Is Northern Soul More Popular Than Ever?

April 25, 2009

l would say definetely YES to the question above with the reasons being we've all got older,got rid of the kids

paid off most of the mortgage and want to remember and re-live the best times of our lives

(anyway that's my opinion,what do you think??)

Blunny · April 25, 2009

l would say definetely YES to the question above with the reasons being we've all got older,got rid of the kids

paid off most of the mortgage and want to remember and re-live the best times of our lives

(anyway that's my opinion,what do you think??)

That's one possibility. There's also a greater awareness of it now. Both within the general public and a wider following across the globe. I think you're right in the sense that us 'oldies' have got more money than we had then and are perhaps doing more with it on the scene. For example, there are a lot more promoters promoting venues than there used to be. I'm sure there's more that can be added to the equation but that's a few.

I'm certainly glad that it's still going great guns :wave:

April 25, 2009

l would say definetely YES to the question above with the reasons being we've all got older,got rid of the kids

paid off most of the mortgage and want to remember and re-live the best times of our lives

(anyway that's my opinion,what do you think??)

Never had kids :wave: never had a mortgage.........got plenty of records though

Pete Eccles · April 25, 2009

Coz its the new bingo!!!!!!!!!!!

Pete S · April 25, 2009

No

April 25, 2009

I'd say its getting a bit of a shot in the arm, but ten years ago it seemed to be 'bigger'. Some of the returness of the late 90s seem to have lapsed again?

My view is skewed because I was living in London then, and the scene there was incredible.

Soul-slider · April 25, 2009

So Pete,when do you reckon it was at its 'height'?

1976

:wave: ....I'll get me Crombie.

Pete S · April 25, 2009

So Pete,when do you reckon it was at its 'height'?

1975 without a doubt.

Certainly not now. Mikey's right, 10 years ago everyone was finding out about the internet and discovering that Northern Soul still existed and there was a huge Northern 'boom'. Now half of the returnees have gone back to whence they came, the cd companies are packing it in, and the record dealers are not selling that many records.

April 25, 2009

1975 without a doubt.
Certainly not now. Mikey's right, 10 years ago everyone was finding out about the internet and discovering that Northern Soul still existed and there was a huge Northern 'boom'. Now half of the returnees have gone back to whence they came, the cd companies are packing it in, and the record dealers are not selling that many records.

Average attendance has gone up for us for the fourth year on the trot,from 300s in 2005 to 600s now, stoke 100 club lifeline all very busy on the niter scene.Blackpool tower prestatyn whitby bridlington all packed out,the scene has changed drasticaly in the last 2 years and for the better.As pointed out a lot of returnees not about now and it does seem to be that people are chooseing to go out less and chooseing there venues based on whats on offer but still a lot of support for some venues.

Edited April 25, 2009 by Soultown andy

ImberBoy · April 25, 2009

I love the scene today and for me personally the only difference for me now is that I can't chuck my self about the dance floor as I once did.

The passion and quality is more refined due to people having knowledge at their finger tips. I remember having a carrier bag full of C60 cassettes of Northernsoul and never knowing the artist or titles for years! We are all CD cover and Internet e-bay experts now and it is no longer the black arts or the realm of the DJ/Collector train spotters who did some times lord it up.

I have never dropped out of the scene since I started and yes some times I get a little holier than thou when it comes down to the Wigan born again's who are stuck in a time warp musically and I do cringe when I meet the Soul night soulie who wouldn't dance to any thing other than Moses Smith: The Girl Across the Street.

But we have a broad church now and an excellent choice of venues so you go where your particular comfort zone is.

I will be active on this scene as long as we have venues like Middleton and as long as we still have pioneering DJ/Collectors who chip further down from the tip of the iceberg that we know as rare soul music.

To quote Martyn Bird "One day I will hear another The Tomangoes"

Soul Source plays its part on the soul scene, well certainly here in cyber space where I know I can hear a track last night and get some one like Pete Smith to give me the info on it instantly.

We have a great thing going now, it's better than any decade, now is the time, I miss my youth but I would not go back for all the tea in China.

Is Northern Soul More Popular than Ever? What's The Reason Behind lt??

Every one and any one can now enjoy

It's within easy reach if you want and at arms length if you want.

Mark Bicknell · April 25, 2009

As a scene I have no real interest in it anymore I guess it must be the once underground cult is now very much overground, as for the music it is still and will alway's be king to suggest that the passion, love and desire to collect and listen to rare soul is any less if I choose not to attend venues is well simply nonsense, Northern Soul was once a way of life for many of us including myself now it's become music I enjoy rather than a scene I want to be part of full on.

As for the best period musically for me it has to be the early 80's, Stafford, 100 Club etc. tempo changed as did attittudes to new and different tunes, true mavericks of the scene like Guy Hennigan, Keb Darge, Pat Brady, Dave Thorley, Ian Clark and a few others were the caterlists of change and pretty much held the scene together at that time, for me now there is too much of everything, too many venues, too many DJ's, too much opinion and for what it's worth I think the bubble has burst or is very close to bursting.

The one fundimental single most important factor for me which will never change is that Dena Barnes, George Blackwell, Bobby Kline, Ty Karim, Cashmeres, Elbie Parker, Four Tracks, Troy Dodds etc. etc. etc. still hold that magic for me on my own 1210 upstairs without ever walking into another venue again not saying I won't just trying to make the point that for me and to quote my wife "Soul, it's a feeling, there's nothing quite like Soul music......." I wish we could get back to basics and it be underground and special again but that's a bit like wishing we were all 21 again and that ain't gonna happen is it?

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Edited April 25, 2009 by Mark Bicknell

ImberBoy · April 25, 2009

As a scene I have no real interest in it anymore I guess it must be the once underground cult is now very much overground, as for the music it is still and will alway's be king to suggest that the passion, love and desire to collect and listen to rare soul is any less if I choose not to attend venues is well simply nonsense, Northern Soul was once a way of life for many of us including myself now it's become music I enjoy rather than a scene I want to be part of full on.
As for the best period musically for me it has to be the early 80's, Stafford, 100 Club etc. tempo changed as did attittudes to new and different tunes, true mavericks of the scene like Guy Hennigan, Keb Darge, Pat Brady, Dave Thorley, Ian Clark and a few others were the caterlists of change and pretty much held the scene together at that time, for me now there is too much of everything, too many venues, too many DJ's, too much opinion and for what it's worth I think the bubble has burst or is very close to bursting.
The one fundimental single most important factor for me which will never change is that Dena Barnes, George Blackwell, Bobby Kline, Ty Karim, Cashmeres, Elbie Parker, Four Tracks, Troy Dodds etc. etc. etc. still hold that magic for me on my own 1210 upstairs without ever walking into another venue again not saying I won't just trying to make the point that for me and to quote my wife "Soul, it's a feeling, there's nothing quite like Soul music......." I wish we could get back to basics and it be underground and special again but that's a bit like wishing we were all 21 again and that ain't gonna happen is it?

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Mark at the allnighters the balloon is very much full and it's a great big party one that's being bounced from venue to venue with no sign of bursting.

You can get back to basics and as deep underground as you once did I'm sure mate. There is a fantastic swarm of nighter goers, who are easily the best giggles around.

I am overwhelmed some times at the friendliness and the sheer celebration of fun that is present at the allnighters.

Mark Bicknell · April 25, 2009

Mark at the allnighters the balloon is very much full and it's a great big party one that's being bounced from venue to venue with no sign of bursting.

You can get back to basics and as deep underground as you once did I'm sure mate. There is a fantastic swarm of nighter goers, who are easily the best giggles around.

I am overwhelmed some times at the friendliness and the sheer celebration of fun that is present at the allnighters.

That's good to hear mate, guess it's more down to me really, not really felt part of the allnighter family for sometime now more out of choice I guess, would still like to make the odd contribution myself but the longer you stay away the harder it is to get back into the groove as it were, still love the tunes though like I said.