The Northern Soul Podcast

The Twisted Wheel: Whitworth Street — Opening Night, 1965
Manchester, September 1965. A new chapter begins as the legendary Twisted Wheel moves from Brazennose Street to its new home on Whitworth Street.
Tonight, we step back in time and walk through the doors of one of Manchester's most iconic music clubs. Past the coffee bar, down the stairs and into the basement, where live bands, adventurous DJs and a crowd hungry for something different came together around the sounds of American rhythm and blues, Motown and soul.
Imagine the atmosphere: the dark surroundings, the distinctive twisted bicycle wheels surrounding the DJ's booth, the small stage, the packed rooms and the records arriving from across the Atlantic. These were the early days of a club that would help shape the culture we now know as Northern Soul.
We're turning the clock back to explore the music, the people and the atmosphere that made the Twisted Wheel so special, featuring soul records from the era and beyond that tell the story of its developing sound.
Before the legend, there was a club, a dancefloor and a passion for the music.
Welcome to the Twisted Wheel, Whitworth Street. Manchester, 1965. Let's get on that dancefloor.

Tonight, we dig deeper into the Northern Soul record box to rediscover the overlooked tracks, forgotten dancers and hidden gems that rarely make it onto today's playlists.
These are records that deserve a second chance. From the soulful sounds of Sean Oliver and Reggie Alexander to the wonderful voices of Freda Payne, Donald Jenkins and the Delighters, Jon Lucien and Bettye LaVette, we're exploring the lesser-heard side of soul music.
It's all about rarity, rediscovery and that special feeling when a record makes you wonder why it isn't played more often. Not every great soul record becomes a classic, and not every classic needs to be played every night.
And as we bring our Secret Soul journey to a close, we turn to one of my personal favourites, the great Major Lance, with “Too Hot to Hold”.
Forgotten sounds. Hidden soul. Northern Soul discoveries. Because some records deserve another spin.
Welcome to Tonight's Secret Soul Playlist.

Seven Lost Pieces of Northern Soul
it's the Seventh of October — and tonight we’re digging deep into the lost and forgotten side of Northern Soul.Seven tracks. Seven rare pieces of soul that slipped through the cracks, disappeared from view, or simply never received the attention they deserved.From Detroit to Texas, from Southern soul to obscure dancefloor favourites, this is thirty minutes of rare vocals, driving rhythms and records you may not have heard before.No obvious classics. No overplayed favourites.Just seven lost pieces of Northern Soul, rescued from the shelves and given another spin.Turn it up, settle in, and see if you discover a new favourite.

Tonight, we’re getting lost in the Northern Scene.A journey into the vintage soul of the 1960s, uncovering lost classics, forgotten favourites and records that somehow slipped through the cracks.From Detroit and Chicago to Philadelphia and beyond, these are the sounds that capture the magic of the era — beautiful voices, driving rhythms, timeless melodies and that unmistakable feel-good quality you only get from great sixties soul.Featuring Ruby Andrews, Eddie Holman, Bernie Williams, Carol Anderson, John Bowie, Fortson & Scott and more.No obvious anthems. No predictable choices. Just great soul records waiting to be discovered.Turn it up and come with us as we dig deep into the lost side of the Northern Scene.

Tonight, we’re going uptown, upbeat and up north with a selection of stomping soul — seven Northern Soul favourites packed with groove, rhythm, energy and that unmistakable Northern beat.Before podcasts, playlists and streaming, When I was a club DJ, my job was simple: make people move.
It wasn’t enough to play a good record. You needed the right sound to get the dancefloor going.And stomping soul dancing was a spectacle in itself — fast feet, spins, kicks, drops and incredible energy, with dancers giving everything they had while the DJ kept the records coming.Tonight’s Magnificent Seven takes us through some fantastic soul records and the artists behind them, from Detroit and Memphis to the Northern Soul dancefloors of Britain.Turn it up, find yourself a bit of space and get ready for some serious stomping soul.The Magnificent Seven — Uptown, Upbeat & Up North.