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George Coumbis and Vince Peach started off the scene in the 1980's and are the true original Northern Soulers in Australia also 100% Australians and they have not been recognised for it either. Both of them DJ on the Radio as well with there own Northern Soul Shows that have been going for over 10 years. Modern Scene is captured by the Soul Sisters. But has not really proved to be that successful as of late as people in Sydney now want to hear the old stuff, but still has its following of 100. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There
appears to be a lot of interest in the Northern Soul scene in Australia
at the moment, and rightly so. It
is the biggest and best outside of the UK, many people in the UK have
friends and relatives out here, and it has always been a popular
migration point for us Poms. Hence
over the years Brits have come out clutching their cases full of 45’s
thinking they would relive their youth sunning themselves on the patio,
listening to music, alone with a beer. I have to say we do all of the
above, but not alone! With
the advent of the first national Soul weekender in Adelaide in 1998, a
whole new world opened up for “Soulies” in Australia.
Admittedly it’s not like jumping in the car and driving down
the M62 or M1 for an hour or so, as Australia is a big country and Perth
to Sydney is like London to Moscow.
You don’t just drive to a “night” here unless it’s in
your own city, and as most cities only have one ‘do a month, it’s in
no way comparable to the UK, where you can get 3 or 4 in a night in one
area. The scene here is
country-wide and, for the most part, thankfully free of the politics
that sometimes mars the UK scene. Most of the participants are ex-pats,
but we have managed to convert some of the locals and some play a major
part in the scene, especially in Sydney. When
people come out to visit relatives or take a holiday here, they have
discovered a small but vibrant scene. Eddy Edmondson - one of the most
known and liked faces on the UK scene – occasionally visits family in
Perth and usually does a “spot” at Perth’s Irish Club. Barry
Simpson - another well-known UK DJ - has been out for all of the last 3
national weekender ‘dos. Last years proceedings at the Melbourne
weekender were enlivened by the presence of Barry and Helen Pitcher and
Dick and Margaret Keogh from Runcorn, Cheshire, who came out especially
for the weekender. I suspect from their reaction that they and others
will be back. The 2002 weekender is in Adelaide, and it will be
interesting to see who comes out from the UK. It is expensive to get
here but it’s a wonderful country and well worth the effort. You’ll
fall in love with the place. Luckily,
thanks to the Internet we can keep up with all the latest sounds being
played in the UK. We all have CD /vinyl sources in the UK, and some of
visit there regularly on dubious business trips, which always seem to
coincide with a big Soul ‘do back home. Denny Johnson immediately
springs to mind but I am sure there are others, and good luck to them
all I say. In
the early days it was all stompers and 60’s classics, but the scene
has certainly moved on here now. Strangely, each city is different in
its music tastes and the CD compilations created for each national are
certainly different as each city chooses its own selections to make up
the commemorative CD. The
Sydney scene: The Sydney soul sisters who have moved up a gear in recent times now ably run their local scene. Two of the soul sisters are Australian, which shows what a good ear they had for music in the early mod years in the 1980’s when George Columbus started playing northern/ Motown nights there. The scene is now dominated by the smoother sounds of the 60’s,70’s 80’s and 90’s. The girls hold regular monthly venues at the Globe Hotel. Also tune into their radio show on Friday nights, titled “Fire on the Wire” on Eastside Radio 89.7 fm. The girls play lots of good tunes and do regular interviews with visiting Soulies in Sydney. I was lucky enough to have Maria and Alex interview me and let me play about 8 records back in 1999. It was a great experience. Check out the web site at www.sydneysoulsisters.com Unfortunately,
one of the sisters Chrissie Fineron is back in the UK and is doing so
many northern soul do’s there she won’t come back!
Sydney fittingly hosted the year 2000 weekender and it was a huge
success due to the sterling efforts of the soul sisters, Pete Morgan and
Craig Bayliss, to name just a few. Also in Sydney Soul Biscuits Northern Soul Club in Sydney and its on once a month
Soul Biscuits has proved to be the Number 1 club in Sydney with 250+ on a Wednesday night...not many places can vouch for that - not even in the UK. www.soulbiscuits.s5.com its on the last Wednesday of the month. Resident DJ in club are Keith Miller - George Coumbis (not columbus) alias Agent 00 Soul and Steve Bardsley who fly's in from Melbourne just to DJ once a month. Its a Free Club and it's an Oldies Only Club and that's not the punters.. that's the music. Motto 100% Oldies Classics Guaranteed. FREE always and no modern allowed. A word form Keith I actually come form Edinburgh and lived there for 34 years - I class myself as 3rd generation Northern Souler and got into it about 1982.. but already was listening to motown and other soul stuff through my parents records and got into it through being a mod in the early 80's. But I soon learned that my heart laid with Soul music. so since then I have loved Northern - My first experience was at Uptowns and Mad Hatters in Edinburgh. I saw for the first time Northern Soul dancers and clappers and I will never forget it as I remember the song that was playing. Interplay by Derek and Ray. one of my favourites and Like Adam and Eve by The Reflections. another cracker. So it started from there and through the years I have still loved it and never forgotten my roots. I came to Australia to be with my fiancée and not long wife Amy, I tried the last time I was here to get something done, but didn't manage to get anything. so I vowed to her that when I come back - I will be the biggest Northern Soul Dj in Sydney and Oz if I can. I already conquered Sydney with the highest number of Soul fans turning out every month to go to Soul Biscuits. I shall continue until I am recognised back home as a Northern Soul Dj and will come home to play some big gigs in the UK. This is my goal and it will happen, as I am a realist and you must always have a goal no matter what. Soul Biscuits will remain a free night on a Wednesday as long as people keep supporting me..I get DJs from all over Oz wanting to DJ and I shall endeavour on giving all of them a shot as long as they play Northern Classics and never Modern. Soul in Australia is massive and much bigger than anyone knows in the UK..we keep it in the tradition that it has come used to in the UK..with 78% of punters being from the UK and Ex pats. But the Australians are picking it up and are starting to come in there droves to an age old UK tradition NORTHERN SOUL. Keith
Miller..owner of SOul Biscuits.
held at Bar Cleveland 433
Cleveland St (cnr Bourke) The Adelaide scene: Adelaide had the distinction of hosting the first national weekender in 1998. It was chosen solely for the reason it was as central as you could get between the Soul centres of Perth in the west and the eastern cities of Sydney and Melbourne. It had a mod scene but no real northern scene so, it was organized by people from different cities. Mark Howlett was the key player in Adelaide, aided and by Perth’s Pete Fowler, Melbourne’s Vince Peach and one third of the Sydney soul sisters Maria Orlovic . It was a huge success and since then, for me, one of the most unassuming and nicest guys on the scene Pete Feven (an ex Rochdale lad) has taken on the mantle and runs the Adelaide scene. Pete and his wife Miriam also run bi-monthly ‘dos at The Duke of York pub on Currie Street. They often get between 50 and 80 turning up at the Duke - mostly ex-pats, but again a sprinkling of locals. Mostly it’s a classic oldies night but Pete has broken lots of more modern and newer finds. Check
out Pete via email on afeven@hotmail.com The Melbourne scene: This city has, in Vince Peaches words, a “glut of soul”. Melbourne is probably the most active scene in Australia, and it seems to go from strength to strength . With regular weekly soul nights, a monthly all-nighter and 4 radio shows, it has given northern soul more exposure than any other city. It also has in Frank Driscoll, who is one of the premier DJ’s with probably the finest collection of vinyl in Australia. Add to that Vince Peaches collection (and Vince is certainly the most active DJ in Australia) and you have all the ingredients of a great scene. Melbourne also has a good young crowd who join with all the ex-pats to complete a very healthy and constantly-growing scene. Melbourne hosted the 2001 weekender and the Saturday night venue was awesome. Melbourne tends to play the traditional northern, and also some very rare sounds. Check
out the scene via Vince on souldj@lavalink.com.au The
Perth scene: This is my home city and the scene has been active here since Nigel Loveless started playing northern soul back in 1973. The scene went quiet for a while when Nigel returned to the UK, but he was back in 1977, spinning it again. Things stayed fairly low-key, however, until 1996 when Pete Fowler and some friends decided to put on a northern night. After a change of venue a year or so after they started up, the soul nights settled into the Irish club in Subiaco, and the rest is history. This is still the venue today and the scene is thriving, with a soul night held on the first Saturday of every month. Pete celebrates the 5th anniversary here in March 2002. Glen Polk-Smith and I also run periodic all-dayers and the odd all-nighter, just for a bit of extra fun for us all. Perth hosted the 1999 weekender and unfortunately is not due to hold it again till 2003. Probably the most anglophile as well as the remotest city in the world we think it’s the best, but then we would, as we choose to live here. The Perth contingent always has the farthest to travel to any weekender but as always, a large and passionate crew head out to where ever the weekender may be. Contact Pete via soulman@iexpress.net.au Or Glen and myself via soulbrothersdownunder@hotmail.com soulman@dmn.com.au or Glen via glenps@foxit.com.au If anyone is interested in coming out or getting info about the scene here do not hesitate to get in touch. Glen and myself also have a web site (in the early stages) at www.foxit.com.au/blue All I can say is this place has the lot and northern soul !!!! Barry Stanley Feb 2002
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Glen, Barry,Gill and Paul's spot part 1 and part 2 , Stream all spots You
always tend to worry when you are organizing any do, whether it be a
party at your house or an all-nighter with 300 people coming. Well,
our all-dayer at the Beach Tavern Mullaloo was no exception.
It
was the first time we had held any event there, so the thoughts going
through our minds as we helped Nigel set the decks and sound equipment
up were: what would it be like? Would many turn up? (especially since
another do had been organised that would clash with ours). Would people
like the Venue? Would the atmosphere be all that we had hoped for? Would
they like the music choice?. Later looking back over the day, we need not have worried at all. But more on that later.Let me fill you in on the background to the “dayer” and what we are trying to achieve here in Perth, Western Australia. First
to the venue, which happens to be a pub across the road from the beach
and the Indian Ocean. Looking out from the decks as you cue your record
up all you can see if you look to your left though the main doors is a
pure blue sky that melts into the deep azure blue sea. “You don’t
get views like that in the Midlands.” Paul said to me as we both
looked out. The room itself, called “the end bar” is real kitsch, dark with built in 60's style alcove settings all around the walls, with a bar in the corner and quite a large dance floor that Paul Feeney soon covered in talc with almost no encouragement at all. This was quite a topic of conversation amongst the bar staff who later watched open mouthed as we danced across the talc strewn floor The double doors at the entrance open up onto a terrace that overlooks a park and barbecue area which leads down onto the beach. Typical “aussie” style and what a setting for a Northern Soul all-dayer ! What we are striving for here in Perth is a soul scene that doesn’t have any primadonnas like all the bad parts about the scene back home. Where everybody that wants to be a part of what we try to organise has the chance to be involved. This was exemplified by the Melbourne crowd during the National. After all this is our scene. We
had decided to run with the all dayer on the Sunday because the Monday
was a bank holiday. This meant we could all indulge in a few beers and
dance more than we normally would leaving the Monday to recover from our
“excesses”. So as not to waste any time a 12 noon start was the
order of the day. Paul from Stockport was the first through the doors with 3 boxes of records; I think he planned to DJ all day!!!!!! But I must say he played a great set to get us started. This guy’s record box has to be seen to be believed and it must be in the top 3 collections currently in Australia. Hopefully he’ll be sticking around. By 2pm the place was starting to come alive and people from the pub, obviously attracted by the music were coming and sitting on the terrace near the door to listen. Some even came in for the afternoon and chatted to Paul and Keith who eagerly explained to them all about northern soul. Hopefully that may generate some new recruits to the scene and some more punters at the next one. All new recruits to the Northern scene are gladly welcomed because it’s the people who make it. Barry Stanley was next up doing a spot in the afternoon, playing such great sounds as Harvey and the Jokers, Mel Britt, Bobby Kline and Alfie Davidson to name a few. I finished off the hour with records like The Drifters, You got to pay your Dues,Selfish One, Jackie Ross. Barbara McNair, Baby a go go, Etta James seven day fool, Jimmy Robins , just cant please you and Bobby Hutton, Lend a hand Gill Feeney did one of the best spots of the afternoon with great classics like Chuck Jackson, I’ve got the need, Shane Martin, I need you. Freddie Chavez, They’ll never know why, Sandy Sheldon and The Superlatives, I still love you. Gill has a real feel for the music, which comes across in her play list. Must be the Yorkshire blood in her. And then the high light of the afternoon for me was Paul Hanighans spot playing lots of my all time favourites like The Precisions. If this is Love, Bobby Sheen,.Something new to do, Rubin, You been away and Mandrill Too Late. I think Paul’s wife and kids even enjoyed this one. The beauty of the venues here is you can bring the family because they can just go on the beach like kids want to. Nigel loveless was up next playing a varied spot from his vast collection of rare soul classics. Nigel’s play list covers the whole northern spectrum and he is never afraid to try out new sounds. He played a record by Sam Moore called Plenty good lovin that was brilliant. Definitely first time in Perth. Also played one of my favourites by the Impressions called I’ll always be here. . By 5pm as John Corrigan and others were reluctantly leaving to watch “the glory” play football others were coming in, including our special guest DJ Eddy Edmondson. Eddy is over visiting family and when Barry, who knows him well, asked him to do a spot he jumped at the chance. And what a set Eddy played.Starting off with Eddie Bishop, Call Me he almost bought the place to a stand still with seven souls I still love you and then kept the dance floor full with Patrice Holloway, Stolen Hours. What a set. He also played several records new to Perth including, Luthor ,I don’t wanna be a fool, Angie stone, Marvin gaye, I’m gonna give you respect as well as oldies like Narbay. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Eddy for coming along even though he will be going home looking like a lobster!!!. A drunken lobster I hasten to add. Denny had preceded Eddy with some help from Billy and played some good old wheel classics like the contours, just a little understanding and then into some R&B and a Joe Tex and an Otis Reading record both of which he introduced over here a few months ago and are going down a storm. Billy contributed 6 records to this set but refused to admit even when “under the influence” later what they were ! And
the end of the night finished with us recording the last half an hour
LIVE to go out on the Soul Brothers Down Under radio spot on the Soul
Cellar wovpioneer internet radio. Barry and I
took requests and dedications from the dance floor but
surprisingly every one got mike shy and wouldn’t speak on radio. But some of the requests were Nolan Porter from Dolly, If I could only be sure, The Velour’s, I’m going to change from Gill. Lindsey wanted Cory Glover, Little Girl for Lee. I wonder what she’s trying to say mate ? Keith, who was an ever present on the dance floor all day asked for The Velvets Got to find me somebody , Les’s choice was Gladys Knight, If you ever get your hands on love ( or vans throat ) and Gazza requested more beer.! We ended the night with Bernard Williams, Needless to say and Nancy Wilson's Don’t look over your shoulder, and when the lights went on the dance floor was still packed so we threw in The Younghearts A little togetherness to end the night. It sums up how the Northern soul scene should make us all feel. Thanks to everyone who made the first Beach tavern all-dayer such a great success, and as the general consensus was “lets have another” we’ll see what we can do. Hopefully next time with no clash of attractions everyone who wants to or can will attend. The more people the merrier is the way to go surely !! Glen January 2002
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