Simsy

He turned up at Scenesville out of the blue, last 100 Club as well. Didn't know about radio show, or diary for that matter. Got a text from him this morning, wish he had a computer, he would love SS.

This is still on topic as some of these goings on were in the eighties etc. Our friend wonderful geezer that he is tinged with the mad stick, is know to appear out of nowhere and proclaim "lick my finger". Strange substance, but hey, in the middle of the dance floor, while I'm dancin! Gimee a break!

Sounds like our Gary! Some times I just have no idea what he's on about. But a good mate and a devoted soul fan.

Yeah Garath Churm to give him his correct name (calls himself Gary) Originally from Forrest Town, Mansfield. Was married with a couple of kids, separated, moved darn sarf - regular at 100 Club. Recently moved back to Notts. Pic below me & Gary @ 100 couple of years back. (Gary on the left)

Nothing to do with the Rockmasters this, is it?

Okay here is a list of some of the venues mentioned on the thread so far. (Apologies for any inaccuracies or dupes) In no particular order; 100 Club Leighton Buzzard St Ives Peterborough Loughborough Leicester Stafford Blackburn Sheffield Morecambe Hinckley Coventry Whitchurch Keele Abraham Moss Newcastle Darlington Burnley Warrington Rotherham Clifton Hall Sheffield Romeo & Juliets Rock City (Notts) KGB (Sheffield) Turn-Ups (Sheffield) Fusion (Chesterfield) Winter Gardens (Cleethorpes) Bensons (Bradford) Parr Hall (Warrington) Tiffanys (Wigan/Sheffield etc) Fife Aberdeen Music Hall Arbroath Smokeys Glenrothes Leven Edinburgh Queens Hall Kelsey Kerridge Wigan Casino The '81 Soul Club Leighton Buzzard Clifton Hall Queens Hall Bradford Carousel Manchester Civic Hall Brighouse Droylesden Wirrina Empress Ballroom (Mexborough) Bubbles (Leicester) Drill Hall (Lincoln) Assembly Rooms (Derby) Barnsley - Port Cullis Londoner Tracky Club Redbrook Hotel (Rotherham) Windmill Assembly Rooms Canklow w m clu Shotts Allenton Miners Welfare Mansfield Swan all-nighters Chesterfield "Winding Wheel" TAC Yarmouth weekenders Trotters soul nights Mansfield Tudor Barn Warsop Southport weekenders Fleetwood Barrow Thorne Canal Tavern Dunstable So there we go there are sixty five (or thereabouts) different venues listed above. So I think this helps to remove the myths both urban and rural that the eighties was a weak spot in the scenes history. Perhaps from now on folk will be mindful that there was a lot going on during this decade and many a soulie had many a killer frikkin time back then. PS, this is only a so far list, so if anyone knows of any other soul nights/all-nighters - regular do's etc from the 1980's that they can add, please feel free. Not heard of many from the West Country ??

80s was a top time for NS though I DJ'd at a wedding once and they requested Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman. As the first record. Thought that was a pretty good choice, slowy etc.

I remeber 'Putney Soul Party 88' Pretty sure that was run by Three Voices Soul Club. Will have to have tot up of the number of 80's venues mentioned on this thread, as I think we have proved that the Northern Soul Scene was by no means on it's knees during the nineteen eighties.

Don't remeber Bensons Matt was it oop north? Do remember some of the attitude you speak of in the eighties though. Remeber my mate asking a dealer for 'ain't a bit sorry' by (who he thought at the time was) Ben E King. Dealer simply said "it's not by Ben E King". Mate had to ask "Who's it by" One word answer came back, "Dedications". Further down the hall he picked up a copy of said disc and on his way back past 'happy chappy' dealer, he proclaimed "I got that dedications track" waving it in his hand. The dealer barely registered a response. Although I still witness some surleyness from some record dealers on the whole I don't think they are as bad now as in the eighties.

Swan allnighters, were one of the Nottingham venues yeah? My Mate Gary Churm is always going on about the venues in Nottingham. Fleet was great this was Fletton, Peterborough. Tabitha said Rock City was a dive and threatening. Seems you had a good time there though. Just Frankie B? Or everytime a good time?

Surely the tried & testeds were newies at one point to these blinkered yahoos - you would think?

I'm liking the sound that Stu - soul heaven Maybe he means - If You Want My Love ? Doubt it

Anyone who moans at the mention of a newie or semi known is a fool to themselves. A DJ can't be expected to legislate for that level of narrow mindedness. Both the DJ's and the punters have to take the rough with the smooth. Bit of a Gael Clich, but you can't please all of the people all of the time. Waterloo sounds great. Let's have a do there - Soul Source Allnighter? Decks behind the bar you say, maybe we could have those Budweiser hats with the tubes etc? Getting a bit carried away with this fantasy now, er hem.

There are different ways of looking at this. One is you just sit there listening to unknown after unknown, sipping/gulping at your Stella/Bitter. Thinking to yourself these are refreshing new tunes I'm hearing. Or alternatively doing the same, but thinking I wish he/she would play and oldie or semi known, so I could have a dance or at the least tap me toe. On balance I think the latter is best. A long succession of unknowns is poor dj'ing imo. Keeping the people happy and the dancers dancin should be all important. I remember hearing, think it was Mick Smith play Cleveland Robinson Jr for the first time - Love is a trap. Was a newie to me then, but was instant - wow wtf is this! Type reaction. Same with Jimmy Bo Horne - instant. Finite balance for the dj in how good the 'newie' is and how well is will be received.

This is the thing. Although there are still new sounds being broken today, it's nowhere near the same rate as the eighties, obviously. Back then everything was fresh for me, Freddie Chavez, George Pep, Tempests. Cairos was massive. Agree with you Karen, 80's was a golden time alright.

I Liked him. Fact that he was all sixties gave him a massive vote of confidence IMO.

Nah, Mrs is watching Eastenders on tape. Can't bear it, they talk out of the side of their mouths you know. Did you write that about Danny E? Thouht he was a good DJ. Never tried to buy a watch from him though. When he opened his box it had 'Danny 6t's' on the inside. Just some great tunes he used to spin at Peterboro' & Buzzard. "Nineteen sixty nine on the plexium label". (Shouting) "SOUL JOE CLEMENTS". I'd give the cat's right nad to go back there 00.19 - 800. Got to lay my burden down

And Bubbles? A club in Leicester you say. Allnighters? Was this same time as Oddfellows? Rumour had it Jackson had a stand in Chimp known as 'double bubble'! Serious

Be young, be foolish, be happy. Howcome no one's had that as a singature? 798

Peterborough really was a top spot in the 80's I think. Fleet Centre Fletton. Dave Evison, Danny Everard (amongst others) behind the decks. Rob smith selling pressings for £1.50 worn! Lots of hand clapping. Fantastic atmos and apart from beloved 100 Club, can't think of too many better places to cut one's soul teeth. NB, Ken, 1st one to 800 posts gets to log off and go to bed!

Ah mate, it ain't any kinda fun. And Michael Jackson, what did he say? Keep it 8t's - think man, think.

Can't be considered a traitor for raising a family. Just good to be on the scene when you are able. Monies and family permitting. PS. I am just about over my cold now, you'll be pleased to hear

Go right ahead. Venue's is the name of the game old son. Goings on and such Bubbles(leicester) - ? They have to be real though

Some of these northern gaffs seem bloody charming. Was all the violence a eighties thing or a north thing I wonder. Saying that as I don't remember such ag in the prim South so much. At northern do's that is. Sure there was trouble everywhere I guess not just on our scene. But from the venues I mentioned on page one, I don't remember any bovver at any of them. I was reading the other week where someone said about running from the train station to Wigan to avoid getting chinned. Leicester and Loughborough were the only places we felt threatened and that was really just because of our accents, would want to make the locals give us a good kicking. never happened though thank god. Glad we don't have so much of that bullshit these days eh?

Go on then. Nothing like proving a point And the fact that that people would leave en masse something this good is nice to disprove it never really happened