!960's UK Mod / Soul Clubs

[Roburt]

As the 1960's London Mod / Soul Clubs thread has seen renewed action recently, thought I'd post up this related thread. Some local soul clubs grew in stature & went on to become famous soul venues (the Place, Hanley for instance), others were known of because live soul recordings were made there (Birdcage, Portsmouth, Bolton Casino, Nite Owl, Leicester, etc). Some hosted R&B / soul nights in the 60's / 70's and have returned to the spotlight due to more recent events staged there (Brid Spa). But many have just slipped away in the mists of time. Never to be written about like the Wheel, Casino, Blackpool Mecca, etc. Some local clubs did become iconic to the crowds who attended their soul nights and so have registered in print (the Broken Wheel, Retford, California Ballroom, Dunstable; Gliderdrome, Boston & more).

But venues such as the Skyline & Gondola, Hull; the Boulevard, Tadcaster; Plebeians, Halifax; Attic, Doncaster; Clouds., Derby; Assembly Hall, Aylesbury; Central R&B Club Gillingham and numerous other soul clubs are all but forgotten these days. Even some clubs that staged niters seem to get little attention these days -- Va Va's Bolton, Chateau Impney, Droitwich & Up The Junction, Crewe being amongst these. 

It would be good for folk on here to make mention of the venues that meant a good deal to some back in the day in places such as Birmingham, Northampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Grimsby, Liverpool, Newcastle (the Club A GoGo being the only one there with a profile) & any in Scotland.

 

[Roburt]

This place has a decent profile these days due to the NS weekenders staged there.

It was also a popular venue with mods / R&B and soul fans back in the 60's ... 

[Roburt]

In passing, just noticed that a UK beat group seemed to be getting some high profile gigs back in the mid to late 60's -- at soul venues such as the Gliderdrome, Boston (alongside Otis Redding) and with the Orlons & Bluesology (Elton John's outfit) at Aylesbury Assembly Hall. 

Never came across them myself at a live gig and their 45's never registered on my radar (though they do seem to have loads of fans out there) ... 

 

Edited Monday at 10:29 by Roburt

[Jessie Pinkman]

The main club for rare soul in Bolton was The Cromwellian Club (The Crom), The small upstairs room was were all the rare soul was played like Mickey Lee Lane, Mitch Rider "Breakout" Bobby Freeman "I'll never fall in love again" The Prophets "I got the fever" etc. The main DJ was Phil Coventry, rumour had it he didn't even have a record player at home to play all of his top sounds on. I can't remember what night of the week was best but it had quite a good reputation for all of the Bolton & Farnworth soul lads and lasses. 

Edited Tuesday at 12:30 by Jessie Pinkman

[Kathryn Magson]

I was at The Twisted Wheel most weekends from 1966-70 & saw some brilliant bands there - way too many to list them all! The Drifters. Junior Walker, Ike & Tina, Root & Jenny Jackson,  Oscar Tony Jr, Jimmy James, J.J. Jackson, Jimmy Ruffin, Jamo Thomas, Bandwagon, Flamingos..........that's just off the top of my head - I could go on forever! I tried a few other clubs - Golden Disc in Keighley - Plebs in Halifax - Birdtrap in Burnley - String o Beads in Bradford to name just a few - but the Wheel was always favourite.

Happy days - we didn't realise at the time just how lucky we were!

Edited Monday at 15:14 by Kathryn Magson

[Roburt]

Nottingham was quite unusual back then as it had around 5 soul venues, all going at the same time (mid to late 60's). There was the Beachcomber, the Dungeon (that has it's own Facebook group I believe), the Boat Club, the Britannia Rowing Club and the Palais. In addition to their local clubs, the Notts crowd used to travel to attend allniters in Sheffield, Leicester & Manchester. 

[Zoomsoulblue]

notice Mike Morton - Which did “these things will keep me loving you” - which was covered up as the blue sharks / Soul Sam 76 ish - St Ives All-nighters 
 

 

[Hooker1951]

I’ve mentioned this one before we had a club in Wigan Room at the Top opened in 1964 a good RnB and mod club ran regular weekly Saturday all nighters from 1965 till 1969, 8pm till 8 am,the crowd there were from Wigan St Helens , n Liverpool I was a regular there from 65 till 68, Geno Washington n the Ram jam band were frequent guest band there in 67 to 68, great memories of great times, 

cheers Mick L

[Rick Cooper]

For those who haven't already seen this great video of Plebs , Halifax 1967. They seem to be having a good time especially the girl at 1min 17 secs. Anyone go there or know anyone in the clip?

 

 

 

 

[Dylan]

42 minutes ago, Rick Cooper said:

For those who haven't already seen this great video of Plebs , Halifax 1967. They seem to be having a good time especially the girl at 1min 17 secs. Anyone go there or know anyone in the clip?

 

 

 

 

The quality of that film is excellent I’ve seen far worse footage from the 90s.  

[Kathryn Magson]

43 minutes ago, Rick Cooper said:

For those who haven't already seen this great video of Plebs , Halifax 1967. They seem to be having a good time especially the girl at 1min 17 secs. Anyone go there or know anyone in the clip?

 

 

 

 

I went there a few times but mostly went to The Wheel. Can't see any faces I recognise but it was SO many years ago! You're right Rick - they all do look to be having a good time...some big eyes there...

[STEFAN BURLAK]

I used to go to 'The Broken Wheel' at Retford, big carpark outside and up an outside staircase to the door. Brillo atmosphere, wooden floor with large stage at the far end.  It must have been 1969/70 when I went, had great all dayers on Sunday's.  Basic Soul/Motown music but well attended.

[STEFAN BURLAK]

My Big Brother told me how he went to see the Who at ' Bridlington Spa' in the 60's.

Keith Moon went into a 'manic' drum solo, eventually collapsed and fell onto the drum kit, they carried him off and played  on without him.  

[Nsdancer]

On 17/02/2025 at 10:03, Roburt said:

As the 1960's London Mod / Soul Clubs thread has seen renewed action recently, thought I'd post up this related thread. Some local soul clubs grew in stature & went on to become famous soul venues (the Place, Hanley for instance), others were known of because live soul recordings were made there (Birdcage, Portsmouth, Bolton Casino, Nite Owl, Leicester, etc). Some hosted R&B / soul nights in the 60's / 70's and have returned to the spotlight due to more recent events staged there (Brid Spa). But many have just slipped away in the mists of time. Never to be written about like the Wheel, Casino, Blackpool Mecca, etc. Some local clubs did become iconic to the crowds who attended their soul nights and so have registered in print (the Broken Wheel, Retford, California Ballroom, Dunstable; Gliderdrome, Boston & more).

But venues such as the Skyline & Gondola, Hull; the Boulevard, Tadcaster; Plebeians, Halifax; Attic, Doncaster; Clouds., Derby; Assembly Hall, Aylesbury; Central R&B Club Gillingham and numerous other soul clubs are all but forgotten these days. Even some clubs that staged niters seem to get little attention these days -- Va Va's Bolton, Chateau Impney, Droitwich & Up The Junction, Crewe being amongst these. 

It would be good for folk on here to make mention of the venues that meant a good deal to some back in the day in places such as Birmingham, Northampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Grimsby, Liverpool, Newcastle (the Club A GoGo being the only one there with a profile) & any in Scotland.

 

Enjoyed reading your 'write up' about forgotten Mod & Soul Nights . Love hearing about these places & the history behind them. The pictures/newspaper/magazine cuttings are great as well, adding a bit more dimension to your 'piece' . Thank you for sharing =0)

[Nsdancer]

6 hours ago, Rick Cooper said:

For those who haven't already seen this great video of Plebs , Halifax 1967. They seem to be having a good time especially the girl at 1min 17 secs. Anyone go there or know anyone in the clip?

 

 

 

 

Nice clip thanks for sharing=0)

[Roburt]

7 hours ago, STEFAN BURLAK said:

My Big Brother told me how he went to see the Who at ' Bridlington Spa' in the 60's.

The wife was from Hull & she used to hitch up to Brid to see the likes of the Who, Small Faces & Spencer Davis Group @ the Spa ... but later in the 60's, they used to book US soul groups to play the venue. The Mandrakes were on there a lot too (they were from Scarboro), at that time Robert Palmer was their lead singer (ahead of him joining Alan Bown).

Edited 21 hours ago by Roburt

[Nsdancer]

Wow!!!!!!! What Glorious times where to be had in the sixties. I would have LOVED to see some of the bands you mentioned back in the day... Magic=0)

3 hours ago, Roburt said:

The wife was from Hull & she used to hitch up to Brid to see the likes of the Who, Small Faces & Spencer Davis Group @ the Spa ... but later in the 60's, they used to book US soul groups to play the venue. The Mandrakes were on there a lot too (they were from Scarboro), at that time Robert Palmer was their lead singer (ahead of him joining Alan Bown).

 

[Tykebike]

Who could forget the King Mojo in Sheffield?

Another less well remembered one was Club 67 in Burton on Trent.

[Tykebike]

One of Stringfellow's clubs that I almost forgot, Down Broadway but I'll never forget seeing Billy "Fat Boy" Stewart there.

[Rick Cooper]

In 1966 Stockport the place to be seen at was The Tabernacle Club. Opened in January 66 in a former church close to the police station and opposite what used to be Strawberry Studios. I was too young to go then but from online chat it sounds like it was a busy little club that many people remember fondly. 

Lots of live acts appeared there including most famously, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and The Riot Squad (incl David Bowie). Soul acts mentioned are Edwin Starr, Jimmy Cliff, Bobby Hebb, Jimmy Ruffin, The Fantastics and The Showstoppers. Another site lists Sly and The Family Stone, The Temptations and The Impressions, not sure about these, although the last two were probably fake versions. The music played was mentioned as being RnB and soul.

In 1968/69 it was sold to a new owner who named it Sgt Peppers with a change of music featured. I went to see Johnny Johnson and The Bandwagon there but whatever music the DJ played was completely forgettable.