The difference is Simsy, you can drive 150 miles in the States and everything will be exactly the same at journey's end, as at the start. Imagine the difference say driving 150 miles north from London, different architecture, accents, character of people.etc. It's the same with soul........it does change from region to region and unless you pick your West midlands events carefully, you do get a diet of oldies in my experience.
I'll give a shout here for Creative soul in Wellingborough as trying something very different. And before anyone says it, Northants is officially in the East Midlands.