Neil Gits To Leeds

It might not sound very glamorous, but I’ve always wanted to go to Leeds. I can’t think of any other city or large town in England off that top of my head that I have failed to visit in my 56 years on this planet, whether it was to watch football, stop off for a meal, walk around the centre or just drive through on the way to somewhere else. Yet Leeds somehow escaped my attention. So armed with a camera, a few maps of sporting meccas around the city and a trusty girlfriend to change the CD in the car every now and then I set off, the main aim being to visit Elland Road, home of Leeds United FC and “tick off” my 500th football ground. I wanted that landmark to be somewhere special and as a boy of about 8 years old, I had an all white Leeds kit, having seen them play Chelsea on TV in the 1970 FA Cup Final and used to drive my mum mad getting it filthy muddy having a kick about with my school mates in Lake Meadows, Billericay every Saturday morning, so it seemed as good a destination as any !! We also took in the test cricket ground of Headingley and the rugby club next door, plus five charismatic non-league football clubs and also Leicestershire CCC on the way up – and needless to say came back absolutely shattered after clocking up the miles !

That was a week ago now and I am fully recovered with batteries re-charged and all ready to bring you this week’s “Old Gits Soul Show” between 7 & 9pm this evening (Monday). I came back to quite a few emails containing yet more superb quality new tunes – just after catching up fully before I went away ! – so expect to hear a few gems from soul artists from this year as well as a healthy selection of classic soul, jazz-funk & disco from the 70s & 80s. The last paylist I put together is posted below and you can still hear that show via “Listen Again” elsewhere on this website …

The Tunes
Melba Moore – Love’s Comin’ At Ya
Three Degrees – Dirty Old Man
Cheri Maree – Starting Over Again
MF Robots – Believe In Love
Lowrell – Mellow Mellow Right On
Jazzy D feat Jay Nemor & Amber Sweeney– After All
Such – Before Dark
Booker Newbury III – Take A Piece Of Me
Narada Michael Walden – I Shoulda Loved Ya
Level 42 – Weave Your Spell
TC Curtis – You Should Have Known Better
Chris Kingdon featuring Rudy Wilburn – Better Together
Soul Messengers – Be Right Here
Aretha Franklin – Until You Come Back To Me
Barry White – Never Never Gonna Give You Up
Stylistics – Rockin’ Roll Baby
Cheri Maree – I Want You Back
Wanda Ray Willis & Felton Pilate – I Got To Be Strong
Greg Jackson – One For The Road (Downtown Mix)
Marc Staggers – Crazy About Your Love (Nigel Lowis Mix)
Prince – 1999
Ian Thompson – Night Breeze

The Gigs

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
(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 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/

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

Friday 19th April
(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 19th April
(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/

Saturday 20th April
(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/

Sunday 28th April
(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 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/

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 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
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” !