Skybolt Reunion

Big tune, floor packer, 100% mod!

Timeless!, adopted by the Northern Soul scene too, in the rnb category

Motown, right in the groove for the hipsters and flipsters!

British rnb at its best!

The keyboard master!

Uproarious, jotful mid 60's west coast pyschedelia!

Serious dancfloor sweat, even from the coolest dressed, a rampant 100mph floor shaking rnb leviathan!.

The Italian songstress certainly giving something!, all out action!

Phew!, no hiding place out there when GF gets to the ivory's!

Choppin' it up Babeeee!

TOP MAN, this bloke...well known all over, djed places too numerous to mention but, OUTRIGGER, in Birmingham for one.....AND, a guest at this club, remembered by Many.

Mr.TONY REYNOLDS...MOD empressario extraordinaire!️️️️️

' DARLO ' Town Hall, really needs no introduction, having hosted Soul nights/events since at least the 70's, and in trutn..probably has had a musical theatrical heritage dating back to the 19th century, being an easily identifiable imposing red brick Victorian structure. Regular thursday night teenage discos were established here, around 1975, courtesy of two west midland mobile djs of note: Dave Dallas and Neil Mitchell who always attracted large crowds at municipal function of which, this was one.

The latter part of the decade and the beginning of the 80's saw the mod element added to the playlist format...though principally soul music, as wouldve been played at the Twisted Wheel for instance.

The venue has a well preserved and polished sprung dancefloor, with a capacity of several 100, to the rear the premises features a seated balcony...to the front, a high set stage.

There is a small carpark adjacent to the building but after 6pm parrkng ( Asda ) is a short walk from the venue.

Security will be in place for this event and admission on the door is available in the absence of pre booked tickets. 

An easy decision for scooterists as you can park outside the facility in its sliproad.

Alternatively, for those on 4 wheels, there is limited parking next door to the Town hall and, less than a 5 minute walk to the Asda car park which, i assume, is not gated off after midnight.

Completely forgotten, amazingly tucked away as the B side to her worldwide hit " First Cut " but what a tune...only in recent years spun on the Northern scene, but fits right into the Mod ethic....and HOW GOOD is this Lady Of Soul?️️️️️

Another great keyboard exponent, a thoroughly rowdy take on Spencer Davis' classic...proper go-go power!

PROPER ANTHEM......no other description needed!

Well....how many versions of THIS?, a pick in recent years, attracted lots of plays, as has King Curtis....60 years on its still packing floors.

Boogaloo, latino...the genre embraced as with others, early 80's by TOTW and other, by then forward thinking venues regards a change of playlists away from a one dimensional formula....this is one of the finest examples....it most certainly wouldve fitted into the hipsters dancefloor routine some 13/14 years earlier...had it been around....it got there in the end!

There are currently a limited stock of commemorative embroidered badges for sale to mark the occasion as well as exterior glossy stickers, both on sale now, pleaee contact Ken Onions on fb for prices and details

This will get a spin....don't get no better with the ' Barefootin ' man...and a Wardell Quezergue production....New Orleans at its finest!

BIG TUNE just now as well and right in that rnb groove

One important detail missing from the advertising:

There is a bar, with a license extension to 1:30 am

Not aware whether the venue has a kitchen to provide hot/cold food so, in the invent of no service of this nature, anyone who wishes to pop out to get a bite to eat, will either be given a pass or an ink stamp on the hand/wrist.

There should be a cloakroom available as well.

This is, amazingly, the original bricks and mortar...still standing today! ( dead centre of picture )....what used to originally be the West Indian owned nightclub..The Skybolt....its on High Street in Bilston.

I'd looked on google maps and wrongly presumed it had been demolished.

If you check out the web page specifically set up for this event, there are loads of pictures on there from the 80's when the mod revival was in full swing.

Supporting Tony and myself, we have 3 very experienced scooter function djs:

In pictorial order here are

Keith Morgan

Stephen Richards ( Chevy )

Will Moreton, who stands in for Archie Tudor.

JUST a few days away now.....coincidentally, this function is on the same evening as a number of events in the west mids, and Midlands area in general, and that includes established Soul night.

We, on the other hand, differentiate..as its classed as a Mod Reunion Night, and as such isn't characterised by a bunch of Northern Soul tunes....the playlist here will derive from what essentially was played at the Skybolt and across the scooter scene.....a lot of that has changed across the decades so, expect to hear an eclectic mix from all the djs concerned.

We sincerely hope we're well supported with faces old and new, in which case...see you all there!

Today's ( Thursday edition 09/09/2024 ) Express & Star online preview of this weekends event, including a brief interview with Organizer/Promoter, Kenny Onions.

I believe they may be offering to send a photographer to pictures of the event, possibly even film it, interview djs and guests alike and post a report up....may even make BBC and/or Itv Midlands news?....WE SHALL SEE!!

JUST ONE LAST DETAIL:

IF anyone is looking for overnight accommodation as a result of travelling long distance to this function, there are several hotels with 5 to 10 minutes reach of Darlaston town hall.

PREMIER INN

HOLIDAY INNEXPRESS

THE VILLAGE HOTEL

All the above are located near or at Junction 10 of the M6

CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITES FOR AVAILABLE RESERVATIONS