The Geography Of Northernsoul

[ImberBoy]

The geography of Northernsoul

Where is the most and where is the least?

I live smack bang between Sheffield and Barnsley, not too far from Rotherham and not too far from Doncaster and you would be very hard pushed to find some one who doesn't know what Northernsoul is and there is a heavy concentration of Northernsoul events from nighters in Barnsley and Sheffield to soul Nights that seam to be on in every other pub.

I heard Northernsoul being played in B&Q the other week in Barnsley!

Is this the same right up and down the M62 corridor?

Are there place where you could mention Northernsoul and get a blank stare? I'm not talking about finding some youth in a base ball cap who is too young to remember it, I am asking if there are places where our musical phenomena has never taken root?

Where is the richest concentration?

Where is the soulless desert?

And why?

[Paul-s]

Cambridge has f--k all in terms of soul!

[TOAD]

DITTO COVENTRY NEVER WAS MANY FROM HERE

[Little-stevie]

Liverpool despite being in the North-West has always been a desert for NS for some strange reason....

M62....NS......and Rugby League all seem to be linked.....

Northern soul and Rugby league.... Now that mixture makes you moist

Always lived on the M62 area, Huddersfield/ Manchester... very strong for northern always...

i found Surrey was not up to scratch with Northern soul on visits to see my girlfriend some years ago, can't think it will have changed really..

Its your working class places that were strong, the class things don't hold up so much anymore, we have people on soul source now who can read/ write and have the odd o'level.. How times change....

[Guest Matt Male]

Nuneaton - Absolutely massive number of people who know what nothern soul is. Everybody in the 40 - 60 age group knows someone who was on the scene, or is still on the scene, northern played at every party/anniversary/wedding amongst the other stuff and people always get up and dance.

Always been that way around here, but like Tim says, in Coventry just up the road, almost nothing.

[Rob Wigley]

simon

put the map up with where members / events are with the "Pins" in--

Then compare it with a map of the election results from 8 weeks back.

I'm crap with stuff like that as regards posting into threads etc--but you will find that Northern Soul territory almost exactly mirrors Labour party territory

with one exception --Liverpool--

your good with the PC have a go....

Rob

[Simsy]

Cambridge has f--k all in terms of soul!

Didn't used to be the case. What about those do's that Sam does just down the road a piece, still counts as Cambridge?

There's a geezer on here called 'CAMBRIDGE SOUL' I think.. But yeah gone are the days of nighters at the Kelsey Kerridge and Max's record shop..

[Guest Dave Turner]

Simon, like yourself I've always seen South Yorks to be the hot bed for soul.

Donny, Rotherham, Mexborough, Conisbrough etc

And knowledgable with it

Even the Black Death didn't claim so many

[Guest veep1296]

East Lancs, Burnley, Colne , Nelson, Accrington together withTodmorden was ,particularly in the 70s & 80s a hotbed of Rare Soul .

I never really knew many from Liverpool throughout the 70s & agree with the earlier comment.

DF

[Rob Wigley]

further to my earlier post

use Simons link to the "Soul map" then cmpare to Political map here

Red for labour

Edited July 2, 2010 by Karen and Rob Wigley

[Guest Phoenix8049]

You mention Northern Soul here in Manchester and somebody has a relative or friend or even themselves that have been involved in Northern Soul at one time or another in there lives.

Be interesting to find out what area has the most people that still attend venues.

Since i have come back on the scene,i seem to have met more people from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire more than anywhere else.

Stu.

[Citizen P]

You mention Northern Soul here in Manchester and somebody has a relative or friend or even themselves that have been involved in Northern Soul at one time or another in there lives.

Be interesting to find out what area has the most people that still attend venues.

Since i have come back on the scene,i seem to have met more people from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire more than anywhere else.

Stu.

If you take Bury,Heywood, Rochdale-A58 corridor;) you will notice quite a cluster.

Hopefully a few will be playing out later.

Tony

[Dave Morris]

East Lancs, Burnley, Colne , Nelson, Accrington together withTodmorden was ,particularly in the 70s & 80s a hotbed of Rare Soul .

DF

It certainly was a hotbed back in the 70's.Coaches from all over East Lancs to Blackpool Mecca or last bus from Blacburn to Chorley to catch connection to Wigan.Those were the days.

[Denbo]

Liverpool despite being in the North-West has always been a desert for NS for some strange reason....

M62....NS......and Rugby League all seem to be linked.....

Desert??? Where did you get that idea from Webby?

Have you lived there? If so, when?

Anyhow, it's not a desert but a place with lots of sand and a few oases.

[good angel]

N/S, always seems to be in coal mining areas,any thoughts.

Kev

[nsoul2]

N/S, always seems to be in coal mining areas,any thoughts.

Kev

But not in South Wales , Nor the South West of England including a big city like Bristol

[Guest john s]

Nor the South West of England including a big city like Bristol

Yate is pretty close to Bristol, though!

[DennieFitz]

You mention Northern Soul here in Manchester and somebody has a relative or friend or even themselves that have been involved in Northern Soul at one time or another in there lives.

Be interesting to find out what area has the most people that still attend venues.

Since i have come back on the scene,i seem to have met more people from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire more than anywhere else.

Stu.

[/quo

When the casino was open most people you asked were they came from would say Stockport.

[barney]

gotta agree the northern soul heartlands are along the M62 corridor with as been mentioned a few well known outposts ,such as stoke and can agree with nuneaton loads of soulies there and the east midlands is a bastion for northern soul especially the classic oldies events must also say the 100 club though have never been is a beacon for our music ,

travel extensively up and down the country and in the southwest, south wales ,south coast and scotland it hardly ever gets a mention though there are the odd soul do,s and many diehard followers in these parts of the country .

personally I feel sorry for these people who live in souless regions ,

earlier on this year worked in spitzbergen and held my own northern( northern lights) soul nights with a few appreciative workmates and some bemused norwegians

Edited July 2, 2010 by barney

[Guest bunty]

Cambridge has f--k all in terms of soul!

That is a real shame!!... I'm a Cambridge gal & in the early 70s we had Tony Dellar! a brilliant Dj, who made sure there was always somewhere to go to hear northern soul... I could write a long list of all the places he played in around Cambs! obviously the Howard Mallett was the main place to go and people would travel from the surrounding counties & further afield every friday! it was without doubt one of the foremost venues for northern soul in the south of England! There are a lot of very knowledgeable old soulies in Cambridge...... I know Howard Mallett have a reunion every year, but I thought there was regular events going on? the City stop has all nighters now? Paul are you being a typical Cambridge-ite?... I think so!!

I live in Devon now!.... I'll say no more!

[Guest Mart B]

That is a real shame!!... I'm a Cambridge gal & in the early 70s we had Tony Dellar! a brilliant Dj, who made sure there was always somewhere to go to hear northern soul... I could write a long list of all the places he played in around Cambs! obviously the Howard Mallett was the main place to go and people would travel from the surrounding counties & further afield every friday! it was without doubt one of the foremost venues for northern soul in the south of England! There are a lot of very knowledgeable old soulies in Cambridge...... I know Howard Mallett have a reunion every year, but I thought there was regular events going on? the City stop has all nighters now? Paul are you being a typical Cambridge-ite?... I think so!!

I live in Devon now!.... I'll say no more!

Bunty maybe you must move to North Notts:D .....

[The Tempest]

Guys , trust me , you don't know what a Northern Soul desert is until you look at Scotland !!

Long hours travelling unless you live between Glasgow and Edinburgh

The West Coast has a very active scene , infrequent nights in Stirling / Falkirk areas , Glasgow is a great mixture of soul / modern / mod nights ,and there is also Bob Jeffries in Kilmarnock / Ayrshire .

Dumfries in the borders , well nearly !! , also has a good soul turn out ,

You Yorkshire boys are spoilt for choice , and I should know I live ere ' !!!!!

[Mark S]

Stockport seven miles out of Manchester riddled with northern it is some quality and some not ,lots of wannabe laptop dj,s

[Guest bunty]

Bunty maybe you must move to North Notts:D .....

Rarestags...I often think about it as I look out of my window at the moon glistening on the sea, or when I'm walking my dog on the stunning dartmoor hills, I have also thought about it while munching through a "Devon cream tea" at the nearby farm! .... naa, I think I'll carry on driving hundreds of miles for my fix of soul ... it keeps it special for me:D

[Guest spudmurphy]

stockport is ground zero

[Mick Howard]

Desert??? Where did you get that idea from Webby?

Have you lived there? If so, when?

Anyhow, it's not a desert but a place with lots of sand and a few oases.

I'd have to agree with Webby.

Not saying that there aren't any but in 35 years on the scene I've never met a 'scouser'!

Warrington and Southport yes but any nearer to the Mersey and I reckon they'd give you blank looks....

Mick

[Guest Byrney]

Liverpool despite being in the North-West has always been a desert for NS for some strange reason....

M62....NS......and Rugby League all seem to be linked.....

I lived in Liverpool for 7 years. Those my age and above (mid 40s) I'd discussed NS with to a man considered it to be "woolly back music" and preferred commercial funk, Zappa, Bunnymen etc. Cross the Mersey or down the East Lancs - of course a completely different story

[Guest Byrney]

You mention Northern Soul here in Manchester and somebody has a relative or friend or even themselves that have been involved in Northern Soul at one time or another in there lives.

Be interesting to find out what area has the most people that still attend venues.

Since i have come back on the scene,i seem to have met more people from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire more than anywhere else.

Stu.

Both Notts and Derbys are hotbeds, always have been going back to the 60s and all the way through from there. Everyone my age knows of NS, although they might have a warped view of what it is, a lot hate it others love it. As Matt's comments for Nuneaton you'll hear Northern in a Notts pub disco, at a wedding etc without fail.

Edited July 3, 2010 by Byrney

[Tricky]

No coalmines in northan,ts.always been a hotbed tho.

[Guest nhsoulie]

I'd have to agree with Webby.

Not saying that there aren't any but in 35 years on the scene I've never met a 'scouser'!

Warrington and Southport yes but any nearer to the Mersey and I reckon they'd give you blank looks....

Mick

go to the wheel and see goldie club mascot and talc monitor hes funny as fook him and me main man paul are the only 2 i know of though

Edited July 3, 2010 by nhsoulie

[Guest BIG H]

Guys , trust me , you don't know what a Northern Soul desert is until you look at Scotland !!

Long hours travelling unless you live between Glasgow and Edinburgh

The West Coast has a very active scene , infrequent nights in Stirling / Falkirk areas , Glasgow is a great mixture of soul / modern / mod nights ,and there is also Bob Jeffries in Kilmarnock / Ayrshire .

Dumfries in the borders , well nearly !! , also has a good soul turn out ,

You Yorkshire boys are spoilt for choice , and I should know I live ere ' !!!!!

You forgot about the North East,Up here in Aberdeen/Dundee area we've always had great soul tradition, the likes of Keb Darge, Neil 'Speedy' Allen, Steve Willoxs, Billy Davidson, Jon Scott and many more trail blazers who put on nighters and alldayers and were traveling to the Mecca or the Casino (or both!) nearly every weekend in the 70's,

Now that was a journey Aberdeen to Wigan in a dodgy Commer van it took about 7 or 8 hours!

Harry

[Agentsmith]

living in shropshire and having to travel, tells you a lot about this county, which is naturally very rural....you can count on two hands the major towns and although not the size of scotland its disadvantages are profoundly identicle. id have to agree with most here about the m62 corridoor and the notts/derby conglomerate, but as is the legend...northern soul began north of watford gap and the north mids/north west have always been the heartlands. the west mids has, up to a point, been a hive of activity...one thing is certain though, most of the dialects and their tribes tend to congregate in their own areas and a large proportion of people still dont travel great distances...this is probably the difference where the north is concerned, with a whole swathe of this area so densely populated and so many great venues, there simply is no need to put in the mileage/hours to get to hear the sounds that people want.

because the heritage of northern soul is build on the history of pioneering clubs like the twisted wheel, va-va's, the pendulum, kieghthly okeh club, blue orchid, dungeon, samantha's, the golden torch, top rank hanley, blackpool mecca and of course, wigan casino,....aint no way the rest of the country could compete anyway.

london and birmingham have taken a long time to grasp the nettle and if you had to put them in a league table, the latter still drags a long way behind the 100 club alone.

wolverhampton had the catacombs and later stafford placed the top of the world amongst the elite ranks, but i feel even now a large proportion of the country is still marginalised,....every county of course, has some great gigs but you can draw a line on a map book across the centre of the country and virtually every town north of the line has something going on regularly and at several venues.

northern soul of course, is universally accepted but in reality, the centre of the universe is.....the north of england.

[Ezzie Brown]

not much interest in the forest of dean...........thank god.......they got there own "deep dark secrets "........... apologies to anyone soulful stranded there by misfortune.. ......ez

[Kevinkent]

All I'l say is that it's noticeable that nobody from Kent has posted on this thread!

Me?...........I'm just a long term visitor who does high mileage.

- Kev.

[Guest Eddies]

But not in South Wales , Nor the South West of England including a big city like Bristol

beg to differ here...South Wales has always had a big northern fan base from Wigan onwards...and the S.west...glos...cheltenham...stroud...all big soulie places...

[Guest]

Simon, like yourself I've always seen South Yorks to be the hot bed for soul.

Donny, Rotherham, Mexborough, Conisbrough etc

And knowledgable with it

Even the Black Death didn't claim so many

" Even the Black Death didn't claim so many "

The whole of Yorkshire , and not just the South of God's County , has embraced both Club and Northern Soul music with a passion and loyalty since the 60s . If there was a venue be it a pub , a hall , a working mens' club , a back room or a scout hut , if somewhere was available , the music had to be - and was - played there .

That passion and loyalty of Yorkshire to the music , could be likened to that of a devoted couple in love . When Northern Soul was considered a phase that should have passed and was unfashionable , Yorkshire stuck two fingers up and ignored the critics , and continued with the romance . That romantic couple are still very much together, albeit in what is now a Darby and Joan Scenario .

Yorkshire : the home of Flat Caps , Whippets and Back Drops .

Malc

Edited July 4, 2010 by Malc Burton

[nij flood]

Chester - Back in the late 60s early 70s no rare soul just commercial pap in the local clubs. 15 miles down the road Warrington was the border post of Northern soul. Chester followed Liverpool's lead which was JB funk & all of that. If we wanted to hear proper soul we went Up the Junction in Crewe on week then the Torch the other. If we were on the pull and wanted a bit of funky git down we headed across the Mersey. I knew of no Rare soul scene in Liverpool at that time but had some great times at the She Club & others I struggle to remember.

[Guest Little Anthony]

Mate of mine moved from Wolverhampton to Merseyside in 1976...used to go up and se him occasionally. Not only had Northern Soul not infiltrated the area (anyone with any connection at all with Wigan was a wollyback) but the fashions were different as well. Solatios..Royals to some of you were totally unheard of..Can't remember what music thy liked..although Liverpool Express and Our Kid were massive at the time!

[Ljblanken]

just an outsider listening in like a fly on the wall...

i have you all beat for a 'dead' region. you know what area lacks soul almost altogether (let alone northern soul) - the United States of America!

everyone you meet could name every contestent on 'dancing with the stars', or 'american idol' for the last five year, but you could drive for thousands of miles without meeting someone who would recognize names like Rose Batiste, or even Jackie Wilson. not kidding! and totally sad!

i should know. i bought a PA system and travel up and down the California coast (mid-Cal) trying to put on nights at bars/cafes/pubs/social clubs, etc for free (spinning rare, northern, club soul, R&B, or whatever i think will go over best) and i can't even get nights playing for FREE in otherwise empty venues! i give them sample CDs of the records i'll be playing and they say "can't you just play 50 Cent, and M&M, and Shakira - like a normal person? no? then no thanks!"

i wish i could have access to 1/10th of the venues/nights you guys discuss! it would be heaven!

[Davetay]

There's loads of Wooly-Backs on here,mate,me included......and can l just say.......................................WE ARE NOT SCOUSERS!!

Like everybody else I never meet anybody from Liverpool back in the 70s.

There where a few lads from Ormskirk, Pete Lawson and his sidekick Little Sean, Keith Bradley and a few others whos names I have forgot.

Dave.

[Davetay]

It was Keith Brady,mate.....a native of Newton-Le-Willows........The perfect gent.......me,him and Brian Rae used to go everywhere in Brians Cavalier.....Great times indeed!

Phil, I think there where two Keith's than?

I went to the other Keith,s house in Ormskirk a few times (Stanley Street I think) circa 73/74.

Dave.

Edited July 4, 2010 by davetay

[Guest karen b]

I lived in Liverpool for 7 years. Those my age and above (mid 40s) I'd discussed NS with to a man considered it to be "woolly back music" and preferred commercial funk, Zappa, Bunnymen etc. Cross the Mersey or down the East Lancs - of course a completely different story

Hi Byrney, you mean you didn't meet Paul O'Grady the BIG northern fan and all the people he used to go to Wigan

with from Liverpool??????

[Guest Byrney]

Hi Byrney, you mean you didn't meet Paul O'Grady the BIG northern fan and all the people he used to go to Wigan

with from Liverpool??????

The legend or rare soul you refer to, that one can only hold in the highest esteem based on his 'devil may care' escapades is, I believe, from the Wirral and not 'the pool of life'. Therefore he is indeed a woolly

Edited July 5, 2010 by Byrney

[cementman]

While it's true Liverpool doesn't have a northern soul tradition it did have a decent club (the Mardi Gras in Mount Pleasant) which held Motown nights throughout the late sixties hosted by Billy Butler (no, not Jerry's brother) Edwin Starr, Drifters, Jnr Walker, Ben E King, Jimmy Ruffin etc. all played there usually about 9.00pm before heading to the Twisted Wheel for the late gig.

Great Liverpool soul acts The Chants, Steve Aldo and the Fix, Beryl Marsden, Buzz Brothers, Shuffler Sound also played there backing the big names and performing in their own right, usually Friday night. I saw the birth of the Real Thing in the Mardi, they were then called Vocal Perfaction and did an an acapella set

Soul music was played at the Mardi 5 nights a week in 68-69-70 and Billy Butler used to spin mainly Motown/Atlantic/Stax. You have to get the context right, inasmuch as Black American music was THE dance music of the time and this was for the most part, chart music. Rare soul didn't come in to it then although Blues and Soul magazine and recommendations used to crop up from time to time.

I used to go to all nighters at the Wheel relatively infrequently but can recall lots of guys from the Liverpool area who used to go to the Wheel all-nighters on a regular basis, anyone remember Joe Eager, Joe Wilkinson, Eric Myles, Mick Cook, Casper all from Kirkby?

Happy days, and still going to Soul nights here in Perth, Australia, with my wife who I met in the Mardi Gras while watching the Drifters in 1969 (10 bob entry!)

Edited July 5, 2010 by cementman

[Guest aintgotit]

That is one great post......

Tough times ,atb .andy

[Guest Byrney]

While it's true Liverpool doesn't have a northern soul tradition it did have a decent club (the Mardi Gras in Mount Pleasant) which held Motown nights throughout the late sixties hosted by Billy Butler (no, not Jerry's brother) Edwin Starr, Drifters, Jnr Walker, Ben E King, Jimmy Ruffin etc. all played there usually about 9.00pm before heading to the Twisted Wheel for the late gig.

Great Liverpool soul acts The Chants, Steve Aldo and the Fix, Beryl Marsden, Buzz Brothers, Shuffler Sound also played there backing the big names and performing in their own right, usually Friday night. I saw the birth of the Real Thing in the Mardi, they were then called Vocal Perfaction and did an an acapella set

Soul music was played at the Mardi 5 nights a week in 68-69-70 and Billy Butler used to spin mainly Motown/Atlantic/Stax. You have to get the context right, inasmuch as Black American music was THE dance music of the time and this was for the most part, chart music. Rare soul didn't come in to it then although Blues and Soul magazine and recommendations used to crop up from time to time.

I used to go to all nighters at the Wheel relatively infrequently but can recall lots of guys from the Liverpool area who used to go to the Wheel all-nighters on a regular basis, anyone remember Joe Eager, Joe Wilkinson, Eric Myles, Mick Cook, Casper all from Kirkby?

Happy days, and still going to Soul nights here in Perth, Australia, with my wife who I met in the Mardi Gras while watching the Drifters in 1969 (10 bob entry!)

Definitely was a hot bed for Club Soul back in the day (The Sink on Hardmen Street too) but never seemed to follow though to NS. The Club Soul scene in Liverpool was (still is?) celebrated by the Soul Cafe at the top of Bold Street.

[Guest Neil-ok]

Liverpool despite being in the North-West has always been a desert for NS for some strange reason....

This was said years ago,there wasn't many scousers on the soul scene in the late 70s early 80s i seem to remember.One lad from Liverpool who i knew from the casino(think his name was peter jones)said that not many where into the scene because it was wools music(like its been said on here).

Seem to remember more from Liverpool getting into it by Morecambe etc.

[/quo

When the casino was open most people you asked were they came from would say Stockport.

Christ too true Denise,i remenber loads from Stockport,hazel grove way.

Also seem to remember loads from Gloucester way at the casino.

I'd have to agree with Webby.

Not saying that there aren't any but in 35 years on the scene I've never met a 'scouser'!

Warrington and Southport yes but any nearer to the Mersey and I reckon they'd give you blank looks....

Mick

I lived in Liverpool for 7 years. Those my age and above (mid 40s) I'd discussed NS with to a man considered it to be "woolly back music" and preferred commercial funk, Zappa, Bunnymen etc. Cross the Mersey or down the East Lancs - of course a completely different story

[funkyfeet]

North Wales has always had a strong northern following, the pier niters in Colwyn Bay were packed out with North Walians back in the 70's with similar numbers that were going to the Casino. Most of the acts that appeared at the Casino did Colwyn Bay on the Wednesday night prior to the Casino. Yes we all also did Wigan as the pier was only monthly. Been to events all over the place in the North West except Liverpool and Chester both deserts as far as northern was concerned, they tended to follow the London scene and played more funk and newer releases, strange when you think they were both surrounded by strong northern soul locations.

[Reg]

This was said years ago,there wasn't many scousers on the soul scene in the late 70s early 80s i seem to remember.One lad from Liverpool who i knew from the casino(think his name was peter jones)said that not many where into the scene because it was wools music(like its been said on here).

Seem to remember more from Liverpool getting into it by Morecambe etc.

Christ too true Denise,i remenber loads from Stockport,hazel grove way.

Also seem to remember loads from Gloucester way at the casino.

Weird, I don't really know a lot of Liverpudlians either. I went to the sink a couple of times early 2000s , that's the only Liverpool soul event I remember discounting Southport.

I remember a lad who was a taxi driver...Yocky possibly?

And a few mods...Paddy, Andy Parry and a couple others.

But nowt like Manchester/Stoke?Leeds...Maybe it's their constant obsession with the fab four ha ha

[Guest nhsoulie]

just an outsider listening in like a fly on the wall...

i have you all beat for a 'dead' region. you know what area lacks soul almost altogether (let alone northern soul) - the United States of America!

everyone you meet could name every contestent on 'dancing with the stars', or 'american idol' for the last five year, but you could drive for thousands of miles without meeting someone who would recognize names like Rose Batiste, or even Jackie Wilson. not kidding! and totally sad!

i should know. i bought a PA system and travel up and down the California coast (mid-Cal) trying to put on nights at bars/cafes/pubs/social clubs, etc for free (spinning rare, northern, club soul, R&B, or whatever i think will go over best) and i can't even get nights playing for FREE in otherwise empty venues! i give them sample CDs of the records i'll be playing and they say "can't you just play 50 Cent, and M&M, and Shakira - like a normal person? no? then no thanks!"

i wish i could have access to 1/10th of the venues/nights you guys discuss! it would be heaven!

and the sad thing is i still love the place and want to live there dont think americans care unless its sold 50 million copys