Theresa

All-time fave is Keb Darge. But used to love watching Soulie too, and Paul Sadot & Oscar Romp (or Oscar de la Rent Boy as we call him ) when they went hell for leather at the 100 Club. These days, like watching Freckles from Brighton as he's cute and always love seeing Chantel from Bedford out on the floor.

So can't we just leave it at that? If you're going somewhere where you're not sure of the policy or what one of the DJ's plays, and the possibility of a few modern tracks (whatever your interpretation of that term) might spoil your snivelling, whining, miserable, godforsaken lives, then just ask on here beforehand, or even, shock horror, phone the promoter and ask them to talk you through the expected proceedings for the night. But I guess that would mean you couldn't argue ad nauseam for several more thousand posts And if we're forming a hit squad to take out Benny Troy, count me in It's mainly his hair that vexes me. ">

When I first heard Prophecy's 'Rain In My Life' I thought it was awful - the gasping delivery sounded like Marvin Gaye's constipated younger brother in the throes of an asthma attack. But on revisiting recently, what a grower! I don't even hear the ridiculous intakes of breath any more, just the desperation that the guy's girl mustn't leave him. Can't stop playing it. And squealing along with him

My answer to the original post is DEMAND. 'Modern' got involved in the northern scene because paying punters like me and all my friends LOVE it just as much as our northern, and we travel, dance, and buy lots of drinks in loads of venues across the UK and Europe. In our minds there's no disharmony between the two, just synergy. And Beeks you're both right and wrong, lots of my mates don't like R&B, but lots of them do, and I've got absolutely no problem with an across the board northern venue like Rugby having a bit of everything. My husband will be up for all the R&B and the stompers, I'll be up for all of the modern, and we'll both dance to a bit of everything in between. As will Mr Vickers above, one of the original open-minded cross-genre promoters. It beats me why some people spend so much of their time actively HATING other genres of soul. If you don't like across the board policies, go somewhere else. We're spoilt for choice with the number of nights operating. What's the big problem? Peace be with you

Or how about? The ladies choice

Love it. Always have and always will. Lots of scootering memories associated with it for me too. Kylee I'll have to put you over my knee and spank your sequinned knickers with a mint copy of the Carstairs until you see sense Can't see any other use for it, unless Pete S needs a coaster for his coffee obviously.

Count the girls of the South London Massive in to be your southern distributors Carmen. And don't sell the film rights before talking to me! As for what's on the pants: Are you ready for this? Go on and laugh Mighty lover Lend a hand Show & tell

My cheque arrived today, cheers

Back up - Black & Ward You're all very silly

We had a bit of fun with a similar thread back in October called 'Any sampled tunes where the result was better than the original' or something like that. If you search for Lola's Theme, which was one of the tunes mentioned at the start, you should find it. There were some great ones in there. Armand van Helden's You Don't Know Me, and Stardust's Music Sounds Better With You for starters. Don't let the pig flu get you down man. T x

Nah, 7% in my posh Surrey village are northern soulies, so that can't be right. Over in Croydon there are a surprising number of soulies, though it makes Shameless look like Surbiton in some parts of it, so that might explain it. Last time I looked Bexhill on Sea had no soul, but I'm fully prepared to be shouted down by the Zimmer frame contingent Hyacinth x

Exactly, though it's a lot cheaper and a darn sight quicker to do Paypal or bank transfers than post cheques out to people. If the real issue is just that the whole episode has wiped them out cashwise, I'd rather they were honest and said they'll have to pay us when they get some money. We're none of us going to starve for lack of 30 or 60 quid, but it would be nice to have the beer money for the bank holiday weekend if you can manage it today Tracey & Andy. You've had my details by post & email 3 times now. Cheers, Theresa

I love looking at the piccies on drunken mornings and speedy Sundays - keep em coming everybody! Coops & Kerby are the snapmeisters obviously, and I do try to put names on all of mine Mandy, but sometimes I just take pictures of people I don't know because I like their dancing or the fellas are good looking or they need an immediate raid by the fashion police... When I do show any of the pics to my friends outside the soul scene, the consistent comment is 'Why is everyone bald?' Twice as many people on here look at pics of girls compared to pics of boys, have you noticed? Next time I see you out Mandy, we'll make sure that everyone's name is printed on their T-shirt, both back and front, and that they pose properly for well-lit tableaux shots which are perfectly labelled afterwards...

That's a corker Trevski. You can almost smell that line as well as hear it. Oh Manchester, so much to answer for... "I've been dreaming of a time when To be English is not to be baneful To be standing by the flag not feeling shameful, racist or partial Irish blood, English heart, this I'm made of There is no one on earth I'm afraid of And I will die with both of my hands untied" "And he stole from the rich and the poor, and the not-very-rich and the very poor, and he stole all hearts away"

I haven't had my refund either. Have sent a further gentle nudge today as I returned the tickets 4 weeks ago. Theresa

Just imagined myself, Thorley & Vickers in a dark alley beating ourselves up like that bloke in Fight Club Not only do I love northern and modern (in all of its iterations) but I've even been enjoying some of that R&B shite lately...

Possibly because it's hanging Tuesday, but that made me cry Tony. Thanks, it was great. Have sent on to all the sound engineers at work and told 'em to stop complaining about difficult gig logistics!

I think the whole of the sad, slightly cynical lyric to Native New Yorker is seriously underrated, but I especially love: "And love, love is just a passing word It's the thought you had in a taxi cab that got left on the kerb When he dropped you off, at East 83rd... ...And where did all those yesterdays go? When you still believed love could really be like a Broadway show You were the star, when did it close?" And for sad songs you cant beat Another Star: For you, there might be a brighter star But through my eyes the light of you is all I see For you, there might be another song But all my heart can hear is your melody From the Four Tracks' Charade: "But my love is enormous, I need another performance" ooer matron! And to top them all off: Sup up your beer and collect your fags There's a row going on down near Slough

Ha ha, you and me Kirst, catsuits & rollerboots, on my birthday at the June Rugby niter...

Ha ha, that's me, Dru & Roz in the front there! Brings back some memories - when was that taken Baz? About 10 years ago? I loved the Bretby modern room, also had some absolute belters upstairs at Cleethorpes during the early 90s - packed to the rafters, lights off, Terry Jones or Adam on, everyone singing, electric atmosphere... These days I like nipping into the Rugby freestyle room when it gets a bit too R&B in the main room

We got bored of the song in about 1982, but me and Ange still like to work the odd snake into our routine when dancing at niters - think Salma Hayek in 'From Dusk Till Dawn', but about two stone heavier, dressed by Top Shop and with a lot more clapping...

Well I've just written off for my refund. Disappointed but it's hardly a life or death situation for the ordinary punters, not sure why all the bile against the promoters is necessary. All promoters started somewhere after all, and even the most experienced ones with lots of financial backing sometimes have disasters. Hard luck Andy & Tracey, but thanks for taking the punt & trying. Theresa