Is It Time For The Stomper To Return

[Guest Rowly]

The real question is are we serious about attracting new blood? personally, I don't think we are.

Kev

Kev

I'd have to agree with you there Kev...

Seems to me that there's too many on the scene actually scared of change. They know that a younger generation are needed to keep the scene going (beyond the next 10 - 15 years or so)...... but don't wan't to actually change anything to encourage them and make it happen. Don't wan't to upset their comfort zone.

How many times have you read comments like ".....yeah but that will mean it's a differen't scene to what we have now if we play more x, y or z type sounds - and then it won't be the Northern Soul scene and I don't want that oh no sirree Bob!....."

They moan when advertisers have the bare faced cheek to use "our" tunes to sell fastfood or as a sound track to a tv series or whatever, when thats exactly what does take the sounds to fresh ears and the chance to attract newcommers / youngsters.

If this thing doesn't evovolve & embrace a few little changes here and there, then it will die in the not too distant future.....

Edited September 11, 2006 by Rowly

[caseoftyme]

Being based at Bangor, there are a lot of folk from the North-West around who have an abstract concept of what Northern Soul is. To be honest, I think when I do play it, it's seen as upbeat yet quirky and not something they'd probably take up seriously as a musical interest. To use a footballing analogy, you could compare it supporting your local lower league football team. Some will go along for a laugh and not come back/come back infrequently whereas others (I hope to include myself in this group once I've attended an allnighter!) will get the bug and lap it up. As has been stated, do you appeal to the tastes of today or keep hold of what you enjoy? I guess it's hard to tap into the music lover's psyche.

P.S-Thanks for the warm welcome.

You need to go to the Bangor soul club - it's on once a month - excellent nite - I'm sure they advertise on the calender on here.

[caseoftyme]

Having not been a "traveller" for some time (I'm 51 - wife, kids etc.) I did recently attend a nighter (No name, no pack drill).

I lasted until about 3.00 a.m. The music was very soulfull, but excrutiatingly slow. There were people on the dance floor going at it, at about 80 mph to a 5mph tune. I thought they must have all been wearing personal stereos and were dancing to a different tune to the one I was listening to. The fastest tune they played whilst I was there was "Please Don't Mention Her Name" (memory cell containing artist is unavailable at the moment). As I was making my way to the door they played "Carlena", I stopped and danced, waited another 20 mins in case things were picking up, decided they weren't and went home. £10 to get in, decided it was not good value for money and wouldn't be going to any other venue unless somebody confirmed to me beforehand that the music policy included sounds that were reasonably fast.

So to answer the original post - yes it is time to bring back stompers or as Dave Godin once described Northern as 100mph Soul Music.

At the end of the day you have to be able to dance to northen, if all your doing is shuffling, it may be rare, but it deffo ain't northern