St. Bernadette’s Soul Club will be celebrating its 18th Anniversary on 17th October 2009 with plenty of classic tracks and a live performance from Richie Pitts. I will be there to enjoy and offer my congratulations to Has and Di.
ONCE UPON A TIME, (October 1991,) Has (Harry Grundy,) approached the landlord of a small pub in the Whitefield area of North Manchester, and enquired about the possibility of putting on a Northern Soul night in the pub. Since the pub was mostly quiet at the time, the landlord agreed, and so the first SWEET SOUL MUSIC event was launched.
The gigs were successful and after a couple of months Has was approached by Ian, who began to spin the sounds alongside Has, airing his impressive collection of green Motown demos. When the landlord moved into a larger pub, in the same area, Has and Ian moved too, and the SWEET SOUL MUSIC nights continued every week for ten years.
Eventually the popularity of the gigs warranted a move to larger premises, hence the move to their current home at St. Bernadette’s in Whitefield. Has’s wife, Diana, welcomes all through the doors at St. Bernadette’s: today
Has is still spinning most of the sounds at St. Bernadette’s, with a little help from friends and guests. This most friendly of Clubs had also seen recent live performances from the likes of Kim Weston, Steve Callaway (Professionals) and Richie Pitts (Velours). Long may the SWEET SOUL MUSIC continue. |
 
St. Bernadette’s – 2010 Dates
Friday 12th March
Saturday 10th April
Saturday 8th May
Saturday 12th June
Saturday 10th July
Saturday 21st April
Saturday 11th September
and more…
Admission £2-50 - 8.00pm till 12.45am
WOODEN DANCE FLOOR – CAR PARK
CHEAP BAR PRICES
Selby Avenue, Bury New Road, Whitefield
You can always find out more by visiting…
www.therighttrack.org.uk
St. Bernadette’s Soul Club in Whitefield near Manchester is run by Has ‘The SoulMan’ and the lovely Di. You can check out details of their gigs at www.therighttrack.org.uk/stbs.html
Has and Di also appear every week on Salford City Radio 94.4fm, with their fantastic show, THE RIGHT TRACK RADIO SHOW. Go to www.salfordcityradio.org every Sunday evening, 8.00 – 10.00pm. Or you can download the entire show anytime during the week at www.therighttrack.org.uk
THE RIGHT TRACK radio show is a ‘must’: filled with all the music that we love to hear, of course, but the guests that appear on the show help to make it something rather special. Calling them ‘guests’ is an understatement: it’s hard to think of who hasn’t appeared on the show over the past couple of years. Superstars of the soul scene such as Chuck Jackson, Dean Parrish, R. Dean Taylor, J. J. Barnes, Nolan Porter and The Masqueraders are just a few of the names that have appeared on the show – incredible. And not just superstars, but also lots of club promoters, local DJ,s and Soulies from the grass-roots level all add to the show’s diversity and provide great entertainment. And if that isn’t enough, just wait until you hear some of the jingles that get played during the show: tailor-made jingles from the likes of Frances Nero and Dee Dee Sharp… 
SATURDAY 11th JULY 2009
I was very much looking forward to seeing Steve Callaway perform live at St. Bernadette’s, but I never expected such a great night.
It is remarkable that we now get the chance to see and meet so many of those artists that have been our heroes for so many years; and that, of course, is thanks to those dedicated promoters who bring us the soul of our dreams.
As soon as Steve arrived at St. B’s he happily shook hands and chatted with all those who greeted him, posed for photos and told me that he was ‘loving every minute of it.’
Steve danced with the dancers, mixed with the fans, and even got up on stage to share a DJ spot.
Having changed into his white tux and bow-tie, Steve took the stage and opened his act with a tribute to J. J. Barnes by singing I AIN’T GONNA DO IT and DAY TRIPPER. Tributes to Edwin Starr and Darrell Banks followed with AGENT 00 SOUL and SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE NEEDS YOU.
The crowd was totally entranced, and I was in soul heaven.
MY LOVE LOOKS GOOD followed, and then, of course we had both sides of the classic Professionals’ Goove City disc, DID MY BABY CALL and THAT’S WHY I LOVE YOU.
Steve spent the rest of the evening signing autographs, posing for more photos and mixing with the locals. He could not have been more friendly and entertaining. A totally superb night that will remain one of my most treasured memories. Thanks Has & Di, and thank you Mr. Steve Callaway.
I am just one of the multitude of soul fans who tuned into THE RIGHT TRACK Radio Show on Sunday 17th May 2009 to witness DJ HAS interviewing the Northern Soul icon that is SPYDER TURNER – live from Detroit.
Spyder came across as a very willing participant during the interview, and it was clear to tell that he was enjoying the experience as much as his audience.
He had many fascinating tales to tell about how he got the name ‘Spyder’, and how he admired and was influenced by other legendary artists – in particular Chuck Jackson – Spyder even confessed to being a bit of a ham on stage in front of the audiences that he loves – a born performer.
Spyder also told us of his current work: his involvement with an upcoming Four Tops album, and his plans to record more material, both new and old, in the near future.
The interview was superbly informative and entertaining; but most enjoyable of all was the opportunity we had to listen to some brilliant SPYDER TURNER recordings, from 1964 right up the present day. They included…
I Can’t Wait Until I See My Baby’s Face
You’re Alone
Ride In My 225
Trying To Forget About You
I Can’t Make It Anymore
Got To Get Myself Together
I’ve Been Waiting
You’re Good Enough For Me
This Is Your Life
I’m Alive With A Loving Feeling
Crying Over You
Detroit, City By The River
As time ran out, and the interview was brought to a close, Spyder took the time out to spread his message of ‘Peace and love to everybody out there in the World’.
You can visit Spyder’s own website at www.spyderturner.com
HAS & DIANA always do a great job of interviewing many exciting Soul names on their RIGHT TRACK SHOW on SALFORD CITY RADIO, and if you haven’t listened to the show yet… why not?!
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