Wigan Casino Friday Allniters

[Wiganer1]

i know the first friday allniter was feb 76

anyone know when these went mid monthly??

trying to work something out ,,,

thanks in anticipation

mark

[Winsford Soul]

i know the first friday allniter was feb 76

anyone know when these went mid monthly??

trying to work something out ,,,

thanks in anticipation

mark

Will find out off Steve Whittle when i meet him later in the week. if thats not to late for you .

Steve

i know the first friday allniter was feb 76

anyone know when these went mid monthly??

trying to work something out ,,,

thanks in anticipation

mark

Will find out off Steve Whittle when i meet him later in the week. if thats not to late for you .

Steve

[Billywhizz]

i know the first friday allniter was feb 76

anyone know when these went mid monthly??

trying to work something out ,,,

thanks in anticipation

mark

Mark i can remember the last friday of every month was the oldies allnighter can't remember the mid monthly one oh by the way did you get that blues and soules magazine was advertised on ebay i just missed out someone just out bid me at the last second.

Billy

[Mike Lofthouse]

Mark i can remember the last friday of every month was the oldies allnighter can't remember the mid monthly one oh by the way did you get that blues and soules magazine was advertised on ebay i just missed out someone just out bid me at the last second.

Billy

I was in HMV today - it had Blues & Soul on sale. It was £2.95 or £2.99 and had Mariah Carey on the cover. I bought the new Handsome Family album.

Mike

[Billywhizz]

I was in HMV today - it had Blues & Soul on sale. It was £2.95 or £2.99 and had Mariah Carey on the cover. I bought the new Handsome Family album.

Mike

Mike i am talking about 70s mags not 2006s anyway thanks for the info.

Billy

[Briles]

i know the first friday allniter was feb 76

anyone know when these went mid monthly??

trying to work something out ,,,

thanks in anticipation

mark

I'm past remembering the dates etc, but maybe Dave Moore may be able to help on this, I believe he used to arrange Burnley coaches to the oldies nights, and can remember Dave and other Soulies coming out of the Concorde and crossing the road to the Bus station. After that it was an adrenaline blurr - I think.

[Wiganer1]

Mark i can remember the last friday of every month was the oldies allnighter can't remember the mid monthly one oh by the way did you get that blues and soules magazine was advertised on ebay i just missed out someone just out bid me at the last second.

Billy

========

hi billy

ive got a spare of the one u bid for mate ,,,contact me off list if ure interested

mark

[mark ellis]

i know the first friday allniter was feb 76

anyone know when these went mid monthly??

trying to work something out ,,,

thanks in anticipation

I think it was 1978 when they went bi-monthly & I'm pretty certian the first one was a Twisted Wheel revival, followed by Torch revival, then a nighter dedicated to early Wigan sounds, I remember going to a Motown nighter too & think they also had a combined Stax, Atlantic, Motown bash.

Hope this helps

Mark.

mark

[Guest martinsbox]

i know the first friday allniter was feb 76

anyone know when these went mid monthly??

trying to work something out ,,,

thanks in anticipation

mark

One November night . . .

As usual in the Seventies, it seems a long time ago now, I would scan either the 'Blues & Soul' or 'Black Echoes' northern events pages for somewhere to go that weekend. It wasn't every week, that we all chose were to go at the weekends. The usual mid-week Soul night in 1978 was then held every Thursday night, at The International Club in Kempston (not far from the Soul nights of today - The Kempston Rovers). The Club was owned by two Indian blokes and they used to let the function / back room out to two great guy's by the name of Frank and Danny from Bedford who also supplied the disco gear (these two also used to spin their tunes, usually jazz/funk, Mecca tunes etc. at The Pilgrims Inn in Bedford every Sunday night). The D.J.'s of the day in our area were as enthusiastic then, as they were young and included Tommy Taylor, Stuart 'Groover' Green, Tony Warot, Hammy, Rug and Mick Smith. The crowd of the day came from much the same catchment area as today's scene ie. Bedford, St. Neots, Rushden, Northampton, Kettering, Hitchin etc. in fact a few of those still make it today - a little greyer or thinner on top - but still there drinking the pints and shining theirs soles out on the dance floor.

But this was mid-week, there were no hindrances at the weekend with the likes of Soul nights - weekends were for All-Nighters and the odd All-Dayer when they turned up. One Friday each month was almost always taken up with the Oldies All-Nighter at Wigan, so that date was almost always booked in advance. That usually left three weekends, of which two were taken up at an East Anglian Soul Club All-Nighter (then The Fleet Centre, Peterborough), so down to one weekend in a month . . . . . were do we go . . . Coalville - Sheffield - Colwyn Bay ?? It all depended on how things fell that month. Remembering, in those days we had All-Nighters on Fridays as well as the following Saturday and sometimes two events on both nights in one weekend. In those days, there were still plenty of the days youth (the 'Older' and 'Wiser' one's then called us 'Kids') making their way around without the heavy weight of marriages, mortgages, kids and car repayments etc . . . . in other words, we were free and easy and free to go were we wanted (if we could get there). The main route to All-Nighters in those days for me (if I couldn't get a lift) was by 'thumbing-it'. Looking back, we took a few risks, but nothing compared to today . . . perhaps! But we were young and by heck, we didn't care. The main thing in those days was reaching our goal and getting to the do's for opening time. The hardest part, more-so than actually getting there, was the arduous journey home in the bleak light of morning after a night of excessive dancing. Feet still aching and a definite lack of sleep, it was a tall mountain to climb.

But one Friday night on 17th November 1978, having decided that that was were I was heading, it was off to one of the Casino's mid-month Oldies. This month the theme was Torch & Mecca sounds and I was off on the road once again, just me and my thumb. As the norm. it would be bus to Kempston (I was living in Bedford at the time), then a walk down the A421, 'Nighter' bag over shoulder and arm out with my thumb vitually disjointed, trying desperate to catch the next vehicle passing to get a lift to the M1 (juction 13) a few miles further down the road. Please note that most of this road had no footpaths and was mostly of discoloured soggy grass verges. Anyone who has ever 'thumbed-it', will appreciate what I mean when I say, that fresh socks and shoes were required for the outward journey!! At the M1 jct. 13 there was hardly ever a queue of hikers so this part never took more than 20 - 30 minutes to get a lift. Once the lift was obtained I'd try to continue my ritual and make my way along to the usual stopping place - Watford Gap sevices. On arrival I'd usually have a cup of tea, top up on the chewies etc. and back to the M1 slip road. Once at the slip road, unlike at the Bedford turn, there would usually be a queue - Hippy types, Armed Forces, Transport workers, so it was like, take your turn and hope that the ones in front soon got their awaited lift rather sharpish to make way for your turn. But then once it was your turn, it was still hit and miss that someone was going your way (but that's another story). After perhaps a few lifts the signs appear for (M6) Wigan and eventually I get dropped off on the slip for Wigan. It was then a long walk into Wigan town centre (I never did get a lift from the motorway into town), turn right down Station Road from the Town centre and on to the Casino Club just around the corner.

The only one at Wigan tonight from Bedford - me - and what the heck, it was like most Nighters, you always knew someone from somewhere and if not (a rare occassion) then you'd always know someone or other sooner or later that night, the scene was just that friendly and we all had so much in common . . . . a thing you never get anywhere else!

Once inside, the place was buzzing, but unlike the usual first Friday of the month Oldies, tonight there were only 600 - 700 Souls at the most. This being the case, there was ample room for dancing. Usually you were lucky to move both feet as the floor was the most prized piece of wood in the country and was closely guarded by all who stepped on it. As for the sounds being played, it was very loosely woven around the said Torch & Mecca era so to speak and not ever having been to those hallowed venues, who was I to complain, every 'new' sound you heard was an education in Soul music. Down to some of the records spun that night and in no particular order . . . .

Earl Wright - Thumb a ride.

Jodi Mathis - Don't you care anymore.

David & the Giants - Ten miles high.

Marketts - Stirrin' up some soul.

Young-Holt Unlimited - California montage.

James Fountain - Seven day lover.

Van Dykes - Save my love for a rainy day.

James Lewis - Manifesto.

Bob Relf - Blowing my mind to pieces.

Lynne Randell - Stranger in my arms.

Darrell Banks - Somebody (somewhere needs you).

Maxine Brown - One in a million.

French Fries - Dance a la musique.

Big Boris - Devils drive.

R.P.M. Generation - Rona's theme.

Roy Hamilton - Crackin' up.

Eula Cooper - Let our love grow higher.

Fuller Brothers - Times a wasting.

Saxie Russell - Psychadelic soul.

Barbara Lewis - Someday we're gonna love again.

Tymes - Here she comes.

Nancy Wilson - The end of our love.

Kenny Smith - Lord! what's happening to your people.

Soul Twins - Quick change artist.

April Stevens - Wanting you.

Incredibles - There's nothing else to say.

Gwen & Ray - Build your house on a strong foundation.

Bobby Jason - Wall to wall heartaches.

Flaming Emeralds - Have some everybody.

Sam & Kitty - I've got something good.

Sherries - Put your loving arms around me.

Mel Williams - Can it be me.

Dottie Cambridge - Cry your eyes out.

Timothy Wilson - Love is like an itching.

Carstairs - It really hurts me girl.

Wendy Rene - Bar-B-Que.

Gems - I'll be there.

Clara Ward - The right direction.

R.Dean Taylor - There's a ghost in my house.

Jackie Wilson - I get the sweetest feeling.

Porgy & the Monarchs - My heart cries for you.

Valentines - Breakaway.

Spyder Turner - I can't make it anymore.

East Coast Connection - Summer in the parks.

Paul Sinbad - Do what you wanna do.

Larry Williams & Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - A quitter never wins.

The Tams - Hey girl don't bother me.

Robert Knight - Love on a mountain top.

Fidels - Try a little harder.

L.J. Johnson - Your magic put a spell on me.

Eloise Laws - Love factory.

. . . . . This is just how I wrote them down, before my head finally hit the pillow.

All the best, Martin

[Pete S]

i know the first friday allniter was feb 76

anyone know when these went mid monthly??

trying to work something out ,,,

thanks in anticipation

I think it was 1978 when they went bi-monthly & I'm pretty certian the first one was a Twisted Wheel revival, followed by Torch revival, then a nighter dedicated to early Wigan sounds, I remember going to a Motown nighter too & think they also had a combined Stax, Atlantic, Motown bash.

Hope this helps

Mark.

mark

Yeah you're right Mark, they also had a 'Stateside' allnighter...I went to a Wigan revival allnighter (at the casino) in December 77, still have a tape of it.

[jonbuck]

i know the first friday allniter was feb 76 anyone know when these went mid monthly??trying to work something out ,,,thanks in anticipation mark

I remember that they announced that the Oldies Allnighters were going Fortnightly.... I took a car load up All the way from London....Low & Behold we got the Wrong Week Nothing on in Wigan that night at All....& we wern't the only ones, But can't remember the date....

Jon Buck

[mark ellis]

Yeah you're right Mark, they also had a 'Stateside' allnighter...I went to a Wigan revival allnighter (at the casino) in December 77, still have a tape of it.

Can't remember what I did yesterday but I've a good memory for what happened a long time ago, I was at the same all nighter & recall it being a really good night, but predictably someone played Paul Humphreys Cochise & cleared half the floor, then went the whole hog & managed to empty it completeley with his next record. No prizes for guessing what it was, not 100% sure who spun it tho'. Remember something about a Stateside all nighter but didn't go. The Motown night didn't stick strictly to the label & covers of Motown tunes such as Johnny Ross & the Soul Explosions storming version of I can't help myself were also played.

Mark

[Wiganer1]

I remember that they announced that the Oldies Allnighters were going Fortnightly.... I took a car load up All the way from London....Low & Behold we got the Wrong Week Nothing on in Wigan that night at All....& we wern't the only ones, But can't remember the date....

Jon Buck

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the reason why im doing this is ..........and i know its REALLY sad

but here goes

may 16th 1981 was wigans 500th all niter,,,im just working back from then and from the first couple of years where it was only saturday nights..

also there was one year where it sat night fell on xmas day ,,i wonder if they had that allniter then?

see told u it was sad didnt i?

lol