Friday, 31 July 2015
Thursday, 30 July 2015
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Monday, 27 July 2015
Club-A-Go-Go Launch Night in Birmingham – review by Gonzo
Sean
Chapman launched a weekly night this week, 23rd July, at the Night Owl in
Digbeth, Birmingham. So a great opportunity to warm up for the Manchester
weekender by popping over for some of Sean’s vinyl charms.
The Night
Owl has been set up recently to play Northern Soul/Motown based music and
Sean’s Club-A-Go-Go night fits in nicely to the Night Owls retro décor and
music policy. We found the Night Owl easy to find and with ample parking
opposite. Opening at 8pm, we arrived near to 9pm to find a number already on
the dance-floor.
£3 on the
door and a decent sized dance-floor with upstairs seating overlooking the
dance-floor and a welcome outdoor area with tables directly off the bar area.
Nice neat fresh club, well laid out, bright environment, good decor and a
reasonable compact size for a Thursday night out.
Sean knows
how to play for the crowd, looking as sharp as ever mixing up a range of Mod
classics, Latin, Ska, a sprinkling of Northern and Reggae and some of the
latest R'n'B tunes.
A mix of
people there covering the spectrum of the scene, many taking to the dance-floor
as the night went on and we had worked up a dance-floor sweat before bidding
farewell to Sean at about 11.45pm (be warned car park shuts at midnight!)
Overall a
great midweek night out, laid back enough to enjoy the classics and latest
tunes but sharp enough that a suit doesn't look out of place. Nice to meet
Chris Leslie in his suit!
Great
night Sean and I hope it goes from strength to strength.
Manchester Mod Weekender - Review of Saturday by Gonzo
Getting to
Manchester during the daytime is no pleasure, especially when you get log
jammed in traffic due to Stockport Carnival! But a trip that had to be done.
The final Hideaway Club session just could not be missed. Having admired the
club from afar for so long and the club having helped direct and shape some of
the core Mod music played around the country for the last 15 plus years this
was a definite 'Not to be missed' occasion.
Arrived in
time to catch the last couple of hours of the free afternoon at the Old Nags
head pub in centre of Manchester, home of the legendary Hideaway Club. Greeted
by the sight of several scooters parked outside on the walk down Lloyd Street
and soon you could hear the sweet R'n'B sounds drifting out of the open
upstairs windows.
Once in
side and upstairs, a mixed relaxed crowd were enjoying the free afternoon, a
few great vintage stalls (some gorgeous John Smedleys for sale) in the back
room and some great tunes being spun. In fact at some points the dance floor
was pretty full. With the likes of Tarheel Slim - Wildcat Tamer and Jimmy
McCracklin - Get Tough being played there were plenty of happy faces and
tapping feet as well as dancers.
The
evening started about 9pm and on arrival at about 9.30 people were just
arriving in numbers. Again a fairly mixed crowd into the music but plenty of
sharp suits and classy ladies.
The next 5
and a half hours were magical. The music played by Neil Henderson, Mike
Warburton, Bill Kealy, John Godden and others was outstanding, obviously those
that enjoy their New Breed R&B and original mod era club sounds (like me!)
were in heaven. John Lee Hooker, Howlin Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Slim Harpo
etc, etc... This was pure unwatered down 'get up and go' gritty R'n'B from
start to almost finish.
People
(Rachelle Piper et al) were still arriving at 11pm and by midnight the upstairs
front room was a cauldron of people, dancing and steaming hot tunes.
By 1.30am
the crowd was beginning to thin. Which just left more room on the dance floor
for everyone else! At 2.30am a few hideaway favourites were spun and as they
are all now Mod classics the dance floor was heaving right up to the end at
3am. Hot, sweaty, exhausted goodbyes were said as the final track 'It Keeps
Rainin' Apt words.. It keeps rainin.. since you gone all I do is cry.. Left me
reeling and rocking..
I
sincerely hope this IS NOT the last we hear of the Hideaway Club and the
wonderful people behind it. But if it is the final, final Hideaway Club night..
this weekend was a most suitable send off.
Thank you
for a night never to be forgotten.
Friday, 17 July 2015
Karen, Mary & Trish report from the Quorn Soul Club, Loughborough
Whilst
Northern Soul is not everyone’s ideal taste in music, a visit to Quorn Soul Club is well worth making. The soul club is
run by Kevin Meek and is named after the village in which is takes place. The
drive into the village of Quorn, Loughborough is a very relaxing one as the
surroundings are very picturesque and there is a very relaxed feeling
throughout this lovely little village.
The venue for the do itself is the Con Club,
Station Road and ideally has a large car park opposite, a very friendly pub
named the White Horse across the road for a few pre-do drinks and various
eateries nearby if required.
The club is popular and has an old school
soul club vibe. The venue is quite small
it does get very busy so arriving early is recommended. The outstanding feel
you get when walking into the venue is one of welcome as although it is
frequented by many “local” people they go out of their way to make newcomers
feel very welcome.
After paying and chatting with the very
friendly door staff you enter the venue itself which is quite deceptive from
the outside. There is a seating area and bar as you walk in but as you venture
further into the building you will find the dance floor and DJ box. We have
been several times now and never once seen the dance floor empty, quite the
contrary, it is often hard to find a spot!
The club has its resident DJs such as Julian
Clapton, Kev, Twinny, Aga Steans as well has playing host to several guest DJs
each month such as Alessandro D’Alessio, Rob Glover, Glyn Preece and Soup and
Bread. We have always found that there are plenty of dance-floor fillers and
classics played, so great for a good night of dancing.
The club has also a very nice beer garden at
the back which is very useful to cool off after you have worked up a sweat on
the dance-floor.
The club runs the 2nd Friday of every month,
8pm to late and is £3 otd – Con Club, Station Road, Quorn.
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