The regular Preston
town centre soul night at Dancers Studio, Avenham Street, started in
February this year. Steve Wilde from Blackpool, started it as a
Preston Stax club Reunion/Revival and as he was involved in the
Blackburn stax club of the same era (1968-1973 approx) and knew some
of the Preston stax of the time – renew old acquaintances etc…The
former stax members did not resurface in any noticeable numbers and
Steve invited me to come-on-board as a co-promoter. I had myself
approach Nick Attack – owner of Dancers only about a week after
Steve's initial approach and Nick told me it was a bloke from
Blackburn, Steve who had promoted King Georges'…I rang Steve as we
had previously supported each others promotions. Due to his
business commitments he had to take a back seat and then dropped
out, I continued and involved Phil Webb aka J.J.Ellis. It was hard
work, a lot of competition, uncertainty on our music policy, I wanted
quality northern and motown and to drop the stax revival tag and we
had differences in input, strategy, future music policy etc…
Again that partnership ended and I then decided to go it alone.
With help and encouragement from Steve Curry – a twisted wheel
enthusiast we are now still just about surviving. We have an across
the board music policy, anything that's soul! 60's, 70's and modern,
if the punters want it. From staxclubs, Wheel, Mecca and Casino etc…I
don't impose any standards. On any DJ's, I know who they are, and
what they know- play and get a response.I just hope its not the same
most popular 200 oldies month after month, boring and predictable
like several so-called Soul Nights! I firmly believe there are
B-side semi-knowns, forgotten gems that will pack the floor
irrespective of Ginger Taylor, Terry Moathouse, Chris King, Kenny
Burrell and many other "Top DJ's" not playing these 45's
and therefore the follow my leader pack, don't play them either,
because they look and listen and play copy cat! Yes we at Dancers
play many popular oldies and motown –often by request – but we
also play so much more.I will always pull in local lads to DJ.
People I know who are serious collectors and spend a large part of
each week playing tunes, searching, swapping, checking lists and
web-sites and buying!Our list of accomplished amateur DJ's
/collectors who have DJ'ed at Dancers and who will again and others
who will get "shots" is like a whose-who of soul in Preston
and near by, and these good and true are:-Stan Evans-Liverpool-Sink
and Twisted Wheel, Viaduct Club.Steve Curry-Eccleston-Leyland
J.J.Ellis-Preston John Meredith, Colin ,Noca,Big Ray Duckworth, Pete
Livsey, Joan Livsey, Paul Miller, Dave Barrett- all of Preston,Steve
Miller, Malcom Jackson, Murray Miller, The Blackburn/East Lancs
Posse and The Neighbourhood Lads. Roly Ferguson and Carl Hayes.To
join this illustrious list I have also got the following super
soulies lined up on the near future, Simon Blackburn and Phil
Treefall, Neil Hodgson, Pete Mason, Ken Rigby and John (J.C)
Orritt.At Dancers we just want people to enjoy a good long dance to
lots of good music, some of which will be favourite oldies, and
others will of which will be just sweet soul music. We play 60's
Twisted Wheel sounds 60's stax and early motown and R&B.We play
lots of superb 70's much lesser known, I myself have treated the
initiated to the likes of:-
Bill Harris- Am I
cold, am I hot
Vessy Simmons- I
can make it on my own
James Walsh Gypsy
Band-Cuz its you girl
Fantastic
Puzzles-Come Back
John Meredith has
played so many lesser known 70's gems,We play non-snobbish soul and
get up and dance R&B in smallish doses.All our DJs appreciated
the calling-Wow I but even more so are thanks go out to our regulars
who turn up month after month and they love the place the atmosphere
the music and the super-international dance competition, dance
floor – its about the best I've come across many-a-year
Come along and try
it!
Best Regards to
all
Colin Murphy
dancers is no longer run as a venue
Also
check out Colin the oldest swinger in town