I think it's definately a bad thing that there are so many nights on which means people get spoilt for choice and less people travel. A mate of mine moved to Oslo a couple of years back and took his record collection with him and to cut a long story short started running soul/rnb nights(Klubb Magnuss + Miss Millies). Although there is the 'Oslo Soul Experience' and a couple other soul nights the music/scene is still relatively new to allot of people over there.
I've dj-ed there the last two years at the 'oslo mod weekender' and it's just gone from strength to strength with two successful club nights packed to the rafters friday night 250+, saturday night touching 325 , 85% of people in there where i'd say from 20-30 yr olds.
Just because it's called a mod weekender dont be laughing to yourselves thinking "bloody mods haven't got a clue about music" not true!
The music thats played is Rare Soul, Rnb, Latin + Ska all in a mix that gets the clubs rocking here's a few that was played last year just so you havce a rough idea:
Billy Hawkes - Oh Baby
Jone Tee - You made a lover
Jimmy Phillips - she belongs to me
Sammi Lee - Lets Talk It over
Manny Corchado - Pow Wow
Enchantments - I'm In Love With Your Daughter
Jokers - Soul Sound
Sugar Boy Williams - Little Girl
There will be some people wierdos who dont like any of the above, oh well
Tim Smithers is dj-ing out there in a few weeks i'm sure he'll come on here saying how fantastic/young/up for it the crowd were .
The clubs in norway are on monthly but there is only 1 or two on a month not like 30/40, us brits are spoilt face it!
2nd Point -
It all sounds very basic and common sense the Venues + Music both have a massive effect on the atmosphere of a club IMO what can definatley bring an influx of younger people to the scene is the environment the music is listened in, for me it needs to feel like a club not a social night or get together, We're in the year 2009 where young people like to go out get pissed and dance around , surely there must be a way to play this awesome music in a club atmopshere that attracts more/younger people into it? Could this ever happen?. Too many soul nights have this stop start feel to it but i think thats down to the dj's not being able to make thier sets flow, One minute the floor is full then a track gets played and it's empty .
Like mace and beeks mentioned there's no need to compromise the music and definately no modern or crossover . I heard one of maces cover up's a few weeks ago and it blew my socks off I kept asking him to play it hoping i could remember the lyrics but i was to pissed to remember . I guarentee when he plays at pow wow(lots of younger people who just want to dance to great music) on april 18th he'll take the roof off without any compromising .
also just a quick point, you never seem to see soul night flyers around apart from at Soul Nights, it's all very well letting people know who are already into the scene and maybe thinking of going but what about the people who dont know that these nights exist or do some soulies want to keep the scene to themselves i wonder ?
All of the above is of course only my opinion
Callum.