Unexpected Holiday Soul

[Kevinkent]

How often have you been on holiday and found yourself missing your soul fix?

If you've longed to escape the fake flamenco and Europop shite that your hotel dishes out, then like myself you might resort to the comfort of your air-conditioned hire car and the stack of CD's that you took with you.

Spain is my destination of choice, and I've never failed to bump into others who were yearning for some decent sounds. There are often posts on here asking "any soul in ..........?

So ....where are these places? Anywhere in the world where you've stumbled across that venue (I wish!),?

Club, bar, anywhere with even a decent jukebox really. I don't mean the well known events - Soul In The Sun, Costa del Soul, etc. I mean the sort of places that would never normally get mentioned on here, but which did that little bit to make your holiday special.

Over to you good people....

Where was your soul oasis?

[Ian Parker]

Yes !

Isle of Man 'Manx' week. heading back to Hotel after a few jars, heard a familiar sound coming from a club/hotel. investigated and found Russ Winstanley doing a Northern night. it was bloody heaving to be honest. so me and my cousin made the most and had a damned good night!

He also gave me a ticket for Maximes (25th Casino jobby) in Standish.

Edited October 13, 2011 by parkash

[Guest Bearsy]

the other year in Majorca we was on holiday and decided to have a walk around one night for a bite to eat and maybe a drinky poo or 2, well as we was walking along i could hear Judy Street - What being played then after that a bit of Motown then Freda Payne - Band of Gold, it was a small bar with a fella basically set up for a Karaoke night but playing Northern, so i said to Marie lets have a beer in here and see how it goes, well the barmaid see me singing along and said do you like all this stuff i said yeah you could say that and she replied that the dj/karaoke man was a Northern fanatic, well we got introduced and over a beer or 2 plenty of chat a few laughs and a couple of requests and the place was starting to fill up, he then said to me go and take a gander on me Laptop and see if there is anything you wanna play so off i trotted and 4 hours later i finished my Laptop set pissed as a fart and at about midnight a load turned up we ended up even more pissed and singing anything anyone would put on the karaoke, what a brilliant unexpected night and was asked to go back anytime and do it all again, sadly it was our second to last night but the highlight of our holiday, well it was for me

otherwise we take Marie`s phone or ipod thing down to the pool or just chill out in the room listening to some tunes, i once went a whole week without hearing a single NORTHERN tune on holiday and couldnt wait to get back to Gatwick get in the car and turn the stereo full up for me fix

[Guest Marky Tee]

the other year in Majorca we was on holiday and decided to have a walk around one night for a bite to eat and maybe a drinky poo or 2, well as we was walking along i could hear Judy Street - What being played then after that a bit of Motown then Freda Payne - Band of Gold, it was a small bar with a fella basically set up for a Karaoke night but playing Northern, so i said to Marie lets have a beer in here and see how it goes, well the barmaid see me singing along and said do you like all this stuff i said yeah you could say that and she replied that the dj/karaoke man was a Northern fanatic, well we got introduced and over a beer or 2 plenty of chat a few laughs and a couple of requests and the place was starting to fill up, he then said to me go and take a gander on me Laptop and see if there is anything you wanna play so off i trotted and 4 hours later i finished my Laptop set pissed as a fart and at about midnight a load turned up we ended up even more pissed and singing anything anyone would put on the karaoke, what a brilliant unexpected night and was asked to go back anytime and do it all again, sadly it was our second to last night but the highlight of our holiday, well it was for me

otherwise we take Marie`s phone or ipod thing down to the pool or just chill out in the room listening to some tunes, i once went a whole week without hearing a single NORTHERN tune on holiday and couldnt wait to get back to Gatwick get in the car and turn the stereo full up for me fix

was the bar in Alcudia???

[Guest Bearsy]

was the bar in Alcudia???

no it was in a quiet resort called Calla d Mallorca, totally unexpected was only cos the fella is a Northern Fanatic he was playing tunes before the Karaoke started but everyone was having such a criac with the Northern being played no one gave a shit about the Karaoke until after midnight and we didnt finish that until about 3am, so much for a quiet night

[Guest Marky Tee]

no it was in a quiet resort called Calla d Mallorca, totally unexpected was only cos the fella is a Northern Fanatic he was playing tunes before the Karaoke started but everyone was having such a criac with the Northern being played no one gave a shit about the Karaoke until after midnight and we didnt finish that until about 3am, so much for a quiet night

OK, reason I asked theres a bar in Alcudia (The Sandwich Bar) fella called Dave from Essex loves his northern, plays it off a laptop. Top bloke, took us to see Bad Manners and The Wailers last year. He has theme nite, but every night we were there they turned into Northern nights lol.

Edited October 13, 2011 by Marky Tee

[Patto]

OK, reason I asked theres a bar in Alcudia (The Sandwich Bar) fella called Dave from Essex loves his northern, plays it off a laptop. Top bloke, took us to see Bad Manners and The Wailers last year. He has theme nite, but every night we were there they turned into Northern nights lo.l

Yeah me and the mrs stumbled accross the Sandwich bar Alcudia,It may well have been you there that night Marky.It was also our last night or i would have gone back.Great when a passing German stops for a beer and you can tell they are thinking what the hell is this music and why is that English man singing along and handclapping to every track

[Guest Marky Tee]

Yeah me and the mrs stumbled accross the Sandwich bar Alcudia,It may well have been you there that night Marky.It was also our last night or i would have gone back.Great when a passing German stops for a beer and you can tell they are thinking what the hell is this music and why is that English man singing along and handclapping to every track

If it was June/July yeah it would be me, you were there with your wife and daughter? Did you get to Kings Hall after all?

[Kevinkent]

the other year in Majorca we was on holiday and decided to have a walk around one night for a bite to eat and maybe a drinky poo or 2, well as we was walking along i could hear Judy Street - What being played then after that a bit of Motown then Freda Payne - Band of Gold, it was a small bar with a fella basically set up for a Karaoke night but playing Northern, so i said to Marie lets have a beer in here and see how it goes, well the barmaid see me singing along and said do you like all this stuff i said yeah you could say that and she replied that the dj/karaoke man was a Northern fanatic, well we got introduced and over a beer or 2 plenty of chat a few laughs and a couple of requests and the place was starting to fill up, he then said to me go and take a gander on me Laptop and see if there is anything you wanna play so off i trotted and 4 hours later i finished my Laptop set pissed as a fart and at about midnight a load turned up we ended up even more pissed and singing anything anyone would put on the karaoke, what a brilliant unexpected night and was asked to go back anytime and do it all again, sadly it was our second to last night but the highlight of our holiday, well it was for me

otherwise we take Marie`s phone or ipod thing down to the pool or just chill out in the room listening to some tunes, i once went a whole week without hearing a single NORTHERN tune on holiday and couldnt wait to get back to Gatwick get in the car and turn the stereo full up for me fix

Nice one Paul and you're forgiven for the laptop set - needs must eh? This is just the sort of thing that I'm talking about and that I'm sure so many of us have experienced. Considering that you were asked to go back anytime I'm presuming that the guy does the venue regularly so if you remember any more exact details of where it was, pass them on. Be nice to get a list of such places put together.

- Kev

Quick edit - Sorry, didn't see you'd said Calla de Mallorca. Don't recall which bar do ya?

Edited October 13, 2011 by KevinKent

[Guest Bearsy]

OK, reason I asked theres a bar in Alcudia (The Sandwich Bar) fella called Dave from Essex loves his northern, plays it off a laptop. Top bloke, took us to see Bad Manners and The Wailers last year. He has theme nite, but every night we were there they turned into Northern nights lo.l

Nice one Marky will remember that if im ever in Alcudia the fella where i was came from oop norf

[Guest Bearsy]

OK, reason I asked theres a bar in Alcudia (The Sandwich Bar) fella called Dave from Essex loves his northern, plays it off a laptop. Top bloke, took us to see Bad Manners and The Wailers last year. He has theme nite, but every night we were there they turned into Northern nights lo.l

Nice one Marky will remember that if im ever in Alcudia the fella where i was came from oop norf

Nice one Paul and you're forgiven for the laptop set - needs must eh? This is just the sort of thing that I'm talking about and that I'm sure so many of us have experienced. Considering that you were asked to go back anytime I'm presuming that the guy does the venue regularly so if you remember any more exact details of where it was, pass them on. Be nice to get a list of such places put together.

- Kev

he was a raoming Karaoke man and did 1 or 2 nights a week there but always played Northern before peeps stated to ask for a sing song, thing is i cant remember the bar or his name but Marie might so will ask her later, we had far too many cheeky vimto`s to remember detail

[Kevinkent]

OK, reason I asked theres a bar in Alcudia (The Sandwich Bar) fella called Dave from Essex loves his northern, plays it off a laptop. Top bloke, took us to see Bad Manners and The Wailers last year. He has theme nite, but every night we were there they turned into Northern nights lol.

Yeah me and the mrs stumbled accross the Sandwich bar Alcudia,It may well have been you there that night Marky.It was also our last night or i would have gone back.Great when a passing German stops for a beer and you can tell they are thinking what the hell is this music and why is that English man singing along and handclapping to every track

Thanks guys!

That's the first one pinpointed on the map then....

* The Sandwich Bar, Alcudia, Mallorca

[Guest Marky Tee]

Thanks guys!

That's the first one pinpointed on the map then....

* The Sandwich Bar, Alcudia, Mallorca

We are not on commission Kev .... honestly

[Wiggyflat]

I'm sure Martin Jefferson from the Boro spins northern in his bar the Green Parrot in Magaluf

Edited October 13, 2011 by chalky
WARNING. ADULT/OFFENSIVE AND MATERIAL DEEMED NOT WORKSAFE.

[grant]

stumbled across a small bar near the marina in playa de las americas in tenerife about 6 yrs or so ago and they were playing northern (on tape or cd) even in the daytime so stayed and had a few beers listening to the tunes, owners were of course ex-pats into northern, window was covered in soul memorablia - went back last year and it had closed

[Kevinkent]

I'm sure Martin Jefferson from the Boro spins northern in his bar the Green Parrot in Magaluf

They don't have a fancy dress night too do they?

Think I'd prefer the car/cd option myself, but thanks for posting.

Is the Northern spun on a different night, or is it thrown in amongst all the other tosh?

[Patto]

If it was June/July yeah it would be me, you were there with your wife and daughter? Did you get to Kings Hall after all?

Yes mate that was us,done the Kings hall twice since then.

[Kevinkent]

One from me.

We were in Valencia in April and decided one night to seek out Bar Pinball which had been the venue for the warm up of one of the "Big Thing" weekenders. We were bitterly disappointed. There was a young modish crowd in from about midnight and the dj, who was an Alice Cooper clone, played loads of retro stuff but very little (if any) that I would call soul. Maybe I just got the wrong night. I wouldn't add it to a soul venue list but for those that might be into retro 60's-80's pop, beat, or whatever you call it - the address is Concordia 3, barrio del Carmen.

One that I will recommend, again in Valencia, is the Dub Club, (calle Jesus, 3.Valencia). A nice friendly Spanish crowd (I was constantly asked if I knew Ady Lupton and Yann Vatiste), and some nice crossover and modern spun on vinyl with a smattering of classic northern (might have been for my benefit). The venue hosts a variety of nights and live bands so you have to pick the right night. When we attended we had to wait outside for the spanish stand-up comedy act and punters to clear the building after midnight before the venue was transformed to a soul nite.

We were invited along by Jose Mardi (Mardi on this site) who we first met in his Valencia record store. If you're going to Valencia it would be worth contacting him for dates.

So, pending further details and posts - we've got just two:

* The Sandwich Bar, Alcudia, Mallorca

*Dub Club, calle Jesus 91, Valencia. (check dates).

Any more?

[Chalky]

Wiggyflat and anyone else, just a reminder that if going to post videos like the one above with adult content that to some is offensive and certainly not work safe can you post a warning along with the video. Some people have no wish to open a video and find content such as in the one posted.

Thanks.

[Tomangoes]

It used to OK at Manhattens bar in Tenerife, until it closed

Then there was the Motown Diner, also in Tenerife until it closed

So many bars are struggling, it would be a brave owner who relied only on a 'soul crowd'.

However, if you are near me wherever I go on holiday, for sure you will get some soul music from my ipod which I share with everybody around, even if they dont want to hear it

Keep the faith, and play it loud!

Ed

[scunnyjack]

For anyone going to Salou on the Costa Dorada, there is a bar called THE HAPPY DRINKER. Although I never met him, I think this is owned

by a guy from the Leeds area who was very much on the scene in the 70's. There is a big sign outside saying Keep The Faith and advertising the bar

as a Northern/motown bar. They do good butties. I know someone who stumbled across it in 2005 so has been there awhile.

I tended to go early (family ) for quizzes and listen the music which was mostly off CD's and well known northern/motown. The last time we went was this May, and they were due to run two nights a week remembering all the major venues including the Cats and Torch, from June onwards when the resort got busier.

Steve

[Guest brianw70]

For anyone going to Salou on the Costa Dorada, there is a bar called THE HAPPY DRINKER. Although I never met him, I think this is owned by a guy from the Leeds area who was very much on the scene in the 70's. There is a big sign outside saying Keep The Faith and advertising the bar as a Northern/motown bar. They do good butties. I know someone who stumbled across it in 2005 so has been there awhile. I tended to go early (family ) for quizzes and listen the music which was mostly off CD's and well known northern/motown. The last time we went was this May, and they were due to run two nights a week remembering all the major venues including the Cats and Torch, from June onwards when the resort got busier. Steve

Think i stumbled across this one a few years ago , was it on the waterfront and down some stairs along with a few other bars etc?

[scunnyjack]

Think i stumbled across this one a few years ago , was it on the waterfront and down some stairs along with a few other bars etc?

Not actually on the waterfront,but on a road high up overlooking a smaller beach than the main one. You go down some steps to it so I dare it is the same place. The House of Illusion was next door but this has since moved. I think the owner of the Happy Drinker also owns the Red Lion which is a very popular bar on the main drag.Been to a lot of places in Spain and the Canaries but very much like Salou Brian, hope you did

Steve

[Guest brianw70]

Thats the one Steve next to The House of Illusion. Had a few good nights there , sat outside doing soul/motown quizzes . loser had to drink a yard of spirits i think . Highly recommended place to go

Brian

[Seano]

At the end of July we went off to Meganissi, small Greek island near Lefkas. A bar on a beach called Fanari was playing a Reggae radio station (which I think was Reggae 141) all the time and at one point there was a fantastic soulful track which I wasn't able to get the title of. But it added to the interest I've developed talking with Eddie and Roger here in Banbury who have been into the crossover between reggae and northern for quite some time. Took me to buying the Trojan CD 'Work your soul' on which for me, the stand-out track in Glen Miller's 'Where is the love'.

[Kevinkent]

For anyone going to Salou on the Costa Dorada, there is a bar called THE HAPPY DRINKER. Although I never met him, I think this is owned

by a guy from the Leeds area who was very much on the scene in the 70's. There is a big sign outside saying Keep The Faith and advertising the bar

as a Northern/motown bar. They do good butties. I know someone who stumbled across it in 2005 so has been there awhile.

I tended to go early (family ) for quizzes and listen the music which was mostly off CD's and well known northern/motown. The last time we went was this May, and they were due to run two nights a week remembering all the major venues including the Cats and Torch, from June onwards when the resort got busier.

Steve

How come I never find these bars!

Now on the list are:

*The Sandwich Bar, Alcudia, Mallorca

*Dub Club, calle Jesus 91, Valencia. (check dates).

*The Happy drinker, Salou, Costa Dorada, Spain.

*Calle de Mallorca (find the karaoke guy who plays Northern)

I've included Bearsy's even in the absence of a bar name - if it's a small resort maybe you'll stumble across him.

- Kev.

[davethesandwich]

Hi Kev

Dave here from said Sandwich Bar.

Someone pointed out to me the mention of my bar on your forum. I've been playing northern for a few years now and had a good response from passers by and regulars alike, so much so that I put in a dance floor this winter, but where are all the soulies this year. Its been used a bit when Marky T was here again with his gang but seriously! there is a distinct lack of dancers about this year!!!

Thanks for adding me to your list though

KTF

Dave