When Did Weekenders Commence,

[Arabica]

I think it was 1969 when we went to the wheel and stopped till finish then went on to a coffee bar early am, and when Nottingham Forest played at Preston we went over to Blackpool for the Mecca and had a weekend we enjoyed, but when did the Weekenders start up the friday to Sunday, i know we went over to Skeggy in the start up, perhaps Cleethorpes was before this one, all in all good memories of great weekends of meeting people on a annual basis, but be interestd to hear your feedback,

Regards Mall

Edited November 10, 2009 by Arabica

[The Tempest]

Gotta be in with a shot

[Guest]

I think it was 1969 when we went to the wheel and stopped till finish then went on to a coffee bar early am, and when Nottingham Forest played at Preston we went over to Blackpool for the Mecca and had a weekend we enjoyed, but when did the Weekenders start up the friday to Sunday, i know we went over to Skeggy in the start up, perhaps Cleethorpes was before this one, all in all good memories of great weekends of meeting people on a annual basis, but be interestd to hear your feedback,

Regards Mall

Maybe wrong but I think the Jazz Funk scene was responsible for the first weekenders, Caister etc, went to a couple of them. Anybody know of any Northern Soul weekenders before them?

Edited November 12, 2009 by chorleysoul

[Mike]

1975 blackpool ?

3 days inter city soul convention

two articles promote it heavily before hand but ....

never seen much about it afterwards

did it take place, anyone on here go etc etc

https://www.soulfulho...godinbs172.html

https://www.soulfulho...godinbs171.html

[The Tempest]

l saw it advertised in B&S,but l'm sure that it never took place...Think Kojak was the man behind it....what happened to him??

Did ' nt know he was a soulie !!!!!!

[John Al]

Seems l was correct by mentioning Kojak,then!

Didn't they have football matches and stuff lined up??

It was cancelled and there were then delays returning deposits etc.

John Harvey (Kojac) used to run Yate allnighters for a while, I got to know him quite well, he was basically a decent guy who wanted to put on a good night. Unfortunately he fell foul of Dave Godin for some reason and was slated in B&S as a result. He was in his 40s back then so I suspect he may no longer be around.

Back on topic, Southport weekender has been going 18 years, not as long as Caister I know but infinitely better in my opinion.

Best,

John.

Edited November 10, 2009 by John Al

[John Al]

Weren't all them started by Alex Lowes...Southport etc...But before that he ran Fleetwood,and God help us.....Berwick Weekender!?

You've got me there mate. Berwick weekender???

[Guest nubes]

Weren't all them started by Alex Lowes...Southport etc...But before that he ran Fleetwood,and God help us.....Berwick Weekender!?

Was it also held at Prestaytn??....Delxxx

[The Tempest]

Definetly,mate!! Sure it was called Allington Hall or something like that....Can anybody help me out??

Yes there was a weekender held at Berwick , can't recall if Alex Lowes was involved , but it would of been about 87 - 88

[Guest]

Weren't all them started by Alex Lowes...Southport etc...But before that he ran Fleetwood,and God help us.....Berwick Weekender!?

Funny you mention Alex Lowes, I recall a night at Caister when he was deejaying at 4 in the morning on the camp radio. Me, Graham Tate and some others were off our rocks, went down there and made him play stuff like Mel Britt and a load of other nothern/70s to all these Jazz Funk Londoners listening in their caravans! A good night!

[The Tempest]

Think that you might be right there...ljust know that my ex-brother-in-law went there!

Found an article in The Independent regarding the concept of the Southport Weekenders :

Who had the bright idea?

In 1987, Alex Lowes, a record shop owner in the North-east, decided to hold a one-off soul weekend at a holiday camp in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. Six hundred people turned up, a wild time was had by all, and Alex was bitten by the organising bug. As the dance scene grew so did interest in the weekenders and 4,000 people unsuccessfully applied for tickets for the last one in November.

[Guest]

It was cancelled and there were then delays returning deposits etc.

John Harvey (Kojac) used to run Yate allnighters for a while, I got to know him quite well, he was basically a decent guy who wanted to put on a good night. Unfortunately he fell foul of Dave Godin for some reason and was slated in B&S as a result. He was in his 40s back then so I suspect he may no longer be around.

Back on topic, Southport weekender has been going 18 years, not as long as Caister I know but infinitely better in my opinion.

Best,

John.

Yes, it was definetly cancelled, rememeber all that you are on about with the deposits etc. John Harvey appeared in places like Southampton and Bournemouth too around that time then he vanished as far as I can recall. You are right though, he seemed very old back then, although most of us on here are older than he was then now! Be interesting to know if he's still about? Anybody?

[Guest s0ul45]

Yes, it was definitely cancelled, remember all that you are on about with the deposits etc. John Harvey appeared in places like Southampton and Bournemouth too around that time then he vanished as far as I can recall. You are right though, he seemed very old back then, although most of us on here are older than he was then now! Be interesting to know if he's still about? Anybody?

Well I definitely lost my deposit. It did not take place. As for the Berwick Weekender, that certainly did, and proved to be the genesis of the weekenders at Fleetwood, Morecambe and ultimately Southport. In the early days they were ALL about soul but who can blame Alex for seeing the fruits to be made from purely a dance weekender.

Like it or not Caister's claim to be the first soul weekender is difficult to challenge.

[Guest]

I remember going to Great Yarmouth Weekender in early / mid 80s, spent hours chatting to Eddie Holman and used to send him tapes afterwards

[Guest posstot]

I remember going to Great Yarmouth Weekender in early / mid 80s, spent hours chatting to Eddie Holman and used to send him tapes afterwards

AHHH that was when Gene Chandlers head went on stage....I soon followed in sympathy. After being up since the wednesday!!

[kevinsoulman]

still looking for more info hope this is of interest

kev

https://www.soulfulhorwich.org.uk/godinbs171.html

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

Well,i.d say the first Weekenders were Scarboro about 1974--80----altho not billed as such,everybody went there Easter weekend and then Whit and August Bank Holiday---The four seasons club(later Rudie,s) woud have northern 8 till 2 on Friday,8 TILL 2 on Saturday, all dayer 2 till 11 sunday,and then a mammoth 14 hour all dayer on the bank holiday Monday 12 till 2 a.m. on Tuesday.Early arrivals on the Friday afternoon would all get checked in to Guest houses etc and then the meet and greets started in ---The Huntsman,Salisbury,Pickwicks.Golden Last etc.

York,Leeds,Darlington,Middlesboro,Barnsley were always well represented.D.J.S OVER THE YEARS INCLUDED--John Wrona,Paul Temple,Rob Smith,Martin Ellis,Dave Raistrick(thanks for selling me--Jimmy Mack,Al Williams w.d.,Peoples choice,Dena Barnes(when i was a bit of a Detroit Collector)Ron Pedley,Graham Kelly,ME--Tony Coleby.

Fantastic days,as i say a soul weekender in all but name

U.T.T

T.C.

[Sean Hampsey]

Well,i.d say the first Weekenders were Scarboro about 1974--80----altho not billed as such,everybody went there Easter weekend and then Whit and August Bank Holiday---The four seasons club(later Rudie,s) woud have northern 8 till 2 on Friday,8 TILL 2 on Saturday, all dayer 2 till 11 sunday,and then a mammoth 14 hour all dayer on the bank holiday Monday 12 till 2 a.m. on Tuesday.Early arrivals on the Friday afternoon would all get checked in to Guest houses etc and then the meet and greets started in ---The Huntsman,Salisbury,Pickwicks.Golden Last etc.

York,Leeds,Darlington,Middlesboro,Barnsley were always well represented.D.J.S OVER THE YEARS INCLUDED--John Wrona,Paul Temple,Rob Smith,Martin Ellis,Dave Raistrick(thanks for selling me--Jimmy Mack,Al Williams w.d.,Peoples choice,Dena Barnes(when i was a bit of a Detroit Collector)Ron Pedley,Graham Kelly,ME--Tony Coleby.

Fantastic days,as i say a soul weekender in all but name

U.T.T

T.C.

Ahem... and Rotherham / Mexborough crew Tony.

Many a happy weekend at Scarborough!

Salisbury was a blast.

Even remember DJ'ing a session at Four Seasons / Rudies way back then (mid 70's).

Bet I've got some wicked piccys somewhere (lots of moustaches and wide trousers!)

Sean

Edited November 11, 2009 by Sean Hampsey

[Guest brivinyl]

Soul weekenders that have been advertised as such have been running since the late 70s. But the first weekender that I remember advertised as a NORTHERN SOUL

[Guest brivinyl]

Soul weekenders that have been advertised as such have been running since the late 70s. But the first weekender that I remember advertised as a NORTHERN SOUL WEEKENDER was Fri. 23rd - Sun. 25th March 1990 at Vauxhall Holiday Park Great Yarmouth. The artists that appeared were CHUCK JACKSON, GENE CHANDLER, H.B. BARNUM, J.J. BARNES and EDDIE HOLMAN.

[MikeHinNewJersey]

[Guest rasfoz]

Yes, it was definetly cancelled, rememeber all that you are on about with the deposits etc. John Harvey appeared in places like Southampton and Bournemouth too around that time then he vanished as far as I can recall. You are right though, he seemed very old back then, although most of us on here are older than he was then now! Be interesting to know if he's still about? Anybody?

Indeed he did stuff at tiffanys in gt yarmouth one of many places (under the inter city banner) hence my avatar thing , i worked with a scaffolder a couple of years back who used to do the door at tiffanys way back when, & he proceeded telling me all about it do you know kojac he asked i thought that bald lollypop suckers ben dead for years whats he got to do with northern soul dawned on me later

[Guest]

Well,i.d say the first Weekenders were Scarboro about 1974--80----altho not billed as such,everybody went there Easter weekend and then Whit and August Bank Holiday---The four seasons club(later Rudie,s) woud have northern 8 till 2 on Friday,8 TILL 2 on Saturday, all dayer 2 till 11 sunday,and then a mammoth 14 hour all dayer on the bank holiday Monday 12 till 2 a.m. on Tuesday.Early arrivals on the Friday afternoon would all get checked in to Guest houses etc and then the meet and greets started in ---The Huntsman,Salisbury,Pickwicks.Golden Last etc.

York,Leeds,Darlington,Middlesboro,Barnsley were always well represented.D.J.S OVER THE YEARS INCLUDED--John Wrona,Paul Temple,Rob Smith,Martin Ellis,Dave Raistrick(thanks for selling me--Jimmy Mack,Al Williams w.d.,Peoples choice,Dena Barnes(when i was a bit of a Detroit Collector)Ron Pedley,Graham Kelly,ME--Tony Coleby.

Fantastic days,as i say a soul weekender in all but name

U.T.T

T.C.

I know what you are saying but that is not a 'weekender' in the true sense of the word that we are examining here. I.E a single venue/site, with accomadation and venues all under one umbrella and advertised as such.

That tradition of Bank Holiday Seaside 'Jollys' of course goes back to the Mod days and the links to the Soul scene are obvious, North and South.

In fact in the south, in the same period you are referring to, mid 70s-early 1980s, we did exactly the same thing in Bournemouth for years. DJ'S and Promoters would hire clubs from Friday until the late Easter Monday etc and hundreds of Soulboys from London, Southampton, Camberley and from all over southern England would descend for 3 days and nights of Soul/Funk mayhem. Fantastic nights and events in all sorts of venues, but I think you will actually find that Caister - as an all inclusive Weekender, actually sprung from the roots of this scene. In fact what happened was that it had to...Gradually Bournemouth Council became anti to the yearly invaisions and it became increasingly hard to obtain venues. Then draconian measures were undertaken to stop late licenses being handed out over Bank Holidays and thus the need for Caister became sorely apparent.

Being that it incorporated Jazz/Funk and Soul new releases in the main hall and a smaller second room for other genres, plus all day bars, leisure facilites and a 24 hour Soul Radio station broadcasting onsite, I think people have to concurr that Caister was the first true Soul weekender in Great Britain.

Just to underline that, on the last one I attended, the one where Alex Lowes played 70s Soul on the Radio station, the smaller room was actually given over to Northern Soul on the Sunday and I can well recall the 50 or so of us who walked into that little room and began dancing whilst the foam and whistle brigade were performing in the main hall!

I believe this is the first time Northern Soul - in name - was ever given a proper room on a genuine All-inclusive British Soul Weekender. Was anybody else there? This was around 1981-82.

Edited November 12, 2009 by chorleysoul

[Graym]

Yep 'Up North Promotions' was Alex Lowes!!

On a similar theme........did these ever happen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blues & Soul #137 18 June 1974 page 13 advertises ISC Weekender in Majorca. with the obligatory all-dayer and all-nighter with all the No. 1 Soul Spinners ISC Weekend!

Week end Saturday 23 November - Tuesday 26 November 1974 and only £45.

Will try and get the kids to scan it later.

And one for the anoraks and trainspotters amongst you .................in Frank Elson's column B&S 123 Nov 23 1973. (Not April 1st) page 26 column 2.

Tony Petheridge of Whitchurch fame and Ken Smith formerly of Up the Junction allegedly organising the country's first all-nighter train for around the end of Jan 1974.

Now this could have been a superb wind - up taking advantage of the journalist in question but here it is in black and white.

Seem to remember rail strikes around then. I know Shelly ( Dave Sheldon) and I had one of the most interesting journeys to the Casino but that's another story.

Hope this doesn't start one of those ' What would be on the train playlist' threads.

scan mag 2.bmp

article.bmp

[Guest Bernadette]

Yep 'Up North Promotions' was Alex Lowes!!

Alex's first weekender was in Berwick in 1987 - it was fantastic - my very first weekender!!! 2,3 & 4 were at the Cala Gran in Blackpool, followed by no 5, a one off at Pontins, Morecambe. It was from no 6 that it went to Southport and it then it gradually became know as the Southport dance weekender. It started off as a Soul weekender though and I went to the first 9 or 10 I think??? Good times

[Guest Frank Elson]

On a similar theme........did these ever happen !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blues & Soul #137 18 June 1974 page 13 advertises ISC Weekender in Majorca. with the obligatory all-dayer and all-nighter with all the No. 1 Soul Spinners ISC Weekend!

Week end Saturday 23 November - Tuesday 26 November 1974 and only £45.

Will try and get the kids to scan it later.

And one for the anoraks and trainspotters amongst you .................in Frank Elson's column B&S 123 Nov 23 1973. (Not April 1st) page 26 column 2.

Tony Petheridge of Whitchurch fame and Ken Smith formerly of Up the Junction allegedly organising the country's first all-nighter train for around the end of Jan 1974.

Now this could have been a superb wind - up taking advantage of the journalist in question but here it is in black and white.

Seem to remember rail strikes around then. I know Shelly ( Dave Sheldon) and I had one of the most interesting journeys to the Casino but that's another story.

Hope this doesn't start one of those ' What would be on the train playlist' threads.

Nope, didn't happen, but wasn't a wind-up... the background is that I knew Ken Smith and Tony Petherbridge separately, the first socially and Tony through my B&S writings.

Ken, one of the first people to do those Mediavel meals, had a mate who organised train trips, murder weekends etc and, after meeting Tony thought they could make some money with a Northern Soul Train.

ISTR it fell at the first hurdle when they found out how much they'd have to pay for the train

[Chalky]

Soul weekenders that have been advertised as such have been running since the late 70s. But the first weekender that I remember advertised as a NORTHERN SOUL WEEKENDER was Fri. 23rd - Sun. 25th March 1990 at Vauxhall Holiday Park Great Yarmouth. The artists that appeared were CHUCK JACKSON, GENE CHANDLER, H.B. BARNUM, J.J. BARNES and EDDIE HOLMAN.

there was some before this one but they were advertised as Magic Of Motown weekenders but they had northern room and most of the Dj's were northern Dj's.

Here's the program from the first one....

flyer for the first....

think this is the first one advertised as Northern Weekender....

Edited November 14, 2009 by chalky

[Sean Hampsey]

Indeed he did stuff at tiffanys in gt yarmouth one of many places (under the inter city banner) hence my avatar thing , i worked with a scaffolder a couple of years back who used to do the door at tiffanys way back when, & he proceeded telling me all about it do you know kojac he asked i thought that bald lollypop suckers ben dead for years whats he got to do with northern soul dawned on me later

Hi there,

I remember the Gt Yarmouth Inter City soul club gig at Tiffanys. Remember it like it was yesterday.

Must have been around 73 or 74 ?

It was the first venue to have a 'Deep Soul' room... where I spent much of my time.

Also remember buying a stack of great 45's from Jon Harvey (Kojak).

Thanks for the memory!

Sean

[Stevesilktulip]

Don't know much about the prehistory, but the Soul Weekender as we know it really began in Bognor Regis circa 86. Myself, Alex, Paul Cook and the late Rob Bogie made the trip.The Funk Mafia had abandoned Caister for a brief stop on the south coast before moving on to Prestatyn. Caister had continued but people like Martin Collins had to step in to fill the shoes of the likes of Chris Hill and people like Blues and Soul journalist Mervin Anthony were brought in for the alternative room. We knew Mervin cos he loved Newcastles women and he made regular trips and we all met up at Bognor. Incidentally Colin Curtis and Jonathan from Nottingham were special guests.

Through Mervin, Alex was drafted in to replace Bob Jones playing Real Soul and Northern in the alternative room and on the radio at Caister. After Alex left Richard Searling did it briefly. Alex hadn't really played any significant Soul since about 77 so I pretty much told him what to play.

These experiences led Alex to explore the possibility of a Weekender in the North East and we turned up in Berwick. Alex wanted a Jazz Funk Weekender like Caister or Bognor but there wasn't any demand for it in the North so myself and I believe Richard Searling guided him towards a weekender with its heart in a dedicated Soul Room.

Perpetually frustrated by the crowds packing into the Soul Room leaving big gaps in his Big Room, Morecambe was probably the ultimate Weekender in that respect, with 2 big rooms, but history seems to have all but forgotten Morecambe Eventually he got the Jazz Funk Weekender he had always wanted but only.after we parted company over musical and monetary differences. It's pretty unanimous they were never the same again.

[Geeselad]

there was some before this one but they were advertised as Magic Of Motown weekenders but they had northern room and most of the Dj's were northern Dj's.

Here's the program from the first one....

flyer for the first....

think this is the first one advertised as Northern Weekender....

Just had a flash back seeing the bottom flyer, what a line up, a who's who, of top northern Dj's from that era.