Culcheth Returns Casino 50th Anniversary Special

One of my favourite DJ’s playing in the clubs around the North-West and North-Wales is Ian Wills. Ian and wife Angie is a regular feature supporting local venues with Angie keeping a photographic record of Ian’s exploits behind the ‘Wheels of Steel’ and happy smiling faces wherever they go

As well as having a fantastic record collection spanning many years, Ian has managed to track down some of the most elusive records from the Casino All-Nighters, some of which, are only more recently getting the dance-floor recognition they deserve. So, check out some of Ian’s favourites as well as some MONSTER sounds on Saturday night, when CULCHETH pays homage to Wigan @ 50!

So who should we ask to be the Special guest DJ at a night celebrating the ‘Sounds’ of the Casino? We wanted someone who had been there through the good times and the bad, who had witnessed the ‘On all Fours’ stompers of the early years, carrying on where the Torch left off but also someone who embraced the changes in music in the later years, when records supplied by John Anderson at Soul Bowl started to rock the hallowed halls to its very foundations. That choice had to be TIM ASHIBENDE! Tim was the almost every week, wheeling and dealing in the record bar, discussing the latest tunes and making friends from all over the UK.

If you haven’t read Tim’s interviews in Soul Up North with Julie Molloy, then you need to and you will see why Tim was the right choice for this special Anniversary event

Looking forward to the night, it will be a refreshing change, hope to hear some of these from my youth as a 16 year old at the casino, whatever is played I know it will be a great night.

Steve & Denise.

17 hours ago, Casino76 said:

Looking forward to the night, it will be a refreshing change, hope to hear some of these from my youth as a 16 year old at the casino, whatever is played I know it will be a great night.

Steve & Denise.

Great post Steve

Fantastic night, and so refreshing to hear some 'Proper' Wigan stompers instead of the usual tired old tunes that are trotted out every time Station Rd is mentioned.

Congrats to all involved and any chance this could be repeated so we can hear more of these forgotten Wigan tracks? ....

Totally agree, best night I've been to all year for me, outstanding never danced so much, as already said so refreshing not to keep hearing the same old same, this night definitely needs to be repeated.

Thanks to everyone who came down to CULCHETH for the CASINO ANNIVERSARY special! Got great comments on the night with new faces and ‘old’ faces, all coming together to enjoy some great music, as we not only celebrated the Casino but 50 years of ‘Modern’ from the early 70’s right up to today. The DJ’s did a great job from start to finish, so special thanks to Jimmy Knowles, Paul Shirley, Ian Wills, Kev Murphy, Steve Plumb, Charlie Smith, Bill Wildman and Special Guests Tim Asibende in the Main Room and Chris Box in the Modern Room.  

Hopefully, we achieved the aim last night of playing some of the records that were played at Wigan but didn’t reach the dizzy heights of some of the now classics from back then but are now more part of today’s rare soul scene.

Here’s a few I played early doors  as a sneaky warm up sesh

Patti Drew Stop and Listen

Eddie Carlton Misery

The Gentlemen Four You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down

Delouise Berry No Other Girl

George (Juke) Bird I Know I’m in Love With You

Sandy Wynns I’ll Give That To You

The Mods Dry My Eyes

The Jades Hotter Than Fire (for Bob H)

Sonny Herman What About Me

Marty Lewis Can’t Do Without You

Helene Smith Thrills and Chills

And a quick plug for the Modern Room Retrospective with…

Short People Why You Put It To Me Baby

Dutch Robinson Can’t Get Along Without You

On 02/09/2023 at 14:12, Bazm said:

Great post Steve

Thanks for your comments, really glad you enjoyed it

1 hour ago, Casino76 said:

Totally agree, best night I've been to all year for me, outstanding never danced so much, as already said so refreshing not to keep hearing the same old same, this night definitely needs to be repeated.

Great stuff, thank you

On 01/09/2023 at 20:45, Casino76 said:

Looking forward to the night, it will be a refreshing change, hope to hear some of these from my youth as a 16 year old at the casino, whatever is played I know it will be a great night.

Steve & Denise.

Prince and Princess! This sounded fantastic last night... great memory, top tune!