All nighter scene 'up north'

[Steviehay]

Just had a quick browse through events,Manchester once the king of northern soul all nighters has but one ( and that's a mini one) I live here so I do know the scene etc in the area,where has it all gone we still have venues but upto April we only have one going on has the abroad weekenders, seaside resort weekenders  or just the grab an anyway event day killed it off??? I seriously doubt it  if you look further afield there's an abundance on so where has it all gone pete Tonge?? 

[Dobber]

Keele..and the reopen of top of the world,and Blackpool tower is pretty healthy,how regular it is is another matter! I personally couldn’t do numerous allnighters anyway,as a kid it was every week

[Mike]

there's a dynamic list of the 100 next nighters from the source guide here

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/articles/event-news/niters-2025-the-next-100-soul-nighters-r5187/

may help the discussion

 

[Thinksmart]

There are events outside Manchester locally, so people don't travel into the city so much for Soul now which combine with the bigger national events Dobber mentions. Some of my work is around Chorley, Leyland, Clitheroe etc area and there's a healthy range of local events around there. 

Manchester has the next Ritz Revival at Easter: 

https://soulvation.company.site/MANCHESTER-RITZ-50th-ANNIVERSARY-April-20th-2025-ticket-£20-£1-booking-fee-p511094547

Edited January 14 by Thinksmart

[Wiganer1]

Had to finish my allniter in Nuneaton after 13 years recently due to overhead s and not enough people staying til 6am to warrant being out all weekend to sort 

COVID destroyed all the dynamics of the niter scene along with soulies passing away just not enough travelling these days

All the medium to large Venues have all struggled.. since lockdown 

Folk seem to want the small tiny room these days along the more funky soul sounds these days not for me those big dancefloor s packed the rafters always did.it for me

I always thought allniter s would be here forever - here's hoping 

Edited January 14 by Wiganer1

[Professorturnups]

We used to travel from Norwich to Bury Town Hall. There was usually a half decent crowd in with lots travelling from the south and Midlands. It was noted on more than one occasion how many locals weren't in attendance.

Mark C

[Professorturnups]

1 hour ago, Mike said:

there's a dynamic list of the 100 next nighters from the source guide here

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/articles/event-news/niters-2025-the-next-100-soul-nighters-r5187/

may help the discussion

 

That's an All dayer

1 hour ago, Mike said:

there's a dynamic list of the 100 next nighters from the source guide here

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/articles/event-news/niters-2025-the-next-100-soul-nighters-r5187/

may help the discussion

 

That's an All dayer. Sorry thud was meant to be posted under the Ritz info.

[Clee93]

Usually constant rising overheads and difficulties with the venues.

[Soulandy]

Swinton closed with the last niter in December, due to the venue being turned into apartments upstairs. I think that was the last true all niter in Manchester to date. We're all getting on a bit now mate to stay out till 6/8am, well I am, although I still like going to a niter when I can.  The last couple of times I went to swinton last year wasn't the best attended which was a shame but it was held downstairs which it's a big room to fill, as opposed to the smaller upstairs room. Keele on Saturday just gone, wasnt as busy as the last couple of January's either, but still enjoyable,  maybe the weather had something to do with that one. Hope you're well mate  

Edited January 14 by Soulandy

[Stephen Houghton]

Gone are the days like the carousel in Plymouth Grove Manchester and age creeps in (wish it didn't)

[Hooker1951]

5 hours ago, Steviehay said:

Just had a quick browse through events,Manchester once the king of northern soul all nighters has but one ( and that's a mini one) I live here so I do know the scene etc in the area,where has it all gone we still have venues but upto April we only have one going on has the abroad weekenders, seaside resort weekenders  or just the grab an anyway event day killed it off??? I seriously doubt it  if you look further afield there's an abundance on so where has it all gone pete Tonge?? 

Hi Stevie

its not just the NS all niter scene that’s crumbling the Night time economy of the last 60 years is crumbling, empty venues, empty night clubs , empty pubs, with our scene we’ve got the excuse in a lot of cases of getting old, not taking has many chemicals , bad health or failing health , Seen it done it been there, different priorities like looking after your health and living hopefully a bit longer L ol’, these problems on their own would be enough , add on just more of the same and you’ve got a mountain to climb before you’ve gone through the front door, Memories might be all we have soon, So don’t go losing your memory are you really will be in Shit street, LOL,

ML

[Soulandy]

Might sum us up

[Geeselad]

Blame Burnham! And that arse hole of nighttime czar. Central Manchester at least hasn't the nightlife it once had, loads of venues have closed and clubbing has become more corporate. Room at the top, still seems to thrive though and credit to Jordan and crew involved. 

Id noted recently with the suspected Demise of the batcave, again, keele or the Gathering are now the most northerly all nighters! Both in stoke! Hardly Carlisle! Sad that the north  seems to have nothing allnight in lancs or Yorkshire. 

Edited January 14 by Geeselad

[Steviehay]

some interesting anecdotes there guys,geeselad bang on m8,i drove through what as the curry mile a while back not one curry shop open all kebab houses now,so a lot of venues gone ritz is a fortress now not like the old days and night clubs what happened at least we do have the ritz revival but its not the same cheers all for adding your pennies worth  

[Timbo58]

19 hours ago, Geeselad said:

Blame Burnham! And that arse hole of nighttime czar. Central Manchester at least hasn't the nightlife it once had, loads of venues have closed and clubbing has become more corporate. Room at the top, still seems to thrive though and credit to Jordan and crew involved. 

Id noted recently with the suspected Demise of the batcave, again, keele or the Gathering are now the most northerly all nighters! Both in stoke! Hardly Carlisle! Sad that the north  seems to have nothing allnight in lancs or Yorkshire. 

Someone needs to buy the Brighouse Ritz which is still for sale -sad thing is after the £650k asking price it'd need another £1m at least to put it back in usable condition. A travesty, every time we're up there we weep at the state of it.

Edited January 15 by Timbo58

[Steviehay]

i thought on the same lines of buying a venue just for northern soul through the day meeting/cafe etc and twice weekly soul gigs but i think id be throwing my money away costs to run etc 

[Geeselad]

3 hours ago, Steviehay said:

some interesting anecdotes there guys,geeselad bang on m8,i drove through what as the curry mile a while back not one curry shop open all kebab houses now,so a lot of venues gone ritz is a fortress now not like the old days and night clubs what happened at least we do have the ritz revival but its not the same cheers all for adding your pennies worth  

Went the curry mile a few weeks back, zivza, was the best place. Still.a few good curry houses

[Agentsmith]

We're all older, whether we like it or not and if our interest in niters is curbed or diminshed, it's no wonder....i think the scene for us in general now, is coming full circle and a good many are content to attended soul nites, or even afternoons midweek...which points to the fact retirement age has been reach by a broad spectrum of the soul scene and those folks see it as a more comfortable setting, no rush to get home in the dark...they can even jump on the bus!. Soul nites by and large, never really lost their popularity, even when we were opinionated enough to say they were....we were saying that with the advent of weekenders and foreign week long excursions. Of course the latter has prevailed big style....but when folks come home, it's more than likely the preference is for a soul night, as opposed to the thought of trying to last out to 6am....like all the cricket formats....the traditional 3 day game has suffered because of 2020 and odi.

Niters just won't pull enough folk, there's loads of strands to the arguement. In defence, it's always been an outlet for a goodly amount of djs to get on the same bill at the same time.

My preference for a proper thought out soul night, is a promoter who offers everyone a chance to dj. Most soul nites consist of 2 rooms anyway, there's no need for a whole bunch of residents, the whole idea of keeping the formats fresh is to line up a conveyor belt of guests, with their own individual record collections, which guarantees something different from everyone, and keeps punters interested whereby, theyre not hearing the same ole trotted out consistantly.

[Chalky]

The quality of the music was my main motivation and with no new records, records I've heard for decades (and that includes the so called upfront scene) and too much second rate hard edged/funky stuff that wasn't good enough first time round then I don't care that much for stopping up all night.  I can get better at a soul night than I heard at my last all-nighter.  My job isn't best suited to stopping up all night and being knackered and unfit for work on the Monday.  Many who go to niters don't seem to work. 

[Agentsmith]

6 minutes ago, Chalky said:

The quality of the music was my main motivation and with no new records, records I've heard for decades (and that includes the so called upfront scene) and too much second rate hard edged/funky stuff that wasn't good enough first time round then I don't care that much for stopping up all night.  I can get better at a soul night than I heard at my last all-nighter.  My job isn't best suited to stopping up all night and being knackered and unfit for work on the Monday.  Many who go to niters don't seem to work. 

Yeah, there's probably that as well...being retired affords that situation for those who still want to do nighters....affording them is another thing, i suppose you could say in some cases it's cheaper than some soul nights....if you can pace yourself, still relatively fit  and won't mind sunday being a wipe out, then ok

[Peter99]

Probably controversial but there is no escaping the fact that amphetamine drove most of the big all niters in days gone by. Whilst still some imbibe said substance not too many do due to age and health - although I do know some 60/70 year olds that still partake.

The younger Bristol scene seems to be thriving and I'm only guessing that amphetamine doesn't drive that like the old days. It appears, and I could be totally wrong, but the young uns are doing what we couldn't, or at least wouldn't.

Just pure energy and youth? 

Any views?

Peter  

Edited January 15 by Peter99

[Chalky]

20 hours ago, Agentsmith said:

Yeah, there's probably that as well...being retired affords that situation for those who still want to do nighters....affording them is another thing, i suppose you could say in some cases it's cheaper than some soul nights....if you can pace yourself, still relatively fit  and won't mind sunday being a wipe out, then ok

Some of those older folk leaving niters used to look like they had been dug up.  
With lockdown forced upon us I much preferred being healthy and not taking all week to get over the weekend.

[Mark B]

On 15/01/2025 at 14:27, Steviehay said:

i thought on the same lines of buying a venue just for northern soul through the day meeting/cafe etc and twice weekly soul gigs but i think id be throwing my money away costs to 

 

Edited January 23 by Mark B
Wrong post

[Paulb]

Look at what was happening in Manchester 10-12 years ago. There were a few really good nighters, CIS / Middleton, Twisted Wheel, plus some really ace soul nights like Greatstone, Different Strokes, A Taste of Honey. There was a decent mod presence with Hideaway and No Way Out, loads of bar gigs with the likes of Steve Cato, Dave Rippolles, Big George, Adam Leaver, Gumbo, plus loads of my pals doing our own thing. There was SO much going on, it was an amazing time.

The City had its own mini scene that meant every weekend something was on. It was an exciting time, everyone supported each other's nights and people from further afield could travel up for the weekend knowing they could get to 3 or 4 quality events. 

Once the nighters stopped, that was a big reason the rest started drying up, in my opinion. Isolated events aren't enough to create a local scene. That was a special time and it won't be repeated again, unfortunately. 

We were the young guns in our 20's and 30's that attended all the nights. Now we're all grown up with kids. There isn't the strength of that exciting scene to engage a younger, dedicated crowd that buys into and maintains the ethos of the scene. It's now a confusing space where influencers are taking over and the nights I've been too barely excite me, let alone a new generation.

I remember walking into the CIS all nighter when I was 21 and it blew me away. Packed, dark, pounding music, cool crowd, it changed my life. I don't feel that magic is there anymore, and maybe that's ok. Everything has a shelf life.

[Stephen Houghton]

It's still a brilliant scene .when you hear the tunes wherever you hear them your front room or club still does it for me 

[Steviehay]

On 14/01/2025 at 18:13, Soulandy said:

Swinton closed with the last niter in December, due to the venue being turned into apartments upstairs. I think that was the last true all niter in Manchester to date. We're all getting on a bit now mate to stay out till 6/8am, well I am, although I still like going to a niter when I can.  The last couple of times I went to swinton last year wasn't the best attended which was a shame but it was held downstairs which it's a big room to fill, as opposed to the smaller upstairs room. Keele on Saturday just gone, wasnt as busy as the last couple of January's either, but still enjoyable,  maybe the weather had something to do with that one. Hope you're well mate  

Yeah with you on All of that Andy I'm fine too thanks you need to pick these bottle tops up •° 

[Steviehay]

Cheers for all comments it is what it is as mark said ( I was fortunate to dj for him once at his venue ) he has been doing it for years now I see another in his area appearing in April???  Manchester is now full of Wednesday bring your own knitting events sorry to the people that run them  it's not slaghing you off but would 1 event a month not be enough to fill your ego ?? Once again thanks to all 

[Paul Shirley]

Costs and not enough people to cover the bother in doing it . or more recent ones would have kept going , I have been saying same thing a few years ago, it’s finished it’s run it’s course , I mean your never gonna get them big numbers anymore to a certain extent, apart from ones run by business people who’s venues I wouldn’t go near , I looked in to a big place in Manchester that’s had nighters there off and on for years , the costs were ridiculous couldn’t care less now but if there was one within 25 miles  might be tempted for a few late hours .but old age and health plays a big part as well , because those people I would say Were the life blood for many years most are f… now including myself 

Edited Friday at 21:33 by Paul Shirley

[Quinvy]

Some diehards are clinging onto a scene that, as Paul said, has run its course.

It’s definitely a social thing these days. You can dress it up all you want, by playing different styles of music etc. But 99.9% of northern, for want of another word, has been played and replayed since the late sixties.

But there’s no getting away from the one overwhelming reason for the decline in all-nighters, and not just in Manchester either. The age of the demographic, i.e. us.

I reckon there will always be some kind of “scene” going on. The music is simply too good not to be loved by future generations.

But it was a scene created from a period in time. And that will never be repeated again.

[Mithras]

Quite right,70+ best place is in the sun off next week,booked my scooter

[washlively]

Up north for me it was all over after the Rarest Of The Rare allnighters at the Ritz. It was a fabulous and historically great northern venue. With the crème del a crème of DJ’s and sounds. No funk and no work around sounds just the best of the best proper northern soul. Great crowd and lots of records for sale and even the bar was open! After that in my opinion nothing touched it up north.

[Smartzie]

As teenagers early 70s we were learning to dance to amazing soul records whose titles we could only guess and could only hear at the do. We copied the moves off the best.

We didn't have alcohol to caress. We were hungry for dancing.

Nowadays we still attend the soul nights, indeed dj-ing when asked, but now nights are fewer. And there's alcohol to distract.

My knees are beginning to moan at me when l crouch to fill the woodburner affecting dancing.

Any record you could wish to hear is on youtube or internet radio shows, of which I do two.

Covid and lockdown certainly changed the social world. 

The Northern Soul movie ten years ago sparked a revival with a new generation but, as with us in the 70s, they are now couples moving on with their lives.

Ktf... the music will last forever coz it's amazing. There's always someone with amazing energy who will save it. 

AM 

 

 

 

[Peter99]

Evening All

I don't want to make a big issue out of this because I already made reference to it in a previous post; but. 

I am surprised at the very few references to the fact that one of the biggest drivers of the all niter scene back in the day was amphetamine, and almost everyone I knew used it. Most just recreationally, and limited to the attendance at all niters and all dayers, but for some it became more of a habit, and with it the consequences of a more regular desire and or need. 

I get the impression that a significant number of people, for many reasons, and which are non of my business, have very selective memories, and prefer to totally overlook the important role that drugs had in driving the scene when we were younger/youngsters.

It is an inescapable fact that without amphetamine the all niter/all dayer scene would have been totally different - unrecognisable from what it actually was. The issue cannot be white washed from the history of the northern soul scene, and it's importance cannot be overstated.

I'm sure not everyone will be comfortable with my post, and of course as I have eluded to, there were exceptions to the rule and not everyone used. But, the vast majority did.

Evening all.

Peter

 

Edited 12 hours ago by Peter99

[NSDancer]

4 hours ago, washlively said:

Up north for me it was all over after the Rarest Of The Rare allnighters at the Ritz. It was a fabulous and historically great northern venue. With the crème del a crème of DJ’s and sounds. No funk and no work around sounds just the best of the best proper northern soul. Great crowd and lots of records for sale and even the bar was open! After that in my opinion nothing touched it up north.

I only ever attended one of the Ritz Rarest of the Rare Allnighters. It was Easter Weekend 1999(? I think). Fantastic Music, Great Atmosphere  & that dance floor is 1 st class . Excellent Niter . Looking forward to the Alldayer in April. Yes I know it's not a Niter, but the combination of that place & Northern Soul is just Magic=0)!!!!!!!!!!

[Woodbutcher]

6 hours ago, NSDancer said:

 Looking forward to the Alldayer in April. Yes I know it's not a Niter, but the combination of that place & Northern Soul is just Magic=0)!!!!!!!!!!

Apart from the part where it's at New Century not the Ritz.

[NSDancer]

8 hours ago, Peter99 said:

Evening All

I don't want to make a big issue out of this because I already made reference to it in a previous post; but. 

I am surprised at the very few references to the fact that one of the biggest drivers of the all niter scene back in the day was amphetamine, and almost everyone I knew used it. Most just recreationally, and limited to the attendance at all niters and all dayers, but for some it became more of a habit, and with it the consequences of a more regular desire and or need. 

I get the impression that a significant number of people, for many reasons, and which are non of my business, have very selective memories, and prefer to totally overlook the important role that drugs had in driving the scene when we were younger/youngsters.

It is an inescapable fact that without amphetamine the all niter/all dayer scene would have been totally different - unrecognisable from what it actually was. The issue cannot be white washed from the history of the northern soul scene, and it's importance cannot be overstated.

I'm sure not everyone will be comfortable with my post, and of course as I have eluded to, there were exceptions to the rule and not everyone used. But, the vast majority did.

Evening all.

Peter

 

Thank you for bringing this up Pete. I feel it's a potentially difficult  to talk about drug use whether it's past or present because it's demonized in 'our' society to use illegal substances or indeed some legal substances/ prescription drugs for example Dexedrine( I guessing that's not made any more but I couldn't think of another one off the top of my head). Therefore it can make it difficult to talk about. There's no doubt that drugs both legal & illegal have had a profound effect on many 'Music Cultures'. an obvious example is LSD in the sixties, which I believe was legal up until 1964 (?) in the USA....                                      Mods in the sixties used some form of amphetamine( pep pills, purple hearts ,black bombers etc) at all night clubs. Northern grew out of the Mod culture. Northern Soul & Amphetamine go together like a hand in a glove. Speed gives you energy, focus & at times feelings of Euphoria. Ideal for Northern Soul. The potential problem is you cannot take 'Speed' every week for decades without a negative impact on your 'HEALTH'. Although there's always exception to the rule. Some of 'us' are just made of different stuff-'cast iron constitution/s '                                                                                                                                                        For me personally if you don't have your HEALTH you don't have nothing. Without trying to sound patronising if you don't feel well your not going to want to go to an niter, dayer or Soul nite; even if you did go out it would be hard to enjoy it.                                                                                                                                      Please Note in no way, shape or form I am telling people what they should or should not do.                               I agree a lot with others have stated that to put it crudely the aging process impacts on your energy & stamina. Something you need if you want to enjoy an niter without  chemical assistance.  Then there's the recovery period . Even without doing speed or whatever it takes a longer time to recover from an niter.

[Chalky]

All-nighters are a young persons game.  Ever stopped to think why we have lost so many friends so young? Someone is leaving us on a weekly basis way before their time and it can’t simply be coincidence, the lifestyle we chose has to be a contributing factor.  As Peter said drugs were the driving force of the scene and for many still are.  
 

As has been said the age of many of us probably the biggest reason for the demise of the niter scene.  Also there is no youth, or very little  yes there are a few hot spots but I dare say the vast majority in those hotspots aren’t really into the scene and very few will stay the course.  The niter scene isn’t healthy with one promoter dominating the scene utilising the same Djs with playlists that rarely change.  Large venues that by 3am look pretty sparse attendance wise. Some enjoy it still and good on em but not for me.  

I prefer to be healthy and do other things these days. I can get what I want musically and socially at a soul night and still enjoy the rest of my weekend/week.

[NSDancer]

5 minutes ago, Woodbutcher said:

Apart from the part where it's at New Century not the Ritz.

My mistake ...Thanks for pointing that out. I doubt very much they got a sprung dance like the Ritz? Anyone been there before? What's the dance floor like? Any info greatly appreciated=0)