Firstly..Many apologies Guys couldn't make the last Yams Yams because of a family illness and hospital attandance etc.
Secondly..Sorry Pete but I really have to disagree with your pessimistic outlook on soul in this area.
Please explain the long established & very successful Coppertops at Worcester where the music policy is anything but the same old played to death oldies.Guest DJ's playing exactly the newies, obscurities, cheapies and rare oldies, you state "has got no f*cking chance because there's just nobody who will support this type of venue"...HOWEVER the place & dance floor is full to bursting every time?
The Late lamented Lea Manor...where Dj's competed to play obscurity unknowns and expensive ex Stafford spins..the place was always ram packed.. audiences requesting the superb sounds that they could ONLY hear at Lea Manor.
People in this area attend Goodyears and similar because they have NO BLOODY CHOICE !!!... many journey 2-4 hours every week to frequent venues where they can enjoy quality Northern ..not the did we all only live in the 70's played to death venues.
If you look at the audience in the big room at Prestatyn weekenders with DJ'S Butch, Soul Sam, Roger Banks, Tim Brown, Ginger Taylor, Dave Rimmer, John Weston etc what do you see?... Lots of dancing Midlanders
The future of the Midland soul scene is VERY much in the hands of adventurous DJ/promoters like the Yam Yam guy's.
Find the right venue, maintain the newies, in demand, obscurities, rare music policy, and a MONSTER soul venue WILL be born.
Whats the alternative? Why bother with Vinyl at all?
Why not let all the Midlands share the same get em on the floor 6 CD's and we can all yawn ourselves into an early grave...
Accept all these Derby & Joan soul clubs NO WAY !!
........THE RIGHT PLACE AND CENTRAL SOUL WILL LIKE A PHEONIX RISE FROM THE ASHES...