The Northern Soul Podcast

In this episode, we rewind to the summer of 1966, tracing the roots of Northern Soul from Detroit's bustling studios to the underground energy of the Catacombs in Wolverhampton. Featuring rare cuts from Shrine Records, overlooked Motown gems from artists like Chris Clark and The Monitors, and the scene that shaped a culture, as DJs and dancers pursued the thrill of discovering the next forgotten r...

This week Episode ,I'm sharing my own Northern Soul story. From the unforgettable lunchtime school discos where I first heard those magical sounds, to the Sunny Coffee Bar in Ashton-under-Lyne and the legendary Birdcage nightclub, this is the journey that sparked a lifelong passion for soul music. Along the way, I'll be playing the records that shaped my life—rare, iconic and unforgettable...

"In this episode, we ask: What is Northern Soul? Its a music and dance movement that took root in the UK in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It’s built around rare, often forgotten American soul records—mostly from the 1960s—characterized by a fast tempo, an upbeat rhythm, and a deep, emotive feel. But it wasn’t just about the sound—it was also about community: working-class youth from Northern Eng...

This episode journeys back to the Golden Era of Northern Soul, a time spanning the mid-1960s through the early 1970s when rare American soul records found a second life on British dancefloors. Before the music was labelled, it was simply about discovery — DJs unearthing forgotten recordings, dancers responding to rhythm and emotion, and clubs becoming the focal point of a growing underground cultu...

Welcome to a special journey into the heart of the Detroit sound. This episode steps away from the obvious hits and shines a light on the records that lived in the shadows — the deep cuts, collector favourites, forgotten voices and Northern Soul discoveries that helped define Detroit’s musical legacy. Expect powerful performances, raw emotion and that unmistakable groove from artists including Dar...

September 1981. The doors closed on Wigan Casino and many believed Northern Soul had reached the end of the road. The headlines faded. The cameras disappeared. In The 1990s The great all-nighters became memories. But something unexpected happened. Away from the spotlight, in smaller clubs, record boxes and late-night dancefloors, a new chapter quietly began. Tonight we explore the lost years and t...

This episode returns to the foundations of a real working DJ culture between 1974 and 1978, drawn directly from original setlists played at the Soul Cellar (Del Cellar) beneath the Birch Hotel. Often overlooked in the wider history of Northern Soul, funk and early disco, venues like this were part of a much larger underground network of clubs, cellars and pub rooms that kept dance music alive acro...

This Week we count down the Top Five Northern Soul Clubs of all time. From underground venues and legendary all-nighters to dance floors that helped shape a movement we revisit the clubs that became the beating heart Northern Soul along the way I share memories from the scene ,stories from the dance floor and a personal moment for me from Blackpool in 1973 that has stayed with me since . its fille...

Step back into the 1960s and 1970s and discover the music that lived beyond the radio playlists. In this episode, we explore the records that weren’t always heard on mainstream stations but became legendary in clubs, dance halls and all-night sessions. From American soul imports and obscure 45rpm singles to the excitement of discovering sounds that felt exclusive and different, this is a journey i...

Step back into the unforgettable summer of 1966, when England hosted and won the World Cup, Carnaby Street was at the heart of Swinging London, and a generation of Mods were discovering the sounds of American soul. In this episode, we journey through the legendary clubs that shaped Britain's soul scene, including the Scene Club, the Flamingo, the Ram Jam, Tiles and the Twisted Wheel. Along the way...

Soul, Surf and Bernadette: The Great Cornish Road Trip of 1975 In this special episode, we leave the dancefloors of Northern England and head for the Atlantic coast on an unforgettable summer adventure. It's 1975. Northern Soul is at its peak, with thousands of young people travelling through the night to venues like Wigan Casino and Blackpool Mecca. But three friends from Manchester have a differ...

In this episode we journey beyond Wigan casino to explore the forgotten lost soul clubs of the Uk. From the Catacombs in Wolverhampton to the Blue orchid in Derby, and so many more Nationwide . Northern Soul has never really belonged to a single club ,a single city or even a single generation . It belongs to everyone who ever travelled through the night chasing a song they' d never heard before ....

In this special episode , we journey back to the golden age of the British seaside and the unforgettable world of Northern Soul. From steam trains and deckchairs to trams, illuminations and ballroom dancefloors, this is a deeply personal trip through the sights, sounds and strange magic of Blackpool in the 1960s and 70s. Through childhood memories of family holidays beside the sea, we explore how...

In this episode ,we take a wry and honest look at the Northern Baby Boomer -often blamed for everything from housing crisis to modern living costs -but whose reality was far removed from today assumptions Growing up in post -war Northern England meant ration books ,outside toilets ,coal fires and hard graft in factories ,mills and steelworks .Yet from these tough beginnings emerged a generation th...

Tonight it's back to the source - No polish No Compromise . Just rare soul-the records that never made the charts ,but made the dance floor move .This is the sound of forgotten America ,pressed in small runs buried on obscure labels ignored at the time ......then rediscovered by DJs who knew exactly what they were looking for . Fast beats ,raw vocals Pure emotion .built for dark rooms wooden floor...

This special feature episode of The Northern Soul Years ,We travel back to 1974 - a time when Britain stood on the edge of political uncertainty ,industrial decline and cultural change . Against the backdrop of strikes ,power cuts and economic unrest ,a generation of young working -class soul fans discovered escape on all-night dance floors of Northern England . This episode explores the rise of t...

This was the beginnings of Britains underground soul movement .In the basement clubs and hidden dance halls like the Twisted Wheel,King Mojo,and the Blue Orchard , Young music fans discovered rare soul from Shrine Record label and many more Tracks that became legends from records pressed in tiny numbers and forgotten in America -but here in the North and the Midlands they became something special...

1973 -This episode dives deep into the raw energy and elegance of Northern Soul at its peak -a time when dance floors were rules by rare 45s relentless rhythms ,and a devotion to discovering the unknown . We explore this year everything seemed to come together in 1973. And perhaps that's why the music from that era still feels so powerful today . It was discovered ,protected ,and loved by people w...

Tonights episode dives deep into the world of Northern Soul Collecting -where rare records ,hidden gems and timeless dance floor anthems define the culture . From its underground roots in the 60s and early 70s ,built in legendary clubs like wigan casino ,the twisted wheel ,the torch and Blackpool Mecca ,Northern soul has grown into a global movement -yet it still holds its core : discovery ,passio...

In this episode ,We go beyond the labels to uncover the roots of one of Britains most enduring underground movements .From Dave Godin at Soul City to all-Night danceflooors of Wigan Casino ,this is the story of how rare American soul records found a second life in the north of England We explore the working class culture that shaped the scene ,the obsession with obscure vinyl and the connection be...

Tonights episode celebrates 20 years of Spotify, and the massive impact its had on how we discover and experience Northern Soul music. From the days of vinyl, All- nighters ,and DJ -led discovery ... to a world of instant access and algorithm -driven playlists ,this episode explores the journey from underground to global streaming . we dive into the iconic labels that helped shape the northern sou...

Tonights episode takes you back to where it all began. from 1964-71 three clubs helped shape The movement that would change British music forever . We step inside Londons 100 Club,Manchesters Wheel and the underground Catacombs Club. Each venue had its own identity -Londons gateway to live American soul,Manchesters raw all-night energy and Wolverhamptons exclusive DJ driven rare groove scene -but...

A personal journey through the early Northern Soul Scene -long before Wigan Casino ,The Torch ,or the Blackpool Mecca became part of the story . This episode traces the real beginnings of a passion for soul music in Manchester ,from first hearing those powerful American voices in 1960s to basement clubs church halls, and early dance nights where the sound truly took hold . its a story of discovery...

This weeks episode takes you deep into the heart of Northern Soul away from the anthems and into the rare, the raw,and the beautifully understated- every track in this collection is a 45rpm ...original vinyl full of warmth,character and that unmistakable analogue soul . these are the records passed hand to hand ,discovered and brought to life on late night dance floors

From the raw emotion of southern soul to the polished grooves of Chicago and Philadelphia ,from gospel roots to northern soul dance floor favourites ......every track in this episode carries a story . This episode we revisit the spirit of the scene itself -its unique atmosphere and the theme is love..........