Saxafone

Got mine on Friday, just in time for a domestic all - nighter. Thanks Richard, a classy job all round. Taff

Just to establish there's no North / South prejudice going on here, I'll be in tropical Morecambe over the weekend. Seaside Soul Club, get the hypothermia gear out !!!! Taff

Mark, I suspect you live North of that Mason Dixon line where there are more soul nights to choose from than you can waggle a stick at. I think I can honestly say that down here in the sunny Sarf there is still an unbridled enthusiasm and appetite for our music that is maybe borne of it's relative rarity and scarcity of regular venues. (or maybe there's just more sunshine lol!) We all worship at the altar of the perennial 100 Club every now and then, but hey that's been our only constant. The 100 also brings together exiles from many diverse soul backgrounds which serves as a brilliant melting pot for the London / Southern scene. I also suspect that the very longevity of the 100 and it's establishment as the South's Taj Mahal of Soul has forged a different expectation to that which may prevail up North where the centres of influence change over the years as venues rise and fade. Since moving to London many, many moons ago, I have been struck by the dedication and committment of the troops down here, to create something that I recognise as having evolved from the traditional "Northern" night but at the same time being more willing to explore different strokes - and I don't mean modern, far from it. A gang of us are just about to set off on our first venture to organise a soul night here in deepest Essex, ego stroking most defo not, we'll all probably lose a few (many) quids - but we're determined to have a great time spreading the gospel - we're in it for the music and sod all else. The interest and support we have received has been fantastic and attending other "nearby" nights like Kent SC & Bisley is a throw back to the days of old where friendship and enjoyment of the music was all that mattered. So get yourself under that UV lamp till the sun reappears, things are not that dark or f***ed up. Well not here anyway ! Taff the uncynical p.s. 3 hours of sunshine predicted for the north on bank holiday weekend - get the speedos ready !

Bearsy, given that we've already established that I consider lancing my own piles as being preferable to listening to "Modern" you can take it that I am firmly in the underplayed and rarely heard 6ts soul camp. Just chilling and listening to this little ditty right now - "Long Ago" think he means the 6ts ! Taff 24___Long_Ago.mp3

A flamenco tapas bar in the centre of Seville about 12 years ago, over there on an university study thing (ok jolly) and had made this bar next to our hotel the tour hq. Anyone who has listened to more than 2 flamenco numbers on the trot will know that it's not the grooviest kind of choon to party to. Anyway about 2am and the place is packed and on comes Crackin up, blasting out of the speakers - cue 20 "mature" stoodents (london guildhall uni's finest) dancing on the tables, bar and any horizontal surface in there. This was followed by just like the weather, exus trek, angel baby and many other classics.. The locals were somewhat surprised, the bar owner was totally gob smacked, the uni lecturers over there with us held their heads in their hands at the thought of the diplomatic incident that was sure to follow - cue one giggling welshman who had managed to open the bar's cd juke box and swapped the local variety for something a bit more soulful. Fortunately the owner loved it, the locals joined in and we carried on into the small hours - one of those nights where you just had to be there. Intoxicated by this wonderful and bizarre sight and probably a few sherberts too many I whacked some pesetas in the bar's pay phone to let the other half share this magical moment at home, "do you know what f%*..ing time it is" followed by the sound of a phone being slammed down did take some of the shine off it for about 20 seconds.... till the next sound came on !! So if you are ever in a flamenco bar in downtown Seville and the opening bars of Cracking up come out of the speakers, please ask for my cds back. Happy days - Taff

Gave some folk a lift to Prestatyn from Essex, they tell me that tonight's C4 10pm film wedding belles has N Soul & dancing. Probably wrong forum and maybe totally wrong, I have passed it on. Taff