New Year Soul Honours 2008

[ImberBoy]

New Year Soul Honours 2008

My first New Year Honours 2008 nomination goes to Middleton Civic Hall Allnighter

Fifteen months ago I arrived back in England after spending the last eleven years serving in Germany with The British Army. The year I left Maxine Brown played at Cleethorpes 6Ts Northernsoul Weekender, the year after the TV cameras visited, and just as the British northernsoul scene went "Twang!" The Sound of Prestwich, the Manchester Ritz, Brighouse, Keele, The Canclow Club, Ponds Forge, Doncaster Dome, the 100 club and a fantastic summer of Northernsoul with a genuine surge happening that was both exciting and gave a real shot in the arm to our beloved scene.

It was with a tinge of sadness that I left my friends but I was greeted with open arms in Germany and The German northernsoul Scene was a "cozy" little scene with a small but dedicated bunch of Soulies who due to geography were always destined to play "catch up" in the music stakes. I immersed my self into the German Scooter Scene and enjoyed the rough and ready of their vibrant passion. The only down side being that the music was always a little shallow.

Before I could say "Bratwurst", I was at the end of my 22 year contract with the Army and it was time to hand in my uniform and say good bye to my adopted home.

Imberboy returns to England. I was so pleased and eager to get back to some quality Northern, I had tried my utmost to keep abreast of things via the tinternet but to be perfectly honest I was a little skeptical due to the increase in "CD Cover experts" and "MP3 DJ's", but I was returning to South Yorkshire where I knew there was a good Soul Scene.

My first venture out was to our local soul nights at Drax and Eggborough, friendly bunch of drinkers listening and dancing to the classics, I had a great time and caught up with many old friends but to be brutally honest I felt a little empty. I did the usual bit of doing Blackpool, Stoke, and keele and for the next eighteen months I found my self searching for the vibe only to be disappointed at nearly every venue I attended.

Now before you all start lighting torches and head off towards Castle Imber, I would like to say for the record that I am not intending to slate any ones efforts at promoting a venue neither am I slating the punters. I am just sick to my back teeth of hearing the same play box and absolutely fookin threaders with up themselves DJ's playing to empty dance floors just because they have a record no one has ever heard of, we can all do that young fellow me lad but the trick is to find unheards that are quality! Good trick if you can do it but it doesn't happen very often.

Just as I was about to give up on the northernsoul scene I bumped into Robbo who told me of a place he was DJing at and that it was a superb "progressive" venue. So it was off to the Middleton All Nighter.

As soon as I walked into the place the first thing that hits you is the friendliness, the foyer is chocker block with people just mingling and saying hello, hands shaking and a real sense of belonging I stood back for a moment then realized that here was a collection of the apex nighter goers of the UK. This was the real deal. Memories of my past flooded my distorted brain cells, this was the northernsoul scene. Not some pastiche or clich ideal concentrated from fat bolding ex Wigan DJ's with dodgey hair cuts writing for the latest CD cover, this was the honest to goodness, warts and all secret night time people who propped up the scene back in the lean years. Now what had bought all these soul predators together to this particular venue? I was mesmerized and impresses and I hadn't got further than the foyer!

Finding my seat and hastily changing into my "Dancing Shorts" complete with sandals, (all the rage in Imber), I watched and listened to an old friend of mine debut at the Middleton All Nighter, Sean Chapman nervously played to an eager and very appreciative crowd. From that point on I was on the dance floor dancing and listening to the very best danceable Northernsoul I have heard in many years.

To be perfectly honest with you I was so impressed with this venue, the dances and the DJ's that I nearly didn't write this as I want it to remain a hidden gem and Divvy free!

My next New Year Honours 2008 nomination goes to BIDDS Rare Soul Allnighter and again this venue for me was like a breath of fresh air in a stuffy over filled British rail waiting room. As with Middleton All Nighter Bidds had coaxed the "faces" of the scene out into the night. But the place was not about posing or pretending, the place was about music and music is what you got. Not the same old tried and tested Vesta curry of Northernsoul nor was it the flip side of "Northernsoul Floor clearers volume 18". What I got from BIDDS Rare Soul Allnighter was a celebration of rare soul that re charged my flagging soul batteries.

Rodger Banks and Dave Rimmer did themselves proud and deserve a real thumbs up from the northernsoul scene for just being stalwarts and defenders of good music. For my special pat on the back and "thanks mate" I want to big up Flanny who completely dazzled me and gave the dance floor a real surge. I think the DJ's did fantastic and the promoter and organizer can feel justifiably proud for what you have created. I absolutely loved the "Latin" set and I was blown away with the two "Disco" trax played, was one by Magenta? I didn't quite catch the name but the tune has got into my DNA, thank you to every one who took risks and please keep up the good work.

BIDDS Rare Soul Allnighter and Middleton Civic Hall Allnighter are my two nominations for New Year Honours 2008.... What's yours and why?

See ya all on Saturday at Middleton, yours Imberboy AKA Simon Cuerden

[Mace]

Blimey....praise indeed for lil' old Bidds.......I'm gobsmacked, and that doesn't happen to often (as many will confirm)

So much so that I don't know how to reply other than thankyou very much for your comments and vote....even more so for making the effort to support us on saturday.

It was 'Magenta' that Johnny Beggs played, and possibly 'Evans Pyramid' was the other one that caught your attention....I will introduce you to Johhny at Middleton so he can enlighten you on full info on these tracks

Cheers

Mace