Flashpoints

[Guest ShaneH]

i have cut and pasted this post made by 'soulfulsaint' earlier today in the events section. some good points raised and maybe one or two more can comment....

soulfulsaint wrote:

I have been reading the thread on R&B with great interest and want to make a separate point. The history of rare northern soul can be told through its 'great flashpoints' - literarly when the scene has 'fallen out with itself', when there are very divergent views of what direction the music should take. When Flashpoints happen there is always lot of emotion around. People threaten to boycott, ban and outlaw certain sounds or even indiviudal records.

Great flashpoints would be:

1. The mid '70s when the Mecca v Wigan disputes put '60s northern up against 'funk', 'disco' and what was then modern soul.

2. The Stafford flashpoint which brought in 'sixties newies' and a hostile reaction to the scene's apparent obsession with oldies.

3. Maybe you could inlcude the rise of 6Ts and the 100 Club or the rise of 'deep funk' which was the northern values in a deeper funkier sound, and a reaction agsint the more mainstream 'rare groove'

4. We see it again in 2006, when a younger crowd have dug deeper into the original roots of mod and are passionate about R&B to the bewilderment of the sixties oldies fans and indeed the '70s and '80s soul afficiandos.

My opinion is that flashpoints are always great for the scene. They make it livlier.They make it more passionate. They divide opinion. Most of all they help cement a more diverse future for the scene.

[BrianB]

I don't think the current scene could cope with a major "flashpoint" on the scale of the Wigan -Blackpool divide. We just need more acuurate information on the flyers, then punters can make their own informed choice whether to attend that particular night or not.

Interesting point though, like politicians have said in the past that we need a good war to stimulate the economy, do we need a battle, followed by a lasting peace on the soul scene to re -invigourate it?

Brian B

[okehgaz]

Would also have to include early 80's when Sam was spearheading the new wave of modern soul. Memory's a bit dodgy but thinking of Richard Dimples Fields, J.Blackfoot, etc.

[Steve G]

Would also have to include early 80's when Sam was spearheading the new wave of modern soul. Memory's a bit dodgy but thinking of Richard Dimples Fields, J.Blackfoot, etc.

Memory not dodgy at all, I was running Blackbeat at the time and the letters page was full of it 60s v 70s/80s and then oldies v newies. There was never a dull moment

[okehgaz]

Memory not dodgy at all, I was running Blackbeat at the time and the letters page was full of it 60s v 70s/80s and then oldies v newies. There was never a dull moment

Tell me about it! I was running "The Drifter"