TheBigO

Seems my posting worked then as weve gone through almost 200 tickets in less than a few days! Looks set to be another great night so if you are travelling PLEASE get a ticket from the Box Office (01462-672003) or reserve one from us at the usual contact address to avoid having to wait to get in or, worse, being turned away. We are very pleased to have our special guests joining us for this the 2nd Plinston of 2004: The Dome supremo and owner of tasty suits Mr Alan Handsome Handscombe who will be gracing the decks both in The Main Hall and The Mojo Room and spinning some of his little beauties that have got them grooving at the Tuffnel Park venue over the past few years; Arthur Fenn needs no introduction to most and will be in both the Main Hall, meaning Soul Sam will only be in The Ghetto! for this night, as well as The Ghetto! and a varied and exciting selection of tip top toons is expected; finally Mr Dave Welding is the Midlands best kept secret as far as we are concerned and should surprise a lot of people in both the Main Hall and The Ghetto! with his knowledge and collection that he has amassed over the last 30+ years on the scene. Dave has turned both Taff and myself, and countless other name DJs, on to some blinding obscure and not-so-obscure gems and so we are pleased that we have been able to give him the wider exposure he deserves and thus be able to doth our cap in his direction - a genuine guy and a tip-top soul boy. Of course The usual Suspects will be behind the decks as always and Keith Hammond and others will be there to help you part with your hard earned readies via the medium of merchandise :-) Probably my last post before the event so have a great weekend all and see ya next Friday for the usual Happy People Party that is the Plinston :-)

Latest news from the Box Office today is that they are no longer reserving tickets on the door for picking up on the night due to a change in policy. Dont have the full details yet but if you dont have a credit card then drop us a line at the 6Ts Mafia, along with all the names of those who want one put by, and we will sort it this time. The buzz on this one is huge and growing and looks set to be another packer so dont delay - be sure to put yourself where the action is on Friday May 7th! In addition the latest Trading Cards are out there, after a cock-up in the design stage (see elsewhere for the scan), and features The Plinston Family Movie and the July Trading Card reveals all on Roger Banks secret life :-) TheBigO nh6tsmafia@aol.com

Hi all, Just a note to say the latest issue of RECORD COLLECTOR has a 4 page article on Northern Soul with contributions from Ady, Alan Handscombe, Ginger Taylor, Jo Wallace amongst others. TheBigO *Oh, by the way Alan H, if you spin the Allen Sisters at the Plinston before I do I will have to take you over my knee and spank you like a very naughty boy!!!!!!

Behold Brothers&Sisters, that after 3 years I have at last sussed out how to post pictures directly on this site (OK, I still have had to mail one album set to Mike for posting but give me a break!!!) Gaze in awe at the latest Plinston pictures from the Jan 16th event this year in the Users gallery section and feel your moistness grow as you check out the flyer section and the Soulgate N14 flyer. Prepare yourselves for the posting of our latest Trading card celebrating Mssrs Fenn, Welding and Handscombes forthcoming gracing of the Plinston decks and be warned that there will be more pics from the past year that Ive not managed to upload before, due in the main that Soul Sam taught me all I know about computing (!) (This is the man we gave a torch to in The Ghetto! one night and he asked How Do I turn This Thing On then??? God love him :-) ) So, enjoy the pics and all comments of a dubious nature are encouraged....TheBigO

Seems that the P.O b****ked up our mail out and some people didnt get their notification that the planned Plinston night this Friday 19th March is not on and has been cancelled. Next night is Friday May 7th with Arthur Fenn, Dave Welding and Alan Handscombe. Please spread the word to avoid fellow soulies turning up and dancing to a Jimi Hendrix Tribute band - PLEASE!!!! TheBigO

Great news that Taffy posted re: Soulgate being held on Saturday 26th June 2004 in honour and memory of Randy, and as he had instructed. I know all the Letchworth crew are looking forward to it and I hope that the event is well supported and that we can raise more money for the nominated charities. As always Ive been put in charge of the flyer designs so expect a special Trading Card to be on the look-out for! The DJ line-up is HUGE with many of the scenes TOP DJs pledging their support. Full details will follow Im sure from Taff and from myself with updates etc, so start spreading the news (Old Blue Eyes!) an get your arse down for what I am sure will be a fantastic alldayer - and FREE as well!!! TheBigO

Ah, it does my old heart good to confirm that the next night at North Herts venue for all things soulful, The Plinston, will be Friday 7th May and will of course be another 3-room packer. The Usual Suspects of Taffy, Nathan, Hammie, Fingers, Soul Sam, Ab, Leon, Kieron and Yours Truly will be joined by 3 tip-top guests: Alan Handsome Handscombe (in both the Main Hall and The Mojo), and both Dave Dracula Welding and Arthur Uncle Fester Fenn (Main Hall and The Ghetto!). The usual mix of forgotten oldies, current monsters and new spins will be the order of the day and as always its an 8pm-2am job. We will be featuring our guests from the cancelled event in March, namely Gene R and Mr Mischief, at a later date for those eager to pay homage as they DJ. Full details will be posted in the events guide shortly so keep em peeled and spread the word. Also keep the March event flyers as they will now be worth something one day :-) Last, and by no means least, the guests will be this months Trading Cards, a special group of 3 being issued in their honour, so keep an eye out for The Plinston Family Trading cards as, and I know your chuffed about this, they will be in a strictly limited number available on the night and at select venues across this land of ours. And NO you cant get the missing ones to complete your set, unlike some when we say limited we mean limited!!!!! Hugs and love TheBigO

Hi all, Due to unforeseen circumstances outside of our control the March 19th event at the Plinston Hall, Letchworth has been cancelled. We are looking at trying to reschedule to an alternative date but failing that our next night will be Friday May 7th with Alan Handscombe joining our residents and another T.B.C. We are sorry about this and hope that as many of you as possible will spread the word at venues and via the web etc to ensure that everyone knows about this and avoid fellow soulies turning up on the night. Ill post further news as soon as I have it re the next night. Thanks all for your help with this. TheBigO

Hi all, tickets are flying out the door but there are still some left BUT, and I say this every time, if you are travelling call the Box Office (01462-672003) to make sure you can get in. You can ask them to hold the tickets for you and pay on the door (at the ticket price of £6). Its easy and makes sure you get in!!!! (and to the smart arse who emailed me, no Mr Smug its not a ploy to get people to come, ask anyone who attends, its always a 350/400 packer!!!) Now, I have to get back to the phone and heading off for the set up that no one ever sees! TheBigO * One last point: dont email from 4pm today as we wont be able to read them AND leave the posters on the wall until after 12am PLEASEEEEEEEE! Then you can grab them in the Plinston Scramble!!!

With the weekend coming to an end and people planning for next weekends soulful fix we have been able to get a better grip on what the demand for tickets is going to be for Fridays event with Mick, Butch and Sam et all. In short HUGE!!!!! We have recieved over 40 emails requesting tickets for Friday (accounting for 100) and I know that the 100 Club was full of people saying they were coming down. If that is the case then we strongly advise you to get a ticket or reserve one before setting off as we have a regular attenence of over 350 and, having done the number crunching, if everyone turns up who says they will then we are on for another sell-out and a waiting list adopted to get in!!!!! Dont say we didnt warn you......that said, looks set to be an absolute BLINDING night so see ya inside. * Mick and Butch and Soul Sam will be on from 9pm onwards so come early

Hi Brothers&Sisters, The family and I jet off this Friday for the rather nipple freezing -40c and 6ft of snow that is Minnesota at this time of the year for Xmas, where the wife and kids can sample the delights of the Mall Of America and I can be found, as usual, knee deep in shite, dust, the heady aroma of dubious leaf products from the staff wading through the racks of 45s and Lps that my little source has in his warehouse. Whilst Im away anyone that needs info on the forthcoming, and looking to be a sell-out, Plinston bash with Butch and Mick Smith guesting should call the lovely Kay on 01438-236808 where she will impart words of wisdom and answer any queries you may have. Have a lovely Xmas everyone and heres to a successful and soulful New Year for all clubs in 2004. Now, wheres my thermal jock strap?......

Just found out via Ceefax that Arthur Conley died of a heart attack yesterday. Sweet Soul Music was the first soul record I can remember hearing as a mere lad of 13 and thinking what a blinding record it was. Feel as part of my youth has just gone. Sad news indeed.

Just to confirm that Sam and Mick are both at the Plinston tonight (14th Nov) and I have spoken with them so there you have it. Come along and sample the collective soulfulness of them both, along with other very special guest Terry Jones and The Usual Suspects: Hammie, Taffy, Nathan, TheBigO, Ab, Leon and The OHaras. Mr Mischief will also be gracing our decks between 9-10pm so please come along and heckle him :-) Going to be another 400 packer!