Mike

A few years ago I found myself turning into the Lowton Civic Carpark and looking at all the cars parked on the verges I turned to a mucker and said something along the lines of "you know what, do we sometimes take these places for granted, once a month Lowton just quietly gets on with what it does, never any fuss or dramas, just does its own thing.and its there on offer when ever you want it" When I heard the news that it was closing, (have been told its due to the actual venue no longer staying open rather than anything to do with the event itself ) that question I asked came back to mind., guess I was guilty of taking it for granted, I suppose any event that is long running , any event that is regular and "always there" can and will be a sort of victim of its own success, even more so when its so good at what it does Anyway, have had many and that does means many enjoyable nights there, and here's some random memories that spring up when think back : The laughs in the broom cupboard (r&b room) down the corridor run by Pete Coulson, the time when CSC were on, the modern room, the adventures and games in the record bar, the regular rush to get to the bar before it shuts thanks to steve thomas navigation skills, the mike hump ear burning at hotel, the time we lost lowton, trevor nelson tv visit, the layout, the 3 rooms and corridors (you could f*** about all over the place, tip on high and all sorts), plus loads of other memories and laughs including the many djs that have caught there main room -12th anniversary photo Last one is this Friday Will dig out some site links to past articles, photos, videos etc and post them after the details END OF AN ERA. IT'S THE LAST LOWTON SOUL SESSION ON THE 10TH OF SEPTEMBER Due to circumstances beyond our control, this willo be the LAST EVER soul night run by the current promoters BE EARLY it will be a packer! please also note that it kicks off this month at 8.00pm not 9.00pm as usual and not the 9.00pm that is stated on the flyers. DJ's to include Steve Pownall, Jimmy Cowburn Les Harrison and Kev McCue Ian Cunliffe and Dean Mitchell Bob Hindsley and Barry Maleady Andy Dyson and Mick H Steve Thomas and Chris King and I'm sure Mr Murphy will be playing a few tunes.........if he can still see and get the decks going the right way!! Admission £6.00 Lowton Civic Hall Hesketh Meadow lane Lowton WA3 2AH 01942 672971 Hats off to Kev Murphy and everyone else who was involved over the years Clip of a Review by Denny from 1997 ...but, the best part of the trip was going to Lowton Civic. you might have read about it, it's been going for about a year and although it only runs from 8 'till 1 once a month it's Wigan in the early days all over again. it's easy the best northern club going at the moment - there must be about 1500 go. the atmosphere and the buzz is incredible. i met loads of old mates, there's no shit and it's like being smashed without gear !! you name it, they played it. steve whittle (mr m's) was the guest dj. 2 sounds which really stuck out for the way they filled the floor towards the end were barbara mcnair's "your gonna love my baby" and (I think they always play it as the last one) terry callier's "ordinary joe" - words can't describe the atmosphere. Clip of a review by that Hughes geezer 2004 With the event being a mini-niter at Lowton, the first time for a few months for me, could say were definitely in the mood for a good night, we tumbled out, boxes, flyers going all over the venue.With another 4 or 5 cars from North Wales was a fair old contingent. Got to say always enjoy Lowton, always have a laugh and a good crack, plus the dj line up as with most events attend more often than not seems to be a good one, the days of in one door to main hall, then driven straight back out by "big name" djs who think "just a little misunderstanding" is what people traveled a 100 odd miles for, doesn't seem to happen anymore.Place was packed, knew Ian Cuncliffe was on, disappointed to find out he had to do a early one, so missed out.. Popped in the modern room and it was kicking, a big crowd, good buzz, quick look for wanted new releases, quick birthday greetings to Pete known as Bangor's modern soul man , who was celebrating his 40th birthday, so one of youngest of that genre. Quick word with Roger W out and about as a punter and enjoying himself, Modern room what caught was definitely buzzing. Down corrider to R and B room, Big Mick was on and given out some quality r n b, Later noticed attendance was bit down compared to other nites.Steve T had a spot in their later on, me and Johnny J made the most of attendence as this gave us great ammo when continuing our ongoing banter battle. But fairs fair as always dished out some great selections. Main room was going strong, nice surprise to catch Soul Sam doing a set, but only caught last bit, stuff such as "If cant say anything good", a bit of 2003 gear, finished set off playing flip of Morris Chestnut which in his usual ethuastic way he just raved about. Tim Brown up next and gave out some great stuff,....Travels meant not much more main room details, snips between other rooms and even a trip out, memory says Andy D doubled decked with Dean A?, caught some great stuff from Bob Hinsley, pure joy to hear of Detroit Sounds Of Friction, plus stuff like Oz and Spurlings all sounded good. Alex Jones on ? Didn't catch him but was told due on.Somewhere during nite managed to pass on all flyers for next Monkey, without setting out to. A lot of record sellers and dealers there with a wide selection of stuff on offer, things were going well as spotted recent long want just got at 4 times price paid which always feels good. As managed to get rid of a fair few bits, things felt even better, best laugh was when was offered a cover up in some deal, it all clicked .... above from 1997 and 2003 more lowton based content Eddie Holman Live at Lowton Video 2000 Lowton North and South Lookback the one where the CSC were on Mini Allnighter lookback Top Selections for AUGUST 2005 Lowton Modern Room 1. Darian Keith Horn Move into Your Season 2. Da Producers Official Steppers 3. Woody Cunningham Love is Takin Over (Remix) 4. Niki Carless Bright Future 5. Kenny Thomas - Him /Turn it Up/When I Think Of You 6. Ledisi My Sensitivity (remix) 7. Down To the Bone Angel Baby 8. Donald Mc Cullum U Don't Want My Love 9. Kloud9 Special / Reasons 10. Wade O Brown Where Do We Go For Love 11. Will Wheaton Old School Soul 12. Prominent Step Into My World 13. Steve Butler Change 14. Metropolis Lovin You 15 Jamie Jones U Gonna Be Alright 16 Ty Causey Breathless 17 Chris Walker Beyond The3 Limits of Love 18 Mellisa Morgan Back Together Again 19 Narrow St Music Cant Get Away 20. 2GA1 Sweet Thing DDA Lookbacks : Dec 2008 Room With a View Lookbacks 2010 Current forum thread : Lowon End Of A Era

A new month beckons and just as the bills start to arrive so does news of kents latest soul release. Deep Shadows-The Best Of Kent Ballads being the title of this one and as the title does tell the story behind this release will let the track listing and Ady C's words from the ace site do the rest of the talking... Available now thru usual outlets. Seen at £8.95 ace record site http://www.acerecords.co.uk amazon uk link http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003V8ZNNM/wwwacerecordc-21 Deep Shadows-The Best Of Kent Ballads - CDKEND 342 1. CRY TO ME - Loleatta Holloway 2. I'VE DONE IT AGAIN - The Charmels 3. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO GAIN (BY LOSING ME) - Jeanette Jones 4. GOTTA FIND A WAY - The Hesitations 5. THERE'S ANOTHER IN MY LIFE - Phillip Mitchell 6. YOU MUST LEAVE HER BECAUSE YOU LOVE HER - The Paramount Four 7. SHOWDOWN - The Shaladons 8. SEEING IS BELIEVING - LV Johnson 9. YOU DIDN'T LOVE ME ANYHOW - Act I 10. WHETHER IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG - Jackie Lee & Delores Hall 11. YOU GOT ME - Jaibi 12. I WON'T BE SUCH A FOOL ANY MORE - The Modettes 13. NO MORE LIKE ME - Ray Pollard 14. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU - The Quotations 15. CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY - Austin Taylor 16. NO ONE CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF YOU - The Ravins 17. I LOVE MY BABY - Tommy & Eddie 18. THE TAG - Sam Dees 19. SWEET LOVING WOMAN - Garland Green 20. YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE SOMEONE - Johnny Gilliam 21. YOU MUST BE LOSING YOUR MIND - Jimmy Raye 22. I'M A LONELY MAN - Bobby Wilburn 23. HOW LONG CAN THIS LAST - Debbie Taylor 24. DEEP SHADOWS - Little Ann We've not had an out-and-out ballad CD on Kent for over a year and after 28 years of compiling, we thought that a retrospective look at the very best tracks was due. Many deep, southern or ballad collectors may not have gone for CDs such as "Mirwood Soul Story" or "Dave Hamilton's Detroit Dancers". As there were gems of these styles within those and other packages, we knew they would be enjoyed in another CD setting. Similarly, other pieces of beautiful music from the Charmels, L.V. Johnson and Johnny Gilliam were on similar but deleted CDs. Picking a "Best Of" CD felt valid and to strengthen it even more, we are including a handful of recordings that have not been issued on CD before, in some cases never issued at all. These newbies deserve the most attention as they will be fresh to most soul fans. Of the issued tracks, the least rare is the Quotations' 'It Can Happen To You' on DiVenus, which was a good seller in NYC on issue, though the current price tag of £150 (due to its Northern flip) would put the casual buyer off. Rarer is the Austin Taylor offering from Zell Sanders' J&S subsidiary Sprout Artist. That set-up was never known for production subtleties and the single opens as if in an echoing Harlem Church, with the chorus belting out Hymn #94 before Austin's tough vocal preaches his message. The master tape contenders are of incredible quality. Bay Area songstress Jeanette Jones was probably only demoing 'What Have You Got To Gain By Losing Me' but sang it from the heart, which now means that an excellent Gerry Goffin co-composition was saved for the world, with its first airing here. Down in Nashville, Tennessee ace arranger and producer Bob Holmes cut a Gallatin act called the Paramount Four on a stunning group ballad 'You Must Leave Her Because You Love Her'. If you invest in this CD, I can guarantee that you will be singing along to this beauty with gusto. From the previously released but now deleted pile we re-present the Charmels' brilliant 'I've Done It Again'. Featuring on the same deleted Kent CD was L.V. Johnson's 'Seeing Is Believing', which I now realise is right up there with it. Giving the track another lease of life also gives me the chance to correct the assumption that it is the same song the Mad Lads cut (also for the Volt label); it isn't and we don't know who penned it. I hadn't even noticed that it was over four and a half minutes long - it doesn't drag for a single second. Personal favourites include the tracks by Phillip Mitchell, Loleatta Holloway, Sam Dees, the Modettes, Debbie Taylor and the bittersweet and haunting voice of Little Ann singing her self-written title track to the CD. If you don't recognise any of the titles, please rest assured that these are the best of Kent - that's going to be very good indeed. By Ady Croasdell http://www.acerecords.co.uk/content.php?page_id=59&release=8556