'New Blood'

My name is Matt Jahans, I'm 24 and have been into Northern Soul since I was16 through attending National Scooter Runs. I have been DJing Northern soul for a year now and have amassed a pretty varied collection. Basically I'm doing my best to attract new blood to the scene-and this is how. My best friend 'Stripe' is a resident DJ at a House music club 'Checkpoint Charlie', based in my hometown of Reading. Two friends and myself decided to put on a one off event at a local nightclub to which I invited him. He was so impressed with the Northern soul sound that he invited me to play in the second room at his night. I was dead chuffed at the prestige of playing at 'Checkpoint Charlie' as it is so renowned in the House music scene. Anyway the night went quite well, to be honest it was amazing - normally at a house music club you wouldn't expect Northern Soul to be appreciated, but I had all the kids coming downstairs to cool off hearing this new sound and 'lo and behold' a packed dance floor!!! At the end of the night many dancers were coming up to shake my hand asking what was I playing and when were I playing next. 'Checkpoint Charlie' then asked me back to play for the next four weeks until through a venue management dispute unfortunately the club closed for the summer. It should be re-opening in a couple of months at a new venue at which I hopefully will be asked back. Since then my friend Nick Cooper and myself have started up a night fortnightly at a Reading venue 'JW's'. The night is called 'high-fidelity' with live jazz upstairs and with Nick playing jazzfunk and myself playing uptempo Northern soul downstairs. The night is going very well with many students etc. attending who are now Northern soul converts having not previously heard the sound. As 'high-fidelity' we are now planning a one off Christmas event in early December at a bigger venue featuring two more DJ's and possibly live bands. I have also taken friends to Ady Croasdell's all-nighters at the 100 Club, which are excellent and we were able to see Maxine Brown there as well. Basically I hope more people could try and arrange nights aimed at the younger generation to expand the scene and then bring these converts to the 100 Club, Cleethorpes weekenders etc. and take it from there. A lot of would be soul fans are just waiting out there - we just have to find a way of appealing to them. If any body is interested in putting on any events please contact me at
matt.home@technical-lamp-supplies.co.uk
Keep on keeping on
Matt...