In reality there are many Northern Soul scenes now: the Nostalgia-only revival scene (Stoke etc); the bit of it which regards itself as cutting edge (Lifeline); millions of small events which are evening only as opposed to allnighters; a couple of relatively huge annual blow-outs like Prestatyn and Cleethorpes; scenes in Germany and Spain (Bamberg and Barcelona respectively are particularly good). There used to be a vibrant scene in Scandinavia but that seems to be less prominent than earlier in the decade.

Alcohol has changed the character of the scene a bit. Most people drink now, where before abstinence at events was a norm. That's altered things somewhat, particularly at weekenders which can now occasionally get a bit messy.

Forty years of obsessive record collecting have promoted a culture where many more people see themselves as DJs and promote their own micro-events in order to play their records.

Great records are still being found—obviously at a much slower rate than in the past—but these are now either astronomically expensive or completely unreleased tracks found in tape vaults. The new discoveries tend to be out of reach of the average punter for these reasons.

The assessment by (I think) Yuca earlier in the thread was spot on really. Having said all that the social side of it can still be good on occasion and I can overlook many of the shortcomings to hear something brilliant I've never heard before. I actually quite like the idea that the better events are much smaller and often in dingy cellar-bars. That takes it back to the roots really.

The idea that good soul music can only be enjoyed in a cavernous former dancehall or dismal civic centre seems peculiarly anachronistic.

Last edited by NaturalSoleReprise (2014-10-28 13:17:14)

“They fuck you up, your mum and dad.   
They may not mean to, but they do.”

Wigan wasn't the be all and end all of Northern Soul. It was a huge and significant allnighter but the events which happened before and after it, and indeed ran alongside it, have just as much validity. Wigan is not a synonym for the entire movement.

This is The Quad in full flow....Now this is pilled up..!! Check out the casualties..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ5mvPEG5lE

Blood Wigan Casino....