SEDUCTIVE SOUL COLUMN

Hello and welcome to a round up of all things Modern Soulful from the North - West of England.

I was involved with the inception and promotion of a listings paper from 2003 until its eventual demise as a magazine - where I was originally the sole column writer / record reviewer / bottle washer. The only downside for me was that the coverage went strictly Northern / Mod and if thats your bag this column may not be for you.

I run two soul nights www.seductivesoul.com in Manchester and www.soulbythesea.co.uk in the Blackpool area, although I'm about to change venues in Blackpool. I contribute to local radio shows in the North West, and have my own show the first Sat / Sun of the month on www.starpointradio.com Midnight till 2am (which is often repeated). Please get in touch via jim@seductivesoul.com .That's enough about me, so on to my main purpose which is to list the MODERN events / gigs / happenings in the WHOLE of England and surrounding areas!

SATURDAY 18 APRIL Seductive Soul @ The Cheshire Lounge, Chester Road, Millington, Cheshire. WA14 3RX( 5 mins from Manchester Airport) £7 entry 10 - 3 with Anne Cragg on the door and Djs Chris Priestley, Jim Hargreaves, and Guest Mikey J (Telford / Oakley) playing Modern Soul, Upfront R&B, + 80s/90s grooves. see www.seductivesoul.com site for more details or 07836 722218 Soul Intent, Aston Hotel, Rotherham £5 entry 8 - 1, with resident Geoff Burgess etc and guest Roger Williams playing new releases, classics, and jazzy grooves. SATURDAY 25 APRILKing Georges Hall Blackburn 3 room soul night £10 entry 9 - 3 with Richard Searling, Mike Stephens, and Andy Davies playing the new stuff in the Winsor Suite. Not to be missed as this night is now in its thirteenth year!

FRIDAY 1 MAY

White Bull Gisburn (see April)TSOP Prestwich (see April)

SATURDAY 2 MAY

Soul @ The Blackpool Tower mini - all-nighter £10 tickets £12 otd 9 - 4 mainly an "Oldies" event methinks but Colin Curtis and Richard Searling are Djing so might be worth a look. SATURDAY 6 - 8 MAY

Southport weekender 44, Pontins, Ainsdale, Southport. Not going to rub it in as its sold out - I've been going since the second one in Blackpool (Oct 1988) and have only missed one since - it really is THAT good! info@southportweekender.co.uk if you fancy November.

FRIDAY 22 - 25 MAY

Birmingham Hilton Luxury Soul Weekender www.luxurysoulweekenders.com for all the details including Sunburst Band (Superb @ Southport) and Omar (Seen him half a dozen times - Excellent) live in concert. Djs include organisers Richard Searling, Ralph Tee, and your new favourite columnist, Jim Hargreaves. FRIDAY 29 - 31 MAYNorth Lancs. Soul Weekender, York Hotel, Morecambe www.seasidesoul.co.uk/soulfestival.htm for all the details and best of all its free!

SATURDAY 30 MAY

Seductive Soul @ Cheshire Lounge (See April). Right that's about it for the next couple of months (but do get tickets for Terry Callier @ Lowry, Manchester June 5th).I'm off to see John Legend and Incognito this weekend, and I hope to meet up with some of you @ The Soul in the Algarve Soul Network trip 23rd - 30th April.

If you have any events for the Modern side North - West & beyond get in touch via jim@seductivesoul.com / 07790 630312 or post direct to Mike / Soul Source .

Jim Hargreaveswww.seductivesoul.com