Kathryn Magson

Just watched The Monuments Men with George Clooney & Matt Damon.  (On BBC2 last night but I found it on the iplayer).  It's about all the artefacts looted by the Nazis during WW2 & the Allied efforts to recover them. You might find it a bit slow to start with but stick with it - it's a good film - very interesting & well worth watching. 

Bit of an update on the Ritz......I went past it this afternoon - the place was all taped off & surrounded by police vans! My thoughts were later confirmed by a report in the local evening paper........somebody has been using the building to grow something they shouldn't have been growing.........

I'm surprised the place is still standing - the way the owner was talking last year, it sounded as though the bulldozers would be moving in the following week! So sad to see what was once such a cracking venue come to this 

Just seen the news - very sad. RIP Marlena & thank you for the music.

1 hour ago, Paul-s said:

Just listened to entire thing and as you say it was Edwin at Hinkley. Guess 'up north' is a term used by anyone who lives south nowadays.

More problematic for me was the (cod history) description of NS as just 'its from up north': Its being washed clean of its complexity: 'working class roots', its cultural politics, its reactionary beginnings, pharmaceutical liberation, the pioneering spirit of those who created it and basically its history. Its being cleaned up, like Brixton has been or soho.

Eve started in the 80's as a mod she says (original 80's soul girl as Abby describes her), but seems to have left very little trace in terms of people who know her as a regular on the NS scene, particularly Stafford.

She plugs a Stafford record as her favourite because they have "just brought it out on a single"

The final part when they say "NS has left the North to make Bristol its home" is astonishing and totally ridiculous. Its gaslighting. Perhaps all the other clubs and actual all nighters may find that a shock. Wigan Young Souls, Rugby, 100 club, etc.

Eve also says that they are taking NS into the 21st, as if the NS promoters have not done that through the  decades. Or as if we have not done that through the decades of dedication and knowledge. 2000 was 23 years ago and this outfit have started 7 years ago and don't run all-nighters or go to many despite the quotes about "going out at weekends to dance all night"

As for the 'their album'?! Its a compilation and obviously to us, as we know if we compile an album, its about celebrating the music and musicians: Not us! There is no mention of musicians in any of this interview.

Charly Records and others are trying to attach themselves to the manufactured celebrity (soulless some argue) to do what many have failed to do over the decades, to market a person or figure to sell their merchandise.They could not do it previously as it was about the vinyl and the original musicians and the incredible music, not celebrity.
Now, largely due to the ability to fabricate provenance and celebrity on social media, they are selling NS not as the music, but as a product endorsed by another product who has been created precisely for that purpose.

I have a lot of information and interviews about this, and as Ive said, I am writing a book about this souless co-optation of a soulful scene. I'm hoping to publish this year, we shall see. 

Well said Paul - you've put all my rambling thoughts into a very succinct nutshell. Thank you! 

It gets worse - even Lucozade's cashing in on it now! 

I agree - nothing much on tonight but I've got plenty recorded to keep me occupied. I won't be going out as my dog is scared of the fireworks.......aww poor me!

PS - I saw Ike & Tina at The Wheel too - saw loads of brilliants acts there, but Ike & Tina were among the best.

I've almost finished watching The Fall on BBC Iplayer - if you haven't already seen it, it's well worth watching - definite thumbs up from me! 

Thanks for that Julian - just watching it now - always liked Lindsay Hoyle. Seems like a very genuine sort of guy. 

12 hours ago, Woodbutcher said:

Just finished series one of "Das Boot" , not particularly "christmassy" but the next three series will be my festive binge-watch ... 

I watched Das Boot years ago - it was absolutely gripping from start to finish! Might just have to watch it again......

3 minutes ago, Paul-s said:

Yes, but its time to care. The BBC presenting a mediocre non-northern soul scene dancer as The World Champion, and calling the awful show she is in a cross between 'Phoenix Nights and Northern Soul' says it all. 

No doubt Mr R doesn't care as it seems to be all about product and paypal soul streams. 

For example, when Wigan closed, if a relatively small group of us hadn't cared enough to carry on, week in, week out, truly underground,  travelling miles to support venues, there would be no scene for returnees and online soul curators to swamp and parody.

I care about the roots of this culture and, for me,  it was built on decades of dedication, tenacity and caring enough to maintain connections to the musicians that created it, the vinyl, the dancing, the real souls and a collective understanding that its not all about or 'you' or 'I'.

I often see these online Northern Soul celebrity dancers, filming themselves alone on the dance floor and thats very emblematic really...

Thanks for that - my misspent teenage years at The Wheel!

Dark Hearts (BBC 4 and I Player) French series set in Iraq during peak Isis. It's a grower and very suspenseful

14 hours ago, Jessie Pinkman said:

I've just watched the 1st episode and I really enjoyed it.

I've just finished watching Dark Hearts - it ends on a cliffhanger so I hope there's a sequel! Watching Warriors now on BBC Iplayer. That's another good one - British troops in Bosnia working with NATO. Well worth watching.

I'm half-way through watching Dark Hearts on BBC IPlayer (in a mix of French & English) Definite thumbs up from me! 

On 08/11/2023 at 23:46, Mark S said:

Funny isn't it years ago we were. all discussing encouraging new blood on the scene, well now we have it wether its people reinventing their youth or young people just starting out. 

Either way it's't have  being done differently, personaly can't stand dance competitions or the publicity and over exposure most being orchestrated and exploited by greedy people on the scene who should know better. Be careful what you wish for 

Well said Mark - couldn't have put it better myself! I didn't watch any of it - it's all a "thanks but no thanks" from me. 

I wouldn't have got through the nighters that I used to go to when I was a teenager without a bit of chemical assistance!  I have a few friends who still like a dabble, but I'm far too old, boring & sensible nowadays....but then I don't do the nighters any more either.......   Green & clears were my favourites back in the day.  

2 hours ago, Julianb said:

I recently had the misfortune to be shown a video of Mrs Russ Winstanley giving a 'northern soul' dance tutorial, filmed somewhere in Wigan☹

Think I'm glad I missed that one! 

Found it on you tube - it's bloody awful!

I only go to local soul nights now & even then it's only about once a month or so nowadays.