Tonight its all about mis -spent youth ,my first meeting at a coffee bar that led to me being introduced to Northern Soul

The year was 1969 and this is the story of my first night at The Birdcage ,which I later discovered has an important family connection

The Birdcage is more than just a club for me its the place where my journey began in Northern Soul .It was the place to be and I didn't realise it also had a family connection

The Birdcage in Ashton under Lyne was where it all really began for me , we used to go there regularly it was the place to go...

So Where does Northern Soul go from here ?

The Future looks brighter than ever ....

Northern soul began as the sound of working class kids escaping grind of factory life .Fifty years later its a Global community united by Rhythm ,sweat and the thrill of discovery ....

For me Modern Soul isn't just a label...its proof that the scene has never stood still .It evolves it re invents and it keeps surprising us

This is the first episode of "This is Modern Soul "

Final episode in the series........ What really set Cleethorpes apart was the music ,unlike Wigan which focused on stomping mid-60s floor fillers

Cleethorpes embraced a more diverse blend of of sounds

From 1964-1967 The Mojo Club wasn't just a nightclub it was a cultural Volcano erupting every weekend with American artists ,Imports and 60s authentic British Soul

The Catacombs may have been small in size it was known as "The greatest little soul club in Britain"

opened in 1968 and closed in 1974

The 100 Club in London first opened its doors in 1942 ...but by the late 1970s as the golden age of of wigan casino was coming to a close they started all nighters and to this day they still play the Northern Soul .

The Golden Torch didn't burn for long -just 18 months of all - nighters soul stompers, and unforgettable energy

where strangers became soul brothers and sisters .... and where a rare 45 could change your whole weekend .