Little foreign gems

[Stephen Houghton]

Has anybody had a hol abroad or home that you have found or wandered and found a place where soul music is played .before covid we went to marrakech for the third time in a year and got a taxi Saturday night to a club about 30mins out of the centre of marrakech and it was called LE BLOKK.it was a brill night all sorts of soul playing and a cool vibe.has anybody else found any hidden clubs .also one in Chang mai northern Thailand. 

[Guest]

Bologna is a favourite city for just about everything. It's beautiful and full of history and good food. It's a university city and has a dynamic night scene. I've seen both of the above in Bologna. New Colour was in the Covo club where I picked up the above  45 from the venue which I think is lovely.  Francesca Gramegna was seen at Numa Club which has a fabulous light show and is full of Italian verve and is 'La Dolce Vita' personified. 

 

Edited December 2, 2021 by Dukeburgundy
Remembered club name

[Odd Fellows Soul]

I went to Vegas and had lunch at The Cosmopolitan Wicked Spoon, where they played an hour of Northern that included Magic Touch and Soul City -Everybody Dance as well as a host of others. Have no idea why maybe a northern chef in the kitchens?

[Mssoulie]

I was lucky enough to be ships company on board HMS FIFE in 1987 when we did the Great lakes tour. ST JOHNS, QUEBEC, MONTREAL, TORONTO. CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE, CLEVELAND and then back home. This took six months. The clubs in Chicago were brilliant but were mostly House music. Had some interesting conversations about the black fist tattoo on a (white guy). The best was in Milwaukee though.  Can't remember the names but a group of us in the gunners mess volunteerd to go out to a fire fighters association club to represent the Ship. We got talking to some of the younger members and we found out there was a club that played mostly 60s music a couple of blocks away. Excuses made and of three of us went. Amazing night was had, alsorts of Northern and Motown. Caused a real stir the way we danced. Still makes me smile now.

Hugh

Edited December 4, 2021 by Mssoulie

[Benji]

Croatia camping site back in 2019. Lovely outdoor bar right at the sea. Usual sundowner background music was electronic Ibiza style chillout sounds. One night, for whatever reason, they played 60s Detroit Northern and Motown for well over 2h. 

[Mal C]

Power of the Spotify perhaps Benji?

Spent my 37th Birday in Miami, went shopping and found nothing, nada, Liza my wife however had so many bags of cloths and what not, muggins had to carry half them, the only upside was we went for a coffee in a starucks and on came Spiral Staircase, saved my birthday that did because I was a right moody buggar. 

ahhhh the throws of youth...

2 hours ago, Benji said:

Croatia camping site back in 2019. Lovely outdoor bar right at the sea. Usual sundowner background music was electronic Ibiza style chillout sounds. One night, for whatever reason, they played 60s Detroit Northern and Motown for well over 2h. 

 

[Paul R]

About 15 years ago I had to go to Zante to survey some boats. I walked past a bar that had a poster in the window "Tuesday Night Is Soul Night With Darren". I thought that it could be interesting. I went in and the bar was owned by a couple from Sheffield, and playing over the speakers was a mixture of old northern and chart 70's soul. Anyway, just before 8 o'clock, Darren came in and started setting up his gear. Obviously I though it would be CDs or laptop, but beggars can't be choosers. Anyway the music started and it was the intro to Stand By Me. I still thought it would be OK, until Darren lifted the mic to his lips and with the best club singer voice started "When the night has come"!!  I didn't stay.

 

Paul

Edited December 2, 2021 by Paul R

[Amsterdam Russ]

The summer of 2019, we had three weeks staying in Molyvos on the Greek island of Lesvos. Having been there a number of times, it's a place we know well.

Anyway, late one morning we decide to go to a taverna that sits directly under Molyvos castle and has a brilliant view across the Aegean. Thinking more about brunch than breakfast, we ask if it might not be too early for moussaka. Dodo, the owner, happily obliged. All well and good.

Music was playing courtesy of a Greek radio station. I'm guessing one show changed for another because what we got next were lots of laid-back soul vibes. We were treated to Carlton Jumel Smith's "This is what loves look likes" - at that time a new release - Joe Bataan, and a whole host of excellent grooves.

The late morning turned into early afternoon. Moussaka led to Ouzo, and a fine day, filled with the most unexpected musical treats, was had. It was just perfect.

Here's me on that very day, just finishing off my late-morning moussaka.

And this is the night-time view of the castle from that same taverna.

On the same holiday, but in what is more of an expat bar than a local one (and one we typically avoid because of that), we walked in one evening on a rare visit. Playing over the sound system was Billie Davis - Stanky (get funky).

A Brit - older than me, so late-50s or early 60s - standing just inside the door, was proclaiming how this was his favourite Northern Soul tune. I engaged him in conversation - mentioning that I too was into the music, and that I ran small Northern Soul nights in Amsterdam, and had a website devoted to the Loma record label (www.lomarecords.com).

I don't recall exactly how the conversation went, but it was along the lines of...

Me: It's great that you love the music. I have a website devoted to Loma records.

Him: What? Lorna records?

Me: No, Loma.

Him: Roma records?

Me: No, Loma. You know, Roy Redmond "Ain't that terrible". Ben Aiken "Satisfied" and lots of others.

Him: No, never heard of it.

Me: Have a great night! 

Edited December 2, 2021 by Amsterdam Russ
spelin

[Solidsoul]

Kefalonia, one hot afternoon. Walking with my wife past a bar with a dance floor. I could hear a tune playing from the pavement and I said "I know that song".  It took a few seconds and then I realised it was "Just An Illusion" by The Earls on Zudan!   So we had to go in and it turned out to be a lot of people from the UK on a Northern Soul holiday!

 

 

Edited December 3, 2021 by D9 Ktf