Sharon Cooper

Hi, Whilst I agree with your sentiment (Although I can`t see where I`ve said anything here about our venue being good) in regard to the social and musical element being the pre eminent factor, there is a matter of principle which I for one have some difficulty getting over. The geographical spread is nationwide (I didn`t count the venues outside the UK, I don`t think) and I do agree with your statement about this politics issue in the East Midlands; However I think the use of the word `politics` in relation to this area is too generous as I do think there is an element of undermining, maliciousness and downright petty jealousy involved with some. I do agree also that they will fall by the wayside eventually; I`m not worried Chalky, jut voicing my very peeved opinion for what its worth. TonyP`s comment when he says that while ever the majority say; it doesn't matter what form the tunes are on, so long as I can dance" that every man and his dog will start up a soul night is spot on unfortunately. S

For those that were interested in the original thread here is something new which has recently been bought to our attention!: Yet another new event on the same night as an established one (Namely ours; 6 years on) which means that there are now 2 new events starting up this month and next. Next months is approx 6 miles away and the one this month is 3 miles away. This time the rationale is this: "now i am looking into having 1 every week , the people i have spoken to go to different 1's everyweek which means alot of traveling which they don't want...so i am tryin to change that" (Direct quote from the promoter) Any thoughts on the viability of putting on a weekly event (£5 OTD sandwiches provided apparently!)? I can honestly say that the soul scene of a few years ago is now well and truly dead and gone and is in complete freefall as far as I can see. The whole situation is quite pathetic: 37 on one night at the last count - I reckon thats a record!

Totally irelevent I know but I have a tape of Cleethorpes, recorded on my little phillips recorder that i had at the time. Irelevent because it,s undecipherabal, Still kept it though. Ah well I'll get my coat then. Chris

Hi Going away for a few days and staying in Ingleton (West edge of the Yorkshire Dales) Anyone know of anything soul related going off tomorrow (Saturday) within a reasonable distance? Chris and Sharon

Our youngest son, Joel DJ`d d and had his own records (although I paid for most of them!) He DJ`d around and won deserved praise, (yep, I'm biased) but Yocky & Sam Evans & Andy Baskett all encouraged him, as did others. He was a great dancer (still is) and won the dance comp at Skeggy 05. (15). At 17 he found a girl, modern clothes and night clubs. Still dances to the tunes in the dining room but sadly (apart from occasionally) doesn't do soul nights. Time marches on. Chris

Yep it seems it is privately owned, and he apparently has a few financial problems, so what can one do? nowt I guess, shame too because the night was just begining to take off. chris

Looks like I spoke to soon, Calow WM Club near Chesterfield is to close this Sunday, not even allowing us to have a last night in September. It seems the owner wants the money for personal reasons. Whos next me wonders? Chris

nice tune, played it Friday at Calow, mines the 12" paid £40 for it chris

Thanks now have # cheers

Hi Anyone have the tele # for Hip City Records. Chris

Nice post and I would agree wholeheartedly with this. I do agree that the best years were between 71-75, (i was born in 53). I enjoy the scene today as much as ever and despite all the debate over oldies, crossover and modern etc, it is what the scene is all about, discovering new sounds while enjoying and remembering the oldies. Chris

and - again a personal view being expressed here, I think it makes sense for the soul scene to align itself with these community-based independant businesses and show a bit of support Hi Lofty Can't see this happening, where not in this to support Independant Business.We are in it for the Soul and punters will pay to go where they think they'll have a good time, hear good music and have some banter with their pals. If the business fails we'll just have to find other places and lets face it there are plenty of others who provide good venues with good facilities. Chris

Not sure what you are on about. Old folks don't go to clubs because they are older and maybe unable to get out as much. secondly you brought the HSE into it not me. Living with a woman who is a RGN, RMN & has a degree in Health & Social Care I think we can say with some confidence that there is more to the smoking ban than HSE. The smoking ban is about the health of the nation as a whole. There are plenty of us who can go out and have a great night out without having the need to smoke and as for democracy then now the boot is on the other foot, you now know how it feels. I probably agree with you on the current government but would go further and say democracy as we know it is a falacy. We live in short term dictatorships, it's length depending on how well the goverment can lie itself into the next term. Anyway i digress, the fact is and remains that the culture of the nation is changing and I'm pretty sure that if the smoking ban had not come into affect then the WMC & MWs woud still be closing and still be SH*** holes, just as the were before the ban. That though is the point, MW & WMs clubs have been run down for years. The lack of investment and maintanence is obvious and that can only be because of a lack of money to spend on them. With regard to attending soul nights. Personally and from my own experience the majority of people I know who attend soul nights now, attended them BEFORE the smoking ban, smokers and non smokers alike. We may not have liked the idea but it didn't stop us attending just as now smokers still attend but have the option of going out of the room for a fag. Finally i think its a bit patronising to assume that the only enjoyment old folks who attended MWs & Wms clubs had was to sit and have a fag and chat, well thats it then in another 10 years I'll have to sit at home and be miserable cause I don't smoke so i can't socialise. Your point is from a smoking bias therefore your post reflects that and ultimately democracy is about what the majority want not the minority. It isn't democracy if it's all about what you think is right. Chris

True, and HSE are not responsible for the smoking ban, If you can't go out for a night without a 'fag & pint' then there is something wrong. But the point is there a more than one factor regarding the situation. Pubs were closing and being sold for building plots long before the smoking ban> it is a change in culture, where we spend our time and how we spend our money.

Out last night and have to say that the state of some of these venues is appalling.Not the committees fault completely though as the lack of funding over the years has meant that the majority are completely run down and in a bad state of repair: Historically northern do`s were not reknowned for there salubrious surroundings (I`ve been to quite a few dives in my 34 years around and about the scene!) which is ok if all you want to do is listen to music, dance, socialise and drink but for many people nowadays their expectations are greater than this and WMC`s, MW`s etc. are never now going to able to cut it as venues for social events! S x

Now that is very true, although drink at`our` welfare is really extremely cheap...I don`t drink much so the regulars at Pilsley would have to give a view on that one actually...There is big debate about the price of drinks at all these sorts of places but I also think that the general `ambience` of the majority leaves a lot to be desired for a night out (For me anyway) I suppose it depends if you like snooker/pool, dominoes, darts in the company of 6 others or a `turn` on a Friday/Saturday night. They haven`t really moved on from their glory days and it is like being in Phoenix nights at most!

That is what i understood to be the truth about the tune, thought it was purchased by a certain Wigan dj back in the day from F.W. But I am probably wrong. Still crap though.

True, very true, but it's crap anyway so why worry about it. Frank new that at the begining, thats why he blew the track away and only kept a couple of copies for himself, maybe for old times sake. I shouls say "crap, imo" Chris

I agree Bazza, it is a sad state of affairs: All going the way of lots of pubs nationally it seems: Peoples social outlets are very different now to what they were when WMC`s and MW`s were in there hey day. The fact is there just isn`t enough interest in going out to clubs such s these any more and to be honest I wouldn`t want to sit in some of them for an `ordinary` night out as they have seen better days a long long time ago. Large enough venues are very few and far between so we will have to wait and see what happens in the future. Part of the decline perhaps..................... Sharon

Around here many soul night are held in Miners Welfares, all as with other parts of the country have had a part to play in Northern Culture from way back when they started digging 'black gold' out of the ground. In fact lots of those on the scene here were Miners themselves and some run Soul Nights. Times though change and it seems that the Welfare has had it's day. Since the mines closed those attending Welfares has dropped markedly and many struggle to keep open. Last Thursday only 2 people entered our local welfare all day and it survives souly, or so they tell me, on the amount coming to Pilsley Soul each month. Now it seems those who own the Welfares or some of them anyway are about to bring the curtain down on many of them (those NOT making a profit, or so I'm led to believe). Think about it, how much must the real estate that welfares stand on be worth, be a lot better to stick a dozen or so houses on it and make a packet. I understand that the word is that they have got to start making a profit soon or thats it, well I don't know but has anybody else who runs a Welfare soul club heard anything on these lines. Chris

Had this a while and played it out a few times, to very limited response, but sorry like it to much to sell. Chris

Yes it probably is but its all good or a laugh I reckon!!

I`ve just discovered whilst trawling the lower echelons of soul forums that this activity took place at a dance class for northern soul... We have all missed out on something worthy of comment here; Another thread coming up I reckon!

Just feel I`ve got to add my 2 bobs worth about a few issues here; Yes Wigan did have gymnasts but has been said they looked good when they were under 21 and weighed 8 stones and under (Chris did at this time can you believe?) but not all chucked themselves about and there was as many good dancers as idiots trying it out! My lad was into it when a young teenager and wanted the clobber and did wear it and dance at the oldies do`s but did grow out of it and we have a laugh now when we talk about what he wore but he does still have a thing about the music and will have a quick bop around the dining room and looks good `coz he`s 18 and weighs less than 9 stone. To wrap it up anyway... Think the picture and comments (From what I can make of them) looks a bit contrived to me...Was this just a random youth who wandered in then whilst team GB coach Casper was doing a bit of circuit training in readiness for the `big event?!`