Neil Gits Flabbergasted

It was half-term last week and that meant having my 15 year old son around the “office” a little bit more than usual, so trying to be a good dad, I asked him on Monday morning if there was anything else beyond the usual supplies that he wanted me to pick up in Asda on the food run to “keep him going”. Pen poised over shopping list I was half expecting to write “doughnuts”, “cookies”, “chocolate fingers” or maybe even “ice creams” but I got the shock of my life when his first repy was “Celery sticks” – WHAT ??!! “CELERY STICKS?” I had never bought them before in my life and actually had to look on the store’s website to find out what they looked like, how much they were and where to find them in the aisles ! Turns out my boy is on a bit of a health kick, trying to look after his body in every way whilst he pursues his blossoming football career and is using his overweight, unfit and generally dilapidated father as a good example of what NOT to end up like physically !

However, one thing that this Old Git DOES still have over him is at least 40 years of discovering and collecting amazing music, mainly from the world of soul, jazz-funk & disco, so although I do occasionally catching him singing quietly along to my old tunes in the car and on the radio at home, he won’t be taking over my show on Gateway any time in the near future !! That is my territory every Monday LIVE at 7pm and of course repeated on a Saturday at 5pm … which is today, so why not have a listen, whether you are fit and healthy or a big fat hairy lump like me and enjoy some seriously cool soul ! 🙂 Recent playlists are posted below :

This Week’s Tunes
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Baby Don’t Change Your Mind
William De Vaughn – Be Thankful
Tammy Payne – Take Me Now
Detroit Spinners – I’ll Be Around
James Ingram – Try Your Love Again
Kitten & The Hip – Ain’t No Other Man
Ruby Turner – I’d Rather Go Blind
Versie Jean – Best Friends
Heatwave – Lay It On Me
Barry White – I’ll Do Anything You Want Me To
Jones Girls – You Can’t Have My Love
Myth Michaels – Push It
Reuben Wilson – Got To Get Your Own
Barbara Randolph – I Got A Feeling
Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive (Full Length Version)
Edwin Starr – Contact
Gary’s Gang – Keep On Dancing
Kenya – Take Me Away (Tom Glide Remix)
Maysa – You Are Not Alone
Sweet Female Attitude – Flowers (Supa Flyas Mix)
Groove Association feat Georgie B – Fly Away
George Benson – Supership
Eddie Kendricks – Going Up In Smoke

Last Week’s Tunes
Harvey Mason – Till You Take My Love
Galaxy feat Phil Fearon – Dancing Tight
Will Downing – This Song Is For You
Wilton Felder & Bobby Womack – Inherit The Wind
Maze – Southern Girl
Pieces Of A Dream – Fo Fi Fo
Ronnie Laws – Every Generation
Darien Dean – Hard To Put Words To It
Randy Hall – I’ve Been Watching You (Jamie’s Girl)
Billy Griffin – Hold Me Tighter In The Rain
Glenn Jones – I Am Somebody (Joey Negro Finessed Mix)
Willie Bradley – Life On Top
McKoy – Love Is The Key
Yarbrough & Peoples – Don’t Stop The Music
Gap Band – Burn Rubber On Me
Beggar & Co – Somebody Help Me Out
Groove Association feat Georgie B – Two Hearts
Emotions – Show Me How
Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
James Ingram – It’s Real
Rodney Franklin – I Like The Music, Make It Hot

Updated Gigs List :

Saturday 2nd March
“Basildon Over 30s Night”
Holiday Inn, Festival Leisure Park, Basildon
Room 1 : DJ Justin Wilkes & DJ Phil – Club Classics & Chart Tunes
Room 2 : John Osborne – Jazz Funk & Soul Anthems
9pm – 2am ; Tickets £10
www.indulgence-events.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/399779873925910/

Saturday 2nd March
(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/492736814458022/

Saturday 2nd March
“Liquid Spirit 4 – The 1st Birthday Bash !”
Capones Nightclub, Benfleet Road, Hadleigh, SS7 1QB
“Soulful House, Disco & Old Skool Anthems”
DJs: Stretch Taylor, Paul Clark, Marie Garaccio
Danny T & DJ Coxy
8pm – 2am ; Advance Tickets £10
https://www.facebook.com/events/661700720890325/

Saturday 2nd March
“Soul By The Sea”
The Hampton Inn, Herne Bay, Western Esplanade, CT6 8DL
“Soul, Funk, Disco, Rare Groove, 80s Grooves”
DJs: Sarah Weller, Pete Hayes, Paul Mundy
Special Guest : DJ Miss Behaving
8pm – Midnight ; Free Entry
https://www.facebook.com/events/2401360016545560/

Wednesday 6th March
“Peter White – Live!”
The Maritime Room, Cliffs Pavillion, Westlcliff-on-Sea
“Smooth Jazz Guitarist”
8pm start ; Tickets £18
https://www.facebook.com/events/980709388806560/

Friday 8th March
“Soul At Shelly’s”
Shelly’s Restaurant & Bar, Station Lane, Hornchurch, RM12 6NA
“Soul Funk & Disco Classics”
DJ: Gary Walden
Free Entry ; 8pm – Late
https://www.facebook.com/events/1225115734312119/

Saturday 9th March
(Every 2nd Saturday of the month)
“Brown Sugar”
The Spread Eagle, Queens Road, Brentwood, CM14 4HD
“Funk Soul & Disco Night”
DJ Yours Truly (Ben)
7pm – Midnight ; Free Entry
https://www.facebook.com/BrentwoodSpreadEagle/?fref=ts

Friday 15th March
(Every 3rd Friday of the month)
“Soulful Seduction”
The Bread & Cheese, London Road,Benfleet, Essex, SS7 1AA
“100% Soul, Funk, Disco & Old Skool Club Anthems”
DJs: Bully & MJ
8.00pm – 1 am ; Free Entry ; Over 25s
http://www.soulfulseduction.co.uk/

Friday 15th March
(Every 3rd Friday of the month)
“Soul Kitchen – 5th Anniversary”
The Grey Lady Music Lounge, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5TW
“Rare 60s & 70s Soul Night”
DJs: John Browne, Tracy Shaw & guests Dave Halsall & Jason Starr
7.00pm – 1.00 am ; £5 on the door ; Tel (01892) 544700
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesoulkitchentw/
https://www.facebook.com/events/299398757437028/

Saturday 16th March
“Soul Fiesta”
Langdon Hills Golf & Country Club, Lower Dunton Road,
Bulphan, Essex, RM14 3TY
Two Rooms Of Tunes, Eight DJs :
Birdy, Brian Kelly, Chris White, Gary Dennis
Ian Holmes, Jeff Young, Jigs, Simon Van Os
Room 1 : “Soul, Funk & Rare Groove
Room 2 : House, Latin, Afro & R’n’B
https://www.facebook.com/events/2153565004974240/

Saturday 16th 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”
7.30pm – Midnight – Free Entry
https://www.facebook.com/soulatthecricks/
Saturday 22nd March
“Soul Odyssey”
M & B Sports & Social Club, Dagenham Road, Romford, RM7 0QX
“Jazz Funk & Soul Classics, Disco & Soulful House”
DJs: Gary Walden, Tony Treble & Gary Fish
8pm – 1am ; Tickets £6 – www.jumblebee.com – £10 OTD
Tel: (07711)757258
https://www.facebook.com/events/284581872116601/

Saturday 23rd March
“KTF Soul Club 9th Anniversary”
Upstairs at The Old Regent Ballroom, Corringham Road,
Stanford Le Hope, SS17 0AQ
“Northern Soul, Motown, 60s RnB & a hint of Latin..”
DJs: TBA
7.30pm – 12.30am
Advance Tickets £7 inc a free CD ; £10 On The Door
*Also on 8th June / 28th September*
https://www.facebook.com/events/499582720530599/

Saturday 23rd March
“JD The Soul Machine Live !”
The Old Garrison, Campfield Road, Shoeburyness, SS3 9BX
“Soul & Motown Singer – JD Fitzgerald”
9pm – 11.45pm ;
https://www.facebook.com/events/516289008867038/?active_tab=discussion

Sunday 24th 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 ; 5pm – 11pm
www.overdoseofjoy.co.uk

Saturday 30th March
“The Frog March – All Dayer”
The Rising Sun, High Street, Hornchurch, RM12 4UW
“Two Rooms Of Tunes – 2pm to 2am”
20 DJs plus a live PA by David Joseph.
Tickets £10 at www.wegottickets.com
Full details at :
https://www.facebook.com/events/2602540383119517/

Friday 5th 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
http://www.zeroradio.co.uk/big-zero-radio-friday-night/…

Saturday 6th April
“Southend Soul”
The Park Inn, Church Road, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2AL
DJs: Dennis O’Brien, Mike Gee, Gary Spence, Tony Monson
Plus “The Soul Immigrants feat Ria Currie” & “Anita Carmichael (sax player)
Tickets £12 in advance, £15 on the door
https://shop.solarradio.net/product/southend-soul/

Saturday 4th May
“Soul Train Tour UK”
Cliffs Pavillion, Westcliff-on-Sea
Featuring live performances by :
Dina Carroll, Freda Payne, Junior,
G C Cameron (Detroit Spinners), Odyssey,
Eban Brown (The Stylistics) & The Flirtations
https://www.facebook.com/events/337532777062101/

Friday 19th April
“The Long Good Friday”
The Berwick Manor, Rainham, Essex, RM13 9EL
“Stomp’s 10th Birthday Party”
Eight hours of Stomp DJs across two rooms of Soulful Sounds
5pm – 1.30am ; Tickets £10
www.stompradio.com

Saturday 25th May
“Shalamar Plus Special Guests Odyssey”
Garon Park, Eastern Avenue, Southend-On-Sea, SS2 4FA
“Full Live Concert featuring Howard Hewett, Jeffrey Daniel & Carolyn Griffey”
Also appearing Light Of The World & Harry Cambridge as Luther Vandross,
Natasha Watts
Plus DJs: Ian Reading & John Osborne
2pm – 11.30pm
Early Bird Tickets £20
www.skiddle.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/248021245908284/

Friday 31st May
“5 Star Soul with Tony Momrelle Live !”
The Orsett Hall, Prince Charle Avenue, Orsett, RM16 3HS
“Two Rooms : Soul Pavillion & Jazz Funk Lounge”
DJs: Brian Kelly, John Ovel & Lee Alder
Plus full live band in concert
7.30pm – 1.00am ; Over 30s
Tickets £20 in advance, £25 on the door
https://www.facebook.com/events/411360446363652/

Friday 5th July
“Real Thing, Loose Ends & Shakatak”
Cliffs Pavillion, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7RA
8pm – 11pm ; Tickets £24, £29 or £31
(01702) 351135
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/events/548205655620674/

Weekenders :

Friday 8th – Sunday 10th March
“Hayling Island Spring Soul & Reggae Weekender”
Mill Rythe Holiday Village, Hayling Island, Hampshire
“Live Concert by Bitty McLean plus Winston reedy & Leroy Simmonds”
Two Rooms Of Music :
1) Reggae : Current, Revival & Bashment
2) Soul : Rare Groove, Independent & Classic 70s 80s & 90s
5pm on Friday night to 2am Monday morning
https://www.facebook.com/events/748715535516097/

Friday 28th – Sunday 30th June
“Hayling Island Summer Soul Weekender 7”
Mill Rythe Holiday Village, Hayling Island, Hampshire
3 Rooms Of Music including :
“Soul, Funk, Jazz, R’n’B, Soulful House, Neo Soul
Modern Soul, Rare Groove, Northern Soul & Reggae”
DJs : TBC
“3 Nights Accomodation inc Breakfast & Evening Meals & Event Pass = £199”
Tel : (02392) 460044
https://www.facebook.com/events/2098754063710012/

Margate Soul Festival 2019
Dates confirmed as Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th August
https://www.facebook.com/events/1908191825870662/

Caister 2019 :
May 3rd 4th 5th & 6th
http://www.caistersoul.co.uk/index.php

Weekly Events:
Fridays :
“Glitter Fridays”
The Rising Sun, High Street, Hornchurch, RM12 4UW
“Soul, House, Disco, R’n’B , Club Classics”
DJ : Peter P and guests
Free Entry ; 8pm – 1am
https://www.facebook.com/groups/souluprising/

Monthly Events:
First Friday: Zero Soul Night Out – Spread Eagle, Rayleigh
Third Friday: Soulful Seduction, Bread & Cheese, Benfleet
Third Friday: Soul Kitchen, Grey Lady, Tunbridge Wells
Second Saturday: Brown Sugar, Spread Eagle, Brentwood
Third Saturday: The Cricketers, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford
Last Sunday: Overroast Of Joy, Frankies, Hornchurch

Do you know of any soulful, jazzy, funky gigs taking place in 2019 ? 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” !