Just an observation really but there doesn't seem to be any Black Music only fairs in the north? Used to visit one in Manchester many moons ago - Anybody know any different? Picked up the latest Record Collector and there seems to be a bit of a draught of decent fairs. One in Skipton next week (I'll be there if anyone else is) and keep missing the Harrogate one. Has Ebay killed off the fair?

Rich

Tuesday just gone saw a " record fair " with a difference at the Pack horse in Tunstall, and was unique imho as it incorporated a collectors "swap meet" if that's the right term, with chance to grab the deck to spin a few prospective sales, etc.It's been publicised in previous threads, but was courtesy of Des Parker & Johnny Beggs and had ( Northern ) Soul and Funk etc. for sale and was a damned good social event to boot! I know there are more planned in the future so watch this space as they say

  wilxy said:

Tuesday just gone saw a " record fair " with a difference at the Pack horse in Tunstall, and was unique imho as it incorporated a collectors "swap meet" if that's the right term, with chance to grab the deck to spin a few prospective sales, etc.It's been publicised in previous threads, but was courtesy of Des Parker & Johnny Beggs and had ( Northern ) Soul and Funk etc. for sale and was a damned good social event to boot! I know there are more planned in the future so watch this space as they say

Yeah, not as many fairs as was!

Adey Pierce ran a short lived monthly BM fair in M/C a couple of years ago but that's gone now!

Think it's over ten years now since there was a regular monthly BM fair in the North?

Des T still does a monthly one in London (i think?)

Not much else.

Do like the Swap Meet idea - John Pugh did one in Wolverhampton many years ago - collectors spun thru the day - was a great day and a great idea - looks similar to the one in Tundstall.........like garlic bread it could be the future!

Cheers

Steve

Edited December 8, 200618 yr by Steve Plumb

  harrogatesoul said:

Just an observation really but there doesn't seem to be any Black Music only fairs in the north? Used to visit one in Manchester many moons ago - Anybody know any different? Picked up the latest Record Collector and there seems to be a bit of a draught of decent fairs. One in Skipton next week (I'll be there if anyone else is) and keep missing the Harrogate one. Has Ebay killed off the fair?

Rich

Blimey I live just down the road from Skipton and don't know anything about it. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Phil.

  Steve Plumb said:

Yeah, not as many fairs as was!

Des T still does a monthly one in London (i think?)

Cheers

Steve

London is pretty dead for record fairs soul wise. Haven't been to Des's for a while, Olympia mega fair had Soul Provider and Dick Sniff and nothing else. Almost a complete waste of a saturday morning. Very little going on unless Mick turns up with his UK stuff.

Record fairs are still in tact and no need for any specialist ones. most fairs are gonna have dealers that may deal with soul music. just you have to shift through pop and rock etc that you may not like. Peterborough has 2 record fairs

but there is always a record fair that goes on in Blackpool around once a year when they have the Northern soul weekender on.

  WPaulVanDyk said:

Record fairs are still in tact and no need for any specialist ones. most fairs are gonna have dealers that may deal with soul music. just you have to shift through pop and rock etc that you may not like. Peterborough has 2 record fairs

but there is always a record fair that goes on in Blackpool around once a year when they have the Northern soul weekender on.

Depends what you are after Paul. Apart from Mick Smith for British and some northern oldies I have struggled to find or buy anything of interest at record fairs in the last couple of years. My sunday mornings are more productively spent watching "Countryfile"

It's actually the same here in the States. I have just recently attended one that comes to my area twice a year, but sometimes I wish there were more.

Generally the fairs are well down... Most of the big ones are far too expensive (£75+ for a table)

Even stalwarts like Mick and Clarkie have scaled down.

Theres a good midweek ( 1st and 3rd weds ) one at Spitalfields , Liverpool st .

Rob Messer and Roger Stewart regularly do it and i do it when the decorating work is slow.

Good for reissues @ £4 and the odd bargain ( Uk Doris Troys Cameo, UK Garnett Mimms" Looking" and Soul Twins Quick change demos for £10 each, Little John on Martay £5 ! )

A lot of the dealers who used to sell at the big fairs do it but as its cheap to do , they sell cheaper.

Worth a look if your in the area.