MartynJJ

blimey more memories coming flooding back from my youth. Friday nights was Colemans til it finally closed it's doors about 1979 then we migrated to the Brit. Monday nights was the Palais downstairs in the Bali Hai, what a way to start the week off and once a month a Palais all dayer. Sunday evenings usually meant a trip up to Gedling Miners Welfare. Used to hang around with Mark Jarvis (Jarvo) Dopey. Colin Shipstone aka Benny, Curly, Kev and Dave Husbands, Pete and Chris Smith, Tommy?? Gail and Jackie Sirsy (Cirsy??), Andy Cannon from Newark,Steve Potts, Podgy, Sharon Dring (my then girlfriend) Susan Grocott, Diane Stanley. I left the scene and went onto other things about 82 after growing boredwith it all, although it never really ever went away. Flirted on and off ever since and now I'm exiled in Stockport. Palais only ever did 3 nighters in my time, and I saw Jr Walker and still have his autograph from the event. Happy Days

for many reasons but mainly because of my late dad it has to be Notts Palais circa 78 to 81 Why my dad? well he was one of the doorstaff which meant we didn't have to queue for too long, would get in about ten minutes before doors open and get the best seat by the DJ's box and I'd get to see my old man (came from a divorced family and lived with my mum). I used to love getting a wave to come forward and walk past all those in the queue smug in the knowledge we would be the first dancing feet on the floor that day The gang of the day, blimey I have some names but they's all come and joins us on the best seats and there we would stay. I think I'll pop up a seperate where are they now thread My other faveorite day had to be Cleethorpes Winter Gardens, in fact I'd have it over the Palais based purely on music and atmosphere

Had a great weekend, just about fully recovered and spent the best part of two evenings sorting my photo's out. Nice to meet the gang up from the Isle of White Soul Club on Sunday. Thanks to nthe organisers for another great event, personally I don't get to many events these days so plead guilty to spending far too much time in the main hall but I loved it anyways And to the fella that came over in the main room and introduced himself along the lines of " I know you, you're from Manchester" if you are on here drop me a PM or something to say where you know me from...don't you just hate it when someone know's you but you don't know them and it's so loud up by the main speakers you can't hold a decent conversation. Finally photo's are loaded here, please take a look and give some constructive criticism. And they are all copyright even if not explicitly given. I have no objection to them being used per say but to ask first is only polite And below is probably one of the best I have ever taken, in full flow, feet off the ground and catching the eye of the camera at just the right moment, hope you enjoy

Tickets and accomodation arranged - checkNew clothes bought and ready for packing - checkFriday and Monday holidays booked - checkA shed load of moeny doshed out on some new camera stuff so I can get some decent photo's -check So if you see a middle aged fella wandering around with a camera and missus in tow stop me and say hello Safe journey everyone and enjoy the event

I was in Nottingham the other week paying a visit to the family and went in Viccy Market, sadly the hot pea's stall has gone but Pendulum Records is still there going strong. I used to get my records from Fox's records up in Viccy Centre, every Fraiday after work, get the bus into town loaded with my wage packet and come away with aminimum of two vynils. Happy days

I have had the pleasure and priviledge of seeing this guy twice last year in Manchester. First time at the Ruby Lounge and 2nd time around at Manchester Academy 3 and both times I was absolutely blown away. Just the tightest, sweetest sound you can imagine and probably the most authentic sounding "retro" soul I have ever heard. Imagine a combination of Otis Redding and James Carr and your there. Sadly I cant make this years dates as my beloved Forest have a play off date on the 12th but if you haven't seen this guy before you really should give yourself a treat....highly highly reccomended heres the UK tour dates 05/10/2010, Scala, London, GB 05/12/2010, Manchester Academy, Manchester, GB 05/13/2010, Great Escape Festival, Brighton, GB 05/14/2010, O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham, GB 05/15/2010, Oran Mor,Glasgow, 05/17/2010, The Bongo Club, Edinburgh, GB 05/18/2010, Speakeasy, Belfast, IE 05/19/2010, Academy Dublin,Dublin, IE

searched my computer and photo albums, sad to say I don't have much from that era but I did come across this. I'm taking the picture but I remember this as clear as day. Taken in 1979, we had just come out from an all nighter at the Palais into a bank holiday Monday morning. We didn't really want to go home so we just spent the morning dossing around the back of Broadmarsh Bus Station. So I give to you Sharon Dring (my girl of the time), Jackie Sirsee, Mark "Jarvo" Jarvis and the late but loved Colin "Shippo" Shipstone. There's also a fella from Newark but I can't for the life of me remember is name. He used to hang around with another fella from Newark called Andy Cannon who I went to Wigan with. Wonder where he is now??

Here's a bit on Karol Keyes https://www.mancheste...nd/bigsound.php Apparently Basil Fawlty groped her bosom in an episode of Fawlty Towers...the lucky begger

great thread my first exposure to Northern Soul was at comprehensive school in about 1974/5. We used to have a white stereo which came out at lunchtimes and everyone bought records in to play. I remember clearly hearing Footsee and watching 4 of my mates dancing. Now in those days I was more into prog rock and just thought "what a bunch of......" . But it was a tune that stuck with me. Fast forward to 1977 and I started going down the local youth club after being badgered by a few mates. Friday nights 7 til 10 and all for 10p entrance and an ink stamp on the hand. I couldn't believe the stuff I was listenig to and after hearing Andre Brasseur's mad hammond organ belting out "The Kid" and this lad stomping like I had never seen before and possibly ever since, that was it...I was hooked. After that I did the works around Nottingham, Colemans on a Friday night, getting my Coca Cola and Mars Bars downstairs while the ceiling pounded up and down to the beat of everyone stomping to Bill Purcells Heartbeat, Sunday nights at Gedling Miners welfare, mixing with the Rockers, Punks and Teds waiting for our 30 minute soul session when the floor became ours. We owned it and we danced Monday nights was straight from work down to the Palais after getting changed in the works bogs and then getting the bus into town, calling in at Wimpeys for a burger and chips and possibly a knickerbocker glory. Roxy Threads and a black Harrington were the uniform for us. None of those Spencers trousers for us East Midlands soulies About 1980ish I remember drifting into the Mod scene for a bit, but for me the scene was starting to lose something and I finally left it behind for a while in about '82. But you know you can take the boy out of soul but you'll never take the soul out of the boy and after a few years flirting around the scene I feel like I'm back home. Got a lot of catching up to do......and you know what?........I never ever could get the hang of stomping!!!

If You Knew always guarantees me up on the dance floor , can't believe no one in the audience semed to be even twitching