and send it to him he will always print it in his mag. Maybe you can do a report on the next Bidds and send it to him I'm sure he would be grateful.

On a personal note if I was writing a mag and also running a venue I would certainly be promoting my own venue in it rightly or wrongly as I'm sure anyone else would it'd be daft not to.

See you Saturday.

Sharon

I fully, fully agree with you and not only are the Holmes Chapel bits valid inclusions, but also interesting reading, but WHY the slagging off, of unnamed venues, promoters and D.J.'s without having the bollocks to state who the Magazine's on about, leaving us, the unnamed wondering if it refers to us!!!!!!

Des Parker

I fully, fully agree with you and not only are the Holmes Chapel bits valid inclusions, but also interesting reading, but WHY the slagging off, of unnamed venues, promoters and D.J.'s without having the bollocks to state who the Magazine's on about, leaving us, the unnamed wondering if it refers to us!!!!!!

Des Parker

I'll have to have a proper read Des, cos I always thought Martyn DID name and shame.

One of the things I love about the mag in fact.

Does Martyn do paypal? meant to pick one up at Lifeline

Does Martyn do paypal? meant to pick one up at Lifeline

HES OFF LINE AT THE MOMENT SAYS HES GETTING CONNECTED SOON

Is Martyn still a 100% 60s man?

I saw him Saturday , first time in months , I always thought he was until I saw the playlist on some CD'S he gave me. Top man

Yes,got mine a couple of weeks ago,fantastic read,loads of record reviews,reports etc.plus a great article on Correctone & how it was formed & developed,very interesting especially all the 'characters involved' if anybody hasn't got all the issues well worth investing in the back issues.

WELL DONE Martyn & Everybody involved in putting the mag together!!

Martyn's a top bloke and full of passion for the music. I agree that this has got to be the best read about, however I have to smile when I read the "political" views:- the scene needs fresh and exciting venues etc etc, and then do an 11 page review of your own venue could be viewed as a little unbalanced reporting, especially when many venues that are consistently trying to be interesting and "exciting" don't even get a mention. I appreciate that this is only a personalised view of "how it is", but can you see how this could be construed as a little bit of biased self promotion, though personally knowing Martyn, I know this couldn't be further from the truth, but it could easily come across this way.

Des Parker

I'd like to thank Sharon for letting me reply first of all thanks to Des for his comments as ever always welcome as regards being biased in the venue reports etc isn't any writer to a certain extent but I have always tried to give a good positive revue to other venues when reporting as can be seen through my previous issues of the mag regardless of whether the venue was my cup of tea or not. In response to the named promoters no I'm not referring to any of those mentioned because I think they do professionally run events or have done in the past. As regards Burnley I stick by my comments it just didn't do it for me on the night but that's not to say that it will be the same next time I attend even some of the events that I have promoted in the past have not always lived upto my expectations and I've said so at the time so is that a bad thing being honest? The reason I sometimes don't give overly favourable venue reports regardless is because I'm not in it for personal gain. I go to venues primarily for enjoyment of the music and social aspect whether it's in my capacity as a dj, punter or promoter.

Even when I wasn't promoting venues my view point was still the same, as regards the politics of the mag some of these comments are just generalisations of circumstances as a lot of thinking soul fans identify with what I'm trying to say. As regards inept promoters, musically average events etc again most thinking soul fans agree or can identify with what I'm trying to say.

The 11 page review was I'm sorry not an 11 page review if I recall it was actually just over 2 pages the rest of the pages are comments from other people or playlists which were submitted by other people not me.

Over the time period of the magazine including fourth coming issue 12 the magazine has been geared to promoting other venues on numerous ocassions I have asked promoters and interested parties to send me reviews, written articles, playlists and adverts from their events and continue to do so. As regards Bidds along with many other venues they have been given mention in the magazine at various times if the promoter of any venue does not wish to submit an article or write up there is very little I can do about it. I have put adverts in free of charge even when promoters havn't asked me to I've done it off my own back and once again I think the magazine's record speaks for itself as regards publicity I have tried to give as impartial and fair assessment of a venue's good points as I can. Yes there is a certain amount of bias but isn't there in any writers work.

As regards naming individual's or venues etc I have done when I've felt the need and have had people knock on my door or phone me when they've not been happy about something that I've wrote but as I say when describing a general set of circumstances that's not what it's all about for instance the local council is rubbish but I could only name one person from that council at the end of the day their rubbish.

Once again thanks for everyone's comments and input and I hope this clarifies some of the points raised. See you all at Middleton.

Martyn

Hopefully you'll get yourself on line soon Martyn, as perhaps may of the frustrations and debates you want to have, may be better suited to this medium,rather than a Magazine format. As I've stated time and time again, it is probably one of, if not THE best Magazine around, but I still maintain that the "politics" in it needs to be rethought , the following passage typifies what I feel is detrimental to the overall high quality of the magazine:-

"The scene has been hijacked, the music is quite often pushed to the back.It's more about characters with fancy nicknames, telling us about this and that. How they found certain records, and what they've done for the scene. Creating an identity and immortalising themselves. More through image, rather than actual deeds. They have elevated themselves to superstar status" - Many can empathise with many of your sentiments.............................but you obviously had at least one person in mind when this was written, but yet again we're guessing who these "hijackers" are, is it:- Butch, Chalky, Flanny, Ginger Taylor, Johnny Fingers, etc etc. Am I being a bit thick here, can someone tell me who these fancy nicknamed "Hijackers" are???

Des Parker

P.S. I do hope Mace isn't the fancy nicknamed hijacker, as I have to sit on a Plane with him soon!!!

Edited September 13, 200816 yr by SOUL.INC

P.S. I do hope Mace isn't the fancy nicknamed hijacker, as I have to sit on a Plane with him soon!!!

Opposite sides of the plane though...something to do with equalizing weight distribution to prevent wing tilt and circling the Atlantic....anyway my nickname ain't fancy.....

Perhaps its Killa, there's a nickname a few on the northern scene might fancy

Is it a good idead to have a dig at someone nicknamed Killa mind....even though he's only 3 foot nothing, he might chew your kneecaps off to fatten himself up

P.S. can't comment on mag content cus ain't read it.

Beggsy wants to know if it's available in large print like the literature from banks etc

Do agree in naming names mind...having opinions is fine, but putting it in print, whether in a mag or posting on forums etc without naming names is quite pointless .......other than being mischevious (nowt I'd know about mind )

Edited September 13, 200816 yr by Mace