If I may talk about my own experience, here in Italy northern soul is very underground. Although some people try to behave profesionally and up to the UK standards, it is a very unknown and obscure scene. But in my humble opinion, it all depends on the way one approches to it. Despite all the money one can spend on records and time in searching and digging, it all depends on the way you approach it. For as sofisticated and complicated it may be, it's still music and a way to enjoy one's self. Still classy and somehow elitist but yet it's all about enjoyment and having fun in a cool way