The Northern Soul Podcast

We're travelling back to 1976 — arguably the commercial and cultural peak of Northern Soul.
Wigan Casino was at the centre of the phenomenon, with packed all-nighters, coachloads of dancers travelling from across Britain and a growing obsession with rare American soul records. Blackpool Mecca, the legacy of the Twisted Wheel and venues across the North and Midlands were all part of a scene that had become a fully formed youth culture.We'll look at the records, the reissues, the labels and the changing sound of Northern Soul, as crossover soul, disco and some rather unexpected records began finding their way onto the dancefloors.But 1976 was also the year another musical revolution arrived.Punk.We'll explore the growing tension between the established Northern Soul culture and the raw new sound emerging from London and Manchester — including the legendary Sex Pistols appearance at the Lesser Free Trade Hall.And I'll share one of my own memories from that extraordinary year, when I found myself chatting to a young Tony Wilson shortly before he headed off to see the Sex Pistols
1976 was the year Northern Soul reached its golden peak.It was also the year the future arrived.

1975 — The Year Northern Soul Changed1975 was a pivotal year for Northern Soul. The secret was beginning to get out, the media were taking notice, and the scene was growing rapidly.From the legendary dance floors of Wigan Casino and Blackpool Mecca to the all-nighters at Cleethorpes Pier, new sounds were emerging. Seventies soul was beginning to sit alongside the classic sixties stompers, disco was appearing on the horizon, and DJs were pushing the boundaries of what could work on a Northern Soul dance floor.In this episode, we look at the records, the venues, the DJs, the dancers and the changing culture of 1975.And there's a personal connection too. I was there — running our family record shop, travelling to Manchester to source imports from Global Records, and working as a club DJ during one of the most exciting periods in the story of Northern Soul.1975 wasn't just another year.It was the year Northern Soul began to change.

1974
In this episode of The Northern Soul Years, we step back to 1974 — a year for Northern Soul, disco and British music.Wigan Casino was beginning to establish itself, Blackpool Mecca was developing its own distinctive sound, and the influence of the Golden Torch was still being felt. Record companies were starting to recognise the growing demand for rare soul, with Pye’s Disco Demand series helping bring some of those records to a wider audience.But 1974 was also a very personal year for me.It was the year I went abroad for the first time, travelling to Spain with two friends — all three of us Northern Soul fanatics, armed with soul cassettes, two unnecessary leather jackets and absolutely no sun cream.It was also the year my family opened our first independent record shop, giving me the chance to discover music through the records and people coming through the door.And then came the Soul Cellar, where I began my first proper weekly all-night DJ residency.Add in mobile DJ work, the explosion of disco, record collecting and the people who broadened my musical horizons, and 1974 becomes much more than just another year.It was the year everything started to come together.

WHAT MAKES NORTHERN SOUL NORTHERN?
What actually makes Northern Soul… Northern?
Is it the beat? The speed? The emotion? The rare records? Or is it something much harder to define?
In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we go back to basics and explore the question at the heart of the music.
From the Twisted Wheel in Manchester and Samantha's in Sheffield, to Va Va's in Bolton, the Catacombs in Wolverhampton, the Hi-Fi Club in Leeds, the Golden Torch, Blackpool Mecca and Wigan Casino, we follow the clubs, DJs and dancers who helped turn obscure American soul records into something completely new.
We look at the crate diggers searching for forgotten records, the all-nighters that kept the dance floors moving until morning, and the DJs who could transform an unknown record into a dance-floor anthem.
And there's a personal journey too.
The first time I heard the term Northern Soul, I assumed it meant Northern America. Then, in around 1975, I walked into Blackpool Mecca and discovered a very different side of the scene — modern soul, Philadelphia influences and a sound that was already evolving.
Most of the music had been recorded in the mid-1960s.
Yet more than sixty years later, those records are still being played, still being danced to and still creating waves.
So perhaps Northern Soul isn't simply a place.
Perhaps it's a feeling.

Beneath the bright lights of Oxford Street lies one of the most important venues in Northern Soul history—the legendary 100 Club.In this episode of This Is Northern Soul, we step down those famous stairs to uncover the stories behind the club that became London's home of rare soul. Discover how forgotten American records were rescued from obscurity, how legendary DJs and unforgettable live performances shaped its reputation, and why the 100 Club continues to inspire soul fans from around the world.Featuring the iconic Melba Moore – "The Magic Touch", along with a collection of rare and unforgettable Northern Soul classics, this is a journey into the basement where music history was made.Because every great Northern Soul record has a story... and tonight, that story begins at the 100 Club.