For others it's still a way of life, more than 30 years after it first came to prominence.

So what is it? Northern Soul was the youth culture of the mid 1970's.

It can best be termed as rare soul music which was originally enjoyed by those in the north of England – the south didn't get the hang of it at all. Oh and you had to be able to dance to it.

Many of the best known Northern Soul records were recorded much earlier, in the 1960's by black American soul singers.

However the vast majority of these artists saw little or no success at the time and soon found themselves back in their 'day jobs' in the factories of American cities – their singing careers all but over.

Fast forward ten years and suddenly DJ's from the north of England discovered how popular these forgotten tunes could be in their clubs with youngsters looking for something different.

Soon these DJ's were making regular trips across the Atlantic to find these hidden gems – by now these vinyl records were extremely rare as most of the original pressings had been destroyed.

DJ's could earn fabulous money as they were often the only owners of certain sought after tracks in this pre CD/I Tunes age.

The only way anyone could hear these tunes was to travel to the Northern Soul Clubs. Having heard the tunes the customers were demanding live performances from these long forgotten artists – often these original singers returned from obscurity in the United States to perform these songs live for the first time in years, and first time ever in the UK.

Considered a passing fad, the Northern Soul 'scene' has been around for over 35 years and is currently going through one its strongest revivals with many events taking place nationwide.

Next Friday 3rd May, Northern Soul Music - and its similar and better known sister, Motown music, returns to Belper, at the Queen's Head, Chesterfield Road.

Promotor Jon Mills explains: 'Northern Soul is a unique form of dance music and deserves to be heard in public, though loud speakers, with instant access to a dance floor!

"It's not really music to be heard in someone's lounge! There is a major revival going on at the moment and it's my aim to provide a regular evening of Northern Soul and Motown for Belper.

"For the admission price equivalent to a pint of beer, people can come along on Friday and hear musical history, meet old friends, and have a dance.

"Or – if you missed out first time round, come and see what all the fuss was about'



NORTHERN SOUL AND MOTOWN NIGHT


FRIDAY 2ND MAY 2008


QUEEN'S HEAD, CHESTERFIELD ROAD, BELPER


ADMISSION £3 ON THE DOOR.


DETAILS;

JONATHAN MILLS

07970 753664