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Just where is NS heading in the future?


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1 hour ago, Mark S said:

Hope not "Northern soul trousers" eh..? Makes me cringe when for a scene thats been going on since God were a lad that they focus on some dodgy fashion choices that we made for a couple of years 50 years ago. 

They might be adding vests and beer towels to the collection soon.  Might as well complete the look.  And a long leather jacket.

 

So many things they could promote and pass on to the next generation and they choose baggy trousers.  I never felt the urge to wear or buy these when I joined the scene in the 90s.

 

if they focused on the music they would attract far less negativity.

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1 hour ago, Dylan said:

They might be adding vests and beer towels to the collection soon.  Might as well complete the look.  And a long leather jacket.

 

So many things they could promote and pass on to the next generation and they choose baggy trousers.  I never felt the urge to wear or buy these when I joined the scene in the 90s.

 

if they focused on the music they would attract far less negativity.

Beer Towels and vests with NS prints are already doing the rounds in Turkey

M

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8 minutes ago, Hooker1951 said:

Beer Towels and vests with NS prints are already doing the rounds in Turkey

M

The commercial side of the scene is being absolutely flogged to death.  It always has been to a certain extent but it seems really bad now.  Worst I’ve known it.

 

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Not just this scene being shamelessly exploited for commercial gain. The charlatans in charge of West Ham have been blatantly ripping off fan-initiated chants and fashion for their own financial advancement. Unfortunately, seems to be the way of the world, and will continue for as long as there is someone happy to pay.

On a more positive note, went to an excellent club night at Kettering on Saturday. Music was a good mixture of classics and underplayed (with more of the latter), a crowd made up of old school soulies and some great dancers. 

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5 minutes ago, Mod Life Crisis said:

 

On a more positive note, went to an excellent club night at Kettering on Saturday. Music was a good mixture of classics and underplayed (with more of the latter), a crowd made up of old school soulies and some great dancers. 

That’s the thing all that’s good about the scene just carries on anyway with just the right amount of promoting that’s done in the right way.

 

i’m still listening to soul music most days and still get a lot of enjoyment from it.

 

i do occasionally get to venues and enjoy it when i do.

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On 29/05/2024 at 20:05, Quinvy said:

As far as I’m concerned it’s a dead horse that’s being flogged to death. Again and again and again!

The facts:

Apart from a few unreleased tunes, there are no new records.

In desperation to find something new, other genres of music are being played as up front.

The majority of us are in our sixties or over. It’s a dance scene, and we can’t dance anymore.

The divvies have taken over since the movie Northern Soul came out.

When I see videos of events it makes me cringe. It looks like a care home.

I went to a soul do a few weeks ago to meet some friends that I hadn’t seen for ages. Decent room, ear splitting sound system, couldn’t talk to my friends. Not many in, and many of those that were in haven’t been on a dance floor for thirty years. I couldn’t wait to get out. 
 

The music is very special. But the scene is simply a social club for old people.

 

I totally agree fella 

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19 minutes ago, Devlam said:

Also came across this today. Closing party for London Fashion Week at the Groucho Club

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8Aj_toi1Zx/?igsh=MWFuZWt3MTRncm52OA==

More of an organised fashion shoot that as I know the dancers were paid to be there

Some of them in that vid were at the 100 club the night before (which was incredible btw) plenty of super rare unreleased, acetates, recent discoveries etc played to a mega up for it crowd - Pure magic… 

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14 hours ago, Ruisoul said:

Surely as said before many times there are several soul scenes that have sprung up especially since what I call the full on "revival" in 2008/9. Coupled with an equal amount of accurate documentaries and negative aspects such as Strictly Come Dancing and the egg/weetabix adverts on mainstream television and then coupled with the birth of the new Soul Weekenders along with the merchandise, Northern Soul went "mainsteam". Then came Elaine's film on the back of Soul Boy and various books. Some people on here have one foot in the past and One big sore toe and 4 toes in the future. I went to a local do yesterday in a decent large working mens club in Chesterfield, the event focused on The Younghearts Soul Club from Sheffield and featured mainly young soul spinners who have discovered soul music ranging in age from 10yrs to 15 years. One of the girls Willow played a great set of records and it transpired that she already has a regular club booking out Nottingham way. Another 15 year old lad Oliver played a well constucted set of oldies as well as underplayed Northern-his timing and cuing of the records was perfect. Some of the records were hardly mainstream-HeartStoppers " Out Of Your Life", Ronnie and Robyn, Lou Lawton. I made a comment on my FB page along with some videos immediately one of my friends of the old fart genre commented "bet they're not original records" I then said to him - mate give him a chance he's just starting out in Soul Music. The other comments on here about having a bad experience at Kings Hall just made me think try somewhere else, if youre into soul music get to the 100 Club or Bellmans Yard or Dark Horses - you see people into soul eventually find their own way to quality venues some sooner than others. Too many venues on -"yes". Too many all-nighters clashing event dates - "yes" Too many oldies playlists "yes". Too many free city centre MP3 playing bars - "yes" Northern Soul masquerading as RnB? "Yes". You find your own way. Regarding the Turkish bar owners-they can't have been that stupid -they found and enlisted the advice of a real deal soul person to counsel them!. I'm off to Bridlington Soul Weekender in a couple of weeks time for the first time - what kind of soulies will I meet - **** heads and handbaggers or real deal soul people or die-hard doom merchants or younsters getting a foothold onto a scene that has constantly changed since the early 2000's? I  hope this new generation manage to somehow bypass the "elitism" "and snobbery" I have encountered since I moved up North (Sheffield) in 2008. I even managed to get threatened by 2 of the rare soul crowd in 2012 (I had been a Radio Dj/Club DJ way before that) who accused me of playing boots and pressings (I'd never bought a rare soul record in my life before?)  That day I was threatened I felt throughly sickened by some the people I had met in it. However after a break I started going out to different venues usually out of town where you found friendly people. There is a future in Norther Soul but "live and let live", let the young people find their own way hopefully with encouragement and kind words not ridicule. Will we get buried with our records because we spent so long collecting them. Or share the knowledge positively and help new entrants into a dying scene built around quality soul music. I hope so. 

Mick

Sorry to hear you got threatened fella ,but don't let that put you off .you always find bullies and whatever names people call them in this genre stick with it 

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On 03/06/2024 at 09:17, Monny1916 said:

there is a northern night in peterborough called PARKWAY it is as good as anything you will find in the country 

run by great genuine people with quality DJs and guests 

Pity it doesn't  cater for all tastes,  no rare 60's  crossover  or modern  the same person  runs numerous  venues in the area, all with the same djs  playing  the same records.  

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17 minutes ago, Hooker1951 said:

When  I put this topic on a few weeks ago, I thought it would be a little controversial as regards people’s views, it was a open ended question depending of course in your  own personal journey and thoughts about NS, I myself was pretty undecided on what the future holds for NS, Obviously In my mind would want it  to play out the way I thought it should, Well I co promoted an event last Saturday, an all dayer 10 djs 10 hours of Soul, There were less than 100 attended and that was including Dj,s and guests, but in saying that it was a really decent event and everyone who did attend went home happy, However I had a lightbulb experience, the third one in the last couple of years telling me the Scene I loved has gone forever, the energy just isn’t there anymore, I wanted it to be there, probably me being selfish and being in denial, but the fact is like a lot of the replies on here that NS is completely exhausted, worn out and tired in the format that we experienced all those years ago, It will never go away it’s etched in our dna,  It’s lost its mystique over the years thanks to the Internet People can access records today that were harder to find than diamonds 30 years ago, The underground feel that gave it that edge is gone forever, it is now just as mainstream as Country and Western,  it’s been diluted for the masses over the years and commercialised to a point of absurdity, the blame for all this falls on too many factors to start naming them all ,IE, Last weekend In my set I played Tammy Lynn ( My Love) in Turkey 3 weeks ago I heard it at least half a dozen times in 3 different bars, NS has outlasted every other genre of music lasting now 60 years and has brought Happiness , Memories, partners friends together like no other Scene ever did except the dance scene late 80,s early 90,s but it’s outlasted them all , My thoughts are if you like what your doing keep on doing it, But it’s not a crime to realise sometimes that enough is enough.

Best Wishes 

Mick

I totally agree with everything your saying fella,it is totally exhausted maybe we should just call it the soul scene now.having been to many over the yrs and heard some excellent tunes but not so many good venues anymore, it seems like if you have a cafe or shop put some decks in and hey presto a soul club appears but closes due to not enough punters attending. We don't personally look out for ns venues anymore but go to just soul music venues which are numerous and everywhere. But each to there own 

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44 minutes ago, Shinehead said:

It is obvious as we get older the need to go out diminishes too much of a chore after a week at work or in my case endless appointments at the docs etc. 

But I am now happy to get the uptempo music out and play it at home at the weekend with a few cans and in the week I tend to play the more slower stuff and lps etc.

Whatever happens to the scene the music is there for as long as we want it.

And I am eternally grateful for that.

Maybe going to mates or new friends houses playing tunes is the way to go ,watch this space 

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21 hours ago, Speedlimit said:

Pity it doesn't  cater for all tastes,  no rare 60's  crossover  or modern  the same person  runs numerous  venues in the area, all with the same djs  playing  the same records.  

I wouldn't think they are the same records , also a variety of DJs , not sure who you are referring to , but as far as I'm concerned it is a very well run club with a very good attendance, so whoever it is he /she they are doing a fabulous job, 

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1 hour ago, Stephen Houghton said:

Maybe going to mates or new friends houses playing tunes is the way to go ,watch this space 

And you dont even have to have any records.

Just turn on the television go on to you tube and you can listen to any northern soul record no matter how rare that you want to. (not just Northern soul either.

Just a few years ago you would have to go to a friends house who actually owned the record or travel miles to an all nighter where hopefully the named DJ  who had the record would play it. Internet has ruined the scene and will bring about the demise of record collecting.

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30 minutes ago, Tobytyke said:

And you dont even have to have any records.

Just turn on the television go on to you tube and you can listen to any northern soul record no matter how rare that you want to. (not just Northern soul either.

Just a few years ago you would have to go to a friends house who actually owned the record or travel miles to an all nighter where hopefully the named DJ  who had the record would play it. Internet has ruined the scene and will bring about the demise of record collecting.

I think the collecting side of things will carry on and on the genuine rare and great records competition will be just as fierce as it always has been.

 

i’m not so sure people will be as bothered about playing their records in venues.

This is a shame as for me hearing rare records and knowing how hard a collector has worked to build a collection is what makes the scene special.

 

Edited by Dylan
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2 hours ago, Monny1916 said:

I wouldn't think they are the same records , also a variety of DJs , not sure who you are referring to , but as far as I'm concerned it is a very well run club with a very good attendance, so whoever it is he /she they are doing a fabulous job, 

The way I look at it is, if you like rare and underplayed go to a venue that only play rare and underplayed, if you like modern go to a club that plays modern if you like xover etc etc simple, 

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sinners,bletsoe,torch,va va , wigan, sams, cleethorpes,st ives ,Wirrina, alist is never ending ,a good buzz then...

now its completely gone wake up  no need for an essay ....lucky to have been there

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On 01/06/2024 at 15:03, Smartzie said:

A record played at home usually sounds unrecognisable from the same monster sound at a do.

That's a major reason to go to a do. 

 

Or alternatively you can buy  couple of 3000 watt DAS audio speakers and put them in the house in your record room IMG_1074.thumb.jpeg.dab3aa00f50ecf270396330e564436fa.jpeg 😂

this set up ensures  ear blowing sounds in the comfort of your record room 👍

What’s not to like !!!!

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Meanwhile whilst we are all gnashing our teeth and moaning the Out on the floor okey cokey baggy brigade are having a great time keeping the faith. "Oi mate you got the snake?" 

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1 hour ago, Mark S said:

Meanwhile whilst we are all gnashing our teeth and moaning the Out on the floor okey cokey baggy brigade are having a great time keeping the faith. "Oi mate you got the snake?" 

I haven’t the answers 

I just love collecting things I like

I’m from a mod point of view 

to me if I like it, it’s Mod 

I  won’t stop collecting records , I collect Jamaican 60s and also boogaloo things, along with  soul and rnb   but also British mod and soul things 

Everything I like is mod

and if it isn’t mod if I like it becomes mod 

I couldn’t give a shit  

bury me a mod 

IMG_1076.thumb.jpeg.767403ac75ca3e8e4ee8a75bc9342cb9.jpeg

 

 

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15 hours ago, Mark S said:

Meanwhile whilst we are all gnashing our teeth and moaning the Out on the floor okey cokey baggy brigade are having a great time keeping the faith. "Oi mate you got the snake?" 

There's a lot of truth in that Sarge.

I genuinely envy those who really don't care about the music format/policy, the facilities (no dance floor etc), and think they have it all - often local events round the corner and no travelling involved unless it's once a year to 'insert major mainstream event here', they can enjoy themselves and have a party with like minded souls anywhere at any time.

It's not for me, although I see the appeal -for people our age it's a safe space of familiar music with (usually) people the same age, often in a social club where bar prices are low enough to make it worth going out.

 

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On 14/06/2024 at 10:43, Hooker1951 said:

 Well I co promoted an event last Saturday, an all dayer 10 djs 10 hours of Soul, There were less than 100 attended and that was including Dj,s and guests, but in saying that it was a really decent event and everyone who did attend went home happy.

Well you were running up against the best all-niter in the country and argueably the biggest oldies bash over in Stoke. ( not to mention a myriad of pissant little events )

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18 hours ago, Mithras said:

sinners,bletsoe,torch,va va , wigan, sams, cleethorpes,st ives ,Wirrina, alist is never ending ,a good buzz then...

now its completely gone wake up  no need for an essay ....lucky to have been there

Bletsoe reunion on 6th July , in Bletsoe, Dave Crawley has been running it for a few years now, most original DJs and attendees, and very well attended 

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2 hours ago, Steve G said:

Yet not a mention of the 100 Club bar an "etc" ... :huh:

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4 hours ago, Shaafi P said:

That was from our first anniversary, it was absolutely crammed shoulder to shoulder most of the night.  We have an all nighter (9-6) this saturday. It shouldn’t be as busy as that vid, though I’m really looking forward to it !

Good to see

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50 minutes ago, Shaafi P said:

Totally agree. However the only people speaking on it had me and rhys not, would’ve been people that aren’t on the scene at all, don’t support other proper venues, and some neek from tiktok talking about trousers. And it would’ve looked even more tragic. As these folk are so desperate for attention, glory and money. They will say yes to any bullsh*t publication as it keeps the spotlight on them all the time 😂

That's the thing, I know you're sincere but with many the ego gets in the way. Our strength is we, never me!

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8 hours ago, Martyn Pitt said:

Think I have seen some recent footage of a soul night full of youngsters in Peckham .. here you go

Excellent. Thanks for posting. I wish the promotors every success

Edited by Steve G
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Well, I agree with Frankie. Good luck to the youngsters. Let them get on with it.

But us old duffers need to keep away.

 I personally think that it’s just the latest craze for them. But I hope I’m wrong.

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5 hours ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Great to see a young crowd out enjoying themselves. Good music and some dancers who know their stuff. The clip answers one of the questions currently posed on Soul-Source - this is the future, a dedicated promoter, appreciative audience, suitable venue and plenty to drink. No pensioners in evidence, so young deejays and dancers can relax without concerns for dress-code, dance-floor code, OVO etc. The music will endure for ever at places like this. Grass-roots venues catering for mainly locals will draw others in from afar given a chance to succeed. Well done Peckham for flying the flag…

Totally agree; this is a great night run by top people who love the music every bit as much as the most devout ‘old’ soul fans. It’s the only way to keep the best music ever made alive and it’s the natural order of things. Just good people having a great time to great records. 

Edited by Corbett80
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2 hours ago, Kenb said:

i know it's just one tiny clip, but if Spring Rain is where it's heading good for them, but they can keep it to themselves.

Hi Ken ... there are plenty of other clips with a variety of music 60s 70s etc, basically soul music to dance to, I just posted the first one I found. At my age I am just glad I managed to get the pretty moving picture from one place to another 😄.

I am envious in so much that to many of them these are "new" tunes they are hearing for the first time, it takes me back to 74 / 75 hearing stuff for the first time for me, I hope that they can keep it going, they seem to be having fun and enjoying themselves.

 

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3 hours ago, Kenb said:

i know it's just one tiny clip, but if Spring Rain is where it's heading good for them, but they can keep it to themselves.

Plenty of playlists posted from the night if you have a dig about. 

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