You’d think that from the music I play on “The Old Gits Soul Show” I must have been to Blackpool, Caister, Southport, Prestatyn or numerous other weekender events over the years, but the fact is I have NEVER been to one ! So it was with interest that I noticed not only were there a number of regular soul nights taking place in or near our area, but also a couple of all weekend events had been put on. Alas, even if I could have gone in my younger days (I was always the guy who stood in for the DJ in the pub who was standing in for the warm-up DJ in the club who was standing in for the venue’s resident who was 27th on the bill at Caister…) my commitments today make it totally impossible.
However, by coincidence my recent travels took me to both venues where the two weekenders I have mentioned in the “Recommended Old Gits Nights Out” are held. Firstly, in early April, I was at the Thurrock Hotel (well in the car park) home of June’s “Essex Soul Weekender” next door to Thurrock FC where I saw Billericay Town win the Essex Senior Cup, then during the school holidays took Nathan on one of regular days out to Clacton where we parked just along the road from the Comfort Hotel on the seafront where the Clacton Easter Soul Weekender just took place. And that’s about as close as I am going to get sadly ! But check the details below if you are luckier…
This Week’s Playlist:
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Baby Don’t Change Your Mind
Jones Girls – You Can’t Have My Love
Chic – Happy Man
Sister Sledge – He’s The Greatest Dancer (full 12″ version)
Paul Lawrence – There Ain’t Nothing Like Your Loving
Dexter Wansel – The Sweetest Pain
Anita Baker – Sweet Love
Luther Vandross – She’s So Good To Me
Hamilton Bohannon – Disco Stomp
Glenn Jones – Finesse
Dan Hartman – Relight My Fire
Marvin Gaye – Got To Give It Up
Brick – Dazz
Tavares – The Ghost Of Love
Gibson Brothers – Cuba (for Jon)
Rick Braun featuring Maysa – Soul On Soul
Randy Crawford – Give Me The Night
Bill Withers – Who Is He And What Is He To You
Shakatak – Streetwalking (for Steve)
Gap Band – Oops Upside Your Head (for Helen)
Loleatta Holloway – Hit & Run
Recommended Old Gits Nights Out:
Saturday 30th April
“Soulful Seduction”
The Treacle Mine, Grays
8pm – 1am – Admission Free
“Caister Anthems & Club Classics”
DJs: Bully & MJ
Tel: (01375) 382735
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120234738054796
Sunday 1st May
The Bull, Grays
Terry & Neil (not me!) playing top tunes
Details to follow
Friday 6th May
“Zero Soul Night Out”
Marcos Bar, Eastwood Road, Rayleigh
8.30pm – 1am – Free Entry
DJ Darren Bull & Guests
First Friday of each month.
Tel (01268) 773311
http://www.zeroradio.co.uk/events.asp
Saturday 7th May
“Crown Soul Affair”
The Crown, Billericay High Street
“Funk, Soul, Boogie & Soulful House”
Special Guest DJ : Watch This Space !
Plus residents Stuart Hutson & Chris White
8pm – 1am – Free Entry
* 1st Saturday Of Every Month *
Friday 27th May
“Soul Survivors”
Bar Vic, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea
Last Friday of each month
Free Admission
Saturday 28th May
QdOS Soul
Details to follow…
Sunday 29th May (Bank Holiday Weekend)
“Open Air Soul Spectacular!”
**Billy Ocean & Tavares – LIVE !**
Plus Gwen Dickey (Rose Royce) & Ray Lewis (Still Drifting)
Lords Golf & Country Club, Rayleigh
Midday – Late
DJs: Ian Reading and guests
Tickets : £25
Further info at:
http://www.zeroradio.co.uk/events.asp
Friday 10th June
Weekenders !
It is that time of year again here are details of the latest event…
Click on the links for more details of DJs, times, accomodation, etc…
Essex Soul Weekender
Friday 17th – Sunday 19th June
Thurrock Hotel, Ship Lane, Aveley
“Old School Soul, R’n’B, Jazz-Funk & Club Classics”
**Special Live Performances by OMAR & MARIE GARACCIO**
£45 – 3 days ; £30 – day pass
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=177743425572442
And don’t forget…
Live Jazz @ The Inn On The Green – Mountnessing Road, Billericay
Every First Sunday of the month
Lunchtime Session: 1pm – 4pm
Next date : 1st May
If you enjoy the show, then the chances are you will like what happens each month here with music provided by The Dan Banks Duo
Admission is FREE ! Hope to add more details here soon…
Also recommended…
Friday nights at…
Lot 75 , Shenfield with Graham Norton
Plasma, Wickford with Geoff Grove
Both guys play every other week and include plenty of “our” tunes amongst other styles…
Do you know of any soulful, jazzy, funky gigs taking place early in 2011 ? Let me know the details whether you are a DJ or a punter and I can spread the word to fellow “Old Gits” in this space !
E-mail: [email protected].com or send a voice/text message to (01268)833978
The Old Gits Soul Show is on Gateway 97.8 in Basildon & East Thurrock and also around the world viawww.gateway978.com from 7pm – 9pm every Monday – plus you can catch it again Saturday evening from 5pm – 7pm