New Century Soul Club – Manchester – 31 July 2004
12pm Saturday Lindsay and I left Poole for our short excursion to Portsmouth where we met up with The Southern Soul Movement and a contingent from the South Coast Soul Club. We were 15, all eager to sample the much talked about New Century Soul Club all nighter in the heart of Manchester.
A rather raucous 5 hours later we arrived – hyped up and excited about what the night had to offer. More so because Steve Csordas had secured a Guest DJ Spot at 11pm in celebration of his magnificent record collection – hence our largish party trekking up north to support his soulful endeavor.
Before heading into the New Century Soul club, we were in plenty of time to enjoy a pre-club warm-up in a pub across the road. Low and behold, me old mucker John Weston was playing some tunes in there which contributed to what we had in store later on. Already fairly busy with soul fans this afforded us a little light conversation with acquaintances and friends alike, including Mike Hughes from Soul Source, plus of course the start of the evening’s photography!
Off we went with a skip in our step. Being guests of Steve entitled us to a slighter lesser entrance fee of £8. Very reasonable seeing as the club is open from 9pm to 7am and beyond… more of that later.
Up the steps we bounded – venues with stairs are always a bonus, be it up or down – adds a little mystery as to what is beyond. Through the bar and into the main hall we traipsed. It was humongous! The first thing that captured my attention was the huge screen above the decks on the stage. It played snippets of soul performances throughout the night. Something I found myself gazing at on more than one occasion. The other focal point was two large projected New Century Soul Club ‘badges’ on either side of the stage that rotated mesmerizingly (is that a real word?) all through the evening. The music pounded through the sound system with a clarity I have not heard before – the acoustics of this room were tremendous and the floor was huge. It could not get much better than that really. Although the floor was a portable one, it was fitted good and tight and only one piece stood a little proud from the rest. That I found anyway. Another man also found this proud spot and hurtled across the floor like a Motown bullet!
Musically it was well balanced. Everything from R&B, crossover, 70’s and oldies – rare and dirt cheap – all happily mingling together like long lost friends. There was something for everyone and that was reflected by the floor action each record achieved.
I jigged around the floor until the sweat sprayed from my head as I spun in time with the music. The sweat began to pool in my ears as it dripped from the wet strands above my ears. It tricked down my forehead averted from my eyes by my eyebrows (thanks God – metaphorically speaking of course because I am not a believer!). By now my feet were on fire and my recently sprained ankle (well, 3 flippin months ago!) started to swell again. Never fear – I danced through the pain like a professional ?.
There was a fantastic array of Spencer’s, in all different colour-ways. Something we don’t really see down South – I really want to get another pair myself but not sure how to find Roxy Threads anymore as his email address is defunct. Anyone?
3am came… I had to make it ‘'til then because there was a book running on how long I would last before falling asleep. By making it ‘'til 3am assured no winners except me LOL. Fighting my lead-like eyelids was torture and I finally gave in and headed to the minibus for a couple of hours shuteye. Returning at 5am I happily took to the floor again for the remainder of the morning until the 7am lights up. We all still carried on dancing to a few more records once the lights blazed into action finally moving to the bar area when no more records graced the main decks.
The management had set up some decks in the bar area where everyone had retired, to get refreshments including tea, coffee and bacon rolls. Never have I know a venue to be so accommodating and relaxed. Usually bouncers are waiting to throw you out but here, they welcomed the extension of the nighter to wind down and recuperate before its visitors made their weary way home. I think Lindsay and I had traveled the furthest from Poole although we may have slightly been beaten by Fudge and Tina from Wales.
A somewhat quiet journey home, happy in reflection.
I will certainly go again and thoroughly recommend it to any soul fan, whatever genre of soul you prefer.
Photos at: http://www.thesoulgirl.com/newcentury0704/index.htm
Yours in Soul,
Karen x
