Professorturnups

HI, Wonder if any kind people out there could help, I'm holding a charity Northern Soul night on Sat, September 19th (see events) to celebrate the 11th anniversary of a kidney transplant. All proceeds are going to Addenbrookes hospital where my operation took place in 2004. I'm looking for some raffle prizes for the night, so any donations would be very gratefully accepted. Thank You Mark C

Some people who don't go to all-nighters still know hardly anything about records etc...

It's surely got to be when the rest of the world is starting to wake up on a Sunday morning - so after 7am !! Mark C

We used to cheer in the 60s at Butlins when someone smashed a plate in the restaurant. Wonder if the same thing happens at the Russ Big Top Bonanza...my guess is that it's all plastic now lol

That's an excellent post Russ and I totally agree with you. Still like to get out n about to venues up and down the country with like-minded folk. Closer to home in my county of Norfolk we're trying to retain the quality standard with ovo nights but it's become embarrassing with a local ceroc group holding a Northern/Motown night a few miles down the road. WTF?? Mark C

Yeah, I think us "Southerners" took a few of you by surprise! Great to meet up.. Mark C

I live in Norwich. We are having to use a large cabaret type club as our fantastic working mens club closed down last year. It has a reputation of being a meeting place for the older type "clubber" who no longer fits in with the younger bar/club scene but our nights are not spoilt by piss heads or "townies" - maybe "underground" isn't the appropriate description but we certainly aren't affected by undesirables. In any case the doorman know the score and would act on any hint of trouble without hesitation...

Bit of a side issue but success to me is not the amount of punters through the door but the quality of the event! Mark C

I missed out Chris Anderton (sorry mate!) - he played some nice stuff!

OK...here's a bit of detail about the music etc. The dj's consisted of Dave Raistrick, Tom Page, Marco Martinelli, David Hayden, Mark Freeman, Dave Evison, Kev Draper, Kev Such, Kris Sikora (apologies for omissions - bad memory). Musically it was a mixture on Friday and Sunday where the event was held in the downstairs area. So lots of oldies, a few "Niter" sounds (Hopkins Bros was one) and 70s classics through to a bit of disco/dance stuff. On Saturday the upstairs club was opened for the Niter so 60s upstairs and modern down below. I think only Dave and Tom played vinyl, the rest was cd. They did seem uneasy about taking vinyl over - various reasons given for this. A few tracks were played that the dj didn't own (Soul Inc. My Proposal for one) - I think the cd format bothered a few people at first, I for one. Having said that everybody seemed to be having such a good time that it was not really an issue. I travel to a lot of European weekenders and would have a totally different opinion in places like Germany but Corfu did seem more like a "Soul Holiday" than a Rare Soul Weekender!! I met a few people who were "Nighter Folk" (Lifeline etc) but the majority seemed to be from the Midlands/Northants/Beds area and frequented soul nights in those areas. The weather was superb and I really enjoyed the craic. Would probably go again - but not with my "Serious" head on... Mark C OH...and would estimate 150 Brits with a handful of locals who couldn't dance but looked to be enjoying it!

Thank God Northern Soul is still relatively "underground" where I live!! Mark C

Sorry to be pedantic but Jackie only ever played for Leeds United!

Mick Maguire was at the first one. Don't think he's on here but will mention it to him. Andy Etheridge, another guy from Norfolk, attended the last one in Dec 81. He's on here but can't remember his user name. Will try and find him. I was at the "official" last one in Sep 81 but guess that doesn't count... Mark C

Likewise, I didn't know Joe personally but always liked his comments and wit. RIP Mark C

Fantastic set Sebastian. It was a real pleasure having you fly over for the weekend. Really pleasing that several of our local crowd came up and said what a great spot, even though lots of the records weren't familiar to them, and one or two unknown to me as well. We always try to bring something slightly different to the Backstreet! events. Hope to see you for round 2 over in Germany this Summer. Mark C

Looks like a fantastic venue, paying my first visit on Saturday. A long trip but gotta be worth it!! Mark C

Pretty sure that some old Wigan tapes I listened to contained his set. Sounded like a mega-mix of how to play the organ badly with some vocal chanting in the background

My friend Andy Etheridge had the Curtis Lee many years ago (early 80S) and put it on a tape for me, covered up as Buster & Eddie "Your Town"

I found a copy of the Lownly Crowde's version in a Norwich junk shop - sold it at The Fleet for considerably more!

Heard he was really stuck up his own a*s* when he gigged in Norwich, get back to Corrie! Mark C

I read somewhere that these guys had a piece of furniture called "The Wonky Table" as a tribute to The Twisted Wheel Mark C

One of my favourite ladies behind the decks has gotta be Jo Wallace - "Come on you lot!" Mark C

I can certainly remember you playing Kurt Harris Ady. You had it covered up as Ed Townshend "The Emperor"and I asked you for it under the proper name as Andy Gill had managed to get a copy at the same time! Mark C