Birchfield Soul Nite - Widnes Lookback

Birchfield Soul Nite - Widnes Well after last weekend, was half expecting a fairly mellow Friday nite.That was a mistake. Birchfield Recreation Club was the place and their monthly soul nite the event. Always on our regular list and always a fair old few make it across the border and the Mersey from the homeland.

 Our usual car load was dmsc co-thingy Steve T , Bangor Social Johnnie J, Hef and meself. After so many visits have finally sorted widnes traffic system out, and for once got there fairly early for us, say for us, cause as always missed the freebie, which was a very decent cd. Venue is in the sort of club house - you know the sort next to a football pitch, though a fairly big building, with half being a social club type bar and the other half event place, a fair sized floor, seats and tables round it, a busy bar at one end, espically busy at the 9.30-1030 £1 a pint hour. Normal 3 quid in, the end of night around 1 am, though no bar extension.

Sounds wise, well the team of three Dave Truscott, Chris Penn and Biff do a great job here. And while they do look after all tastes, the main thrust to me is of quality, covering all styles, in a well good flow All know the usual pitfalls many soul nites can end up on, but gotta say no danger of that here, while normally a fairly mixed crowd, its always an good mixed crowd that responds to all the music. None of this "dont know it so must be crap", or people moaning cause they have to put up with a few records thats not their bag, everyone seems to just go there, have a good time and enjoy the music whether it be current venue plays, like Mack Starr, Ruby Jean, current popular floorfillers like Harvey and Jokers , R and B style sesions, 6ts sax jams, modern or well known classics.

Reaction no matter what the style is always good, that to me along with the feel and the way they do the music makes this nite a regular return. The guest to-nite was a certain Steve Thomas, mentioned before, whos bookings diary is fast becoming a uk event guide and even got a few other signing ups on nite. Well he seemed to go down very well, keeping with the style and the feel, pushed out a great mix, one highlight bit to me was houston outlaws followed by delegates of soul, which worked well sing a long time or what.

To his credit after someone requested a certain 45, which he didnt have with him, then when strangely enough he started getting quite a fair few requests for that very same 45, he dealt with all in a very professional and courteous style.Will leave it up to Steve to post up some of his interesting plays, though he said afterwards that he had many requests for that Marv Johnson UA track,

Anyway a well enjoyable nite, think place was full at some stage as the "no entry - full " signs were out and about So for me, hats off to the team of three, if you are after a well friendly nite, with a crowd just into enjoying all styles of soul, get along, we always enjoy it and know many others do. May not hear a lot in press about this one, but that "full " sign, a fair few travellers, appreciative crowd and that after feel of a right old good nite out, just proves that no matter what occurs in the so called limelight, clubs like this are just getting on with things and soul fans are out having a right old good time and just enjoying the soul music.

Nice one

Next one with guest Carl Willingham, 26 July - seems like its going to be another "cant miss event"

website - www.birchfieldpark.fanspace.com - sounds, info and all the gear

5 from Steve thomas t

ed taylor -look out -top rank

big dons rebillion-it was true-ethon

enchantments -i,m in love with your daughter-faro

sound masters- lonley lonley=julet

delegates of soul-i,ll come running back-uplook