Modern Rooms

[Guest Bearsy]

to be honest, i have not been to a proper modern soul event that just specialises in modern soul just into rooms at northern events, i suppose the standard of the music would be obviously different and a lot higher but im still not convinced its for me but i do like some and also i must admit im starting to warm to it a bit more,

maybe a bit like nothern soul rooms at scooter rallies, some real good Djs but not playing some of their top tuneage as it might be falling on deaf ears of the un educated (sorry about that last word but i didnt know of another i could best describe many of the scootering northern soul fans) Helen your like me and sometimes wish they would play some better tunes but have to play to the majority and that means the overplayed tunes, so maybe thats similar to the modern rooms at northern events, who knows but maybe a reason why modern soulies dont do the northrn soul modern rooms

Simon you siad you would do me a CD

[Steve G]

Yep your right Paul ..letters in Blackbeat .. "That modern soul Sam plays , its shit "

Oh fun times. Point is at the time those records were modern (i.e. les than 5 years old). They were even controversial then

[Steve G]

You should come to Soul-essence helen , everyones there Sutty , Clarkie , Butch , Andy Dyson

only about 2 60's records played last time though

Tosh man- more 60s than that. Flanny did an hour of them and I played at least 3

[Daved]

They used to be very busy - at least the ones I went to were - Bretby, Winsford, King's Hall Stoke. The music policy was about 85% new/recent releases and they rocked. (Bretby had a separate crossover room sometimes). I think the problem is nowdays that modern covers so many different genres and the rooms attached to northern soul events tend to lean more on the older stuff. This makes the room not significantly different from the main room, which is embracing more 70s these days. If promotors are going to have a modern room, they should be more bold and adventerous. They might even find that they attract different folk. There's loads of them in the south east, who have no northern soul history, who would love to go to that kind of do and enjoy the northern too.

[Tomangoes]

no need to take offence, ok then since you asked LOL modern rooms tacked onto a northern room will be empty, generally. the northern scene is a noose around the neck of modern soul. nothing wrong with the northern scene in the uk, or the great 60's music often played, but as long as you try and tell people its a 'progression' from 60's, you're on a loser. its not progression, it's something else entirely. wanna get more people in? forget appealing to the 60's scene who are happy thanks with their own era of music, and try and advertise and pull people who don't care if it's on a rare acetate they bought for £800 or a fridge magnet, like other music apart from soul, such as funk, latin, house, etc. and play what is termed as modern soul be it 70's or new or inbetween. alternatively carry on having the same ludicrous arguments about it all. but above all enjoy yourself or its pointless. and make mine a babycham. IMHO.

I agree that lots of folks are happy to listen to music from their youth and really do not want to know about anything new. Thats a nostalgia scene and is a big part of todays growth in soul nights.

There has also always been a progressive scene who appreciate new music right from the Mecca and beyond.

The middle ground is where most people are, and if good soul dance records are played from whatever era, they will buy into it.

It is a bit crazy to play the Carstairs/Lenny Hutton/3rd time around etc in a modern room as they are mainstream. Modern rooms if seperate to a tradional room on the same event will always be less full for at least some of the time because new sounds are probably being heard and its not likely that its going to fill the dancefloor.

Even back in the 70s, if a new record got played, it did not always fill the dancefloor straight away.

As the modern records get accepted and brought into the mainstream like Angie Stone/Clarence Carter etc suddenly the dancefloor is packed.

Its just a side effect of playing un familiar records and no more.

Ed

[Simon M]

Tosh man- more 60s than that. Flanny did an hour of them and I played at least 3

I only listend to two never heard of Flanny

Bearsy I dont do CD's now , too old fashioned

Edited October 9, 2007 by Simon M

[Guest]

I can't really comment on nighters with modern rooms attached - as I don't frequent such places any more. Its even been a good few years since I've been to Prestwich or Lowton (before DDA) and back then the modern room was so packed you couldn't move!

I can honestly say that (oh god over 10 years ago now) when the likes of Winsford/Bretby etc had "modern" rooms run by Gavin and Co. they were fantastic! I spent more time in these back rooms than I did in the main room - even though I'm primarily a crossover/60s girl...

[Simon M]

Oh fun times. Point is at the time those records were modern (i.e. les than 5 years old). They were even controversial then

Dont worry Steve they still say the same about this weeks stuff

[Guest malayka]

I dont want to turn this into a modern v oldies debate and you all know which side of the fence I'm on but i have a serious question about modern rooms.

On the way home from Hamburg and chattin to friends i posed the question, " Why are modern rooms always empty?"

I get about a bit ( yeah yeah ur makin up ur own jokes now aint ya!!) seriously though....I go out every weekend up and down this great country of ours and at every do i go to without exception, the modern rooms are more or less empty. In fact they are places to go if you want to sit down for a while and catch your breath if you're too hot and sweaty from dancin to all those tired old oldies that pack the floor in the main room.

I'm forever being told that modern is the future and im just an old dinosaur but where are all the modern fans? All at home on a sat night on here slaggin off oldies dos it would seem!!! only jokin.... but it is a serious question.

Is it because they go to nights that lean more towards Modern in the main room? If thats the case then why have a Modern room at all? I think RnB rooms are the way to go. Just got back from Hamburg and the main (mainly oldies) room and the RnB room were banged out. There were plenty of seats and room on the floor in the modern room which was used as a breathing area from both the other rooms.

I'm sure Ill get plenty of posts on this but like i said its not an oldies v modern debate.

Any comments?..........

Hi Helen,

to be honest, the modern room wasn't empty at all on friday, it was packed and buzzing. it's fair to say that it was an awesome experience to dj on the friday in that room. I played mainly 80ties tunes... call it modern soul or not (i took modern/recent tunes with me, but there were no cd players).

Saturday is another story. it was a bit of a passing thourgh area, but it had nothing to do with the music, but with the third room being open.

I spent more or less the whole weekend in that modern room....and very much enjoyed lars's, marc's, dave's sets...

Malayka

Edited October 9, 2007 by malayka

[Pete S]

Strange taste helen I think most people like soul 60's 70's 80's to Y2k , mainly by the same artists throughout the decades .

Its just about being a soulfan , Frankie beverly , Luther , Womack , Wade o Brown etc etc

You think wrong then. I'd rather go deaf than listen to any of the above. I like 60's soul and just 60's soul because that's the sound I like, I like 60's reggae and don't like 70's reggae because it bears little or no resemblance to the sound that I like.

And honestly, whats wrong with only liking one type of soul music, who actually sets out these rules that there's something up with you if you don't listen to all types?

[Guest outonthefloor]

Hi Helen,

to be honest, the modern room wasn't empty at all on friday, it was packed and buzzing. it's fair to say that it was an awesome experience to dj on the friday in that room. I played mainly 80ties tunes... call it modern soul or not (i took modern/recent tunes with me, but there were no cd players).

Saturday is another story. it was a bit of a passing thourgh area, but it had nothing to do with the music, but with the third room being open.

Malayka

Hi there,

I popped in and out of the modern room both nights for a breather and never saw it even buzzin really, let alone 'packed' but I'll take your word for it.

The RnB room on the other hand was jammed to the door, even when the main room started to empty, and excellent IMVHO.

Really enjoyed every second of Hamburg woznt knocking it at all but it was that that got me thinking thats all. Will post in look backs when im fully recovered!!

Helen

XXXX

[Dave Thorley]

As Malayka said , lack of cd player tended to limit play list on saturday in Hamburg. But friday was buzzin and even with the corridor effect on saturday it had it's moments.

Of late I have found the issue is more in the north. Events in the south that have modern rooms work really well, ie Soulfusion (Gloucester), packed from start to finish. But also events that play accross the board, like The Orwell and Greatstone don't have any problem when it's mixed. As someone else has said, modern rooms at many events are somewhat of a after thought, the northern room has strong line up of dedicated dj's, modern room a few friends of the promoter to keep costs down. There clearly is a large following for it or events like Blackpool Hilton wouldn't attract 1000+. But they choose not to go to many northern events with a small modern room as a add on.

[Simon M]

You think wrong then. I'd rather go deaf than listen to any of the above. I like 60's soul and just 60's soul because that's the sound I like, I like 60's reggae and don't like 70's reggae because it bears little or no resemblance to the sound that I like.

And honestly, whats wrong with only liking one type of soul music, who actually sets out these rules that there's something up with you if you don't listen to all types?

I never said there was anything wrong Pete .. You have actually said you like some 70's soul too by the way

[Pete S]

I never said there was anything wrong Pete .. You have actually said you like some 70's soul too by the way

yeah but individual records - not artists

[Simon M]

yeah but individual records - not artists

You said you liked Brainstorm ?

[Pete S]

You said you liked Brainstorm ?

I might have said I liked Loving is really my game when it was played in 1977!

[Guest outonthefloor]

You think wrong then. I'd rather go deaf than listen to any of the above. I like 60's soul and just 60's soul because that's the sound I like, I like 60's reggae and don't like 70's reggae because it bears little or no resemblance to the sound that I like.

And honestly, whats wrong with only liking one type of soul music, who actually sets out these rules that there's something up with you if you don't listen to all types?

I think you either like something or you don't, yeah sure things grow on you but i dont think you can make a conscious effort to like summit.

I hate the assumption that all soul music is the same or at worst different sides of the same coin. even the phrase Y2K makes me shudder!!!! but then i am a dinosaur!!!!! Whats important IMHO is to be open to it if you hear it and dont like it fine but some people dont even do that.

My son don't like raw tomatoes, now to my knowledge he has never eaten one. 'How do you know you don't like em?' I asked, 'I don't have to eat one to know they are horrible' he replied. Do you get my drift???

At the end of the day you like what you like. Ive got a friend who only collects records with bongo's in em released on yellow labels!!!

He said that as a joke btw but i bet someone out there does!!!!

Nothing wrong with anyones taste just different that all.......

So RnB rooms then the way forward to get the punters in? wadda you think?......

Helen

XXXXXXX

[Pete S]

So RnB rooms then the way forward to get the punters in? wadda you think?......

Helen

XXXXXXX

Not a massive fan of R&B but it's a lot closer to the roots of the northern scene and a lot of it is great to dance to.

If I was promoting a venue and had a second room it would be ska and r&b.

[Guest outonthefloor]

I'm begining to favour "across the board" nites coz they give me a chance to listen to stuff i wouldn't normally hear without having to endure 6 hours of disco to find the odd 70's tune i like.

Also it means that friends with different tastes can all go out together and i get to gleem knowledge from different people.

Helen

XXX

Plus i can ask Simon M, Whats this Sh**e then? on a regular basis xxxxLOLxxx

[Bazza]

I

So RnB rooms then the way forward to get the punters in? wadda you think?......

Helen

XXXXXXX

Of course it is..no doubt...and you know many of the folks that say they dont like R&B...will be on the floor dancing to it without realizing it is what it is ...My misses for one..she sez she dont like it, when she comes off the floor after dancing to it ,I will say thats a nice R&B tune,,she'll argue no its is'nt no it is'nt ,so I say "ok duck ,no it is'nt " just to keep her happy

gimme me R&B

Bazza

[Simon M]

Of course it is..no doubt...and you know many of the folks that say they dont like R&B...will be on the floor dancing to it without realizing it is what it is ...My misses for one..she sez she dont like it, when she comes off the floor after dancing to it ,I will say thats a nice R&B tune,,she'll argue no its is'nt no it is'nt ,so I say "ok duck ,no it is'nt " just to keep her happy

gimme me R&B

Bazza

Dont you find yaself doing "The Monkey" or "the Hitch hike" to r&B R&S?

Edited October 9, 2007 by Simon M

[Bazza]

Dont you find yaself doing "The Monkey" or "the Hitch hike" to r&B R&S?

Im not saying.. , I admit to nothing...I was'nt even there..

Bazza

[KevH]

Im not saying.. , I admit to nothing...I was'nt even there..

Bazza

hey up Bazza,modern room doesn't mean furniture from Ikea you know.

[Bazza]

hey up Bazza,modern room doesn't mean furniture from Ikea you know.

Hi Kev...I think I would sooner walk round Ikea,than have to put up with the excruciating pain of a modern room

Bazza

[TheBigO]

Oh fun times. Point is at the time those records were modern (i.e. les than 5 years old). They were even controversial then

Ah I remember them well Steve! The threats issued, the endless pointless ranting about the way forward, the 'my souls bigger than yours' article etc etc....hang on, nothings bleeding changed!!!! I've sided with Sam of late, i.e I consider myself a Soul lover rather than a genre lover, if its good then I'll give it a chance which is why my shelves are heaving under all types and styles of Soul. The Modern Room, and the 'Modern By Moonlight' events we held in the Main Hall, at Plinston were always well attended and too me had the best vibe and atmosphere (even when you were on Steve!!!! ) and I've always loved venues that spin everything (lest we forget that Stafford was a Modern basiton at the begining and one of the reasons we went there, cheers for the great times by the way Mr Thorley!) Bottom line, you cant please everyone and punters will vote with their feet and go to whatever venues floats their soulful boat. ENDLESS debates etc achieve nothing but, as my son pointed out to me when reading this, keep the new blood we need as a scene to survive far far away. As he said, who wants to get involved with people that seem to spend their whole time arguing about nothing, he wants a good time with great music and he doesn't belivie he will get that when he reads, yet another!, debate on Modern Vs Northern/Oldies/Xover whatever from our scene. Timmy Thomas people - Why cant we live together! (Dont bother answering as we will be here forever!!!!! lol)

[Simon M]

Very good points there BigO esp' about Stafford ! Of course there are scenes abroad that have mainly younger people and they seem to be increasingly into more modern genres of soul , well Norway and Sweden seem to be .

Edited October 9, 2007 by Simon M

[TheBigO]

Very true Simon! Oslo is next on my list to visit because from what I have seen and heard thats my type of town (thanks Frank!) Oh and we all come from Norway anyway in this house

[Guest outonthefloor]

Ah I remember them well Steve! The threats issued, the endless pointless ranting about the way forward, the 'my souls bigger than yours' article etc etc....hang on, nothings bleeding changed!!!! I've sided with Sam of late, i.e I consider myself a Soul lover rather than a genre lover, if its good then I'll give it a chance which is why my shelves are heaving under all types and styles of Soul. The Modern Room, and the 'Modern By Moonlight' events we held in the Main Hall, at Plinston were always well attended and too me had the best vibe and atmosphere (even when you were on Steve!!!! ) and I've always loved venues that spin everything (lest we forget that Stafford was a Modern basiton at the begining and one of the reasons we went there, cheers for the great times by the way Mr Thorley!) Bottom line, you cant please everyone and punters will vote with their feet and go to whatever venues floats their soulful boat. ENDLESS debates etc achieve nothing but, as my son pointed out to me when reading this, keep the new blood we need as a scene to survive far far away. As he said, who wants to get involved with people that seem to spend their whole time arguing about nothing, he wants a good time with great music and he doesn't belivie he will get that when he reads, yet another!, debate on Modern Vs Northern/Oldies/Xover whatever from our scene. Timmy Thomas people - Why cant we live together! (Dont bother answering as we will be here forever!!!!! lol)

I did say that it wasnt a modern v oldies debate if you read my original post, just a question as to why modern rooms are always empty these days, in my experience.

If people dont want to debate then why read/post on forums?

I think i have my answer anyway so thanks guys

XXX

[Simon M]

Very true Simon! Oslo is next on my list to visit because from what I have seen and heard thats my type of town (thanks Frank!) Oh and we all come from Norway anyway in this house

Not been to Oslo soul yet , but Ive met Christian B a top Dj from there

Edited October 9, 2007 by Simon M

[TheBigO]

I know you did say it wasn't BUT lets face it thats what it always turns into and the point I was making that new blood are turned off from discovering this scene, that lets be honest we all love whatever side of the genre fence we sit on, when they come onto forums like this and read articles along those lines. probably didn't eexpress that clear enough re-reading.

[Simon M]

did say that it wasnt a modern v oldies debate if you read my original post, just a question as to why modern rooms are always empty these days, in my experience.

If people dont want to debate then why read/post on forums?

I think i have my answer anyway so thanks guys

++++++++++++=

Dave T's post explains it more or less Helen ..

[TheBigO]

Yep, Mr T as always on the ball! Think hes over at Lenny Dopsons do next week, 19th, so will be taking a trip over to have a listen.

[mischief]

Helen I can't answer your question sorry as I only ever put my head in the modern rooms .. laugh at the dancers and then run away

But have you ever been in the modern room at Stoke or Prestatyn they are far from empty..

myself I rather have across the board nights.. that way I get to hear new tunes coming at me from all differnt angles..

at the last Farnbourgh I played a couple of 2007 releases in my set along with some 60's and then bits in between thats how I like venues to be..

[Guest BIG H]

Waitin till i hear your set at KSC on the 20th to find out Simon xxxxx

My question was just why are modern rooms always empty?

Any ideas boys and girls?

XXXX

the reason is because the big northern dj,s ALL play a bit of modern soul in their set, Ice, Ellipsis, Pro facinations etc etc and with fans of modern soul being far more open minded and forward thinking than the dye in the wool 60's r&b types means you will find them wherever there is quality soul being played, (better get my tin hat and flak jacket ready after that statement) the whole thing is there's far too many pigeon holes for punters northern, modern, crossover, r&b, nu-soul, soulful house at the end of the day....ITS ALL SOUL!!!! after all they never stopped making good records on the 31st dec 1969 did they?

DJ'S PLAYING ACROSS THE BOARD IS THE WAY FORWARD

[Dave Thorley]

Yep, Mr T as always on the ball! Think hes over at Lenny Dopsons do next week, 19th, so will be taking a trip over to have a listen.

Don't scare me like that, it's 27th at Silks

[Russ Vickers]

the reason is because the big northern dj,s ALL play a bit of modern soul in their set, Ice, Ellipsis, Pro facinations etc etc and with fans of modern soul being far more open minded and forward thinking than the dye in the wool 60's r&b types means you will find them wherever there is quality soul being played, (better get my tin hat and flak jacket ready after that statement) the whole thing is there's far too many pigeon holes for punters northern, modern, crossover, r&b, nu-soul, soulful house at the end of the day....ITS ALL SOUL!!!! after all they never stopped making good records on the 31st dec 1969 did they?

DJ'S PLAYING ACROSS THE BOARD IS THE WAY FORWARD

Holy quacamole..........H now there's an idea & one that has always worked in my experience, one scene, one soulful groove, all of us on one dancefloor, enjoying soul music from whenever, all that is needed is the X factor. Ill get me coat .

Russ

[Guest outonthefloor]

Helen I can't answer your question sorry as I only ever put my head in the modern rooms .. laugh at the dancers and then run away

But have you ever been in the modern room at Stoke or Prestatyn they are far from empty..

myself I rather have across the board nights.. that way I get to hear new tunes coming at me from all differnt angles..

at the last Farnbourgh I played a couple of 2007 releases in my set along with some 60's and then bits in between thats how I like venues to be..

This cant be right !!!! are we all in agreement then?????

Across the board is where it's at!!!!

Think we should quit while we 're ahead!!!!

[TheBigO]

Don't scare me like that, it's 27th at Silks

OOOOPS! Sorry Dave! Talking of scaring do you still look like hugh fernley whittingstall??????

[mischief]

This cant be right !!!! are we all in agreement then?????

What that its good to laugh at the dancers in the modern room

[Dave Thorley]

OOOOPS! Sorry Dave! Talking of scaring do you still look like hugh fernley whittingstall??????

No all the hairs gone, well most of it

[Simon M]

No all the hairs gone, well most of it

dont you still look like Steve "Adonis " Beaton ?

[TheBigO]

OMG! We are now turning this into a debate on Mr T's locks - or lack of!!! But good to know the tumbling hair that i found strangely erotic () has now gone, I kept wanting to ask you how to roast a decent pork joint at venues!!!! lol See ya on the 27th

Edited October 9, 2007 by TheBigO

[Dave Thorley]

dont you still look like Steve "Adonis " Beaton ?

The old darts arm has long gone

[Guest malayka]

dont you still look like Steve "Adonis " Beaton ?

blimey, simon...thank god he doesn't look like this ( anymore)...

[Guest outonthefloor]

What that its good to laugh at the dancers in the modern room

Natch !!!!! XXXXX

[Simon M]

blimey, simon...thank god he doesn't look like this ( anymore)...

What do you mean ,he was the Northern Housewifes choice of fantasy like Eehhhh

[Simon M]

The old darts arm has long gone

I hit a 180 the other day ,almost as good as finally getting that record of the jap guy

[Dave Thorley]

What do you mean ,he was the Northern Housewifes choice of fantasy like Eehhhh

F*"K you and the horse you rode in on That was the height of west country fashion

[Guest outonthefloor]

I hit a 180 the other day ,almost as good as finally getting that record out of me japs eye

Sorry childish i know but couldnt resist!!!

XXXXXXXX

ill get me coat.........

[Simon M]

F*"K you and the horse you rode in on That was the height of west country fashion

Yeah I know Simon T was the blonde version .. Aye the good old days of across the board nighters