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9th March 2020
Posted by Neil Matthew
My official job title is still, after all these years, “Disc Jockey” but over the last 40 years or so of doing that “job” I have explored a number of alternative paths off the straight and narrow of getting behind the decks and filling the dancefloors of pubs, nighclubs, bars and man, many village halls ! One of those avenues, as you have probably noticed, is as a “Radio Presenter” possibly the closest I get to being a “DJ” in the traditional sense, although I still keep my hand in from time to time …
I have presented karaoke nights, hosted promotional events in shopping centres, worked alongside comedians and live bands / singers, helped out with race nights and in recent years made my main living from running my numerous “Retro Quiz Nights”, but one thing I hadn’t done until last week was oversee an auction ! I was running a quiz night with a soul disco afterwards at Langdon Hills Golf Club for an old school chum and they had “four ball” to auction off to help raise funds for Alzheimer’s and I am pleased to say that despite being a complete novice, we raised a very handsome sum over the night including from my bumbling efforts at auctioneer. In actual fact, I wasn’t qualified enough to have one of those little silver hammers you see the chaps use on TV, but I’ll still be adding the experience to my CV for future reference !!
The “Soul Night” side of the evening was brilliant and you might have heard me play some of the best requests again on the show last week – the playlist is posted below along with the gigs update. Your first chance to hear this week’s new show is LIVE at 7pm tonight on Gateway – clear your schedule to enjoy two hours of the good stuff !
The Tunes – 2nd March
People’s Choice – Jam Jam Jam
Roberta Flack & Donnie Hathaway – Back Together Again
Kenny Thomas – Back On Broadway
Detroit Spinners – Working My Way Back To You
Intruders – A Nice Girl Like You
Randy Muller – Welcome To My Life
Gerald Albright feat Billy Griffin – You Don’t Even Know
Glow feat Dave Love – Best Of Me
Keni Burke – Night Riders
Coffee – Casanova
Linda Clifford – Runaway Love
Nick Straker Band – A Little Bit Of Jazz (DJ Disco Cat re-edit)
Little Richard – I Don’t Want To Discuss It
Taja Seville – Love Is Contagious
Joyce Sims – Come Into My Life
Keith Sweat – I Want Her
PrivatProjekt – I Go Back
Freddie Jackson – How Does it Feel
Isley Brothers – Between The Sheets
Alexander O’Neal – What’s Missing
MFSB – TSOP
Joe Sample – Seven Years Of Good Luck
The Gigs
Friday 13th March
“Studio Fridays” (Every Friday)
The Oakleigh, London Road, Leigh-on-Sea, SS93NE
“A Glittering Blend of House Disco & Soul, featuring
Fresh New Cuts & Classics from the archives”
Guest DJ each week :
13/3:
20/3:
27/3: Reece Brett & Dan Cullen
Free Admission ; 9pm – 1am
Saturday 14th March
“A Night Of Motown – Stevie Wonder Tribute”
Acanteen, New London Road,Chelmsford,CM2 0ND
Godfrey Gale as Stevie Wonder plus DJ
7pm – Midnight ; Tickets £10
Friday 20th March
“Soul Kitchen – 6th Anniversary”
The Grey Lady Music Lounge, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TN
Resident DJs: Tracey Shaw & John Browne
Guest DJs: Jason Starr & Steve Guanori
“Rare 60s & 70s Soul”
7pm – 1am ; More details at :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesoulkitchentw/
Friday 20th March
(Every 3rd Friday of the month)
“Soulful Seduction – Soul & House Party”
The Bread & Cheese, London Road,Benfleet, Essex, SS7 1AA
“Soul Funk House & Old Skool Club Anthems”
DJs: Bully & Matt Jackson
Guest DJ: Mark Pendleton
8.30pm – 12.45 am ; Free Entry ; Strictly Over 25s
https://www.facebook.com/events/545949589599131/
Friday 20th March
“Friday Soul Session”
Pandoras Wine Bar, High Street, Hornchurch,RM12 4UN
DJs Peter P & Trish
Over 30s ; Free Entry
8pm – 1am
https://www.facebook.com/events/548958625723983/
Saturday 21st March
(Every 3rd Saturday of the month)
“Super Soul Saturday”
The Cricketers, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0JT
DJ: Paul Eve & Mick Jackson
“The Very Best In Jazz Funk & Soul”
8pm – 12.30am – Free Entry
Thursday 26th March
(Every last Thursday of the month)
“70s & 80s Soul Night”
The Chequers, High Street, Billericay, CM12 9BQ
DJ Howie
“Soul Weekender Soul & Disco Tunes From The 70s & 80s”
8pm – 11pm ; Free Entry
Saturday 28th March
“Soul Fiesta Charity Soul Night”
(St Lukes Hospice, 30th Anniversary)
Langdon Hills Golf & Country Club, Lower Dunton Road,
Bulphan, RM14 3TY
DJs: Jigs, Aitch B, Anthony Matthews, Glen Sherry,
John Douglas, John Peters, Ian Holmes, Brian Kelly,
Jonny Layton, Simon Van Os, Colin Jazzy Barnaby,
Chris White, Lee Aldwinkle, Kevin Hawkins
8pm – 2am ; www.wegottickets.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/598474364297550/
Saturday 28th March
“The 12th Annual Frog March”
(All-Dayer in memory of the legendary DJ Froggy)
The Rising Sun, High Street, Hornchurch, RM12 4UW
“Two Rooms Of Music – Over 20 DJs confirmed”
Including : Bigger, Tony Fernandez, Kev Edwards,
Frostie, Gary Walden, Matt Bigg
Free Entry All Day – 2pm – 2am
https://www.facebook.com/events/1064900307202107/
Sunday 29th March
(Last Sunday of Each Month)
“Over Roast Of Joy”
Frankies Wine Bar, Station Lane, Hornchurch, RM2 6JL
“Soul, Weekender Anthems & Soulful House”
DJ : Paul Kidley & Sam Green
Special Guest : TBC
Free Entry ; 5.30pm – 11pm
Friday 3rd April
(Every 1st Friday Of the Month)
“The Big Zero Friday Night Out”
The Spread Eagle, High Street, Rayleigh, SS6 7EJ
DJs: Merve The Swerve & Brian Kelly plus guest Zero DJs
“Old Skool Soul, Dance, House, R’n’B,Hip Hop, Disco & more…”
8.30pm – 1.30am ; Free Entry
Saturday 4th April
(1st Saturday of each month)
“Chelmsford City Soul”
Barista, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JA
DJs: John Peters & John Douglas
“Soul, Funk, Jazz, RnB, 2 Step”
Free Entry ; 9pm – 2am ; Over 30s Only
https://www.facebook.com/events/1519397681549593/
Friday 10th April
“The Long Good Friday”
Royal Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1JE
“Two rooms of music provided by Stomp DJs”
6pm – 2am ; Tickets £10
https://www.facebook.com/events/221142995708022/
Saturday 11th April
“Basildon Over 30s Night”
Holiday Inn, Festival Leisure Park, Basildon, SS14 3DG
DJs : Room 1 – Greg Edwards & John Osborne
“Jazz Funk & Soulful Anthems”
Room 2 – Phil Indulgence
“Club Classics / Urban / House”
9pm – 2am ; Advance Tickets £10
Tickets £12 on the door before 10pm ; £15 after …
https://www.facebook.com/events/689076441622375/
Saturday 18th April
“Soul Lounge”
Players Lounge, Radford Way, Billericay, CM12 0DX
DJs: Jeff Young, Euan Bass, Jon Jules, Matthew Bigg
“Soul & House Music”
8pm – 1am ; Limited Tickets £5 ; Over 21s Only
https://www.facebook.com/events/852125898561176/
Saturday 25th April
“Southend Soul”
Park Inn Raddison Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2AL
“Live Set by Light Of The World”
DJs: Dennis O’Brien, John Osborne, Tony Monson
Tosca, Collins & Mason
Tickets £22 in advance (£25 on the door)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1119869015071754/
Sunday 25th May
“Over Roast Of Joy – Bank Holiday Special”
Frankies Wine Bar, Station Lane, Hornchurch, RM12 6JL
DJs: Stretch Taylor, James Anthony, Bully,
Paul Kidley, Sam Green
“All Dayer !” Free Entry – 1pm till 1am
Smart dress, no trainers
https://www.facebook.com/events/2720886851293654/
Weekenders :
Friday 29th – Sunday 31st May 2020
“Soundcrash Funk & Soul Weekender”
Dreamland Margate
Featuring Roy Ayers & Sister Sledge Live
DJ sets from Craig Charles & Gilles Peterson
Friday 31st July – Sunday 2nd August
“Margate Soul Festival 2020”
Details to follow …
Weekly Events:
Fridays :
“Studio Fridays”
The Oakleigh (formerly Bellini’s), London Road, Leigh on Sea
“Soul, House, Disco”
DJ : Guests on rotation
Free Entry ; 9pm – 1am
Monthly
Events:
First
Friday: Zero Soul Night Out – Spread Eagle, Rayleigh
Third Friday: Soulful Seduction, Bread & Cheese, Benfleet
Third Saturday: The Cricketers, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford
Last Sunday: Overroast Of Joy, Frankies, Hornchurch
Last Thursday : 70s & 80s Soul Night, The Chequers, Billericay
Do you know of any soulful, jazzy, funky gigs taking place in the 2020 ? Let me know the details whether you are a DJ , promoter 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, also repeated on Saturday evening from 5pm–7pm, plus you can hear it again anytime you like via the “Listen Again” button on the Gateway website … search “Cool Soul” !