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Yet another twist on the harrington jacket, with Baracuta launching the G4.
It seems to be slightly longer than the usual harrington, with a tailored hem replacing the usual elasticated waist, as well as a button cuff and belted waist adjusters. Other details include the Baracuta check liner, two-way zip, button fastening collar and button-fastening, flapped, hand pockets.
Expect to pay around £120.
The biggest date in the UK soul scene calender has been for many years the 6Ts Cleethorpes Weekender, and this year's live act line-up has just been announced.
Taking place over the weekend of 7th-9th June at Beachcomber Holiday Centre, Cleethorpes, the 2008 6TS Northern and Modern Soul Weekender boasts three impressive acts live at the Saturday all-nighter.
The opening act is Karime Harris, daughter of LA songwriter/producer Kent Harris and singer Ty Karim. Now a London resident, the one-time Killer Meters singer will perform a special tribute to her parents’ work (including ‘Lighten Up Baby’, ‘You Just Don’t Know’, and ‘You Really Made It Good To Me’). Next up is Frank Dell, the New York singer with the big voice, who travels to Europe for the first time. Famous for his northern soul hit ‘He Broke Your Game Wide Open’, the long-time jazz circuit singer is soon to feature on Kent ’s “Northern Soul’s Classiest Rarities Vol 3”. Headlining Cleethorpes will be Gigi & The Charmaines, the superb girl group from Cincinnati. The group is lead by Gigi Griffin, who supplied backing vocals on James Brown’s King sessions and went on to work in Detroit and Chicago in the mid 60s when those cities produced non-stop soul gold. An unreleased track by the group was featured on the 6Ts 23rd anniversary single. Gigi’s sister, Gerri Jackson, was responsible for the duet with Herman Lewis (Griffin) version of ‘The Right Direction’, which she will perform on the night.
Weekend dancehall passes are still available for £59 each. Send cheques (payable to 6TS Weekenders and enclose a SAE) to:
6TS Weekenders
1 Elm Drive
Market Harborough
Leics
LE16 9DS
Or use PayPal - details and more information on the weekend are here.
Arguably the biggest UK mod icon, Steve Marriott, has had his vocals sampled on a new single by a funk/soul outfit, the appallingly-named Lack Of Afro.
Today sees the release of 'Touch My Soul', a funky Hammond-led mash-up, faintly reminiscent of Small Faces track 'Eddie’s Dreaming'. It takes the vocal line "Love is all around me, everywhere" from Marriott/Lane composition 'Afterglow (Of Your Love)' and builds around it. Indeed Touch My Soul is credited to Marriott/Lane alongside Adam Gibbons, the Exeter-based man behind Lack Of Afro. Cheekily the artwork for the single apes the cover of Small Faces' classic 1968 album 'Ogden's Nut Gone Flake'.
Will it become a future '60s scene spin?
Touch My Soul is out now on Freestyle Records. To listen to and purchase the single visit Juno Records here. For more on Lack Of Afro see their Myspace page here.
As part of an ongoing update of the site, the Modculture films section has had an update - and will continue to be updated over the coming days and weeks.
We've tidied things up a bit and added a pile of new reviews to the database - more will be added on an almost daily basis or when time permits and some of the old/tired reviews will be improved.
If you have any ideas on films to feature or dig out, we're always happy to hear from you. If time allows, a TV database could be added in future.
By complete luck/chance, we've managed to recover a number of photos missing, presumed deleted from the very old galleries. They are taking time to recover and resize, but the first gallery of 'old' photos is back online - 80s mod bands.
A mixed bag of bands from the era, all culled from photos sent into the site over the years. Check it out via the link below. Unfortunately we can't put captions on right now - but that could add to the fun as you guess the names!
If you have any photos relating to the mod scene from any era - 60s through to today - we'd love to hear from you as we rebuild the gallery section. Drop us a line initially via the contact us page to find out more.
If you're on the look out for a bit of soul next weekend, you'll find plenty of it at Magic Bus.
Yes, the original Acid Jazz club night is back on Friday April 4th, 18 years after it first started at a new home of The Cock Tavern, East Poultry, Smithfield Market, London EC1.
The night features Acid Jazz’s own Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland as residents alongside top soul DJs Ivor Jones and Johnny Valatone, with special guest Wayne Hemingway - northern soul devotee, creator of Red Or Dead and top telly pundit.
Expect across the board rare soul, with admission £5.
An interesting twist on the classic Baracuta is this PF Flyers Poplin Harrington jacket.
Available in red and blue, it's made of a soft cotton poplin fabric with a zip front, elasticated hem, button cuff and handwarmer pockets, with a more traditional collar rather than the usual Harrington two-button.
You can pick one up online, priced at £94.99.
Find out more at the Oi Polloi website
Derby's new ace mod club Bert's Apple Crumble gets set to relaunch in a new improved venue.
The monthly Midlands club, hosted by Craig Simpson and Dom Cater and featuring regular guest spots, will continue to bring the best in funk, soul, ska, and 60s club sounds at a brand new venue The Royal on Victoria Street from Friday 23rd of May. The club will then run every 4th Friday from them on. The new venue will allow the club to open for longer (10pm-3.30am), and all for just £3 before midnight or £5 after.
For more on the club, and to keep updated on future guest DJs, see the Bert's Apple Crumble Myspace page here.
The Love documentary Love Story is at last coming to DVD in the UK.
Love Story charts the life and times of '60s psychedelic warrior Arthur Lee and his Los Angeles band Love. The film features extensive interviews with Lee (his last ever), plus band members Johnny Echols, Michael Stuart, Alban 'Snoopy' Pfisterer, Bryan Maclean, Elektra Records boss Jac Holzman, The Doors' John Densmore, producer Bruce Botnick, as well as testimonials from fans Bobby Gillespie, Mani, John and Mick Head (Shack), and (surprisingly enough) London Mayor Ken Livingstone.
The film was premiered on both sides of the Atlantic last year but is not to be on general release in cinemas. Instead it will be available on DVD in June. Check the usual retail outlets closer to the time for price details. In the meantime unedited parts of some of the film interviews are available to watch on the Love Story Myspace page here.
Remember the Urban Parka from Armadillo? Well, the company has just launched its new range of scooter-friendly clothing - including a classic mac for both men and women.
The coats are pictured above, with the men's Classic Macintosh on the left, the women's Scarlett Macintosh on the right. Both feature a double-button front and belt fastening. And as they're designed for scooter riding, there's also d3o impact protection, wind and water-proofing, Thinsulate insulation and the use of a breathable fabric for all garments.
Both will be available online in the very near future, alongside new male/female parkas and a variety of accessories. Pricing to be confirmed.
Barry Murphy returns once more trawl the TV and radio guides (so you don't have to) to find anything worth tuning into this week. All listings are for UK terrestrial TV, Freeview and national radio, with the shows running from Friday 28th March to Thursday 3rd April.
Highlights of the week
It's not often that a Radio 3 programme appears in this weekly listing, let alone in the highlights, but the most intriguing radio programme this week must be A Long Way from Home (Sunday 30th, 9pm). Caryl Phillips' original drama imagines the conflicting forces in the iconic singer Marvin Gaye's life, including family, stardom, love, sex and drugs. The story focuses on his final years, when he was offered a lifeline in the unlikely setting of Ostend in Belgium, where he composed the song Sexual Healing before he returned America and was murdered by his own father.
ITV 1 continues it's excellent adaption of Jake Arnott's He Kills Coppers (Sunday 30th, 9pm). Episode two begins just after the killing of three police officers by the ruthless psychopath Billy Porter. The country is in uproar. Calls for the return of the death penalty follow and Porter goes on the run.
Finally, a long overdue night of appreciation for 1970s comedy icon Marty Feldman is held on BBC 4 (Monday 31st, 9pm). A new documentary pays tribute to this under-rated funnyman followed by a compilation show for some of his greatest sketches.
Whilst the weather here in the UK has been less than great recently you may have been contemplating getting away for some sun. And what better way to do that than by getting some mod fun into the bargain too. Here are two recommended Italian weekenders to give you such an opportunity.
First up is Hot Mod Summer On The Lake taking place in Perugia in June. Organised by the Perugia Cool Scene group, the annual event is set in a beautiful venue and is always very popular. Hot Mod Summer offers two allnighters, a scooter run, swimming pool party, and plenty of opportunity to sunbathe. Weekend DJs are Giulio Bresin, Michael Myers, Mike Painter, and Nancy Yahiro.
Secondly there is The Right Track On The Beach in Terracina, 60km south of Rome. Get Smart Roma and Mods Blood Fish Terracina have got together to turn their annual 'getaway at the beach' into a full blown weekender. The venue is a cool terrace set on the beach, helping keep the party-goers from overheating in the summer heat. Like Hot Mod Summer there are two allnighters and scooter run, plus live music on the first night from Smart Riot. Joining The Right Track crew on the decks over the weekend are guests Mary Boogaloo, French Fred, Michael Wink, and Borja Sanchez.
Hot Mod Summer On The Lake 2008
27th-29th June 2008
Lago Trasimeno, Perugia, Northern Italy
Info: hotmodsummer@yahoo.it, Myspace page is here.
The Right Track On The Beach
11th-13th July 2008
Terracina, Central Italy
Info: Stilemod site here or The Right Track Myspace page here.
He was in five much-loved mod/'60s bands in a short space of time, and now on the verge of his 65th birthday a Jack Bruce anthology is to be released.
To be released by Esoteric Recordings on June 2nd, the 6-CD box set anthology entitled Can You Follow? gathers together material from all Bruce's career, including of course the recordings he made with Alexis Korner's Blues Inc., Graham Bond Organisation, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann and his most celebrated outfit, Cream. Songs from Bruce's solo career are also set to feature.
Born in Glasgow in May 1943, Bruce, a musical prodigy, became a composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist. After working with the bands previously mentioned, he went on to collaborate with Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, Bob Dylan, Gary Moore, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Dave Edmunds, Todd Rundgren, Peter Frampton, Gary Brooker and Ringo Starr. He continues to play live today.
For more on Esoteric Recording see their website here.
A display of costumes worn by the most successful Motown group of all time, The Supremes, is coming to London.
The display at the Victoria & Albert Museum will show the changing image of The Supremes from their early Primettes days right through to the more glamorous, Hollywood-designed outfits they wore at the height of their fame. The exhibition will include dresses worn by all three members - Mary Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard - from a selection of live performances, television appearances, album covers, and more. As well as the clothes the V&A exhibition will display archive television footage, photographs and magazine articles to help contextualise the impact the band had on America and the world.
Also expect to hear news shortly of a special event featuring an appearance by Mary Wilson accompanied by soul scene DJs.
The Story of the Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection
13 May - 19 October 2008
The Victoria And Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
£5 entrance
For more on the the exhibition see the V&A website here.
After a few months delay, The Specials DVD of their music videos is now out.
Too Much Too Young is the only official Specials DVD available in the UK. Narrated by superfan Tim Lovejoy, the DVD features all 13 of the bands music videos, plus two Super 8 Films shot by band associate Brian Zabawski of New York City gigs in 1980.
Music Video Tracklisting:
The Specials
1. A Message to You Rudy
2. Gangsters
3. Concrete Jungle
4. Too Much, Too Young
5. Rat Race
6. Do Nothing
7. Ghost Town
8. Enjoy Yourself.
Special AKA
1. Free Nelson Mandela
2. War Crimes
3. Alcohol
4. Housebound
5. Girlfriend
The Too Much Too Young DVD is available from Play for a very reasonable £9.99 here.
We haven't done a YouTube clip for some time and as I've just found this superb TV spot for classic swinging sixties flick Smashing Time, seems like a good time to re-start the best of YouTube slots.
Enjoy the clip below - and if you want more cult film and TV like this, you'll get it by the bucketload at our Cinedelica site.
The man some of the band regarded as the "fifth Beatle", Neil Aspinall, has died at the age of 66.
Aspinall, seen here on the right with the band in 1964, was responsible for running the Apple Corps empire, and it was he who was entrusted to protect The Beatles music and images copyright. He even played some instruments and sang vocals on tracks from the bands' Revolver, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts' Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour albums.
As a childhood friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison in the 1950s, he became the Beatles' road manager in 1961 and drove them to gigs in his van, before later becoming their personal assistant. He was asked to oversee Apple Corps following Brian Epstein's death in 1967 and he was chief executive there from 1970 until last year, when his health began to deteriorate. Aspinall also led the recent legal battle with Apple Computers over the use of the Apple name, and the battle over royalties against EMI. Outside of The Beatles he also created Standby Films with his wife Suzy, responsible for the 1999 Jimi Hendrix film, Hendrix: Band Of Gypsys.
He is survived by his wife Suzy and five children.
The Impressions are to headline the In Crowd Soul Weekender in Northampton this May Spring Bank Holiday. 
Held at the usual Park Inn Hotel venue in the centre of town, this fourth meeting sees a headline performance from Motown legends The Impressions, and a support cast of The Undisputed Truth, The Shades of Blue, and Kenny Bernard. DJs for the weekend are Ginger Taylor, Sean Chapman, Nigel Brown, Jo Wallace, Hitsville Chalky, Phil Richards, Andy Bellwood, Paul Donnelly, Tony Dellar, Chris Morgan, Glenn Bellamy, Karl Boddington, Catriona, Nathan Houghton, plus your host Paddy Grady.
The Saturday night event featuring The Impressions will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, and that days’ Craig Charles Soul & Funk show will also broadcast live from the event.
In Crowd Weekender, 23rd-25th May
@ The Park Inn Hotel, Northampton, NN1 2TA
Friday 23rd 8pm-3am - DJs and two live acts over two rooms
Saturday 24th 12pm-5pm - Afternoon DJ session
7.30pm-3am - DJs and two live acts over two rooms
Sunday 25th - 12pm-5pm - Afternoon DJ session
3pm onwards - ‘meet the artists’ session
8pm - 12.30am - closing party
Weekend passes cost £50, but be quick as not many are left. To buy tickets and to see more about the event visit the Northern Soul Radio website here.
A new band in name, but Trio Valore features a few familiar faces.
This three-piece consists of Steve White (Paul Weller/Style Council), Damon Minchella (Ocean Colour Scene) and Seamus Beaghen (everyone from Morrissey and Iggy Pop through to Death In Vegas).
Together, they're offering a new slant on the basement R&B/jazz combo, with an uptempo mix of drums, bass, hammond and brass - check out the tracks on the band's MySpace page for a taster. The first album is titled Return Of The Iron Monkey should be out in May on an as-yet unconfirmed label. Might well be worth checking out.
John Smedley recently made it into our top five modern-mod labels. And to make it easier for your to pick up some of the company's fine knitwear, we have arranged an exclusive 20 per cent discount at the company's online shop.
Yes, 20 per cent off everything - and there's no catch at all. All you have to do is visit the John Smedley online store, add what you want to your basket, then enter our exclusive code at checkout. You'll magically see the price cut by that 20 per cent.
The code you must enter at checkout is: MDX44
You have until 30th April 2008, but note there is only one discount allowed per customer - so fill your basket before you get the money off. Want to view the John Smedley range? Check out the online store by following the link below.
Visit the John Smedley online store
I'm still not sure about the thinking behind it, as both companies already make similar garments, but you can now buy the limited edition Baracuta Ben Sherman Harrington jacket.
There are just 1,000 of the British-made jacket available worldwide, with 400 for the UK market in a choice of red (above), white and navy blue. Detailing includes a Baracuta tab on the front, an embroided Ben Sherman 'Plectrum' logo on the chest, an inner lining mixing the Baracuta and Ben Sherman 'house' check, two inner labels (one for each company) and as you can see from the image, the phrase 'History Is made and never bought' (which is sure to bring strong opinions I'm sure).
There's also elasticated waist and cuffs, button pockets and the button collar. You can pick one up from Cazual (which has a quarter of the UK stock) for £135.
Sunday sessions seem to be getting more popular of late, with the Alternative Sixties Night in Sevenoaks the latest one to launch.
It's the work of ex-Clique man Phil Otto, running at the Polhill Arms in Sevenoaks on the second Sunday of each month - the first night being 13th April 2008. The night runs from 8pm until 11pm, with admission free on the first night.
The playlist promises rare soul, R&B, beat and ska from a strong list of DJs including Dave Edwards (100 Club), Ian G (Scorched), Andy Hynde (Reggae Shack), Smiler (just about everywhere) alongside the local resident jocks.
For more information email Phil at phillip.otto@btinternet.com.
Blow Up! is a new night launching in Wigan on 19th April 2008 - and every 3rd Saturday after.
It's at The Tavern and promises a mixed bag from the best in 60s pop/rock, psychedelia jazz, blues, soul and beat. Entrance is free & drinks promotions will be running for both ales and spirits. The night runs from 10pm until 3am.
For further details about the night, venue etc, see the MySpace page below.
If you happen to be near a Fred Perry store in the next few days - or if you check the Fred Perry website - you might pick up a bargain in the mid-season sale.
There's a few things dotted around the site, but you'll have to browse it as there's no specific sale section. Nipped into one of the stores yesterday and there's quite a lot marked down there - especially polo shits and sweaters - tank tops and long sleeve. All with a good chunk of money off too.
The sale seems to be running for just 10 days - March 20th through to March 30th.
Another northern soul play with a familiar title is premiering at Bolton's Octagon Theatre - Once Upon A Time In Wigan - Live!
Not to be confused with the one doing the rounds a couple of years back, it's a nostalgia tale, with one regular (Eugene) looking back from the club's final night to is first night - and the drugs, sex, love and classic 60s and 70s American soul music he has since encountered.
Written by Mick Martin and directed by Mark Babych, the show also features a live band of actor musicians playing northern classics throughout. It runs from Thursday 5th June to Saturday 28th June 2008, with ticket prices starting at £8.50.
Do The Dog have been promoting ska music in the UK for twelves years now and to celebrate are undertaking an anniversary tour in May and June.
Record label, 'skazine', live promoters and CD mailorder service: Do The Dog really know how to push new ska music to a wider audience, so expect this tour to be as top notch as ever. Rebelation and New Town Kings will be performing at all dates, with a revolving support at different venues including Splitters and Robb Blake.
Those dates in full:
St Albans The Horn (2nd May)
Hastings The Crypt (3rd)
Shrewsbury The Buttermarket (8th)
Blackpool The Riff (9th)
Nottingham The Maze (10th)
Doncaster Leopard (16th)
Newcastle Venue (17th)
Leicester Charlotte (18th)
Margate Sugar Lounge (23rd)
Chester Telfords Warehouse (24th)
Darlington Forum (6th June)
London Rhythm Factory (7th June)
For more see the Do The Dog website here and Myspace page here.
Following the success of the first night Leeds is being treated to a second helping of Absolute Beginners.
On Saturday 29th of March the team welcome all to a night of northern soul, Stax, Two Tone, ska, reggae, Blue Beat, and r'n'b, featuring the Moonstomp Soundsystem and the 25th Hour Collective DJs. Live music is provided by The Uprooters and Kinda Kinks. Dress sharp if you are to attend as Beat Boutique photographer Kellyanne will be there taking photos. The event is also a benefit night for the excellent (and free) Leeds music magazine No Title.
Absolute Beginners
@ TJ's Woodhouse, Woodhouse Street, Leeds
7pm til late, £4 entry
See the Absolute Beginners Myspace page here.
We have just added some new areas to the Modculture forums - specifically some art and design forums.
We have three sections, covering art and photography, illustration and graphic design plus retro and vintage design. Feel free to post anything you like in those areas - or browse what's already in there.
If you want to keep up with the latest retro art and design news, Retro To Go is updated every day, covering those very things - and that particular site also has its own forum - which you can find here.
New for the season from Orla Kiely is something very much influenced by the past - the Orla Kiely 60s-style Two Tone leather holdall and shoulder bag.
Aside from the retro looks, the leather bags have a contrasting leather trim, a leather belt across the top and an embossed metal clasp. Inside there's a cotton stem print lining and space for your mobile phone and keys separate from the the main storage area.
As you might expect, they're not cheap, with the shoulder bag selling for £280 and the holdall retailing for £350.
Find out more at the Orla Kiely website
Via Retro To Go
With the weather still a bit variable (in the UK at least), the Baracuta G10 slimfit nylon Harrington jacket might not be the jacket to wear right now. But in the summer, it could be just the thing.
A departure from the norm, it's a fully-lined nylon jacket adding a twist to a classic look. Available in cream, it also has button-down pockets and collar plus a contrasting (elasticated) black and white cuff and waist, as well as a very slim fitting. So small that the retailer suggest buying a size up.
One to buy now and put away for a couple of months maybe, it sells for £129.
Find out more at the End Clothing website
Via Retro To Go
Now this is something we don't hear of every day: cheesy bluesman Chris Rea has reinvented himself as not one, but two groups set in the 1950s/'60s.
The 57-year-old Teeside singer, who suffered serious ill-health a few years ago, has just released an album under the guise of The Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes. A 3CD plus 2 10" vinyl plus 80-page book package, it tells the story of a late '50s guitar instrumental band (The Delmonts) that evolved into a '60s blues band (The Hofner Bluenotes). According to his website, Rea
had decided that it was no longer creative or fun enough to just release yet another single CD, finding it much better and rewarding for both him and his new expanding audience to create something more special to own and enjoy.
His new tour begins tonight in Glasgow and will see 'support band' The Delmonts followed by 'The Hofner Bluenotes'. Those dates in full:
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (19th March)
Edinburgh Playhouse (20th)
Birmingham Symphony Hall (22nd and 23rd)
Bournemouth Int Centre (24th)
Manchester Apollo (26th)
Nottingham, Royal Centre (27th)
London, Royal Albert Hall (28th)
Oxford, New Theatre (30th)
Liverpool, Philharmonic (31st)
Newcastle City Hall (2nd April)
Newcastle City Hall (3rd)
Sheffield City Hall (5th)
Harrogate Int Centre (6th)
Belfast Waterfront (8th)
Chris Rea Presents The Return of the Fabulous Hofner Bluenotes is released on Jazzee Blue and is available now from Amazon at the not-insubstantial price of £29.98 here. For tour tickets and more on the new album see the official Chris Rea site here.
Members of two popular northern guitar groups have got together to produce 1960s orchestral pop-inspired music under the name The Last Shadow Puppets.
Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys fame and friend Miles Kane of Liverpool band The Rascals formed the group last year as a studio project, and only decided upon the name The Last Shadow Puppets a few weeks ago. An album, The Age Of The Understatement, was recorded in France last year. The London Metropolitan Orchestra have been drafted in to provide strings for most of the album tracks. The band have said they were keen to write material that invoked the late-60s singer-songwriter style encapsulated by artists like Scott Walker and David Bowie. Indeed so indebted they are to the 1960s for inspiration their forthcoming single has two covers on the B-sides: Billy Fury's Wondrous Place and David Bowie's In The Heat Of The Morning. So far the public have only heard the single The Age Of The Understatement: a rolling, Scott 4-esque tune with cavernous drums, baroque guitars, Gregorian chants and that trademark Turner lyrical wordplay. It bodes very well for the forthcoming album.
The single The Age Of The Understatement is released through Domino Records on April 21st, with the album of the same name released a week later on the 28th. You can watch the video for the single (shot in Moscow) here. There are no plans for UK live shows yet, but with Arctic Monkeys not scheduled to tour in 2008 we should expect The Last Shadow Puppets to fill the void somewhere along the line soon.
Looking for some authentic 60s footwear? That's what you get with the Tretorn Nylite trainers, now selling at Oi Polloi.
Originally introduced in 1967, the Nylites were the tennis shoe of choice for an era running into the early 70s, with a distinct toe shape and lightweight rubber sole. Over 40 years on and they still look sharp in either the white/yellow or white/blue colour combinations.
For a former luxury sports shoe, not expensive either at £49.99.
Find out more at the Oi Polloi website
Via Retro To Go
For those seeking a more cerebral Sunday outing in London are in luck as two '50s/'60s nights are just about to begin.
For north Londoners we have Sunday Stomp, bought to us by DJ Michael Jemmeson at the ever popular Cellar Bar at The Constitution in Euston. A monthly outing beginning on Sunday 30th of March, the evening promises a selection of R&B, rock'n'roll, early soul, ska, and instros from original 45s. First guests at the Stomp are Filthy Rich and Louise (Sleep All Day, Drive All Night). The event is 4pm-10pm; free entry before 7pm, and £3 after.
And for south Londoners we have the Ska Bar at The Copperfield in Catford. Every Sunday (beginning this week) from 4pm until closing, the authentic boss sounds of Tiny T and Archive 45 Records together bring you the best in ska, rocksteady, skinhead reggae, and northern soul within an intimate basement bar. Guests lined up include Asher G, The Rocksteady Daddy, Enthucol, Jim Cox, Duke Neville, Gladdy Wax, Lenny Parker, and DJ Marisa. Food and collectors' stalls are promised also.
See more on Sunday Stomp on Myspace here.
News of a definitive book, 9CD box-set and potentially new material from Roky Erikson and The 13th Floor Elevators has reached our shores.
First up is Eye Mind: Roky Erikson and The 13th Floor Elevators by Paul Drummond. It charts the history of the first American psychedelic band whose tales of drug excess, strange live shows and quasi-religious ideals have never been fully told before. Over the eleven years it took to research and write Eye Mind, Drummond sought out and interviewed all the surviving original members of the legendary Texan band and gives them scope to tell their own version of events during those four years at the end of the 1960s when the band formed, soared and burned out.
In September a 9CD boxset entitled All and Everything is mooted for release. During Drummond's research he was able to unearth a cache of tapes, some from band producer Walt Andrus and others from band members and friends. As well as their studio albums, it will feature the bands unreleased first LP, previously unheard live material, alternative stereo mixes and outtakes. It will crucially also include Stacy Sutherland's unreleased solo album, Beauty & the Beast.
And if that wasn't enough great news for fans, Erickson is currently working on a new solo album in collaboration with Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. We will have to wait and see what comes of that...
Eye Mind is published by Process and is available from Amazon here. The boxset All And Everything will be released in September on Charly Records.
The 7th edition of the Rimini Soul Weekender has announced its line-up for 2008.
This year the event, held in north of Italy on the 18th to the 20th of July, heralds a new venue in a new location. But as always expect the best in northern, modern, and crossover soul from your hosts Gambettola Soul City and an international line-up of guest DJs.
Rimini Soul Weekender
@ Ghota Club, Via Regina Margherita 52, Rimini
(5 minutes taxi from Rimini airport)
Programme:
Friday 18th July
4.30pm-8.30pm: bar session
10.30pm-5.00am: allnight dance party
Saturday 19th
4.30pm-8.30pm: bar session
10.30pm-5.00am: allnight dance party
Sunday 20th
5.00pm 'til late: goodbye bar party
Weekend DJs:
Arthur Fenn (UK), Andy Dyson (UK), Kitch (UK), Jorg Bremmer (Germany), Edu Domingo (Spain), Soulful Chris (Italy), Cristian Riviera (Italy), Simone Ceccarelli (Italy).
The bar session features DJ sets, record stalls, beer, wine and that all-important Italian food. A weekend pass costs 30 euros or 15 euros for a single allnighter, payable on the door (no advance tickets).
So for three days of soul, sun and fun you now know where to go. For more on the event, and to see the recommended accommodation, see the Gambettola Soul City website here, or the weekender Myspace page here.
After a brief break since it left the City Hall, Brighton Beach is returning to Sheffield - this time at the Carling Academy.
It launches on Saturday 3rd May 2008, then the first Saturday of each month thereafter. The full address is Carling Academy Sheffield, 37 – 43 Arundel Gate, S1, with the night running from 11pm - 3am, admission £5 in advance.
Music policy is much the same, with two rooms of 60s soul, garage, indie, Northern Soul and Britpop, along with psychedelic visuals and cult 60s films. Most importantly, Gav Needham and guests will still have a separate room for the best mod scene sounds from vintage vinyl.
Vertigo returns to Manchester on Friday 28th March, offering 60s Beat, R'n'B, Early Northern sounds, Ska and Blues on one floor, with Modern 60s influenced Indie, 2 tone, Mod revival and Classic 60s playing downstairs.
It takes place at the The Thirsty Scholar and The Attic, Under the Railway bridge, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M1 5NP, running from 9pm until 3am, with admission absolutely free. An endless number of DJs spinning on the night - and there's even room for you if you want to play a 20-minute set.
If you want to know more about that or the night itself, get in touch with the organisers at allthatjazz_mcr@hotmail.com.
Well, we've previewed it, run a competition for it (which you can still enter here) and now we have a review online for New Breed R&B With Added Popcorn.
This newly-issued compilation from the Kent label covers the late 50s/early 60s era, specifically the R&B tunes of that era - many of which are doing brisk business on mod club dancefloors around the country/world.
Check out the review via the link below.
Kent's New Breed R&B With Added Popcorn reviewed
Reissue and compilation kings Ace Records have a book out celebrating 30 years in the business.
Ace Records: Labels Unlimited by David Stubbs tells the story of how Ace Records began life on a humble London market stall and went on to help shape the face of the modern music scene, unearthing lost classics and neglected pioneers in the world of blues, soul and rock'n'roll for over three decades. Started by Ted Carroll and Roger Armstrong in 1978 to handle reissues of (often obscure) recordings, their expert repackaging of the sounds of America never faltered and the label is now renowned throughout the world.
The book, a visual treat with plenty of illustrations, chronicles the labels' relationship with artists such as BB King, John Fahey, Lee Hazlewood and Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers. It also helps explain how Ace Records were able to preserve such vast amounts of unique and interesting music for future generations. And Ace continue to lead the way where others simply follow: just check out their latest scoop, a double CD compilation entitled Theme Time Radio Hour With Your Host Bob Dylan - given the blessing of Mr Zimmerman himself.
Ace Records: Labels Unlimited is available from Amazon here.
Fine purveyors of West Coast-style garage folk-rock The Higher State are set to release their second long player Darker By The Day.
The Folkestone band, featuring ex-members of The Embrooks and The Mystreated, continue to be the best writers of authentic Byrds-esque, mid-'60s San-Francisco-scene rock around today. They have always drawn quite a live following, and are regularly invited to play '60s festivals around the world. Hear the band play out material from the new album at these upcoming UK and European shows:
London George Tavern (April 5th)
Rennes France 'Mondo Bizaaro' (17th)
Le Harve France The Greenish Pub (18th)
Darmstadt Germany 'Beat Explosion' (19th)
Krefeld Germany Kulturrampe (20th)
Liverpool 'International Pop Overthrow' (24th May)
Rotterdam Holland 'Primitive Festival' (27th June)
Darker By The Day is released next month on Greek label Dr. Mushroom's Optical Illusion. Pre-order your copy via their website here. To hear The Higher State visit their Myspace page here.
The April edition of Mojo magazine comes with a CD compilation of new blues and soul artists. And now the magazine have made more tracks available to hear.
Mojo was inundated with prose of praise for their covermount CD The New Dictionary Of Blues & Soul, and the Modculture Forum was full of glowing reports too. The magazine editors suggest it reflects "a renaissance in old-school soul, blues and R&B stylings on both sides of the Atlantic", with the CD drawing together the cream of the crop. And overwhelmed by choice Mojo had to leave three tracks off the final CD (see tracklisting below). However we don't lose out completely because you can now hear them on Mojo's website. The three tracks in question are Ian Siegal with Revelator, The Budos Band doing Ghost Walk, and Congregation giving us a Dose of Hell.
Here the three tracks here. Mojo 173, also featuring an interview with The Rolling Stones about their new tour film Shine A Light, is out now.
The New Dictionary of Blues and Soul tracklisting:
Eli Paperboy Reed & the Trueloves - (Doin the) Boom Boom
Edgar 'Jones' Jones - Necessary Evil
Sugarman 3 - Chicken Half
Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens - What Have You Done
Nicole Willis - If This Aint Love
James Hunter - No Smoke Without Fire
New Mastersound s - Return to Gijion
Sharon Jones & Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 nights
Watermelon Slim - Hard Times
The Black Keys - So He Wont Break
Jose James - Blackeyedsu san
Beth Rowley - Nobodys Fault But Mine
Seasick Steve - Things Go Up
Pete Molinai - I Dont Like The Man I Am
Marie Knight - Let Us Get Together
Barry Murphy returns once more trawl the TV and radio guides (so you don't have to) to find anything worth tuning into this week. All listings are for UK terrestrial TV, Freeview and national radio, with the shows running from Friday 14th March to Thursday 20th March.
Highlights of the week
The tumultuous events of 1968 are recalled in a number of radio and TV programmes this week, looking at the role of writers, actors and musicians in the street battles that marked the year - and whether they helped to change western society and culture. The South Bank Show - Revolution 68 (ITV 1. Sun 15th.11.15pm) includes extracts from two never before broadcast interviews from 1968: one with Mick Jagger, shortly after he attended the rally in Grosvenor Square; and another with an angry John Lennon as he responded to attacks from the far left at the end of 1968. John Tusa and guests discuss the impact in 1968: the Year of Revolutions (Radio 4. Tues 18th. 9am), while a daily spot on Radio 4, 1968: Day-by-day (Beginning Mon 17th. 4.55pm) recalls the major political, cultural and social events of that day in history.
On a lighter note, BBC 4 begins it's Curse of Comedy season with the evolution of innuendo on the Beeb in Auntie's War on Smut (Tues 18th. 9pm) and the first of a short series of docu-dramas exploring the inner demons of some of Britain's most loved entertainers opens with The Curse of Steptoe (Weds 19th, 9pm) starring Phil Davis and Jason Isaacs. Finally, ITV 4 begin another of their re-runs of classic sixties TV with The Prisoner (Weds, 19th. 8pm), while earlier the same day Paul Jackson tells the story behind the making of the show in Britain in a Box ( BBC Radio 4. 1.30pm).
The Northampton Lost Souls and The Buzz have teamed up to create a new monthly club called Yum-Yum.
The Midlands has been lucky