Sidwayne

I went to one of them mate. Circa '77, me and a mate travelled from Stoke. My one and only all-nighter

1965-1979 was, without doubt, the most joyous time to be alive! I was just too young for 'The Torch' but, as a 10 year old in 1970, I first set foot in 'The Top Rank', and my life changed forever. It was a comprehensive musical education! I absolutely adored that place, and was gutted when it stopped. What was next? For many of us, it was 'The Kingspin' in Stoke. A melting pot of transitional music that led me to the 'Mecca Sound', which became the burgeoning Jazz-Funk scene of the late seventies. A wonderful period. Now I know that some of you will be died-in-the-wool Northern fans, some moved towards the Jazz-Funk. Some of us though, loved all of it and just moved, effortlessly, through that era. So, my next set, on Saturday 17/3/24 will be:- 'Spring Grooves' a Northern Soul/Jazz-Funk Event Taking in music from iconic venues like 'The Golden Torch', 'Top Rank, 'Kingspin', 'Antelope'[the A], 'Blackpool Mecca', 'Manchester Ritz', the glorious 'Tiffs All Dayers' etc. This was Stoke on Trent's musical heyday, and since reacquainting myself with our city centre, I feel that a little of that 'back-in-the-day' spirit is returning.