NORTHERN SOUL @ THE PLINSTON! 1st ANNIVERSARY BRIEF REPORT

All 3 rooms saw heavy dance floor action, with an enthusiastic up-for-it crowd from the start dripping sweat and an electric atmosphere that filled the building. Even the fact that the Main Bar was shut due to refurbishment, resulting in the SG6 Bar being used as the main bar and a temporary bar set up in the Mojo Room, didn't dampen the spirits. Everyone received a free woven anniversary patch and a raffle ticket as they walked through the door and the usual warm greeting from the Sinister Sisters.

The mix of sounds was well balanced and all the DJ's, the Usual Suspects and guests alike, did a blinding job. Current Monsters, Forgotten Oldies, New Discoveries and Complete One-Off Exclusives (Soul Sam had stopped off at Manship's on the way down and visited Butch earlier) mixed with those Plinston anthems which had many dancing for the full 6 hrs. The Main Hall was rammed, the Mojo Room saw it's busiest night ever (so much so that at one stage when Big Daddy Bicknell was on you couldn't even get into the room!) and the Ghetto! lived up to Sam's declaration that it was certainly one of the best Modern rooms in the country. Praise indeed. On a lighter note, the best moment of the night came for me in The Ghetto! when I needed to get to the decks. The room was jammed solid with people getting down (even Mr Flynn was seen up there at one stage) and I had to raise my arms above my head to squeeze through. Halfway down the hall I look behind and everyone was now dancing with their arms high in the air, quickly becoming the whole room! My pleas that I wasn't getting them to dance like me fell on deaf ears as I was carried along on a tide of arm waving, grooving people. It was a special moment - NUTTERS!!!

Our thanks go to Mark Bicknell, Soul Sam and Dave 'Morten' Flynn who between them all played truly excellent sets, perhaps the best I've heard them play all year. They went down a storm with the appreciate crowd and truly deserved the thunderous applause they received. The Usual Suspects were also on top form and thanks go to them for their support to the club and for spinning those rare platters over the past 12 months.

The dance competition lived up to our promise of being one with a distinct 6T's Mafia twist, which saw the dancers dancing to Mr Day 'Soul On Wax' and The Coasters 'Crazy Baby' for the first round. The sea of dancers was then whittled down to 6 to dance in the final and this is where we retained our Mafia vibe as they were then forced to dance to win to the cheesy Latin dancer that is Al Escobar&His Swinging Camels 'I Watched You Slowly Slip Away'. The looks on their faces and the laughter and smiles from the crowd that filled the hall made it a MasterCard moment - priceless! The winners of the cash were Carol in 1st place, Trixster in 2nd and the lovely Dave Hill from Slade (Reg) in 3rd. Roll on next year's comp and you have been warned!

The raffle draw saw many winning CD's, DVD (Standing In The Shadows Of Motown), baseball caps, record vouchers and for one lucky winner free entry as a 'Made Man' to the Plinston for a year. Thanks go to Beatin' Rhythm Records in Manchester, Turntable Record Lists and Keith Hammond for their kind donations.

2am came around too soon and we ended the night with the Plinston anthem 'We're having a Friday Night Get-Together' by Eddy Jacobs and the place erupted with cheers, calls for more and one or two tears for what had been a brilliant night.

Our thanks go to all who supported us, not only on the night but also throughout the year. The Plinston is only successful and as popular as it is because of your support and we truly appreciate it. Thanks are also due to the Sinister Sisters of Jane, Kay, Sarah and Jenny for their tireless work on the door, taking both the praise, chat-up lines and abuse as well as the money.

Roll on Friday 14th November when we kick start our 2nd year with Mick H and Terry Jones - Remember, there is a reason why we say 'HERTS - FULL OF SOUL!'

TheBigO

* Footnote: As that grand old wizard of Modern/Crossover Soul, the legend that is Soul Sam, snuggled up in our spare room bed at the end of what had been a great night for him, how I longed for a camera to record his sleepy little frame tucked up soundly in bed with the Harry Potter bedsheets pulled tight around and Harry himself perched on the shelf above looking down on him! Sleep well SoulfulSam, sleep well.

* We have had extra patches made for those that wish to have them at £5 each, available at the next night or by post. Interested? Drop us a line at nh6tsmafia@aol.com