Mark Bicknell

I would suggest 'if you ain't in you can't win' in other words if you think this is dodgy simply don't bid. At present there seems to be so many problems with Ebay and dodgy dealings it leaves us feeling sick, i don't go on there anymore either to sell or bid, many of the Americans are simply taking the piss, not all don't get me wrong there are some outstanding genuine records on offer from genuine dealers but a few are really taking the piss, it's like they are trying to get even for all the $5.00 cock ups for thousand pound records they made over the years as they had little or no interest in the music then and still don't more the case of driven by greed, which is ok for genuine items and good condition stuff but not so good in situations like this. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Dave, In reply, on sound always without question, all threads,topics on here are based on personal opinion......... Kevin Roberts asked the question and we are responding to it, like i said whatever floats your boat........ Mark Bicknell.

Do people read the threads before posting or what on here....lol I tried to give an overview...sorry, i'll get my coat. Mark Bicknell.

Yes Kev, Sorry am really poorly, thanks for the tickets really sorry i missed the acts and you wearing a Welsh hat with a leak in your hand...now i hope someone got that photograph. oh and again .........what's a bootleg...........please someone tell me....lol Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Kev, For what it's worth i think the answer is simple.... it's like there is now a totally seperate scene and venues which cater for the R'n'B groove, people know my thoughts on the subject as i did write an item on this for Manifesto a few years ago which did upset a few people. My points were honest and i feel i had some knowledge and background on the style as myself and the likes of Roger Banks did push certain tracks in the R'n'B style on the mainstream Northern scene, what i will say is that the records played by us at least had a connection to the roots of the scene, were perhaps a little bit more hard edged but did have SOUL content i.e Nat Hall, Dorothy Williams, Hayes Cotton, Big Daddy Rogers, Curly Moore etc. etc. My basic point was as with all styles of music within the scene and to be inovators you have to maintain a standard and quality of music to move forward, some of the so called R'n'B simply is void of any real quality, records like Dean Barlow, Barbara Dane, Larry Trider etc. in my opinion are very sub standard and at best very average records, but if it floats peoples boats then who are we to dish the music they enjoy? Dated,late 50's often not even records of Black origin seem to be passed off as R'n'B and again have nothing to do with the Northern scene, bench mark records in this style have to be the likes of Jimmy Robins, Bobby Bland,Bud Harper etc. etc. Lastly if we take the best bits for all stlyes and eras then if some of the R'n'B 45's are of a quality then i see no reason to include them in the mix at the venues. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Always remember tunes like all the Lou Roberts MGM tracks Ten To One, You Fooled Me, Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Love, John Drevers - The Closer She Gets, Ad Libs - New York In The Dark, dare i mention Ben Zine - Village Of Tears and more will spring to mind i'm sure. Good idea this. Regards - Mark Bicknell

How the F*** could i forget Ady Pountain......sorry, why don't we take this one step further and try and do an Authentic Yate reunion type bash, i'm sure it would work, trouble is what become of the venue????? What a night that would be... Mr Clark, Ellis, Pountain, Greet, Thorley,Hippo etc. hitting the decks would simply be magic, would love to see the likes of 'Budgie' there and all the original Yate crew, oh can i do the warm up original punters spot and all that......lol Even if it was an 8 till late bash i'm sure it would work. The CD, THE EVENT OH I CAN TASTE IT!!!!!! Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Oh yes Yate when 'Clarkie' was King and the gear was shit hot, possibly one of the most underated venues in the scenes history, a CD would be a brilliant idea so do it soon Ady, MESSAGE to Tony Ellis.... hope your keeping well mate, seem to remember you played a major part in the Yate days.....without the likes of you, Clarkie,Pete Widison,Dave Greet, Dave Thorley,Hippo etc. i certainly would not have been inspired musically, you guys were without question way ahead of your time and it's about time you got the credit and recignition you so richly deserve, guys like you are true originals and i'm glad to call you a friend even though we don't hook up much these days, i just wish the likes of yourself and of course Ian were still out there doing it, still teach upstarts like me a thing or two...cheers Tony. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

What's a bootleg...lol Mark Bicknell.

Here, here Godz, nail on the head mate. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

One thing to say to the Class thing, sorry...........................bollocks. Mark Bicknell.

Got sod all to say Shane mate sorry, tried before and it makes little or no difference with all the opinion and i know best ethic out there, sorry do what you like, collect what you like, it matters very little to me anymore as some people think it's a bit of a joke all this, we are never gonna stop bootlegs but they still don't make it right does it ?, some people here seem to have the answers so maybe they are right who knows and who really cares, i'm fucked if i do anymore. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

From my sick bed, god do i feel rough, so much so i could not go to the Blackpool weekender, really fed up and feeling like shit, but Brett's performance on my show will be a fine tonic. Regards - Mark Bicknell. PS Chris you ain't got any hair mate...lol

What about Steve Mancha possibly one of the most underated singers ever, oh what about Darrell Banks almost forget him.................................. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

The Fabulettes - The Bigger They Are ( The Harder They Fall ) -Monument, does this count.....lol The Fabulous Dino's - I've Enjoyed Being Loved By You (King) a little wierd and not really a Northern record but a good little tune in the Fabulous mode. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

I'm putting my old promoters hat back on next year with three Detroit/Chicago Allnighters and a down to mid tempo second room at Sheridans,Dewsbury and will be using the flyer as a promotional tool, i totally agree with all the points raised so far but every avenue will be followed to promote the gig and flyers are without question one of the best possible tried and tested ways to get the gig out there. Long gone though are the days of badly designed A4 black on white home made jobs, i think you have to present any event thesedays in a professional manner, glossy, small and most importantly dynamic with something that stands out and catches the eye,attention and imagination of the soul scene. Another brilliant way to get the message out there is of cource the wonderful 'On The Scene' monthly gig guide, a unique idea acting as a flyer within a flyer with a print run of some 15,000 per issue, which is distributed on a national level, but you still need the flyer and need to be seen doing all the leg work as you can't expect people too attend without putting the hard work in. I have three dates thus far booked and confirmed at Sheridans and where the venue capacity may only be 250 i still intend to produce around 5,000 flyers as the percentage of people attending against this number of flyers may only be around 5% or less, also posters are a good way to promote in specialist shops and other venues if allowed. I'm sure we have all been to venues recently where there are dozens of flyers on offer, so again you need to produce something that really stands out, trouble is it's far more important to host a quality event rather than a shit hot flyer but again it's all about presentation and style. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

The Fabulous Dimensions - I Can't Take It Baby ( Sapphire) Superb Chicago Soul, never really went that big but could do with some turntable action. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Soulmasters - Rare Authentic Footage Found!!! Set To Preview At The New Century Soul Club Third Allnighter On The Big Screen! Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full

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DaveG, I remember attending the Swanage Allnighter even travelled down on the train with Ian Clark from Reading one time, think it only ran for a short time, always remember Dave Greet playing George Blackwell... seems like a lifetime ago now. Mark White and Buey, Remember The 81 Soul Club, High Wycombe, always packed and always a very good night, don't remember fights at Chesham though, oh and Buey did i say i paid £150.00 for Freddie Houston oh i did tell porkies then, more like cost me £70.00...lol but what a good memory you have, still have the same copy too. Also remember the swimming baths events at Yate with Dave Thorley dressed in trilby hat and pin stripe suit must have been 1976, before it moved to the Stars and Stripes venue. Ady's West Hampstead do's were fantastic events pre 100 Club.....shit time does pass by. Regards - Mark Bicknell.

NEW CENTURY SOUL CLUB ALLNIGHTER SATURDAY JULY 31ST - MAIN ROOM DJ TIMES. Just a quick posting with the main room DJ Times for the NEW CENTURY SOUL CLUB ALLNIGHTER this coming Saturday night AT THE NEW CENTURY HOUSE, CORPERATION STREET, MANCH... Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full

Hi All Sorry not been in touch with you all recently but ive been such a busy DJ chapie over the past few weeks nationwide from Edinburgh through to The Plintston 1st Anniversary with stops off in Hinckley, The Ritz Manchester, Kempston Rovers in Be... Tap to view this Soul Source News/Article in full