Neil Gits Some Downtime !

After my busiest Xmas period for gigs in quite a few years, I was glad to finally get to Xmas Day and not have anything more stressful to do than take Nathan out in the car to meet a few like-minded “Bah Humbug” friends and stuff ourselves stupid at our “Non-Xmas Dinner” at Tandoori Parlour in Thundersley. Having spent most of December (and the end of November too!) watching and smelling endless plates of turkey, stuffing, brussel sprouts & cranberry sauce being served to drunken people in silly hats wearing even sillier Xmas jumpers, it was absolutely heavenly to pile my plate high (twice!) with pilau rice, chicken tikka masala, beef bhuna, naan breads, sag aloo, bombay potato and much more, though I think one small piece of t****y did make it down my throat – just to try it curry style !

Once we’d managed to summon the energy to remove ourselves from the restaurant and deliver our friends back to their respective homes, it was time to turn on the telly, open the chocolates and glue ourselves to the sofa watching festive episodes of Corrie, the Xmas Dr Who Special (fantastic!) and one of our DVD pressies plus whatever else we could find on the box until our bleary eyes could take no more. Today is fairly similar for us being the Saturday “no-mans land” between Xmas and New Year, with no shopping to get, no football to go to and definitely no gigs or quiz nights to work on, so once I’ve finished this it’s Round Two in Sofa City, but this time with one ear on the radio to enjoy, with you, this week’s repeat play of my last “normal” show of 2014. On Monday, I will bring you the annual “Old Gits Best Bits Show”, an all-vinyl special featuring around 20 of the fantastic slices of plastic I re-discovered in my collection over the last year and aired on the programme. Sit back and listen out for those glorious crackles & scratches ! 😉

This Week’s Tunes

Midnight Star – Midas Touch
Wayne Henderson – Dancin’ Love Affair
Tom Browne – Funkin’ For Jamaica
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas – Jimmy Mack
Bobby Womack – It’s Party Time
Michael Jackson – I Wanna Be Where You Are (Pulse Rework)
Commodores – Still
Earth Wind & Fire – They Don’t See
Stevie Wonder – As If You Read My Mind
Gladys Knight & Pips – Taste Of Bitter Love
Supremes – Come Into My Life (Eddie Tour Re-edit)
Heaven & Hell – Whatcha Gonna Do
Dave Koz – Together Again
Ike & Tina Turner – Whole Lotta Love
Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way-Tom Moulton Mix
Brass Construction – Shakit
Angela Winbush – You’re My Everything
Aretha Franklin – (It’s Just) Your Love
Tommie Young – That’s All A Part Of Loving Him
Tony Camillo’s Bazuka – Dynomite (Part 1)
Smokey Robinson – Big Time
Intimate Strangers – Love Sounds

Dec 2014 / Jan 2015 Gigs

Saturday 27th December
“Xmas Madness”
Halfway House, A127, Brentwood, CM13 3LL
“Soul & Club Classics All Dayer”
1pm – 1am
DJs include: Jeff Young, Garry Dennis, Bob Masters, Ginger Tony
Tickets £14 On The Door – Food Available 7pm – 9pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/768895703152890/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Saturday 27th December
“Over 30’s Xmas Special”
Park Inn, Southern Way, Harlow, CM18 7BA
“Two Rooms Of Tunes”
Room1 : DJ Mark Parkhouse playing Club Classics, Party Anthems
& Chart Floor Fillers
Room 2 : DJ John Osborne plays jazz-funk, soul & motown
8.30pm – 2am
https://www.facebook.com/events/535352729932575/?fref=ts

Friday 2nd January
(Every First Friday Of The Month)
“The Big Zero Soul Night Out”
The Spread Eagle, High Street, Rayleigh, SS6 7EJ
DJs: Bully & Merv The Swerve & Steve Bocking
8.30pm – 1am ; Free Entry ; Over 25s ;
“70s 80s & 90s Soul Jazz Funk Disco & Club Anthems”
https://www.facebook.com/events/1378014422494267/?fref=ts

Friday 2nd January
“New Year Soul Party”
Banks Bar, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1SJ
DJs: Robbie Vincent & Jeff Young
8pm – 2am
Tickets £15
https://www.facebook.com/events/321812968015834/?fref=ts

Friday 2nd January (TBC)
“Maldon Soul Night”
Maldon & Tiptree Football Club, Park Drive, Maldon, CM9 5JQ
Live Singer Reggie Manus plus DJ Johnny Famous & DJ Alex
“Soul, Funk, Disco & Motown from the 70s 80s & 90s”
8pm – Midnight ; £7 on the door ; Tel (07816) 412039

Sunday 4th January
“East Coast Sunday Soul”
East Coast Social, The Broadway, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1TJ
“Live jazz in the afternoon followed by DJ Peter P”
Guest DJ : TBC
First Sunday each month, with guests on rotation
Free Admission ; 6pm start
https://www.facebook.com/events/1395109070781614/?fref=ts

Friday 2nd January
“Brentwood Over 30’s Indulgence Event”
Holiday Inn, Brook Street, Brentwood, CM14 5NF
DJ John Osborne playing soul, jazz-funk & Motown
DJs JR & Phil Indulgence playing 90s Club Classics & RnB
Tickets In Advance Only £10
8.30 pm – 2am
https://www.facebook.com/events/392048367609492/?fref=ts

Friday 9th January (TBC)
(Every 2nd Friday of the month)
“Soul Night Special”
Bar Zero, Western Road, Billericay, CM12 9DZ
“Soul Funk Disco & Old School Club Anthems from the 70s – 90s”
DJ: Bully (other top DJs on rotation on other Fridays)
Free Entry ; 9pm – 1am ;
Over 25s – Smart Casual Dress

Friday 9th January (Every Friday)
“Soul City Over 30s Night”
Olivers Retro Bar, High Street, Hornchurch, RM12 4UW
“Soul Funk & Disco Anthems & Classics – 70s 80s 90s”
DJ: Frostie plus guests
8pm – 2am ; £7 admission
https://www.facebook.com/events/380779575421501/?fref=ts

Wednesday 14th January
“Roy Ayers – Live!”
The George Hotel, Ashford High Street,Kent, TN24 8TB
Tickets £25 inc a meal
For more details go to:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/86403111481/?fref=ts

Friday 17th January
“Soulful Seduction ”
Woodmans Arms, Thundersley, Essex, SS7 3TA
“Soul, Jazz-Funk & Club Anthems from the 70s upwards !”
DJs: Bully & MJ
8.30pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry
Over 25s – Smart Dress

Saturday 17th January
“KTF Soul Club 2015”
The Old Regent Ballroom (Upstiars), Corringham Road,
Stanford Le Hope, Essex, SS17 0AQ
Special Guest DJ : Drew Orr
Tickets £6 – going fast !!
“Northern Soul Night”
https://www.facebook.com/events/1594342167450963/?fref=ts

Saturday 17th January – TBC
(Every 3rd Saturday of the month)
“Super Soul Saturday”
The Cricketers, Moulsham Street, CM2 0JT Chelmsford
DJ: Paul Eve & Hugsta
“The Very Best In Soul, Jazz-Funk, Boogie & Old School RnB”
7.30pm – Midnight – Free Entry

Friday 30th January – TBC
(Every Last Friday)
“Soul Weekender Vibe”
Ivory Rooms, 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
Arrive before 10pm to avoid disappointment – Over 25s only

Friday 30th January
“Overdose Of Joy”
Chevaliers Suite, Havering Bowls Club, Harrow Lodge, Hornchurch, RM11 1JU
**Charity Soul Night for “Save The Children” **
“Weekender Anthems, Soulful Grooves, Jazz-Funk & Dance Anthems”
DJs: Paul Kidley, Elliot Mount, Lee Fatbloke,
Bully, MJ, Nick Gunn & Brian “The Rev” Kelly
8pm – 1am ; Tickets £10 in advance ; Smart Casual Dress
https://www.facebook.com/events/1496216377330048/?fref=ts

Saturday 31st January
“The Ultimate Motown Night”
Maritime Rooms,Cliffs Pavillion, Westcliff-On-Sea
DJ: John Watson plus singer Harry Cambridge
Tickets £17.50 inc finger buffet
Tel: (01702) 351135

Weekenders:
Hayling Island Reggae, Rare Groove & Independent Soul Weekender
Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd February
Mill Rythe Holiday Village, Hayling Island, Hampshire
Three Rooms Of Music Plus…
…Maxi Priest Live In Concert !
Tel (02392)460044
https://www.facebook.com/events/517961418307329/?fref=ts

Family Affair Soul Weekend
Friday 6th – Sunday 8th March
Searles Holiday Resort, Hunstanton, Norfolk
“Jazz Funk & Soul Anthems from the past & today!”
www.soulfamilyaffair.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/events/551211058252553/?fref=ts

Clacton Soul Weekender
Friday 20th March – Sunday 22nd March
Esplanade Hotel , Clacton-On-Sea, Essex
“Two rooms of soul, funk, jazz, 70s, 80s & Modern,
Jazz-Funk, Brit-Funk, Boogie and much more !”
www.clactonsoulweekender.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/events/1476917032571593/?fref=ts

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
Weekly Events:
Fridays :

“Soul Night Special”
Bar Zero, Western Road, Billericay, CM12 9DZ
DJs: Paul Kidley, Bully, Mikey Porter & guests on rotation

Monthly Events:
First Friday: Zero Soul Night Out – Spread Eagle, Rayleigh – next : 2nd Jan
First Friday: Maldon Soul Night – Maldon & Tiptree FC – next TBC
Third Friday: Soulful Seduction, Woodmans Arms, Thundersley – next 16th Jan
Second Saturday: Soul By The Sea, Divers Arms, Herne Bay – next TBC
Third Saturday: The Cricketers, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford – next 17th Jan
Last Friday: Soul Weekender Vibe, Ivory Rooms, Billericay – next 31st Jan

Do you know of any soulful, jazzy, funky gigs taking place in 2014 ? 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