Soul Exhibition

[Guest]

Go and see this - it's fantastic! Let me know what you think if you do go.

'Dancin' all nite' in Salford

A new Northern Soul exhibition is on show at Salford Museum and Art Gallery until May.

'Dancin' all nite' is an exhibition featuring artwork, memorabilia, photographs, sound and video intimately connected with the Northern Soul Scene in Manchester and Wigan

With its roots in Manchester at the Twisted Wheel, and its heart in Wigan Casino, this exhibition tells the story of Northern Soul and the Wigan Casino, with special reference to Salford people who enjoyed the scene.

The exhibition shows original objects, badges, memorabilia and photographs courtesy of local people and the DJ Russ Winstanley, who founded the Casino's legendary 'all-nighters' and created the 'Best Disco in the World', as voted by American music magazine 'Billboard' in 1978. Even the sounds of those 'all-nighters' are included in the exhibition - complete with hand clapping - recorded live in the Casino in 1975.

Complementing this is Granada television's controversial 1977 documentary, 'This England', directed by Tony Palmer. In addition, new works by local artist David Barrow aim to give visitors a taste of what it was like to be inside Wigan Casino in its halcyon days.

'Dancin' all nite' combines an exhibition created by Wigan Heritage Services about the Wigan Casino called Heart of Soul, with newly collected material:

Donations include:

New paintings of The Wigan Casino by David Barrow

Top NS records donated by Russ Winstanley

A 1960s Lambretta donated by promoter of the Twisted Wheel, Pete Roberts

A top worn by Wayne Hemingway at Blackpool Mecca Northern soul nights

Original clothing including famous 6-button"bags"

Costumes from the play Once Upon a Time in Wigan, donated by Paul Sadot

A range of flyers, magazines, adverts relating to The Casino, the Twisted Wheel and other NS venues in the North West

New interviews with local people and DJs including BBC's Fred Fielder and Capital's Mike Sweeney

Photographs of NS clubs and dancers in the Northwest today

The museum shop will also be selling northern soul memorabilia including t-shirts, posters and badges.

Music events and talks will be taking place at the Museum during the exhibition. Please call 0161 778 0800 for more details.

Said Salford City Council's lead member for culture and sport, Cllr Barry Warner: "Northern Soul remains part of the heartbeat of our area. This exhibition shows how Salford people were - and still are - part of an important musical movement across our area."

Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Crescent

Salford

M5 4WU

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10.00am-4.45pm and Saturday & Sunday 1.00-5.00pm. Entry is free.

Visit: www.salford.gov.uk/salfordmuseum