X-over & Y2k Soul

[shute]

Ok you guys, input needed on the above topic

1. Is there a call for this ?

2. Is it worth puttin' on a venue to play this sort of music within the soul scene ?

I know that they are around at weekenders, but thats a different crowd, isn't it ????

Reason for asking is that we (staffssoulsociety) are running one later this year or are we throwing money away ?????????

[Guest Dodger]

Ok you guys, input needed on the above topic

1. Is there a call for this ?

2. Is it worth puttin' on a venue to play this sort of music within the soul scene ?

I know that they are around at weekenders, but thats a different crowd, isn't it ????

Reason for asking is that we (staffssoulsociety) are running one later this year or are we throwing money away ?????????

Regarding Y2K you might want to ask the organisers of Soul Underground (just down the road from Stafford in Walsall), Prestwich, Bass Museum, Bury Town Hall, Lowton, Soul Intent, Lucarlys, Soul Purpose etc. if there's any call for Y2K. There's plenty of call for the music but no call for another venue playing it imo, there's plenty of venues that cater for it on a monthly basis.

And regards x-over, well that's fairly well catered for isn't it with the Orwell, Greyhounds and a few others?

Cheers

Roger

[Guest]

Add Martin "Cunnie" Dixons Modernism nights to that list, an excellent night that includes all the above Shute.

[Guest]

In regards to your original question, yeah of course it's worth it, i for one get bored of total 60's nights, i have collected 70's soul alongside 60's soul and have always felt easy switching between both. I know some people don't care for music thats 30 plus years old as opposed to music that is 40 plus years old.....but i do, infact if a record was cut next week and it fell into that idiom of "SOUL" then i'd embrace it like some long lost freind who i'd thought had been cut into ribbons by a band of foul and filthy caribbean pirates.

"Fear The Caribbean Pirate"

Brett

[Guest geoffwa3]

Ok you guys, input needed on the above topic

1. Is there a call for this ?

2. Is it worth puttin' on a venue to play this sort of music within the soul scene ?

I know that they are around at weekenders, but thats a different crowd, isn't it ????

Reason for asking is that we (staffssoulsociety) are running one later this year or are we throwing money away ?????????

Definite yes to both points!! The list of venues given by Shute , with perhaps the exception of Soul Underground, don't really cater for YK2 soul unless a handfull of tunes over a 6/7 hour period is classed as catering for the minority of soul music loving punters whose taste has evolved and moved forward. I for one have been on the scene for over 20 years and to be brutally honest am bored with the same venues playing the same tried and tested formulas. Get out of the comfort zone for fcuk's sake!!

It's not a different weekender crowd it's just that you know that your musical tastes will be catered for more than usual. Give it whatever tag you like YK2, soulful house/garage to me it is uplifting uptempo soul that gets you up in every sense of the word. The tent at prestatyn is always a highlight for me and for anyone who cared to venture in would see there is a definite need for this genre of soul. Go for it Dodge, I'll be there with my posse!!

This Saturday 8th 'Outlaws' in Stoke, Dave and Johnny plus guests will be spinning the tunes fron @9pm till very, very late then at Lowton on Easter Thursday, so if you are into your uptempo stuff get down there and support what is becoming an underground scene!

[Guest Dodger]

Definite yes to both points!! The list of venues given by Shute , with perhaps the exception of Soul Underground, don't really cater for YK2 soul unless a handfull of tunes over a 6/7 hour period is classed as catering for the minority of soul music loving punters whose taste has evolved and moved forward. I for one have been on the scene for over 20 years and to be brutally honest am bored with the same venues playing the same tried and tested formulas. Get out of the comfort zone for fcuk's sake!!

It's not a different weekender crowd it's just that you know that your musical tastes will be catered for more than usual. Give it whatever tag you like YK2, soulful house/garage to me it is uplifting uptempo soul that gets you up in every sense of the word. The tent at prestatyn is always a highlight for me and for anyone who cared to venture in would see there is a definite need for this genre of soul. Go for it Dodge, I'll be there with my posse!!

This Saturday 8th 'Outlaws' in Stoke, Dave and Johnny plus guests will be spinning the tunes fron @9pm till very, very late then at Lowton on Easter Thursday, so if you are into your uptempo stuff get down there and support what is becoming an underground scene!

I think you might have got it the wrong way round here, it was Shute who was asking, and me who listed the venues already established playing the new stuff. There's a few springing up in the north east as well, such as Paul Conroy's Fed and a new venue he's got in Newcastle. I also missed out Soul By The Sea whose second room plays new music, so it's a very healthy modern scene these days with no shortages of places to visit if the full range of new stuff is what you want.

Roger

Edited April 5, 2006 by Dodger

[Jordirip]

Ok you guys, input needed on the above topic

1. Is there a call for this ?

2. Is it worth puttin' on a venue to play this sort of music within the soul scene ?

I know that they are around at weekenders, but thats a different crowd, isn't it ????

Reason for asking is that we (staffssoulsociety) are running one later this year or are we throwing money away ?????????

Hi Shute,

I'm not sure that X over and Y2K soul/dance are good bedfellows. They are miles apart musically and I think generally (and I'm guessing here) the crowds are different. I know that at some Modern events 70's music gets programmed in but it sometimes feels as though it's been shoehorned in. I think X over works better with Northern and 60's soul with a bit of funk thrown in for good measure, as the x over seems like a logical extention musically and I think these styles fuse together better. Also as Roger has said, there are plenty of great modern/Y2K events such as Fish's nights, Soul Underground, Mark Randle's nights and they're all within a short drive for Midlanders. What is lacking in the Midlands are events that mix in Northern and crossover, and I don't mean played out northern and 70's anthems. Just my opinion as a midlands punter.

Jordi

[Guest Dodger]

Hi Shute,

I'm not sure that X over and Y2K soul/dance are good bedfellows. They are miles apart musically and I think generally (and I'm guessing here) the crowds are different. I know that at some Modern events 70's music gets programmed in but it sometimes feels as though it's been shoehorned in. I think X over works better with Northern and 60's soul with a bit of funk thrown in for good measure, as the x over seems like a logical extention musically and I think these styles fuse together better. Also as Roger has said, there are plenty of great modern/Y2K events such as Fish's nights, Soul Underground, Mark Randle's nights and they're all within a short drive for Midlanders. What is lacking in the Midlands are events that mix in Northern and crossover, and I don't mean played out northern and 70's anthems. Just my opinion as a midlands punter.

Jordi

Spot on Jordi. Crossover as you say is a logical extension of northern soul - take Lowton for instance, I think Baz has realised this and now seems to be reverting the second room to the more crossover slant that it had when it first started, same as the Orwell lads adding a northern room to the Orwell - I can see exactly why they've done it (and forgive me if I'm wrong, chaps) but I'd say it's to put more northern soul bodies through the door and expose them to crossover/seventies. Northern and crossover are logical bedfellows as you say, and also the newer music, whether it's midtempo or uptempo, is too far removed from what many people on the northern scene can appreciate (not a criticism just an observation). I believe Mark Randle's Soul Purpose has quite a 70s/crossover slant as well, I don't know if you realised that?

Sadly I think there's now more of a division between the old and new soul scenes than there ever was, which I find quite sad really.

Roger

Edited April 6, 2006 by Dodger

[Guest soulgirlie]

Hi

Think its worth pointing out the the Bass Museum has a crossover room featured now as well and the inclusion of Soul Sam at their fabulous Summer Ball is testamony to Fish's endeavours to incorpoate a wide spread of music at his events .

I actually think the modern/crossover crowd are more than catered for .

I personally want to hear more contemporary music hence Soul Underground will continue its cutting edge up-front music policy playing a big percentage of current and forthcoming music including uptempo dance music.

During the course of our nights there is the potential for 6 to 7 hours of music on offer so we always like to include a little look back to the past and I would expect the dj's I book to concentrate on newish stuff but be ever mindful of past influences as well as incorporating the wider spectrum of jazz, gospel and funk into their sets , I also personally like to showcase 90ts soul music because I feel that its a "lost decade" sadly ignored by a lot of venues .

Lin Taylor

www.soul-underground.co.uk

[Soulsmith]

And regards x-over, well that's fairly well catered for isn't it with the Orwell, Greyhounds and a few others?

Cheers

Roger

Hi Roger,

Looking at it from a Londoner/Southerners perspective I'd say crossover isn't at all well catered for.

Other than Monumental, I'm struggling to think of other venues........?

Col.

[Garethx]

Fear The Caribbean Pirate! Priceless.

[Guest Dodger]

Hi Roger,

Looking at it from a Londoner/Southerners perspective I'd say crossover isn't at all well catered for.

Other than Monumental, I'm struggling to think of other venues........?

Col.

Sorry Col, I was only thinking of it from a Midlands/North perspective.

Roger

Edited April 6, 2006 by Dodger

[Steve Plumb]

Spot on Jordi. Crossover as you say is a logical extension of northern soul - take Lowton for instance, I think Baz has realised this and now seems to be reverting the second room to the more crossover slant that it had when it first started, same as the Orwell lads adding a northern room to the Orwell - I can see exactly why they've done it (and forgive me if I'm wrong, chaps) but I'd say it's to put more northern soul bodies through the door and expose them to crossover/seventies. Northern and crossover are logical bedfellows as you say, and also the newer music, whether it's midtempo or uptempo, is too far removed from what many people on the northern scene can appreciate (not a criticism just an observation). I believe Mark Randle's Soul Purpose has quite a 70s/crossover slant as well, I don't know if you realised that?

Roger

Spot on Jordi (from his post before Roger) & Spot on Roger

imho you both hit the nail right on the head with your observations

Cheers

Steve

[ockers]

Regarding Y2K you might want to ask the organisers of Soul Underground (just down the road from Stafford in Walsall), Prestwich, Bass Museum, Bury Town Hall, Lowton, Soul Intent, Lucarlys, Soul Purpose etc. if there's any call for Y2K. There's plenty of call for the music but no call for another venue playing it imo, there's plenty of venues that cater for it on a monthly basis.

And regards x-over, well that's fairly well catered for isn't it with the Orwell, Greyhounds and a few others?

Cheers

Roger

dodger

you forgot family tree and us up in morecambe

www.seasidesoul.co.uk

next one April 15th and next family tree june 3rd

[Chris Anderton]

I agree with all...........mix it with "thinking mans" northern if anything......

Chris

ps, I think I`m actually booked for the first one so maybe i will decide what the policy is!!

[Guest soul4life]

Hi

Think its worth pointing out the the Bass Museum has a crossover room featured now as well and the inclusion of Soul Sam at their fabulous Summer Ball is testamony to Fish's endeavours to incorpoate a wide spread of music at his events .

I actually think the modern/crossover crowd are more than catered for .

I personally want to hear more contemporary music hence Soul Underground will continue its cutting edge up-front music policy playing a big percentage of current and forthcoming music including uptempo dance music.

During the course of our nights there is the potential for 6 to 7 hours of music on offer so we always like to include a little look back to the past and I would expect the dj's I book to concentrate on newish stuff but be ever mindful of past influences as well as incorporating the wider spectrum of jazz, gospel and funk into their sets , I also personally like to showcase 90ts soul music because I feel that its a "lost decade" sadly ignored by a lot of venues .

Lin Taylor

www.soul-underground.co.uk

spot on lin, so much fantastic 9ts grooves! are as you say largely overlooked on 2days club playlists..and props to you 4 championing that era! one of the many reasons i look forward to the hilton events is it gives me the chance to showcase the early 9ts classic streetsoul scene! so many awesome grooves were being played out back then and are perfect for 2days open minded soulie!!!!!!!

regards terry

[John May]

Spot on Jordi & Roger, Crossover & 60's sound great when played together, however start getting into the 70's stuff and my eyes glaze over, that's not to say I don't like some 70's.

As regards to the Midlands, Crossover & 60's midtempo for a long time has been a Dirty word, very few venues catering for it, which is why I travel so much seeking out venues that do, Seems to be a consistant theme among Midland venues to play out and out Northern and popular 70's, not my cup of tea.

As regards to shutes original post, think you need to be specific as to what music will be played at the event, If people come along expecting crossover, and get 70's & modern, maybe not be too pleased.....just a thought.

John

[Cunnie]

Some good points raised up to now by all who have posted so far si i thought i'd throw mine in for what they're worth.

I don't think there are too many Modern nights on at the moment, it's just that they don't seem to be marketed correctly. There are enough punters out there but a lot of them don't really want to get into the 'Modern soul bubble' that seems to have been created inside the Northern scene. When i look round locally there are venue's that play what we call Modern Soul but to a different predominantly younger crowd. In Sheffield there are several clubs & bars playing stuff that falls under the Modern Soul umbrella, Tequila, Takapuna & Hustle spring to mind (i'm sureTerry will confirm this). Thing is how many of these kids want to be in a room full of folks the same age as there parents? Did you when you were there age?

Regarding the xover debate, tough one this. Our most successfull nights at Modernism have been when we have had xover DJ's on (Tat's, Andy Whitmore, Brett Franklin etc) as they have dragged in Northern punters who normally wouldn't think twice about going to a Modern night & our quieter nights have been when we have had guests on who champion newer sounds, Dodger, Lin & Jamie Taylor etc, 3 DJ's who i rate very highly so imagine how i felt for them when the punters didn't show. The real strange thing is our quietest night punter wise was when we had Soul Sam on, work that out?

Must pick up onTerry & Lin's comments regarding 90s stuff that don't get played out & praise them for it but don't forget the 80s. Seem to find myself drifting towards the stuff played on the 80s boogie scene at the moment as there's so much great stuff that got forgotten.

Shortly i'm hoping to kick off a new venue on the outskirts of Sheffield overlooking the Peak district national park so i'm reading all the comments on here with personal interest as i want to get this one right as it's a superb venue with 2 rooms (more on this later guys).

Anyway good luck with the new venue Shute, you go for it mate & if i can help out in any way let me know. Send me a PM if you get the night up & running & i'll get some of your fliers out at our nights (that goes for everyone else too) cos at the end of the day we all want the same thing, good nights playing great music to a room full of good people.

Mart...

[Guest]

suck it and see, success is relitive, just been to a modern/rare soul night near kings lyne, 40 turned up, venue only held 60, great night, great music, great atmosphere. if it was held in a room that would hold 260 then it would have bombed!!

[Guest soulgirlie]

I don't think there are too many Modern nights on at the moment, it's just that they don't seem to be marketed correctly. There are enough punters out there but a lot of them don't really want to get into the 'Modern soul bubble' that seems to have been created inside the Northern scene. When i look round locally there are venue's that play what we call Modern Soul but to a different predominantly younger crowd. In Sheffield there are several clubs & bars playing stuff that falls under the Modern Soul umbrella, Tequila, Takapuna & Hustle spring to mind (i'm sureTerry will confirm this). Thing is how many of these kids want to be in a room full of folks the same age as there parents? Did you when you were there age?

Mart...

I empathise with what you are saying Martyn and I think the only way of running a successful 'Modern soul Bubble ' night as you term it is by way of attaching yourself to a northern soul night just like Prestwich , Bury. Lowton etc ..the chances then are that people will wander in from the northern room and some may stay .

The thing is with Modernism is like Soul Underground you have a 'standalone' modern night and as such I think you have to have a totally different remit and possibly need to look outside of the soul scene for your clientele .

I'm coming towards the end of my fifth year at Soul Underground and its been bloody hard work for the most part to get the night established because its quite unique in its philosophy and the kind of musical perspective we have ..I consider in my mind 'modern soul' to be just that ,contemporary music and not music that is in excess of 30 years old ,however on the northern soul scene , modern soul is the terminology used predominantly for 70ts records rightly or wrongly ,I guess its just a label.

The most successful nights at Soul Underground in my opinion are when the crowd is a good mix of people from 'the scene' and people from 'outside ' I'm very lucky and the venue has always attracted the most open minded soulies from all over the UK ,the new dimension now is the added bonus that the non-scene customers are equally fantastic, appreciative ,have no agenda and are out for a great night out , they stay on the floor regardless of the era,tempo or genre of music being played and thats an absolute joy for me as the promoter ..many of these people may not have been out for years thinking if they go to a club they are just going to hear commercial soul , motown, hip hop or rap and associated genres ,they cannot believe that proper underground soul is still very much alive kicking and totally brilliant in YK2 and they love it ..all of it.

An added bonus is the fact that Fish sets his stall out and people can actually go and buy what they hear offerings from brand new Indie artists together with major label albums and 12's.

I think you promote your night really, really well and I feel for you when you have quiet nights, its hard and the worry never goes away when you do things for the love of the music like we do and not for financial gain , you just have to either keep plodding on and looking at different crowds to attract or you have to maybe think if things arent working then possibly its not the right venue (as has happened to me before I secured this one ) .I think the main thing is to have a definate musical policy ,market it as such and stick with it,then people know exactly what they are going to get

(sorry for the long post )

Lin

www.soul-underground.co.uk

Edited April 8, 2006 by soulgirlie

[shute]

Thanks for all your input, positave and negative, great to hear other options on this style of music

Just to let you know that we are gonna try it, if it works even better, if not, well there you go, trial & error comes to mind

[Mark R]

Definite yes to both points!! The list of venues given by Shute , with perhaps the exception of Soul Underground, don't really cater for YK2 soul unless a handfull of tunes over a 6/7 hour period is classed as catering for the minority of soul music loving punters whose taste has evolved and moved forward.

Think you are definitely mis-representing several quality modern nights which feature their fair share of new release material with that statement.

For example, here is my most recent Without Boundaries (Bass Museum) playlist, actually from Xmas so those new releases are oldies now

Carlton - Flyaway

James Day feat. Jeff Ramsey - Don't Waste The Pretty

Ginuwine - Want U To Be

Anthony Hamilton - Change Your World

Jascat - My Love

The Unifics - A Lifetime And A Half

Karl McNeil feat. Veronica Menniweather - I Got Your Back

Mike Avery - Miss Lady (Radio edit)

Heavy - Wonderlove (Jazzanova mix)

David Borsu - Syncopassion

Neolectrique - This Time

Ron Trent & Quentin Harris - Happiness

Studio Apartment feat. Terrance Downs - We Are Lonely (Quentin Harris remix)

Solo - Where Do You Want Me To Put It

Tashan - Still In Love

Ray Charles/John Legend - Touch

Kindred - As Of Yet

Prominent - Step Into My World

Ian Martin - Knockdown Side

Joe McBride - Giving It All To You

C Chang - Get Up

John Legend - Ordinary People (Johnny Douglas remix)

Kirk Franklin/Stevie Wonder - Why?

Ron Carroll & Mr A.L.I. - Dance All Night (Mr A.L.I. mix)

Camiel - You're So Right

Sterling Ensemble feat. Sarah Devine - Life Ain't What It Seems

Having joined this list recently, and with a background originating in the NS scene starting around 25 years ago, I'm reluctant to come on a rare/60's soul forum preaching about the merits of contemporary soul, but when it gets discussed I feel my thoughts are justified..................so, while we're on the subject, for those that think there is no proper soul in new releases, take a listen to this baby:

https://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/214183-01.htm

Don't live the rest of your life in denial

Cheers,

Mark R

[Guest Dodger]

Or this:

https://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/213829-01.htm

Well good.

[Cunnie]

Or this:

https://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/213829-01.htm

Well good.

This ain't bad either Roger

https://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/212410-01.htm

[Mark R]

Or this:

https://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/213829-01.htm

Well good.

Coincidentally, just been spinnin' the both of 'em in the old record room mate