Pudsoul

Like everyone who knew Mick, I was stunned yesterday to hear of his passing. Mick is particularly special to me cause he gave me northern soul music. He met my brother Chris when they were both in the RAF, and Mick got Chris in to soul. My brother got me in to soul. I got my wife in to soul. My sister Annette got in to soul, and met her husband Mark on the soul scene. So that’s two brothers, a sister, a wife and a husband, all on the scene, all having our lives enriched so much for it, and all because of one Michael Howard. I’ve got so many happy memories of Mick, from him teaching me how to cook spag bol when I was a whipper snapper, to sitting in the foot well of his Golf all the way from Harrogate to Stafford cause there were six of us in the car, to drinking far too much corn liquor with him, taking me to dodgy boozers in Halifax after a nighter to watch the lunchtime strippers, the list goes on. Mick, you were a top bloke, like another big brother to me, and we will all miss you very much. Alison, I hope if you read these messages you can take comfort in the knowledge of how much love there was, and is, for Mick out there. David

Let's face it, a lot of the messages on here leading up to events and those posted after are often a little bland, sometimes trite, and occasionally sycophantic. But let me tell you, all the plaudits that this event receives are all thoroughly deserved. Rich and the guys have pulled together a brilliant soul night. They've got a great attitude, they've found an exceedingly appropriate little venue, they treat their fellow soulies (and I assume DJs) with respect and friendship, they've constructed a music policy that is at times exciting, certainly varied, and never banal. The crowd is a mixture of young and old, that when I first contemplated going to Empty Bottles thought might pose a problem, but not so, they are as welcoming and warm as the promoters. This is by far my favourite soul night at the moment. It's not a massive place, but the sense of inclusion and intimacy this brings to the night is totally positive, not negative. I suggested to Rich and Georgina that me and Kate would take them to the Ritz in Brighouse next week. You couldn't get a more different soul night. And although I do enjoy the Ritz, I know which soul night I'm going to next that I'm looking forward to the most. And if you haven't worked out which one, it's on 9 September, in a sweaty little club in Leeds. Cheers guys, keep up the good work.