This website was previously owned by Northern Soul Radio; which used to broadcast Northern Soul and Motown Music online.
“…the future of radio was on the net”
Northern Soul Radio was an Internet Radio Station specializing in Northern Soul and Motown music. As an Internet Radio Station; Northern Soul Radio was broadcasting 24/7 playing current big Northern records of the Soul, Motown classics, and great Northern Soul oldies plus the listeners requests. For Web Radio at it’s very best then it had got to be northernsoulradio.co.uk.
Northernsoulradio.co.uk was purely about the music and for people who enjoy Northern Soul. No longer did they need to wait to tune into a traditional radio show hoping that they could catch the odd Northern Soul or Rare Motown track; right on the station 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. One could log on and listen to the music one loved, listen when one wants; at a time when one needs it. However, no matter where one was in the world one could log on and listen.
Broadcasting from their studios in the ‘Heart of England’, each new show went out on Friday evenings (British Summer Time); then transmitted continuously for the rest of the week. Each show was being made up of three main components to cater for the styles and tastes of the majority of people who were devotees of Northern Soul.
They are;
1) NORTHERN SOUL TIME – classic oldies from the great clubs of yesteryear. Current big tracks that are popular on the scene right then with many being discovered in the past few years; plus listeners requests.
2) MOTOWN MAGIC – Remembering those classic all time favorite oldies together with rare and un-used tracks all stemming from Motown; Plus listeners requests.
3) MODERN SOUL ESSENTIAL – With more and more Northern Soul events introducing a second room playing Modern Soul; this part of the show highlighted some of the biggest tracks that were getting played. Tracks could include anything from the mid 70’s through to brand new releases.
Recent Posts:
Curbing Illegal Activities; Which Happens at Soul Events
Well I suppose the inevitable had to happen and will continue happening; with the continued popularity in the Northern Soul scene with record sales being good; attendances still very strong and media coverage also extremely promising. The more unsavory aspects of the scene has begun to raise its ugly head.
I am talking about an increase of cases by those lowlifes who go to soul events and steal records. Nevertheless, I have recently heard of people being caught stealing from record dealers who are selling at weekenders; happily these culprits I was assured were removed from the venue and sent packing! But they still crop up from time to time. They even go to an extent of mugging soul lovers who try to get home after a happy soulie event.
That is very acceptable and has to cease
A friend of mine who isn’t a record dealer. But just one of the hundreds of guys who go to soul events every week. He takes a small box of records with him hoping to sell an odd item or two was at a Northern Soul night in Hinckley last month. And he had only popped over to get a pint from the bar; when he came back he noticed the clip on the box was open; and when he checked through his records, about 6 rare Motown singles had been taken.
Lets face it we have all brought vinyl off these guys, they are after all part and parcel of the scene, in fact one of the best parts of an all-nighter is going and having a look through the small record boxes that many punters carry around.
These Muggers Need to have Actions Taken Against Them
I really get miffed at these types of occurrences, I mean more often than not you can always haggle with the seller and get a few pounds knocked off whatever the asking price is, so why go to the bother of stealing! Whilst I know what many people will say and they are right that this type of thing has always gone on; it doesn’t mean we have to accept it nor should we; after all it is completely opposite the camaraderie and friendship; which is what the scene is all about.
These people are plain and simple thieves there is no other way of describing them more importantly they are certainly not welcome on the Northern scene of Soul.
I think that the perpetrators of these ugly scenes should have harsh measures taken against them whenever they are caught in these actions. It is the only way to deter the recurrence of such acts or others; which might crop up if these muggers realize that they no actions is taken against them.
Abusive Language is Not Acceptable in Music
Over the years that I’ve been advent fan of Motown Music as well as Northern Soul Music, I must testify that I have, on occasions, been somewhat critical of people who display a certain lack of intolerance in different areas of the scene. Now I know that there are many people who would prefer that I did not mention these more unpleasant aspects. But I consider it my duty to keep you informed about goings on that may well be detrimental to our music.
I remember a day that I attended a Northern Soul night event in North Midland, England. At the event, there was a DJ who had been booked to perform at the gig. According to my opinion, the DJ appeared a modest and mature man and I was certain that he would make our night great. The DJ had been booked to perform ‘oldies’ for two hours.
He was never disappointed
I gave him a plus for his performance. Despite the dance floor being constantly packed throughout his stint; behind the decks as he was leaving the stage he was accosted by a guy who called him a ‘f-ing wanker’! His crime for such an outburst was not playing any new tracks; isn’t that appalling!
The proof that this flare-up was not justified was the fact that the dance floor was packed constantly throughout his set; which more than anything in my book shows that the records; he played were what the punters wanted to hear.
The more I thought about this the more annoyed I become; are we saying that nowadays when DJing we cannot play any of those all time greats from places like Wigan Casino or The Torch? If we do, we face being verbally abused? Surely that can’t be right, when will these people understand that the ordinary & average Northern Soulie; the ones who keeps the scene going week in week out prefer to listen and dance to those classic oldies. Alright, the purist may not like it; but the vast majority of punters do.
What it seems like
It really seems that the music scene of Northern Soul has entirely changed. Maybe the new generation of fans doesn’t care about how others feel about the music being played.
I just don’t get what it is that brings out the worst in people after all the Northern Soul scene in the past used to be so friendly. Equally what gives this moron or any other the right to be so insulting! By all means talk to a DJ about his spot and ask him about the records he played, most DJ’s have no problem with that. But I also suggest that any bad attitudes should be left at the door!
Northern Soul Music Scene Marred by Violence
There has been a lot of discussion and talk on the scene recently regarding outbreaks of trouble at some Northern Soul events in different parts of the country; often brought on by non soulie types who gain entry into an event then upset people once they are in. The old chestnut of a national membership card has even reared its head again. The thinking behind such a scheme is that no-one would be able to get into a northern event anywhere in the country without this membership card and would have to produce it if you attended a soul night.
I am not fully convinced though about the worthiness of such as scheme myself. Can you imagine the amount of events that would be killed off due to low attendance if this did come into practice. Can you imagine any promoter turning away people who are willing to pay the admission price; just because they have not got a valid membership? Of course they won’t.
Alcohol Equates to Problems
In my experience; if the venue is licensed to sell alcohol then trouble can flare up at anytime; this is one of the main point promoters need to be aware of; the demon drink can turn the most placid person into a raging fury.
The simple fact that it is a Northern Soul night is not a guarantee that it will be trouble free and that is where I think a lot of the problem lies; speak to almost anyone on the scene and they will say “you never see fights at a Northern Soul do”; the comment has become so ingrained in our thoughts that I think promoters and venues alike are being somewhat ‘economical’; with the amount of door security they employ. However, the society we live in now is so much more violent than we had even 10 years ago; and sadly, that will at times spill into the Northern scene of Soul.
Increasing the Admission Fees Will Deter ‘Gate-Crushers’
Nonetheless, I am pretty sure the trouble that is being talked about is, on the scale of things, fairly small; it will certainly be few and far between. Whilst I agree no-one likes going to events where there is trouble; it has to be said that people on the Northern Soul scene can at times be almost paranoid about it. The rumors and gossip just fly around if there has been the merest hint that problems have occurred. But I am confident it is not as bad as it is being made out to be.
I am sure that on the Northern Soul scene the majority of events are as safe now as they ever were. But I would ask venues and promoters not to be as complacent as they have been in the past. We need to see all events now with a policy of employing fully trained door staff; if that means increasing the admission prices to pay for them. But to keep the punters safe then so be it.
Why do Revelers Use Drugs?
It is a common scene for law enforcement agencies to raid Soul events and venues as the war against drugs tighten. During the raids, there are usually some arrests made leaving many revelers angry about the raids. Some go to an extent to question the morality of the anti-drugs squad; who raid such scenes. But I hold a different preposition; as long as drugs are illegal; then there shouldn’t be any mumbling about any raids at soul events or the eventual arrests; which follow suits. Let’s get some facts right.
Drugs on the Dance Floor
The question I want to ask though is, “Should we have been that surprised?” Northern Soul is and always has been an underground dance music scene. In fact, as I have told many soul lovers many times that Northern Soul is the biggest and longest running underground scene ever. But with any dance scene whether it is House, Hip Hop, Urban or any of the others; then drugs will raise its head and be part of it.
Drugs will always find their way on the dance-floor of any music event; especially that which attracts many revelers. This is not a practice; which cropped up recently. But something which has been traditionally accustomed with music scenes; as long as I or any other person may remember.
History of Drugs in Northern Soul Events
When you look into the history of the scene you will find that Drugs and Northern Soul go together almost ‘hand in hand’. During the time I was researching my book ‘That Beatin’ Rhythm’; I had so much information about the drugs scene stretching as far back as the mid 60’s from the people I was interviewing; that I included a full chapter about the subject!
They could all remember things like chemist shops being broken into; police road blocks en route to soul events and the inevitable Drug Squads raiding soul venues. Nonetheless, the point is that even back then; drugs played its part in the early days at soul music clubs that became even more prominent when the all-nighters began to flourish.
As we all get that little bit older
I think we sometimes see things through those tinted specs and forget how readily available; particularly amphetamines and speed were; not forgetting how many people were taking them. Be that as it may, I remember going to many venues and it seemed like everyone was “blocking it” on something. I would say almost every major venue had its fair share of drugs on its premises; including the likes of Wigan Casino, Blackpool Mecca and The Torch; where those that wanted it could always score. But we all knew that anyway didn’t we?
Maybe it is ourselves who need to have prior education about the effects of drugs; before we start pointing fingers. Along with blaming anti-drug agencies for targeting music scenes; as well as making arrests for those caught with drugs.
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