A Xmas Carol Review - Winston

A xmas carol - Winstons holiday adventures - more great stuff from your man

A Xmas Carol Review - Winston

Well what a weekend, it started just how I wanted, it to with Janine picking up myself and Steve Heinsen from Bedford. Made really good time getting to Willington near Derby, (a mini-nighter, 9 til 4 a.m.) with Janine expertly and safely driving her way through the snow and other associated bad conditions. We arrived around a quarter to ten, and were pleasantly surprised just how many people were there, given the conditions, and the fact that there were at least 3 more soul nights on within a 40/50 mile location. Some early dancers were going through their paces, so all in all the promise of a good night was in store. As the night progressed the crowd built up to probably between 250 to 300 and included fellow KTF members, Andy Humberston and Dale Rose (Dancer) and Mandy P.

The atmosphere on the night was excellent, and everyone seemed to be in particularly good humour, even Dale when he was hit in the head by a snowball aimed with great precision, by the modess Janine The lovely Sandy didnt bring any food with her, so I did get a little peckish later on in the night, but I was determined not to let my hunger pangs get the better of me and battled on against the starvation as most guys would do.:-) The dance-floor after 11 was mostly packed right through til about 3 and then people started to disappear, the usual selection of sounds were on offer, with Kenny Burrell supplying the rarer stuff. Whatever was played on the night was right to be honest, it was a party atmosphere and thoroughly enjoyable for everyone.

Onto Saturday night: I decided to try Mansfield as a warm up before Trentham, difficult to describe really, as again a party atmosphere prevailed, there was even a fancy dress competition. But for me it never quite got off the ground, the dance-floor was atrocious, Ive never seen wood that had been furrowed before, .....well until tonight. It really was almost impossible to dance on, everybody was making the effort, but thats exactly what it was an effort. I did see Carl from Nottingham do an incredible sequence of drops during Edwin Starrs - "Time" but to anybody who has witnessed Carl dancing in the past, this will come as no surprise. Kenny Burrell was again guesting and as ever enjoying himself behind the decks. We left at just before midnight to make our way to Trentham, again the weather was very bad, but after about an hour or so, we arrived at our destination.

Great sets from the "Rimmerman" and "Butch" and also Guy Hennigan. Although the numbers did not match Willington the night before, there was still a fair few there, and the dance-floor was normally full. The floor was a little fast for most, but you cant have everything. 7 a.m. quickly arrived, and bought to an end, what in my opinion was a marvellous all-nighter and one which I look forward to going to again in the near future. As ever, these days there were some other KTFrs there, Michelle and Caz if Im going to name-drop.:-) New years eve, arrived and I hadnt really made a decision where to go, the soul nights on offer, although tempting, involved a lot of travelling and all had early finishes. Through Janines contacts on the mod scene, it turned out that there was a mod all-nighter on in Clacton so the die was cast, and off I went with Janine. Ive got to say from the off, Im well impressed with the time and effort taken by the "Mods" to ready themselves. A great deal of attention to detail is obviously paid, from the Steve Marriot hair cuts, to the smart suits and dresses. It is very much an image thing, and the dedication to it can only be admired, almost a religious fixation with everything 6Ts. I was introduced to no end of "Mods" young and old, male and female and I thought one of the guys Caspar I think his name was, really looked cool. There is a lot of young blood on this scene, eighteen year olds etc, and if as I suspect some drift to the northern scene, it bodes well for the future. Musically I would say that half the music played tonight had northern roots, with particular emphasis on R&B. A lot of R&B sounds currently on offer on the traditional northern scene, were played here tonight, and all graciously accepted and danced to. I would have liked to have heard more Motown or Atlantic stuff, as Im sure these would have been played in yesteryear, but at the end of the day, it was new years eve.:-) Although I stood out like a sore thumb, my tie lasted from the car until I got in the venue a lot of the "Mods" took the time to talk to me, (hello to Helen and Paul) and it was interesting discussing the 6Ts with lads of no more than 21. I must say as well they were pretty knowledgeable, and had researched the subject quite thoroughly. The style of dancing is definitely different in the main, but northern steps are creeping in, wont be long before theyre in spencers and vests.:-) I must confess that as 6 a.m. came and went I fell asleep, the night was supposed to finish at 5 a.m. but carried on until about half past seven, at which time Janine woke me up and told me it was time to go. I didnt fall asleep through boredom, I must emphasise, but through being dog tired, the weekend had finally caught up with me.:-) An excellent end to the year if somewhat different, and I look forward to seeing some of the younger "Mods" at various northern events throughout the year. Finally a happy new year to all the people I have met on and off KTF throughout the year, and I look forward to meeting all of you again, and some new faces, over the coming year.

Soulfully Yours. Winston KTF.