Northern Soul

I was bored this morning so I hooked up YouTube and off I went on one of those journeys that could take you anywhere.

Well I ended up here. Northern Soul, a particular musical movement from the 70's the main base was in the north of England. More particularly for this post anyway at the Wigan Casino, not a casino but a dance hall. The owners got an all night licence so that punters could dance all night. Well from 12.00 to 06.00 am. No alcohol could be served to keep within the licensing agreement, so these kids danced all night on a high, fueled by the music of black America the other dancers and maybe a little speed.

The first clip will give you an idea of what the scene was all about. The documentary from the 70's the middle clip gives a bit more background but I felt it was missing something I want to know more about the people, and what the music from a different place and time meant to them.

Apparently there is a movie in the making that documents the rise and fall of a particularly English party scene. So maybe I will get the answers that I need from that when it is released.

I am from the south and just a little to young to have been a part of this incredibly interesting scene, so I mainly missed out, though I was aware thanks to some northern friends at school (Marie B in particular).

Looking back it strikes me that there are some strong similarities between the Northern Soul scene of the 70's and the rave scene in the late 80's early 90's a scene that I spent so much of my time and sweaty energy following .

I too had a church to worship at each Friday and Saturday night (Labyrinth at the 3 aces club). Where too no drink was sold (apart from water) and everyone there was in it for the music the dance and the excitement of being directly involved in a form of expression that was truly ours and no one else's, at least at that time. It was also a time of strong friendships bonding myself and my fellow ravers. Imagine a train load of excited teenagers and early twenty somethings off to London to one of the most hardcore clubs in existence at that time. We were all paid up members and regular faces and we all reveled in those moments of realization of what we were doing. I don't remember this specifically but the Prodigy played their first live PA here and were regular members themselves, I must have been there as I was always there every Friday or Saturday without fail. It was as hard as it got. These clips bring back those same feelings. Memories as hard as they get and then some.

I am looking forward to the film next year, I will post more info when I have it. In the mean time enjoy some classic Northern Soul.