
Everything posted by Kathryn Magson
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How you got into northern soul
Feeling a bit nostalgic now looking at all the old flyers, so I thought I'd have a bit of a dig around online & see what I could find in the way of photos from those heady nights at The Wheel. I have to say I don't recall ever seeing anyone with a camera - think a lot would have been freaked out by it - but someone obviously managed to take a few pics. Here's a selection of some of the photos that I found - I just can't resist scanning the faces to see if I can spot anyone familiar! lol 🤣 I think the only face I really recognize for sure is Ivor Abadi standing outside the entrance......
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How you got into northern soul
Ok - blame Bunderthollox for this one! I was there for around 95% of these nighters - I tried a few other venues but none lived up to The Wheel. I was there most weekends from 1966-70 - off my head & bouncing around the floor!
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How you got into northern soul
I'm surprised I can remember as much as I do Julian - it's all a bit of a jumble though......... 😵💫
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How you got into northern soul
I got into it all before it was even known as Northern Soul - I started going to The Wheel in 1966 (aged 15) & there was just no looking back - I was absolutely sold on it all! Used to tell my parents that I would be sleeping at a mate's house - she told her parents that she was staying at mine. It all worked just fine until her mum came to my house one Sunday afternoon looking for her daughter......I was grounded for weeks! Eventually I got thrown out of home & ended up in a bedsit, so then I could please myself - Twisted Wheel every single weekend for me! Come Saturday evening, my overnight bag would be packed & ready to go....I used to catch the bus from Bradford to Manchester - usually along with a few others - but often on my own & then I would meet up with mates from other areas when I got to Manchester. After the Wheel, I usually spent Sundays at The Top 20, but a couple of times went to The Blue Note - music was good but I found the atmosphere there a bit oppressive, so The Top 20 was always favourite. I was always skint - I would pay my rent & after that every penny of my wage would be saved for the weekend. Luckily for me, the place I worked at had a very cheap canteen so I didn't need to spend money on food! Weekends didn't really involve eating did they? 😜 I went to The Wheel pretty much every weekend for 4 years & had a great time - I saw so many brilliant bands there - way too many to list. Here's a few off the top of my head -- Jr Walker; Flamingoes; Band Wagon; Ike & Tina; Root & Jenny Jackson; Joe Tex; J.J. Jackson; Geno Washinton; Edwin Starr............I could go on forever & bore you all to tears! Would I turn back the clock & do it all again??? You bet I would - in a bloody heartbeat! (Maybe go a bit easier on the whizz this time though........👀)
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Soul Brew at The George
Thanks to the hardy folk who braved that torrential downpour to support Soul Brew on Friday night. I thought when I saw the rain lashing down & all the deserted streets on my way to The George that we would have nobody there at all, but considering the weather - plus the weekender in Scarborough - we had a reasonably good turn-out in the end! It was great to hear people saying what a good night they'd had. Thanks too to all the DJs - Soul Brew's Marc Silverside, Steve Yendley & Stuart Eastwood - plus Eccleshill Mechanics' Ade Rushworth. You all played cracking tunes from the get-go - well done guys. 👍 Thanks again to everyone who chose to join us last night - thanks for coming - thanks for dancing - we couldn't do it without you! Hope you can all make it to our next FREE event at The George - watch this space for more info. Kath xx 🥰
- Soul Brew at The George
- Soul Brew at The George
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A retrospective Manifesto for the Northern Soul scene
My thoughts exactly! It would be SO good if we could stuff that genie back into his bottle.........
- The Twisted Wheel Club Manchester 60th Anniversary 28 September 1963
- Soul Brew @ The Piece Hall, Halifax
- Soul Brew @ The George, Cleckheaton
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Soul Brew at The Piece Hall TICKETS NOW SOLD OUT
TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT ARE NOW SOLD OUT - SO SORRY TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE DISAPPOINTED 😢 Join the SOUL BREW DJs & guests COLIN CURTIS & PEP PEREIRA plus local DJs MARK SHARROCKS & GIBBY for a storming Christmas party in the Speigeltent at the amazing Piece Hall in the centre of Halifax. Tickets priced @ 15.00 are available from thepiecehall.co.uk Tickets are selling very fast - don't leave it too late - it'll be a cracking night!! 🎉🥳💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺🥳🎉
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Goodbye Brighouse Ritz
When we looked round The Ritz a couple of weeks ago, I think the person that showed us around was the owner (or co-owner). She told us that they had tried absolutely everything they could think of - the local council to see if any help was available - reduced rates etc - heritage funding had also been tried & refused - listed building status - but nothing was forthcoming. She seemed really frustrated & disappointed at the lack of response from the authorities - it must have cost the current owners a small fortune in rates & insurance alone to keep things going while they tried for help with funding & that they had now run out of options. It was costing too much to keep on flogging the proverbial "dead horse" & now - sadly - demolition seems to be the only option. The place is in such a sad, sorry state that I reckon the cost of restoration would be prohibitive anyway. 😢
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Goodbye Brighouse Ritz
I've just been into Brighouse this aft & went past The Ritz. The bulldozers haven't moved in yet, but there's all sorts of stuff piled up in the car park - it looks as though they're gutting the place before demolition. 😢
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Goodbye Brighouse Ritz
"Fraid not Andy - would be great if it was! I think The Ritz was considered for listing at some point, but for some reason it wasn't granted listed status. 😢
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Soul Brew at The George
😢UNFORTUNATELY - DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND SOUL BREW'S CONTROL - OUR EVENTS AT THE GEORGE HOTEL HAVE COME TO AN END. 😢 ------------------------------------------------------ ----------- All of us at Soul Brew have absolutely loved our events in the Mead Hall at The George Hotel - the character & atmosphere of the room is just amazing & we will all be extremely sad to say goodbye - but - onwards & upwards as they say! We have some exciting plans afoot so watch this space...... 😉 ------------------------------------------------------------------ I'M VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR GUEST DJ LUCY BRENNAN WILL BE JOINING SOUL BREW - AND FRIENDS - AT A NEW VENUE. 😉THERE WILL BE MORE INFO TO FOLLOW.........😉 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Soul Brew's popular atb soul nights in the atmospheric Mead Hall have now changed permanently to the third Friday of every month. Fab news is that we have managed to strike a bit of a deal with the venue's new manager - in addition to some great drinks promos at the bar, all our events at The George will now be FREE ENTRY! ⏺️⏺️Record dealers always welcome. ⏺️⏺️ 🎧 🎧 🎧 TOP GUEST DJs EVERY MONTH 🎧 🎧 🎧 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ THIS MONTH DUBLIN'S VERY OWN LUCY BRENNAN WILL BE JOINING US TO SPIN THE VINYL IN THE FABULOUS MEAD HALL ⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 🕺💃🕺💃🕺 Hope to see you on the dance floor! 🕺💃🕺💃🕺
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Soul Brew at The George
!!!!!!!!!PLEASE NOTE!!!!!!!!!!! ----------------------------------------- 😭 UNFORTUNATELY - DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND SOUL BREW'S CONTROL - THIS WILL SADLY BE OUR LAST EVENT AT THE GEORGE. 😭 ------------------------------------------- All of us at Soul Brew have absolutely loved our events in the Mead Hall at The George Hotel - the character & atmosphere of the room is just amazing & we will all be extremely sad to say goodbye - but - onwards & upwards as they say! We have some exciting plans afoot so watch this space......😉 ------------------------------------------- Soul Brew's popular atb soul nights in the atmospheric Mead Hall have now changed permanently to the third Friday of every month. Fab news is that we have managed to strike a bit of a deal with the venue's new manager - in addition to some great drinks promos at the bar, our events at The George will now be FREE ENTRY! 🎧 🎧 🎧 TOP GUEST DJs EVERY MONTH 🎧 🎧 🎧 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ THIS MONTH'S GUEST IS MARK RICE (MOTOR CITY SOUL CLUB, HALIFAX) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⏺️⏺️ Record dealers always welcome. ⏺️⏺️ Hope to see you on the dance floor! 💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺
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Soul Brew at The George
Soul Brew's popular atb soul nights in the atmospheric Mead Hall have now changed permanently to the third Friday of every month. Fab news is that we have managed to strike a bit of a deal with the venue's new manager - in addition to some great drinks promos at the bar🍺🍷🍻 all our events at The George will now be FREE ENTRY! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ TOP GUEST DJs EVERY MONTH ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🎧🎧🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 THIS MONTH'S GUEST DJ IS NONE OTHER THAN OUR MATE MOPSEY! HE ENJOYED HIS LAST SPOT AT THE GEORGE SO MUCH HE'S KEEN TO JOIN US AGAIN! BRING IT ON MOPSEY 🎧🎧🎧🎧 🎧 🎧 💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺 ⏺️⏺️ Record dealers always welcome. ⏺️⏺️
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Soul Brew at The George
Soul Brew's popular atb soul nights in the atmospheric Mead Hall have now changed permanently to the third Friday of every month. Fab news is that we have managed to strike a bit of a deal with the venue's new manager - in addition to some great drinks promos at the bar, all our events at The George will now be FREE ENTRY! Record dealers always welcome. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ TOP GUEST DJs EVERY MONTH ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🎧 🎶 🎧 This month's guest DJ is DENNIS CONVERY (OUTWOOD) 🎧 🎶 🎧 Hope to see you on the dance floor! 💃🕺💃🕺💃🕺
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Soul Brew at The George
Soul Brew's popular atb soul nights in the atmospheric Mead Hall have now changed permanently to the third Friday of every month. Fab news is that we have managed to strike a bit of a deal with the venue's new manager - in addition to some great drinks promos at the bar, all our events at The George will now be FREE ENTRY! ⏺️ ⏺️ ⏺️ RECORD DEALERS ALWAYS WELCOME! ⏺️ ⏺️ ⏺️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ TOP GUEST DJs EVERY MONTH ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🎧 🎧 🎧 January's guest DJ is Ian Smith (Harrogate Soul Club & Riley Smith Hall, Tadcaster)🎧 🎧 🎧 Hope to see you on the dance floor 🕺💃🕺💃🕺💃
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Goodbye Brighouse Ritz
Looking for support from some of the rich guys would be a great idea & has already crossed my mind. I've asked around, but nobody seems to know just who currently owns The Ritz, let alone their contact details. I thought it sounded on Friday that it won't be very long at all before the bulldozers move in. 😢
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BBC 2 - Northern Soul at the Proms - Tv Broadcast Saturday Night
Me neither - sadly it's all becoming way too commercialized for my liking 😢
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Goodbye Brighouse Ritz
It certainly would Stephen - it would take a massive win! We could maybe do with a few rich mates willing to club together & bail it out......how many millionaires do you know? 'Fraid I don't think I know any unless they're keeping it secret lol.
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Goodbye Brighouse Ritz
It was so sad to see it in this state Stephen - I was expecting a building site but this was just beyond belief. 😢
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Goodbye Brighouse Ritz
Yesterday a friend and I took up the invitation to have a last look around the iconic Ritz in Brighouse - sadly, only a small handful of us were there. We had no idea just what to expect - we thought the place would be something of a building site - but even then, we were both shocked & saddened by the sight that greeted us. From the outside, at first glance The Ritz doesn't really appear much different - a bit unloved & unkempt, run-down & in need of a bit of tlc - but otherwise no great change. However, on entering the foyer we were in for a huge shock, with dirt, litter & rubble strewn everywhere & an overpowering smell of damp. mould & decay. Once inside the room there was no lighting, so we found ourselves in total darkness & were shown around by flashlight. The current owner told us that they'd had very little interest from potential buyers, as both the business rates & insurance were so high that buyers were immediately put off. There have also been numerous burglaries, with lighting; sound system & copper piping all stripped out,. The most recent burglars had clearly spent quite some time there - helped themselves to drinks from the bar & left a few personal items - shoes etc - even a pair of nail clippers, so bizarrely someone must have found time for a bit of a pedicure! Even now, in a corner of the room there stands a boiler & more copper piping awaiting collection by the burglars (apparently the most recent burglary has resulted in 4 men in police custody - I'd already seen in the local paper a few days ago that they'd been arrested, all armed with machetes). It was so sad to see this once great venue reduced to this sorry state - I think many of us have fond memories of those storming nights at The Ritz & would love to see the place rise from the ashes, but any such hopes were thoroughly crushed as soon as we entered the building. I thought some of you might be interested to see a few photos that were taken yesterday.