Bazm

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.

So here's the heads up... Soul Essence comes to Culcheth! The first weekend in April 2025 will be the first time in 32 years that there will be NO Soul Essence weekender! The Yarmouth Weekender has been an institution on the UK Soul Scene and has spearheaded the rise of 70's/Crossover/Modern Soul to a generation of young & old Soulies from all over the UK (and beyond). In our Modern Room at Culcheth on Saturday 5th April we are proud to hold a 'Soul Essence Special' with original founder Bob Cosby as our Guest DJ. Bob is well known in the North West and we know he'll bring his quality tunes to the Culcheth table. We also have Soul Sam, the man who was the main guest at Yarmouth from the very beginning to the very end, cementing his residency at Culcheth with plenty of Yarmouth classics on the night. Not only that, we also have our resident Steve Plumb playing his memories of being one of the main room DJ team at Soul Essence. Add to that our other Culcheth residents Pete and Nick (who also played at Yarmouth in later years) and you have a potential killer night of 70's, Modern Soul & Crossover at the 'do within a do', the Culcheth Modern Room. See you there!

Deffo a Mecca spin Bob, picked it up many moons ago from 'Out of The Past' gotta feelin' it could get a spin on the 5th 😉👍

ALWAYS the 1st Saturday in the month...RARE NORTHERN SOUL meets QUALITY MODERN SOUL in TWO ROOMS, kicking off April in style and covering the decades and featuring some of the biggest dancefloor packers, laced with underplayed and semi known gems, plus bang up to date modern releases. CULCHETH is leading from the front and carrying on a great tradition in the North-West of spinning tunes that are an all-together refreshing difference from the norm! There'll be a 'SPECIAL' reason to come to CULCHETH on the 5th! WATCH THIS SPACE…😉👍💃👍👏

First of all, a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came to CULCHETH on Saturday, it really was great to see sooo many happy smiling faces and hear really positive comments about the music policy at CULCHETH in both the main room and the Modern Room. I’m going to quote Mike Roche’s comment from his review, as IMHO it encapsulates the CULCHETH vibe and ethos, Mike said about Saturday; “Culcheth at its best, where the energy of the crowd merges with incredible music to produce a magical night over two rooms.” So thanks to the DJ team and thanks to everyone who made the effort and chose CULCHETH as their destination venue this weekend. Let’s Keep on Doin’ and Keep On Keeping On! https://www.facebook.com/100003177638799/videos/3520622888233932/

A LOWTON big room biggie Si, that's still one of our favourite spins that always gets dancefloor approval...good shout 👏👍

Here's an underplayed oldie played at CULCHETH as a reactivation a while ago that's now getting spins around and about. John Weston played it on Dean Andersons excellent, weekly Thursday evening show last night and in the box for Saturday...

It's his trademark Rob, we've got Robbo with his shorts in the Main Room and Pete Ratcliffe in shorts in the Modern Room...no matter what the weather brings 😆 Mind you who cares when the both deliver the musical goods 👍👊👏

The Modern Room at CULCHETH goes from strength to strength, with each month getting better and better. Now that SOUL SAM has joined the resident team of STEVE PLUMB, CHARLIE SMITH, NICK McKINNON, BILL WILDMAN, PETE RATCLIFFE and BAZ MALEEDY for 2025, so that is set to get even better! The music policy, to coin a phrase, is ‘IF IT MOVES FUNK IT! Which if you are a seasoned veteran of Modern Rooms, you’ll know that means everything we do in there is aimed at the dancefloor and just having a great time… Join us on the first Saturday of the month for the ‘Do Within a Do’ and you’ll hear everything from FRAZELLE to FRANKIE KNUCKLES from LUTHER to LOWRELL… Soulful 70’s, Eclectic 80’s, Rare Grooves, and Disco Biscuits are all in the mix If It Feels Good…Do It 20250201_202231.mp4

And last but definitely not least, the main room wouldn’t be the main room without KEV MURPHY! From LOWTON to WIGAN to BLACKBURN to BOLTON to just about everywhere, CULCHETH resident Kev is becoming more and more popular as he showcases his incredible collection of oldies, real classics, forgotten spins and just quality rare soul music for all to see, hear and enjoy. Have you heard Dennis Edwards Johnny on the Spot? Fascinators ‘In Other Words’? Edith Brown ‘You Did It’? The Camaros ‘We’re Not Too Young’ ? No? well, you’re in for a treat on MARCH 1st at CULCHETH SEE YOU THERE…

Now here’s a DJ and ‘soul man’ in the truest sense of the term, cut him and he’ll ooze ‘SOUL’. ROBBO has been there and done that many times and he brings that love and enthusiasm for the music front and centre when he DJ’s. Robbo will play a Motown classic followed by a real rarity, followed by a forgotten oldie, weaving a web of soulful strands, capturing the hearts and minds to all in front of him, inviting them onto the dancefloor. Tobi Lark, Fortson and Scott, Gene Chandler, the wonderful Enticers and the brilliant Wigan MONSTER John Leach ‘Put that Woman Down, all in the box ready for CULCHETH playtime!

You're right there Bob, such FANTASTIC tunage ammassed over the years, impecable taste, this could be his signiture tune... 😉👏

Next up will be SIMON INGHAM carrying on from where Baz leaves off, Simon, a CULCHETH and ASHTON UKRANIAN resident is another DJ coming through the ranks due firstly to an absolute love of Rare and Underplayed soul but with an eye on the really sounds from the past from venues such as Morecambe, The Wilton, Lifeline and many more. Simon’s selections and choice of tunes would grace the decks of any venue so we are lucky to have him as a resident at CULCHETH. Simon continues to dig, so it’ll be a pleasure to hear on of his current picks Keith & Billie ‘Tastes Sour Don’t It’ as well as the superb oldie Lee Rogers ‘Go Go Girl’ 70’s stormer, True image ‘I’m Not Over You Yet’ Wow! The mega rare Cody Black ‘It's Our Time To Fall In Love’ the sublime Chuck Cockerham ‘Have I Got a Right’ and if it arrives in time the gem dancer below and it’s only 9 o’clock!

CULCHETH going from strength to strength... We are pleased to announce SOUL SAM has joined the team as resident at CULCHETH MODERN ROOM! Quality all the way…Nuff said really