Neil Gits Organized

The first week of a new year is always a bit of a strange time for me. Having pushed myself to the limit at all the previous month’s festive functions, I don’t feel too guilty at taking things nice and easy, but then there is work to find to fill the diary with ! Everyone around you seems to either have post-Xmas blues at getting back to work or have some lurgy, no doubt  brought on by overdoing it for the last month, while I am super-chilled and relaxing. Being a parent, there’s also the bliss of having a peaceful house all to myself again as school resumes, but with that comes the pain of rising early in the morning (i.e. before 9am !!) to do the school run. However, in between all the highs and lows of January in Neil-World the year begins to take shape and the overriding feeling is one of positivity. Yes, overall I quite like this part of the year – nothing has gone horribly wrong yet, no bills have had to be paid, it’s too early to worry about starting my “must do jobs list” and all my plans for the year are still very much possible !

But there is a lot to be said for “normal” – a hugely underrated state of mind and the first Monday of the year actually saw me doing what I usually do on that day of the week, the way I usually do it and the time it usually takes place. Yes ! It was time for “The Old Gits Soul Show” and after a belated staff Xmas meal at the Harvester (just me and Nathan of course!) I was more than ready to sit in my comfy studio chair and bring you the first super selection of 70s & 80s soul, jazz-funk and disco for 2015, which you can hear repeated this Saturday here on Gateway at 5pm …

The Tunes

Moments – Dolly My Love
SOS Band – Groovin’
Womack & Womack – Life’s Just A Ball Game
Chi-Lites – I Found Sunshine
Marvin Gaye – After The Dance (DJ Rev P edit)
Gladys Knight & The Pips – I’ve Got To Use My Imagination
Luther Vandross – It’s All About You
Glen Lewis – What’s Come Over Me ?
Dazz Band (Kinsmen Dazz) – Love Design
Jacksons – Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)
Teena Marie & Rick James – I’m A Sucker For Your Love (Womack Rework)
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band – Opus De Soul
Rare Earth – Get Ready
Ashford & Simpson – Solid
Jocelyn Brown – I Wish You Would
Roy Ayers – Searching
Maze – Magic
Shorty Long – Function At The Junction
Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me
Supremes – I’m Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking

The First Gigs Of 2015 !

Friday 9th January
(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
https://www.facebook.com/events/1640988202795230/?pnref=story

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

Friday 9th January
“Marco’s Soul Family”
Marco’s Spanish Restaurant & Wine Bar, Eastwood Road, Rayleigh
“Georgie B (Second Image) singing live plus guest DJ”
8.30pm – 2am
https://www.facebook.com/events/1518383255097091/?fref=ts

Saturday 10th January
“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/970210359659042/

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 16th 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
https://www.facebook.com/events/743645532398023/?fref=ts
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
7.30pm – 1am ; Tickets £6 – going fast !!
“Northern Soul Night”
Tel: Danny (07895)538835
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
https://www.facebook.com/soulatthecricks?fref=ts

Sunday 25th January
“The Winter Warmer”
The Horse & Groom, Charlotte Court, York St, Ramsgate
“Soul Funk Boogie & Disco”
Free Entry ; 4pm – 7pm
DJ Lee Aitch
https://www.facebook.com/events/309952889205002/?fref=ts

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” ***SOLD OUT ***
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

Friday 7th February
(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 & Jonny Layton
8.30pm – 1am ; Free Entry ; Over 25s ;
“70s 80s & 90s Soul Jazz Funk Disco & Club Anthems”
https://www.facebook.com/events/1540247789574972/?fref=ts

Saturday 14th February
“Soul Fiesta”
Langdon Hills Golf & Country Club, RM14 3TY
“Soul Funk Jazz & Soulful House”
8pm – 1am ; Two Rooms Of Tunes
DJs include : Stavros, Gary Dennis, Cosmic, Birdy
Chris White, Mick Liste & special guest Terry Jones
https://www.facebook.com/events/965882683425216/?fref=ts

Friday 27th February
“The Old Soul Roadshow”
Cliffs Pavillion, Maritime Room, Westcliff-on-Sea
“Funk Soul Boogie Disco & Motown, 60s to date”
“Street Food on sale on the night”
Tel: (01702) 351135
www.southendtheatres.org.uk

Saturday 28th February
“Soul By The Jetty”
Lobster Smack, Haven Road, Canvey Island, SS8 0NR
“Soul Funk Jazz & More !”
DJs: Jonny Layton, Mark Messent, Brian Kelly
Plus Special Guest : Paul Clark
Wristbands Only Event : £7 at www.musicmeltdown.co.uk
8pm – 1am
https://www.facebook.com/events/1593685910855211/?fref=ts

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 : 7th Feb
Third Friday: Soulful Seduction, Woodmans Arms, Thundersley – next 16th Jan
Second Saturday: Soul By The Sea, Divers Arms, Herne Bay – next 10th Jan
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