27th December, 2011: New Century Soul – Boxing Day 2011

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New Century Soul in Radcliffe, Manchester… My penultimate all-nighter of 2011 before I zoom back up the M5/6 to BIDDS for the New Years Eve Soul Extravaganza. A quick plug for this Musical Masterpiece that any discerning soul lover should attend. You’ll be treated to unknowns, eclectic and pant creaming spins I guarantee. I don’t think there’s another all-nighter in the calendar for NYE and who in their right mind wants to get home at 2am! Lightweights

Besides, it’s my Birthday so would be lovely to spend it surrounded by a madding crowd

Right, back to last night…

Sean Haydon kindly offered to give me a lift so I drove the 2 hour journey to his place and jumped in his car. There were 3 of us, Me, Sean and Gazza and the journey was made swiftly with lots of music and chatter about this, that and the other.

Firstly, and most importantly, I would like to extend my sincere heartfelt thanks to both Chris & Marcelle. It’s not easy being a Promoter these days and you’ve certainly been tested to the limit at times, but you’ve risen above adversities for our benefit, not yours, and should be proud of your achievements.

They have delivered a successful 5 roomed all-nighter at Radcliffe for a number of years now, and numerous superb Promotions that went before, and even give up their Boxing Day so that we can come out to play. Big respect and big love

We all started off in the main room. Musically safe from my point of view but a busy dance floor confirmed it was just what the customers wanted. Besides, there was the 3 before 1 room to satiate my need for new stuff followed by the Soul Or Nothing room at 3am to 7am. The two hours between the two allowed me lots of hugs, snogs, conversations and a wee bit of dancing to Mick H and Soul Sam in the main room.

There was a great buzz throughout the whole venue and it felt warm, friendly, fun, passionate and squidgy

My warm up in the 3 before 1 was more of an aerobic work-out! Super fast records that gave me immediate whiplash and it felt GOOD! All the DJ’s were superb and the finale of John Weston and Stuart Cheetham double-decking was a treat worth waiting for. And thank you for my two dedications, especially this one! WOWSER!!! What an exciting version of a classic.

So, with that gruelling but amazing 3 hours of perfect Ovary pummelling greatness I took reprieve by mingling with the muggles. I reckon it’s pretty much similar to running the London Marathon – but far more enjoyable

Now, the day before I had looked down in shock at what appeared to be a full-term (immaculate conception) pregnancy. Yes, I’ve got that fat. Tonight, the dashingly handsome Charles (or Charlie as he prefers) commented that I’d now got a big bum. That’s it! On the way home I contemplated a diversion to our local weighbridge but chickened out. However, I am now on a quest to re-reveal the waist I had not too long ago, lose the Party 7 Barrel and get back to what I should weigh. Bye bye Nachos and Cheese

Sorry, I’m off on a tangent as per usual; well, I’ve not slept since Sunday night so I’m Royally on one

Back to the main room to catch Mick & Sam’s spots. A mixture of floor pleaser’s which the punters naturally demanded, and some lovely rare stuff thrown in for good measure, gave me another dose of what I longed for. By now I could feel the sweat rolling down my back. That’s the tick in the box for me.

3am found me power-walking to the Soul Or Nothing Room. OMG – like a lardy cheap fizzing Catherine Wheel I got proper funked. George was on top form for his first set followed by a guy called Marco – I was so in my element, especially when he dropped an unheard of (by me and many others) Precisions funky number in – it was AMAZING. I asked him what it was and he told me, and now I’ve forgotten.

4.30am found me wandering around aimlessly from room to room because the records had changed tempo and were a little too modern for my taste. Besides, I was now WANKERED, a walking shell of my former self, and fit to drop. I’d been ‘hobbled’, broke my neck and contracted Consumption.

I spent the last hour stood outside with Mr Rivers and other passers by where we talked the talk and heard yesteryear tales of comedy.

Our stop-off coffee on the way home found more comedy and dry humour thanks to Adam Topping and further comical tales from all the lads who reminisced romantically. With the world put to rights, in post-nighter fashion, it was time to leave and make our way to our homes, showers and pyjamas. A super night that’s left me feeling fulfilled.

Personal big snog thank you’s have to be made to Sean, Gary, Marcelle, Chris, Kit, Gale, Bridget, Jen, Mr Rivers, Mr Rimmer and John Weston for your friendship, advice and lurve. I don’t mean to leave everyone else out, you’re all so fab and I’m lucky to have such great friends, but I’d not fit you all in here. Missed Lindsay terribly as she couldn’t make it

Finally, farewell George Mahood. He sadly announced his resignation from Soul Or Nothing and will be travelling abroad for the delight of new audiences – you’ll take America by storm I’m sure George. Since hearing you for the first time some years ago at this very venue I have been taken on a new magical musical route and I feel re-born. Thank you