Seaside Soul Club

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Item No: 056

Posted: 05/05/07

Item: Review : North Lancs Soul Festival 2007

Follow the links below for the Picture Slideshows of the 2007 Festival:

DAY 1 - Trip to The Orwell Wigan

DAY 2 - Morecambe - Various Venues

Life and SOUL of the party
Sunshine and soul combined to make Morecambe the place to be at the weekend's North Lancs Soul Festival. SEAN O'CONNOR, one of the organisers and DJs, brings you this special report.

HUNDREDS of soul fans travelled from all corners of the country and hoteliers will have enjoyed seeing their rooms booked by people from Edinburgh, Carlisle, Bournemouth, Kent and what seemed to be the whole of Yorkshire!

This was the inaugural North Lancs Soul Festival, hosted by The Seaside Soul Club, and by the time festivities came to an end at 11pm on Sunday night at the York Hotel everyone by that time had made new friends, had already booked for next year and had experienced something really special.

The weekend started off at The Orwell Pub in Wigan, an established soul venue on the soul calendar with a coach load from Morecambe expanding the numbers and guest DJs Shaun Robbins, Bob Smith and yours truly brought a festival flavour to the proceedings.

A very late finish but an early start on Saturday – what the football fans must have thought as the soulies tucked into their breakfasts at the York and were listening to sweet soul music coming from the back bar!
Mick Dennison, landlord of the York, said: "It was an absolute success from a landlord and a hotelier's point of view.

"We had people staying here from all over the country, including most of the DJs. And I've already got people booked in for next year!
"We had two coachloads of Grays Athletic football fans arrive during the soul music, dressed as doctors and nurses ready for their last game of the season against Morecambe, so the atmosphere was incredible.

Loved
"It was great for the town and speaking as a fan of soul music, I loved it!"

Mick now plans to host Soulful Sundays at the York in future, perhaps as a follow-up to the regular Seaside Soul Club Saturdays at Upstairs Downstairs. Watch this space for more details.

And there was more great news later on Saturday that Morecambe had finished third in the Conference and will now travel to York on Friday – so don't forget to book your ticket with the football club….quick plug!
The Kings Arms took care of proceedings on Saturday afternoon with Terry Gee and the soulful trio of Andy Lett, Pete Haigh and Steve Naylor providing the jazzy funky vibes.

I'm sure as I peered out of the upstairs window I caught Eric having a boogie in the sunshine!

The Bath Hotel was packed to the doorway with northern soul sounds emanating and record bars from The Soul at Salwick crew Sue, Dave and Geoff kept the collectors happy.

This went on all night and continued again on Sunday with Gary White and The Barrow Scooter Club providing the early entertainment.

Upstairs Downstairs was heaving as Roman from Soul at Barnoldswick, Bob Smith, Shaun Robbins and Pete, Steve and Andy kept the dance floor busy supported by the Seaside Soul Crew.

A special mention must go out to all 20 of the Wakefield City Soul Club who quite simply made everywhere they went a special place to be.
As friendly a group of people you would wish to meet, they provided hours of laughs all weekend. Their passion and enthusiasm for the music was infectious.

Thanks
It was great to speak to so many from outside the resort who were so positive about the town. They enthused over the sea views, they loved the venues and most importantly the friendliness of the locals who mixed so well.

A big thanks from The Seaside Soul Club to all the venue managers for providing the venues free of charge, to their staff for their hard work and to all the DJs who provided their services free of charge and played quality music all weekend.

Most importantly, thanks to everyone who supported us over the weekend – you were all fantastic. Roll on 2008.

Festival Website Link

Last Updated: Saturday 5 May, 2007 14:05