BazM

Gettin' Ready for the Get Down!

Something for this particular weekend...what a tune!

For those who like their Soul, well and truly 'across the board' this wonderful record will be getting an airing on Saturday courtesy of Joan, as it's one of her favourite spins...Qualidee all the way

Another QUALITY tunes, that'll be gettin' an airing on Saturday

Very fitting Phil Oooh now then... TUNA!

Phil T said...We try hard to get guests with great records but who you tend not to hear much in the NW. As Joan says then, we're dead chuffed to have lured the legendary George Sharp back behind the decks. George has been a rock solid supporter of GS from the get go; more importantly, he is one of the people whose playlists had a real impact and influence on us all those years ago... A perfect introduction and on that basis here's a bit of a 'Bio' for George and his background on the Rare Soul scene... George Sharp - Getting into Northern Soul and its sub-culture Like many at the time, George was an early developer on the Northern Soul scene and started buying Northern Soul records whilst still at school in 1975 and although he was banned from attending all-nighters by parents he visited Leeds Central soul club in the mid70s while still at school but then finally, there was the life changing visit to Wigan Casino late 1977, saying he’d ‘slept at a friends house ! The national hysteria and popularity of 1975 had gone but surprisingly Wigan was full on Northern Soul! George will always remember walking in for the very first time to a heaving, buzzing sweat box with 100s of like-minded souls clapping in time to amazing records you’d never heard before. A moment that changed the direction of his life and creating a lifelong bond with Northern Soul music and its sub-culture. George’s first DJ spots (sets) came in 1979 with his first DJ opportunities kindly facilitated by Gary Hepworth. Bradford Ice Rink basement and Jaspers Country Club (York) mid-week soul night where he played current Wigan sounds (ones that were affordable!) The 1980s brought new directions, the 1980s saw more division between total modern soul and a thought was pushed that progressive 60s northern soul was finished and only a handful dissented, with the likes of Guy Hennigan, Dave Withers, possibly Butch and George among them. After Wigan closed, George ran a soul night at the old Bettys Tea Rooms in Bradford, a medium success where the likes of Barry Waddington & Guy Hennigan were guests. Following this he was given regular DJ work by Steve Croft at his first incarnation at Queens Hall Bradford and then at Benson’s Bradford All-Nighters and All-Dayers. Then came the game changer; the Stafford residency! George will always be grateful to Dave Thorley for agreeing to include him in the permanent DJ roster at Stafford ‘Top of the World’ after Dave Withers retired from DJing and a mini ‘shake up’ too place. Guy and Keb were added and George was assigned to play along Gary Rushbrooke. Over the years, obtaining new, rare 60s records became more and more difficult, expensive and extremely competitive! But more DJ slots with regular DJing at Stafford and Warrington Parr Hall, really helped and from then on more and more opportunities came along, including Stafford Top of the World permanent roster, Warrington Parr Hall permanent roster, Bensons Bradford permanent roster, Tony’s Empress (Guy & Ion promoters) permanent roster, 100 club, various gigs in Scotland, Rudy’s Scarborough, Blue Note Derby, Bank Hall Miners, Clouds Preston, Notts Palais, Various West Midlands (for Alan Johnson promoter), Whitchurch Civic Centre, Blackpool Pier, Mansfield Swan … & others. George’s music style in the 80s music style tended to be progressive, relatively unknown Northern Soul, played alongside rare original label Northern sounds, many late Wigan Era. These days, while less progressive, his musical tastes include some classics, some rare, some not so rare from all the important eras Wheel, Torch, Mecca, Wigan, Stafford, Tony's and onwards… but includes everything from full on up-tempo to beat ballads. Influenced by the era of Late Wigan, Stafford, 100 club Tony’s Empress, perfect for the ‘GRUMPY SOUL' ethos, creating a set with mixture of nostalgia and freshness.

Quality tunes all the way, all night from start to finish

Judging by the selections posted here, Good Friday, GREAT FRIDAY! Wolfies here we come

Two rooms of Soulful Delights...

Another Top DJ line up assembled for the CULCHETH TWO ROOM SOUL NIGHT on BANK HOLIDAY SATURDAY MAY 3rd including CARL FORTNUM, SOUL SAM, PHIL THRELFALL, STEVE PLUMB, JOAN LIVESEY, BAZ MALEEDY and more… With GRUMPY SOUL taking centre stage in the main hall DJ’s Carl Fortnum, Phil Threlfall and Jumpin' Joan Livesey, together with Special Guest George Sharp bringing you all the biggies from Iconic Soul Clubs in the 80s Stafford TOTW, Shotts, Morecambe Pier and many more, mixed in with some quality "back of the box" cheapies, just waiting to light up the dance floor!! Add to that a superb MODERN ROOM with the SO SOULFUL SATURDAY’S crew featuring Soul Sam, Steve Plumb, Baz Maleedy, Bill Wildman, Charlie Smith and Pete Ratcliffe, you get the BEST of everything soulful at CULCHETH SOUL NIGHTS Join us everyone welcome

One from Dean Andersons excellent show with Dave Raistrick last night...Ashton incoming

Speakin' of The Perfections...

Lookin' Forward to Saturday's shinanikins, new arrival at the towers and a possible spin for the Ashton faithful...

It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing to Soul Source members the passing of one of the Lowton Civic Hall originators and driving forces, and Culcheth resident DJ Kev Murphy. As a mark of respect, I have decided not to run the Culcheth Soul Night event on April 5th.