Neil Gits Up The M1

I just couldn’t resist ! A slight improvement in the weather, a few spare quid in my pocket (a rare occurence!), a window of opportunity in my diary and I was away ! Off in the car we went to pastures unknown, digital cameras at the ready, to snap away pix of football & cricket grounds previously unvisited. OK, I accept it may sound sad, but a man’s gotta have a hobby …

The time flew by, so much so that we had to abandon a brief divertion to Leicester or risk missing out on a much anticipated visit to Prezzo at our final destination of Milton Keynes. Things weren’t helped by heavier than usual traffic on the M1 due to roadworks and the fact that it was Friday (not the best day to choose for a drive!) but we had a mainly successful mission to Northampton and Nottingham before relaxing with Calzone & Carbonara in MK.

And you know what comes next … we had a box full of soulful CDs to keep our spirits up whilst crawling through 40mph speed limit zones and trying to figure out whether we were travelling north, south, east or west when diverted from our planned route by road closures!

If you are also struggling behind a wheel to keep calm this afternoon, tune in to 97.8FM in and around Basildon to hear this week’s repeat play or listen online at home and enjoy two hours of top quality soul, jazz-funk and disco tunes from the 70s 80s & beyond …

The Tunes

Stylistics – Sing Baby Sing
Level 42 – Weave Your Spell
Yvonne Elliman – If I Can’t Have You
Funk Deluxe – Tender Lovin’
Diplomats Of Soul – Sweet Power Your Embrace
Juicy – After Loving You
George Benson – Love Of My Life
Lionel Richie – Love Will Find A Way
Gladys Knight & The Pips – Love Gives You The Power
Band AKA – Joy
Ingram – Groovin’ On A Groove
Brothers Johnson – Tokyo
Syl Johnson – Back For A Taste Of Your Love
Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before
Billy Paul – Only The Strong Survive
Betty Everett – Prophecy
Joe Buhdha presents Terri Walker – Feel Right
David Lasley – What’s It Gonna Take
Fat Larry’s Band – Zoom
Derek Martin – Breakaway
Tony Ettoria – I Can Prove It
Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns – Four Play

The Gigs

Saturday 12th March
“Canvey Island Goldmine Reunion”
The Monico, Eastern Esplanade, Canvey Island, SS8 7DN
Original Goldmine DJs: Jeff Young, Snowboy, Bob Jones & Grumpy Brown
“Jazz-Funk, Soul, Rare Grooves – Genuine pre-1984 Goldmine Music!”
9pm – 3am www.wegottickets.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/128188574230405/

Saturday 12th March
“Shuffle !!”
Coco Latino, Military Road, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 9LG
“Steaming Funk, Cool Jazz, Crossover Fusion,
Latin Rhythms, Afro Beats & Samba Kandi”
9pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry
DJ Lee Aitch
https://www.facebook.com/events/743034632495340/

Saturday 12th March
“Soul By The Sea”
(Every Second Saturday)
The Divers Arms, Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5JQ
DJs: Tom G Edgar , Peter Hayes , Tommy Boy
Guest DJ: James JJ Williams
7.00pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry !
https://www.facebook.com/events/1692151301003360/

Friday 18th March
(every third Friday)
“Soulful Seduction ”
Woodmans Arms, Thundersley, Essex, SS7 3TA
“Soul, Funk, Disco, Weekender & Club Anthems !”
DJs: Bully & MJ plus guest DJ
8.00pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry

Friday 18th March
The Grey Lady Music Lounge, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5TW
(Every 3rd Friday of the month)
“Rare Soul Night”
DJs: John Browne, Tracey Shaw plus guests
7.30 – 1.30 am ; Tickets £5 on the door ; Tel (01892) 544700

Saturday 19th March
(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

Saturday 19th March
“Soul By The Jetty – Spring Special!”
The Lobster Smack, Haven Road, Canvey Island, SS8 0NR
DJs: Jonny Layton, Mark Messent, Brian Kelly, Ian Holmes
Special Guest: Original Canvey Boy : Steve Brown
“Jazz, Funk, Soul, Nu-Jazz, Soulful House & more”
“Keeping The Goldmine Spirit Alive on Canvey Island”
https://www.facebook.com/events/1666955413557017/

Friday 25th March
“The Long Good Friday – Part 3”
Essex Sports Village, Purfleet Road, Aveley, RM15 4DT
“Two Rooms Of Soul & More…”
6pm – 2am ;
Tickets £10
Stomp DJ Team
www.stompradio.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/204462933234360/

Saturday 26th March
“The 8th Annual Frog March”
The George II, High Street, Hornchurch, RM12 4UW
“Soul All Dayer in memory of legendary DJ Froggy”
Three rooms of tunes – Main Room, House Room &
A special Vinyl Room !
1pm – 2am ; Free Admission
https://www.facebook.com/events/795910353871618/

Friday 1st April
“The Big Zero Soul Night Out”
(Every First Friday Of the Month)
The Spread Eagle, High Street, Rayleigh, SS6 7EJ
DJs: Merve The Swerve, Brian Kelly & guest DJ
“70s 80s & 90s Soul, Jazz-Funk, Disco & Club Anthems”
8.30pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry ; Over 25s
Tel: (01268) 775100

Friday 1st April
“Soul Weekender Vibe”
(Every 1st Friday of the month)
Marco’s Wine Bar, Rayleigh, SS16 7JQ
DJs: Simon “Whistles” Ford & Nick Aravis
Free Entry All Night
8.30pm – 2.00 am

Saturday 2nd April
“The Soulbeat Sessions”
(Every first Saturday of the month)
The Clarendon Royal Hotel, Royal Pier Road, Gravesend, Kent
DJs: Terry Brown & guests
Free Entry ; 8pm – 1am
Saturday 9th April
“The Kent Soul Sessions – Spring Affair”
TJ’s Bar, Milton Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 2RF
DJs: Tony Matthews plus guests TBC
8pm – 1am ; £7 on the door
https://www.facebook.com/events/1537307519899924/

Saturday 16th April
“The Ultimate Motown Night”
Maritime Room, Cliffs Pavillion, Southend-on-Sea
“Four Tops Tribute Act”
DJ John Watson
Finger Buffet – 18 + age group
Tickets £17.50 (no booking fee)
Tel: (01702) 351135
www.southendtheatres.org.uk

Saturday 16th April
(also 7th May/4th June)
“Movers & Shakers”
The Manor Hotel, Berwick Pond Road, Rainham, Essex, RM13 9EL
“Two Rooms Of Music: Club Classics, Funk & Soul, old & new”
DJs: Steve G & Robbie Collins plus guests
Tickets £5 ; Over 30s ; 8pm – 1.30am
(07910)758621

Saturday 23rd April
“The Madness Of St Georges Day”
Halfway House, A127, Brentwood, CM13 3LL
12 DJs including :
Jeff Young, Gary Dennis, Tony Fernandez
Paul Clark, Bob Masters & Grumpy Brown
Tickets: £10 between 1st Feb & 8th Feb – more afterwards
https://www.facebook.com/events/156347478075093/

Saturday 14th May
“KTF Soul Club”
Upstairs at the Old Regent Ballroom, Stanford Le Hope, SS17 0AQ
DJs: Jon Drake & Robin Quartermain plus the KTF team
7.30pm – 1am
Tickets £6 in advance
https://www.facebook.com/events/1021213807959370/
Saturday 21st May
“Essex Funkers Spring Bash”
Featuring Kenny Thomas – Live !
Paringdon Sports Club, Harlow, CM19 4QT
DJs: Les Knott, Brian Kelly, Fatbloke Lee, DJ Dab & Danny Peters
Tickets £12 in advance or £15 on the door
https://www.facebook.com/events/150955745275138/

Saturday 28th May
“Whitney – Queen Of The Night”
Towngate Theatre, Basildon
Rebecca Freckleton as Whitney Houston
7.30pm ; Tickets £20 / £22
(01268) 465 465
www.towngatetheatre.co.uk

Sunday 29th May (Bank Holiday)
“Killer Soul All-Dayer”
The Chichester Hotel, Wickford, SS11 8UE
Three Rooms of Jazz, Funk, Soul, Dance Anthems & Club Classics
Full Zero DJ team including Les Knott…
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205552092710943&set=pcb.10205552096551039&type=3&theater

Saturday 18th June
“The Magic Of Motown”
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea
“10th Anniversary Show”
Features songs by The Temptations, Supremes,
Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye & many more.
Tickets from £22 – £29 ; 8pm start
Tel: (01702) 351135
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Saturday 2nd July
“SOS Live”
Priory Park, Southend-on-Sea
“Real Thing, Heatwave & Odyssey – LIVE !”
4pm start ; Tickets £27.50 (inc booking fee)
Tel: (01702) 351135
www.southendtheatres.org.uk

Friday 15th July
“The Chicago Blues Brothers – Jailbreak Tour”
Towngate Theatre, Basildon
“Blues, Motown & Soul from the two films”
7.30pm ; Tickets £23
(01268) 465 465
www.towngatetheatre.co.uk

Weekenders:

Friday 4th – Sunday 6th March
“SFA 2016 – The Soul Family Affair !”
Searles Holiday Resort, Hunstanton, Norfolk, PE36 5BB
Two Rooms: 1) Nu Soul, Boogie, Soulful House, Jazz-Funk
2) Motown, Jazz, Northern, Reggae, Modern Classics
DJs include: Martin Collins, Tony Fernandez, Ian Reading
Brian Kelly, Chris Brown & Les Knott
More info at www.soulfamilyaffair.co.uk or :
https://www.facebook.com/events/809156585838237/

Friday 25th March – Monday 28th March (Easter!)
“The Claremont Soul Weekend”
Claremont Pier, Lowestoft, NR33 0BS
“Four Rooms of Soulful Classics, RnB, Jazz-Funk & House”
**Beggar & Co – Live Set ! **
DJs including:
Greg Edwards, James Anthony, Phil Baker & Stretch Taylor
More details from :
https://www.facebook.com/events/509227909255483/

Friday 27th – Monday 30th May
“Bless The Funk”
Azur, Marine Pavillion, St Leonards On Sea, East Sussex, TN38 0BU
Strictly for the Over 30s
“Modern & Classic Soul, Boogie, Jazz-Funk, Motown & Northern Soul
2-Step, RnB, Funky & Soulful House”
www.blessthefunk.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/groups/blessthefunk/?fref=ts

Weekly Events:
Fridays :
“Soul City”
George II, High Street, Hornchurch, RM12 4UW
“Top Soul & Disco Tunes From The 70s 80s & 90s”
DJs: Peter P & Trish
Free Entry ; 8pm – 2am;
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheGeorgehornchurch/?fref=ts

Fridays:
“Old Skool Friday”
Bar Zero, Western Road, Billericay, CM12 9DZ
“Soul, Funk, Disco, R’n’B & 90s Club Anthems ”
DJs on rotation : Jon Jules, Bully, Mikey Porter, MJ
Free Entry ; 8.30pm – 1am ;
Over 25’s – Smart Dress
https://www.facebook.com/events/1483072582020167/

Fridays :
“Soul Night”
The Chequers, Market Street, Old Harlow, CM17 0AH
“70s & 80s Soul Funk & Disco / 80s & 90s House Classics”
8.30pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry ; Over 30s
(They also have a soul night on Saturdays sometimes too)
https://www.facebook.com/117809255236768/photos/a.117825925235101.1073741825.117809255236768/117830488567978/?type=3&theater
Monthly Events:
First Friday: Zero Soul Night Out – Spread Eagle, Rayleigh
First Friday: Soul Weekender Vibe – Marco’s , Rayleigh
Third Friday: Soulful Seduction, Woodmans Arms, Thundersley
Third Friday: Soul Kitchen, Grey Lady, Tunbridge Wells
Second Saturday: Soul By The Sea, Divers Arms, Herne Bay
Third Saturday: The Cricketers, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford

Do you know of any soulful, jazzy, funky gigs taking place in 2016 ? 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