Olivernorth

I regularly went 76/77 Sunday night/dayers dont recall bali high been open only main room and numbers could sometimes be low in those years as l recall

Spencer Davis Group keep on running about sometime 76/77 near closing time daylight thro windows main room near empty

l frequented the Sunday northern soul night/dayers at the Birmingham Lacarno from 76 onwards usually after attending Wigan or Yate Saturday nighters, unaware of it earlier than that but others may enlighten

It left a lasting impression when l seen it at the Belgrade Coventry June 1-4 2005 felt special as northern was still relatively under the radar at that time, pre mass media and outsiders

May have been more apt in years past to have worn T shirts bearing “Keep The Secret” as “Keep The Faith” appears to have spread the faith far and wide to the masses who ignored it for 40 plus years, who are now proudly proclaiming northern a way of life!

The born again northern devotees and Johnny come latelys further encouraged to enter our places of worship once unknown to the masses now seeking refuge from the local pubs and clubs, seeking out our once secret sounds cutting rug and now becoming one of the in crowd. No drinks on the dance floor not forgetting your handbags please, oh to late there pissed! Welcome to the strange world of northern soul 2023

J J Barnes has died as announced on Ian Levines Facebook account, rip a founding figure in northern soul

Great to see a time when the faithful had vastly reduced in number and northern had returned to the shadows in contrast to today’s mass appeal to anyone over 50 seeking the refuge of a northern soul night

I remember going to an all-nighter at Yate swimming baths sometime in 1976/77 run by Kojak in a small very dark room, a nighter to remember for all the wrong reasons. Also went to the village Bournemouth where in a side room a northern night ran alongside the main room full of normal nightclub revellers about 1975.

Here we go again, someone from our scene cuttin rug, on prime time

My sincerest apologies cheating kind by don Gardner

I’m Gone Northerns ultimate anthem what a legacy we owe Don Gardner many’s a night cutting rug to it over the years played everywhere yet this powerhouse sound still delivers, RIP.

Who ever the dj be it a Northern Soul oldies revival night with soul teds and Johnny come latelys to traditional Northern Soul usually a nighter playing underplayed, never played new discoveries with a dab of oldies, you pays your money you takes your chance.

Yes I knew Phil Arle well in the seventies a gang of us used to go to Wigan, the Mecca, Locarno and several other places he had a green Vauxhall Viva HB travelled a fair few miles with him, Lost contact with him late 70s moving onto jazz funk. Not seen him around in years.

“Northern soul a dance scene” maybe those not wishing to be asailed by the Various shades of Northern past and present (feeling a sense of embarrassment) maybe best served staying at home listening to the entire back catalogue of Gill Scott Heron to expand your mind wearing comfortable slippers as the call to the dance floor has never been a priority either in the present or past.