Timillustrator

What's the betting that as soon as things fully return to normal there'll be 10 times as many clashes! 😆 That first weekend - 400 events.

Still nothing "official" but this is a nice summary of the several sources. https://www.nme.com/news/music/northern-soul-singer-nolan-porter-has-died-2873942

Anyone heard anything? There's lots of posting on Facebook but I can't find anything official?

Been exploring the others too, most are not of that much interest to soul fans but the Motown one episode 19 is very good too. "Roger Armstrong & Kevin Howlett discuss their re-vamping of the original Sound Of The R&B Hits compilation." https://acerecords.co.uk/features/the-ace-records-podcast/the-ace-records-podcast

That was really good. A few of the other Ace Records podcasts also look interesting although not that many appear to be soul related particularly.

Couple of years old now but love this one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giving_You_the_Best_World_Tour Did a bit more searching and it's on Wikipedia (not always the most reliable source but looks legit) 21, 22 and 24 October 1988. With both of them, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giving_You_the_Best_World_Tour There's a reference but that gives no more info either https://www.songkick.com/concerts/6436891-anita-baker-at-sse-arena-wembley

If you go to page 28 here, it lists Anita playing 15th and 16th June 1990 at Wembley. Because it only lists one artist you have to search again for Luther but his one shows that on the 12th June he was in California and the 30th June in Washington DC, so he could have flown over in the interim but unlikely. It lists Mariah Carey and Luther jointly but that's it. The set list is there though may bring back a memory? https://www.setlist.fm/search?page=28&query=Anita+baker

Zero bids though, maybe common sense has prevailed.

You can have music BUT "Refraining from playing music or broadcasts that may encourage shouting, including if played at a volume that makes normal conversation difficult. This is because of the potential for increased risk of transmission, particularly from aerosol transmission. Loud background music, communal dancing, group singing or chanting should be prevented."

Yeah it's probably not a totally logical decision on their part but maybe the fact that Britain has the highest COVID19 death rate in Europe plus Brexit make it look a bad bet overall?

Surely with today's new restrictions anything live for the rest of 2020 will have to be cancelled? There are still events up.

I buy the odd watch and since the pandemic a lot of foreign sellers have declined to sell to the UK, I've read a few things about delays in the US postal system and goods being stuck for months at a time. Dunno if that's a factor?

That Manfred Mann story is hilarious!

A very good point, personally I think it will be the very large venues with massive overheads and the very small venues with little income that'll go. The middle range clubs - British Legions, social clubs and the like will probably make it though, many are open anyway as pubs.

As more weeks pass with an increasing infection rate (albeit a decreasing death rate) I can't see the Gov't lifting the restrictions on dancehalls or night clubs anytime before Christmas now. I know some events like Richard Searling's Blackpool tower are still hedging their bets and not cancelling until it's absolutely obvious that they will not go ahead and I understand this; some ticket sales means some money coming in even if it gets transferred to next year, but it would seem incredibly unlikely that they'd allow an indoor event of 2,000 people, with loud music, no distancing and dancing to take place in just over two months time. In the meantime, though, it will inevitably mean many venues will close, probably permanently - furlough scheme ends October, loan schemes November; people just don't have the reserves to wait for another 2, 3, 4 months or more. So I reckon unless there is either a radical change in Gov't policy regarding financial support or the virus just miraculously dies out then the number of venues will drastically reduce. This will obviously affect the scene but who knows how far or for how long?

I was optimistic at first with falling infection and death rates and thought, like many others, that stuff would be back on by the end of the summer. Several promoters still seem to be gambling on that happening, with large events still not cancelled for October and November but given recent events - rise in the infection rate, US second wave and New Zealand re-emergence today I have changed my mind and think nothing will be on until 2021. The Government will shortly have a very stark choice though - continue with restrictions and consign hundreds of thousands of people in the hospitably industry to the dole and businesses to the wall or lift restrictions and risk a US style re-emergence.

There is definitely an age element, I did read something about how the market for rare jazz records rose and fell as collectors passed away and newer ones didn't take up the slack. That was probably 15 or so years ahead of northern soul; similarly I've noticed that the market for American Hardcore punk records is just starting to soar which is probably about 10 years behind northern soul. So if you're in it for the money start collecting the next big thing NOW. Probably grime records or something 😆

I think the larger venues certainly have more to loose by opening and more risk. The smaller social club type venues run by the members for the members may not have rent to pay, smaller financial commitments so can probably afford to open and just break even?

Well Social Clubs can reopen as of today although no "live" music in front of an audience is allowed, I can see nothing specific in the guidance about dancing but it implies that it's not allowed. The Government has said that they will provide further information next week for other venues although they haven't been explicit but the list of still closed venues includes nightclubs and dance studios which is more in line with the soul scene maybe? So perhaps there'll be a timetable for reopening. My wild guess is the start of September.

The Licensing acts of 1988 and then 2003 liberalised matters a lot and whereas previously clubs were allowed to operate differently if they were "members only" these exemptions became gradually totally removed so there was no reason to issue membership cards. On the other hands if a club was voluntarily "members only" and only allowed people to attend by taking everyone's contact details and addresses then perhaps that along with other measures such as temperature checks on entering could be used to demonstrate to the Government that the establishment was responsible and allow a greater degree of freedom?

Well he must hold the record for the number of attempts.

Saw the Rugby on the telly yesterday from New Zealand, all restrictions lifted, stadium packed and they have no new cases and no one in hospital. https://www.health.govt.nz/news-media/media-releases/no-new-cases-covid-19-25

Not sure if this belongs in this particular forum? But anyway. Anyone who is into facebook may find this group of occasional interest. A mate of mine asked me to join and at first it seemed to be of little interest but the next two weeks look amazing. What they do is every few weeks they select an artist, it's all genres so a lot of it is obscure rock and indie artists, but starting on Monday there's 3 weeks of Little Richard. They compile a playlist (usually on Spotify) with an album to listen to every day and a chat window for it. The first week is his 50's stuff, 2nd 60's/Gospel and 3rd 70's + the playlist the chap has compiled is excellent too. I like the idea of the structured listening and background as well. The same guy did Aretha before as well. I think the link is dynamic, so if you're looking at this in three weeks time it'll just take you to the group and make no sense! https://www.facebook.com/groups/tempfans/

Well I met two people today who are back to work at different pubs on the 4th July. One seemed to think that the distancing would be down to 1m by then (despite any official notice that I can find) and both seemed to think it would include the inside of pubs. So how long before larger indoor events are back up and running?