Mark Bicknell

Now that sounds like fun...lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Thought Sue had a tasty collection going on or have i got that wrong.....sorry Sue...lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

It's a 'Soul' thing and i strongly feel it has very little to do with gender, ladies like yourself Karen, Jo Wallace, Val Palmer, maybe Sue Brick...lol, Kim Cooke, Sister Dawn, Catriona Smith, Miss Popcorn, Dawn Brown, Sharnya Hale, Jumping Joan and many more can give us guys a run for our money...lol it's about passion for the records and again has bugger all to do with gender...this has inspired me to invite a few female collector DJ's onto my show, might be a nice way to prove and confirm it's just not a man thing...lol Regards - Mark Bicknell. Slight edit here before i get into trouble....lol

There were about three seperate promoters who had a go with The Concorde Suite, we had it for about two years 1991/92 and for the time it was a well attended allnighter when you consider that the scene was far from what it is today in terms of the amount of gigs on offer and the number of people around at that time, the promotion at that time was a three way thing with myself, Peter Hollander and Dennis Billingham, i secured the venue after Mark Robertson finished with it and i think Guy Hennigan was also involved with it prior to us possibly partners with Mark Robertson? As Trevski stated it was a superb venue and i feel possibly a little ahead of it's time, the music policy was bang on with the likes of Butch, Roger Banks, Gary Spencer,myself and many top guests, we even featured one live gig there when we brought the late Barbara Acklin over from America but the less said about that one the better...lol I consider the Concorde Suite to be one of the best venues/dance halls in the area, we had steady well attended monthly Allnighters there and it was a pleasure to do it, the bombshell came when the local council desided in their wisdom and to save money by selling a couple of it's venues and sadly The Royal British Legion purshased the building and the rest is history. Guy and myself went back there about three years ago to try and get a gig going there again but the commitee were basically not having any of it, it's hardly changed inside and we thought we might just strike lucky but it was'nt to be, still sometimes it's best not to try and rake over old coles but it would have been nice. I often go past the venue and always smile as we had some top nights there, hard to believe its 15 years ago now. We relocated to Hyde Town Hall but it never happened there, mainly due to the scene being on it's arse then allnighter wise but we had a go with one or two ok nights but by this time Dennis lost interest leaving Pete Hollander and myself to give Hyde our best shot, at this time i took on The North Cheshire Soul night in Stockport which ran for ten years again monthly, Pete got involved with Barry Holland as i did on the very first Winsford Allnighter but Barry and myself were and are good mates but we had different ideas on things so Pete and Barry stuck with Winsford and i stuck with The North Cheshire and another good period for us all promotion wise....so there you havre it a brief history of the The Concorde Suite...gone but it seems not forgotton. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

John, I have a fair knowledge about this scene mate but i still talk Bollocks on a regular basis...lol Mark Bicknell.

Just read it, not even worth going there and responding, leave em' to it i think...lol Mark Bicknell.

Right let's go in mob handed folks, saucy twat how dare he...let's go and i don't need covering...lol Mark Bicknell.

I'm crying for you Tony...lol still again we have all done it and all have a tale to tell, but you did the right thing at the time, and who's was to know how the price of records would end up 'NO ONE' that's who, imagine trying to sell a record for even £500.00 way back you would have be classified a nutter...lol now we are all nutters. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Will do Keith but will be next weeks show ok, Hyde Town Hall mate and that time was a different time for sure, as The Inverts said 'Time Will Change' and it has mate.... keep at it Keith you are a decent bloke. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Laugh or cry i don't really know, seems like we have all done it but here goes don't ask the prices coz i can't or don't want to remember...lol Empires, Blue Jays, Gene Toones Stock/Issue, Ray Pollard- Shrine, Soul Shakers - Teri de, Imperial C's, Twans, Eric Mercury - Sac, Chuck Holiday either sold for peanuts or stolen out of my flat in North Wales, Lou Pride - Love Is Fading, Betty Wilson - Dayco, Ron Baxter, Jesse Davis - Hang On In There...and numerous other bits and bobs over the years...sold a few big ticket items in recent years but no problem there as i got good trades or prices.......spare a thought for what the likes of John Anderson have had through their hands over the years....Mr Massey will remember that legendary Detroit list from 'Soul Bowl' way back... i got Tempos - Diamond Jim, Volumes - Impact, Masqueraders - How and several others for the cost of a pok pie way back...lol all horses for courses, swings and slides and the nature of the beast...lol Help...we all need it! Mark Bicknell.

Real shame Keith, i know how hard you guys work it's a shame but everything is going pear shaped, tits up etc. at the moment on this scene it's sad, send me the details of the site email address etc. and i will give your list a mention on the show mate with pleasure, hope it helps, best of luck. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Wee Willie Walker for me awesome blinding record and Chuck Jackson is King, Ady is God....cheers mate. Mark Bicknell.

I'm with Brett on this ine...records are for playing, end of story. Regards - Mark Bicknell. oh and a Stanton top of the range stylus too just in case......lol

Gonna be playing it most Sunday nights for next few weeks, awesome record. Mark Bicknell.

Just a bit of an update on the show, thanks again for all the recent donations and support. Regards - Mark Bicknell. www.solarradio.com

Already in the box mate....lol see you soon. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Brian, Just started playing this recently on the show and out and about, should be a huge record so so good, can't post a sound clip but could give you a blast down the phone mate so IM me. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Loads of five, ten and twenty quiders out there to go at. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Is it on at the same time......lol i really had no idea not that it makes a blind bit of difference to me so much so a Wigan special from me is already in production or perhaps not....lol as i said each ot his or her own just enjoy whatever you listen to is all thats important. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Thanks Shane but to be honest mate if i had to go by a play list or a certain theme then i'd rather not do it, all specialist shows on Solar have a free run and we play what we want which is just how it should be and is not always the case on more mainstream stations trust me on this. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

All i can say is www.solarradio.com Sunday nights from 8pm - 10pm i might be old school 46 years old with 30 years on the scene and all that but i try to keep it real and that's all anyone can do, everyone has an on/off switch and if you don't like it then don't listen. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I reckon this is far rarer on Jam than the other labels, i have a stone mint one in my collection but it's too good to sell at this moment in time...well anytime really...lol great record also good by Calvin Williams. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Sorry messed that up....lol never mentioned playing total unknows Winston, just playing the whole deal really, and yes audience it's important i know that more than most six years on Solar and all that, there is just so much good music to go at and personally i try and cover all i can. Your comments are so vaild so respect. Mark Bicknell.