Northern Soul fans raise £1,100 for charity
It's still one of the most popular music movements in the country.
Northern Soul attracts fanatics who travel far and wide to dance the night away - and an event in Wolverhampton was no different.
Fifteen DJs dug into their vinyl collections to unearth enough classic records to keep the crowd pleased for almost 12 hours at an old fashioned all-day event.
The event saw £1,000 raised for Compton Hospice.
Fans from across the Midlands came to Merridale Street's West End Working Men's Club to attend.
Event Organiser John O'Toole, aka DJ Stringvest, said: "I would like to give a huge thanks to everyone who turned up and contributed towards a great day and a superb effort for charity.
"I was blown away by the support we received, the dance floor was packed from 7pm until closing time, which is a tribute to the music we all love to this day."
Music fans were treated to a feast of their favourite songs while they occupied the dance floor.
Sets by DJ Stringvest, Phil Richards, Wilko, Gary Parker and Wolverhampton Community Radio DJ Hitsville Chalky amongst others ensured the hits kept coming.
Revellers who needed a short break could take a look at a number of classic Lambrettas and Vespas parked outside.
The £1,100 total raised came thanks to the entrance fee, a raffle and food served throughout the day.
John O'Toole, 64, said: "The day was a great success on so many levels.
"The lads who came down on their scooters really brought that old school feeling, it was just like how these all day events used to be.
"Anna, who served food, made sure everybody was kept happy and well fed.
"The DJs all did their part and of course the people who came along for a good time brought the whole thing together."
After many years in and around the Northern Soul scene, Mr O'Toole has said that this event could be the last of its kind he attends as an organiser.
He said: "I might have to pass the duties of organising these things over to somebody else, I was so busy all night.
"That was a good indicator that the day was going as planned but I think I only got around 20 minutes to play my records."
Northern Soul was huge in the 1960s with Wolverhampton's Catacombs club one of its pioneering venues.
Names such as Twisted Wheel in Manchester were synonymous with the movement, as well as dance halls and nightclubs in venues you wouldn't normally associate with popular music and dance such as Wigan, Blackpool and Stoke-on-Trent.
Its style took inspiration from American soul acts like Jackie Wilson and Little Anthony & The Imperials.
Northern Soul reached its peak in the 1970s but its influence is still felt today, with the 'superstar DJ' culture of the 2000s often cited as being inspired by Northern Soul.
John Newman, Duffy and Plan B have all name-checked or featured Northern Soul in recent songs or videos.
