!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 yesterday 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 8 hours ago 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 yesterday 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...