Neil Gits Two New CDs !

It doesn’t seem so long ago when, at the peak of my DJ career, doing the clubs, bars, parties and radio shows in the 90s, I would think nothing of spending £3,000 – £4,000 a year on records and CDs, but in recent years it had slimmed own to nearer £300 – £400. Now of course, I am a fully paid up member of “The Old Gits Club” and for the last three years I have played almost exclusively old tunes, either established hits at my gigs or favourite classic soul tunes on the radio. In fact, last year I only bought two CDs !! They were “Soul Togetherness 2014” and “Luxury Soul 2015”, both at the start of the year and were thoroughly enjoyable, encouraging me to include a little more new soul music (of the highest quality!) on my show. And when I started to get sent some fabulous promotional tracks from a new contact, via a mutual friend, it gave Monday nights a fresh new kick with their highly worthy inclusion.

So, onto 2016 – and I’ve just done the same again, purchasing “Soul Togetherness 2015” & “Luxury Soul 2016” though both are still in their shrink wrapping at present ! With the first batch of promo tracks received sounding very pleasing indeed to these Old Git ears, things are looking very promising for the months ahead…

Check out what I played on last week’s show below and tune in for the next LIVE edition at 7pm on Monday, repeated at 5pm on Saturday afternoon …

The Tunes

Womack & Womack – Love Wars
Gino Soccio – Try It Out
Emotions – Best Of My Love
Drizabone Soul Family – New York City Nights
Inner Life – I’m Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair)
Lou Courtney – I’m In Need Of Love
Loose Ends – So Where Are You
Regina Belle – So Many Tears
Billy Griffin – Be With Me
Linx – You’re Lying
Gwen McCrae – Funky Sensation
Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – The Onion Song
Imagination – Music & Lights
Ingram – Smoothin’ Groovin’
Cool Million feat Eli Thompson – Sweet Soul Music
C L Blast – Lay Another Log On The Fire
Barry White – Just The Way You Are
The Carstairs – He Who Picks A Rose
Hamilton Bohannon – Foot Stompin’ Music
George Howard – Nice Place To Be

Fully Updated Gigs

Saturday 30th January
“The Kent Soul Sessions”
TJ’s Bar, Milton Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 2RF
DJs: Tony Matthews, Pete Collins, Roni O’Brien, TimBates
8pm – 1am ; £7 on the door
https://www.facebook.com/events/125891291105043/

Friday 5th February
“The Big Zero Soul Night Out”
(Every First Friday Of the Month)
The Spread Eagle, High Street, Rayleigh, SS6 7EJ
DJs: Merve The Swerve, Bully & guest Steve Bocking
“70s 80s & 90s Soul, Jazz-Funk, Disco & Club Anthems”
8.30pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry ; Over 25s
Tel: (01268) 775100
https://www.facebook.com/events/1497877447187032/

Friday 5th February
“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
Friday 5th February
“Five Star Soul”
Orsett Hall, Prince Charles Avenue, Orsett, RM16 3HS
Two Rooms of Tunes : “Soul Pavillion” & “Jazz Funk Lounge”
DJs: Brian “The Rev” Kelly , Lee “Fatbloke” Aldwinkle,
Jon Ovel, Mark Lee, Jazzbod & Jonny Layton
7.30pm – 2.00am ; Over 30s
Tickets £15 – details from (01375) 891402 (Events Team)
https://www.facebook.com/events/416502785227248/

Friday 5th February
“Stevenage Soul Club”
The CIU Club, High Street, Old Town, Stevenage, SG1 3AU
Guest DJ: Martin Collins
7.30pm – 12.45am ; Tickets £5 in advance
https://www.facebook.com/events/203543553325199/

Wednesday 10th February
Alexander O’Neal – Live !
Reids Bar, Laindon Road, Billericay, CM12 9LD
8pm start time
Tickets £12.50 – (01277) 632378
https://www.facebook.com/events/1493949497580055/

Saturday 13th February
“Soul By The Sea”
(Every Second Saturday)
The Divers Arms, Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent, CT6 5JQ
DJs: Tom G Edgar , Peter Hayes & Neil Matthew
7.00pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry !
https://www.facebook.com/events/1524747444520911/
Friday 19th February
(every third Friday)
“Soulful Seduction ”
Woodmans Arms, Thundersley, Essex, SS7 3TA
“Soul, Funk, Disco, Weekender & Club Anthems !”
DJs: Bully & MJ plus guest DJ Paul Kidley
8.00pm – 1.00am ; Free Entry
https://www.facebook.com/events/988214391251592/
Friday 19th February
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
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesoulkitchentw/?fref=ts
Saturday 20th February
(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
https://www.facebook.com/events/1723910384511579/

Saturday 20th February
“Soul Print Promotions present Soul By The Sea”
The Ship, New Road, Leigh-On-Sea, SS9 2EA
DJs: Mick Liste, Chris White, Gary Dennis & Birdy
“Soul Funk Jazz & Latin”
Admission £7 On the Door – 8.30pm – 1am
https://www.facebook.com/events/1664994383755172/

Saturday 5th March
“KTF Soul Club 6th Birthday Party”
Downstairs at The Old Regent Ballroom, Stanford Le Hope, SS17 0AQ
DJs: Dick Coombes & Sean Pumfrett
Tickets £6 in advance (inc free CD) or £8 on the door
7.30pm – 1.00 am
https://www.facebook.com/events/1695878584003985/

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 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/

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

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 !