Neil Gits Back On The Road

It’s not everyone’s idea of a fun day, but I do enjoy a good drive out as part of my work. This week was a particularly busy one, my travels taking  me through Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Sussex & Kent – and gave me lots of Cd listening time in the “cockpit” of the “Neil-mobile” checking out tunes to play on future shows ! As a result, I found a new batch of “Tasty 12” cuts, various “Soul Soothers” & “Mellow Moments” from across the decades, a couple of “Old Gits Jazzy Bits” & “Short Trousered Soul Tracks” and enough “Not So Old Git Bits” to easily last until “Luxury Soul 2016” comes out having played through the fantastic 2014, 2013 & 2012 editions I belatedly picked up ! Of course, the week started with a Bank Holiday for those that live in the “normal” world but it was business as usual at Gateway for me and nice to get some feedback from people who might not otherwise been listening – here are the songs they were enthusing about ! 😉

The Tunes

Rockers Revenge – Walking On Sunshine
Maceo & The Macks – Across The Tracks
Jaki Graham – Round And Round
Platters – Washed Ashore (On A Lonely Island In The Sea)
Players Association – We’re Almost There
Ben E King – Street Tough
Chapter 8 – I Just Wanna Be Your Girl
Will Downing – Never Say No To You
James Taylor Quartet – See A Brighter Day
George Benson – Love Ballad
Fantasy – You’re Too Late
Luther Vandross – For The Sweetness Of Your Love
Morrissey Mullen – Life On The Wire
Holland & Dozier – New Breed Kinda Woman
Steve Arrington – Dancing In the Key Of Life
Marc Staggers – Bring Me Back
Jean Carne – Closer Than Close
Kenny G & Chante Moore – One More Time
Sam Fletcher – I’d Think It Over Twice (If I Were You)
Diana Ross – It’s My House
Black Ivory – Mainline
Weldon Irvin – Sinbad

The Gigs

Saturday 9th May
“Soul By The Sea”
Divers Arms, Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5JQ
DJs: Tom Edgar & Carl Hyde
Free Admission – 7pm – Late
https://www.facebook.com/events/499808650174920/

Friday 15th May
(every third Friday)
“Soulful Seduction ”
Woodmans Arms, Thundersley, Essex, SS7 3TA
“Old School Soul, Jazz-Funk Disco & Club Anthems !”
DJs: Bully & MJ
8.00pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry
Over 30s – Smart Dress
https://www.facebook.com/events/704453099677971/

Friday 15th May
“Soul Kitchen”
The Grey Lady Music Lounge, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5TW
(Every 3rd Friday of the month)
“Rare Soul Night”
DJ: John Browne plus guests Mark Houghton & Dean Atkins
7.30 – 1.30 am ; Tickets £5 on the door ; Tel (01892) 544700

Saturday 16th May
“KTF Soul Club”
Old Regent Ballroom (Upstairs), Corringham Road, Stanford Le Hope, SS17 0AQ
“Northern Soul”
DJs: Jon Drake (Bristol) Richard Corbyn (London)
Wristbands £6 on sale from 20th March – limited to 120
7.30pm start – 1.00am finish
https://www.facebook.com/events/1550142118593484/

Saturday 16th May (TBC)
(Every 3rd Saturday of the month)
“Super Soul Saturday”
The Cricketers, Moulsham Street, CM2 0JT Chelmsford
DJ: Paul Eve & Hugsta plus guest DJ
“The Very Best In Soul, Jazz-Funk, Boogie & Old School RnB”
7.30pm – Midnight – Free Entry

Sunday 24th May
“Soul Inspiration”
Morgans, High Street, Margate, CT9 1DS
DJs: Kazzie D, Micky B, James Anthony, Kevin Webb
“Classic & Current Soul Anthems, Old School RnB & Soulful House”
8pm – 2am ; Tickets £5 in advance ; £8 on the door
https://www.facebook.com/events/1573339949608781

Sunday 24th May
“Summer Soulful Seduction All Dayer”
The Woodmans, Rayleigh Road, Thundersley, SS7 3TA
DJs: MJ & Bully plus guests
“Bouncing Beats, Gorgeous Grooves & Funkin’ Flavas !”
Free Entry ; 2pm start
https://www.facebook.com/events/366130760246027/

Friday 29th May
“The Old Soul Roadshow”
Maritime Room, Cliffs Pavillion, Westcliff-on-Sea
“Funk, Soul, Boogie,Disco & Motown – 60s to date”
Street food available on the night
Tel: (01702)351135
www.southendtheatres.org.uk

Friday 29th May
(Every Last Friday)
“Soul Weekender Vibe”
Reids Bar, Laindon Road, Billericay, CM12 9LD
“The Best In Soul, Funk, Rare Grooves & Weekender Anthems”
DJs: Simon “Whistles” Ford & Nick Aravis
8pm – 1.30am ; Free Entry before 11pm ; £5 after
https://www.facebook.com/events/1136017419757237/

Friday 29th May
“5 Star Soul”
Orsett Hall, Prince Charles Avenue, Orsett, RM16 3HS
“Two Rooms Of Jazz Funk & Soul”
DJs: Brian “The Rev” Kelly, Lee “Fatbloke” Aldwinkle,
Mark Lee Homer, Jon Ovel & Ian Holmes
Special Guest: Jim “The Syrup” Day
7.30pm – 2.00am ; Over 30s
Tel : (01375)891402
https://www.facebook.com/events/810557062331293/

Saturday 30th May
“Soul Mates” (Monthly Event)
The George II Function Suite, High Street, Hornchurch, RM12 4UW
DJs: Frostie Original & John Wayne
Tickets £7 including a basket meal (like the old days !)
8pm – 2am
https://www.facebook.com/groups/785558224872763/?pnref=story

Saturday 30th May
“Soulbay”
Black Cat Club, Fort Hill, Margate, CT9 1HD
DJs: Micky B, Paul French & Jay Anderson
“Jazz, Funk, Soul, R’nB, Hip-Hop & House”
9pm – Late
https://www.facebook.com/events/906582542727062/

Friday 5th June
(Every First Friday Of The Month)
“The Big Zero Soul Night Out”
The Spread Eagle, High Street, Rayleigh, SS6 7EJ
DJs: Bully & MJ & Guest DJ Nick Gunn
8.30pm – 1am ; Free Entry ; Tel (01268) 775100
“Old skool soul, jazz funk, disco and club anthems”
https://www.facebook.com/events/381707968686686/

Friday 5th June (TBC)
“Soulgood VIP”
Club Amber, Cheshunt FC, Theobalds Lane, EN8 8RU
DJ: Richard Lobban & Guest
“Best In Soul, RnB, Reggae, 80s Disco & Soulful House”
9pm – 2am ; Admission £7
Tel: (07956)363131

Saturday 6th June
“Summer Madness Part 1”
The Soul Marquee, Halfway House, A127, Brentwood, CM13 3LL
DJs include: Terry Jones, Eddie Piller, Chris Brown, Bob Masters
1pm – 1am ; Tickets £15 ; Tel: (01708)228678 / (01273) 413800
https://www.facebook.com/events/715657555199975/

Saturday 6th June
“Smoove Grooves Weekender DJ Special”
The Woolston Manor, Abridge Road, Chigwell, IG76BX
DJs: Bigger, Aitch B, Pete Collins, David Bailey,
DJ Samee, Soulmaster T & Residents Flip & Scott
Tickets £10 in advance, more on the door…
9pm – 3am ; Tel (07811) 111333
https://www.facebook.com/events/679559168822364/
Friday 12th June
(Every 2nd Friday of the month)
“Soul & Club Anthems Special”
Bar Zero, Western Road, Billericay, CM12 9DZ
“Soul RnB & Old School Club Anthems from the 80s – 90s”
DJ: Bully (other top DJs on rotation on other Fridays)
Free Entry ; 9pm – 1am ;
Over 25s – Smart Casual Dress

Saturday 27th June
“The Ultimate Motown Night”
Maritime Room, Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7RA
DJ: John Watson plus Harry Cambridge singing live !
7.30pm – 1am ; Tickets £17.50 inc finger buffet
Tel (01702) 351135
www.southendtheatres.org.uk

Saturday 4th July
“Soul Music For Tracy”
Park Inn Hotel, Church Road, Southend-On-Sea, SS1 2AL
“Charity Soul Night In Aid Of Tracy Ralph” (See links below)
DJs: Jon Jules, Brian Kelly, Mick Jackson, David Bishop
8pm – 1am ; Wristbands £15
https://www.facebook.com/events/1581628588787339/
http://www.teamtc.co.uk/index.php
Weekenders:

Bless The Funk 2015
Friday 22nd May – Monday 25th
The Azur, Hastings
“Soul Anthems,Jazz-Funk & Boogie, Classic Soul & Motown,
Northern, 2-Step, RnB, Funky & Soulful House Classics,etc”
https://www.facebook.com/events/629197713842174/?fref=ts
www.blessthefunk.co.uk

Margate Soul Weekend
Friday July 31st – Sunday August 2nd
Headline act : Roy Ayers – Live !
DJs include: Norman Jay, Joey Negro, Bob Jones,
Pete Collins, Jonny Layton, Tony Fernandez & many more
Full details at : www.margatesoulweekend.co.uk and …
https://www.facebook.com/events/815623535123683/?fref=ts

Weekly Events:
Fridays :
“Soul City”
George II Function Suite, High Street, Hornchurch, RM12 4UW
“70s 80s & 90s classic & commercial soul”
DJ: Peter Poyton plus guests each week
Free Entry ; Over 30s Night ; 8pm – 2am;
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002841427497

“Marco’s Soul Family”
Marco’s Wine Bar, Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, SS6 7JQ
DJs/Singers : Simon “Whistles” Ford , Georgie B , The Bushbaby , Reggie & Famous on rotation – see Facebook for this week’s event …
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Marcos-Soul-Family/573840989427588?fref=ts

“Soul Night”
The Chequers, Market Street, Old Harlow, CM17 0AH
“70s & 80s Soul Funk & Disco, 80s & 90s House Classics”
DJ: Soul-DJ Essex
8.30pm – 1am ; Free Entry
(Venue also has an “80s & 90s soul party” night on Saturdays)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=775833189157697&set=a.775833179157698.1073741828.100001930689363&type=1&theater

Monthly Events:
First Friday: Zero Soul Night Out – Spread Eagle, Rayleigh – next : 5th June
Second Friday: Soul & Club Anthems Special – Bar Zero, Billericay – next 12th June
Third Friday: Soulful Seduction, Woodmans Arms, Thundersley – next 15th May
Second Saturday: Soul By The Sea, Divers Arms, Herne Bay – next 9th May
Third Saturday: The Cricketers, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford – next 16th May
Last Friday: Soul Weekender Vibe, Reids Bar, Billericay – next 29th May

Do you know of any soulful, jazzy, funky gigs taking place in 2015 ? 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] or send a text message to (01268)833978
The Old Gits Soul Show is on Gateway 97.8 in Basildon & East Thurrock and also around the world via www.gateway978.com from 7pm – 9pm every Monday – plus you can catch it again Saturday evening from 5pm – 7pm