|
FEBRUARY 2002
Friday night and a change of venue for the Scenesville crew as some ex poppy shite star had taken over Notre Dame for his life story or something. So it was the Camden Centre that was the new location, easily found thanks to the detailed instructions supplied by Nick. Anyway paid the tax to Dawn on the door and into the venue. At this stage I think my jaw almost hit the floor, the room looked awesome, massive wooden dancefloor and a high domed ceiling (more of this later) with tables and chairs either side including a small record bar where Dave Rimmer and Roger Banks had set up. There is a separate bar area with additional seating, but still no draught beer. However it did have bottled Spitfire so complete with refreshments it was back to the main room. Driv was doing the early spot including Pal Rakes and The Accents I think. Guest Djs were Dave Rimmer and Guy Hennigan, however the dancefloor was a bit stop start even during Dave's set, which was fine from a selfish point of view because there was plenty of space and I managed to dance non stop through the second half of his set. It seemed to me that the PA struggled a bit to fill the room and there was a tendency for the sound to reverberate around especially on the sides. Another consideration was that the bar area is removed from the dancefloor to such an extent that you couldn't hear much of what was being played, consequently there seemed to be plenty of people early on content with chatting in the bar. Having said that the music played was top notch as ever. Guy Henningan started his set by playing a couple of instrumentals and fitted another one in later on,which made a refreshing change. Hopefully Nick can post up some playlists. Loads of KTFers present and we even managed a KTF table :-)
All in all a really enjoyable night IMHO
Andy Faulkner (KTF)
________________________________
Just read Andy’s review. Nice one Andy-more or less agree with you about Scenesville. My two penneth.........I couldn’t help thinking about the contrast between Scenesville and Brighouse the week before. To start with ,it took a while before the dance floor started to fill up, maybe like Andy said, it was because the bar was in a different room - at Brighouse its full at 9 and the dance floor is choca.....Its a fab venue but maybe because of the very high ceiling some of the sound and the atmosphere goes up. The main contrast really was the music-after Brighouse I was buzzing from the good time we had because the crowd I was with there were so brill-like old times. I`m still buzzing from Scenesville but because of the music! Andy Rix played a FANTASTIC spot-I dont always like all his stuff-a bit esoteric for me - but Friday-out of this world. Loads of stuff I didnt know -tried to find out but no other bugger I was with knew either. I remember it as being pretty up tempo but my memory is crap. Drivellers spot-Fantastic-again quite a few I didn’t know. The record of the night for me-had to ask Driv what it was-Houston Outlaws, forgotten the title-Have to hear it again! It felt like when we used to go to the Mecca-we had to go the following week to hear a record he’d just broken played again! Got to wait for April to hear it now-might be dead LOL Downside was that some div emptied a bucket of talc by the entrance so the already slippy dance floor was like sheet ice-my team nearly got the gold medal for curling :-)) Didnt seem to bother any one but me-I had to ditch me dancing shoes -lucky I keep another 10 pairs in the car :-). Would recommend Scenesville -hope it worked for you Driv-Thanks
Sue Parker (KTF)
___________________________________
I popped in for a couple of hours, couldn't stay longer cause my mate Sveta had to work Saturday, couldn't send her home on her own to Brixton as I was stopping at hers.
But the two hours I was there......magic !
The venue is superb, massive floor ,a dancers dream to dance on...the Dj's STAGE looked like you were looking at high priests at an alter. The ceiling is out of the world. The sounds were fantastic. The dancers looked like they
were dancing on air, minimum of effort, and great displays vigour.
First to yank me to the floor was Garland Green’s Girl I Love You............aaaaaagh!
A place of many rooms and such a warm inviting atmosphere, you felt warm as soon as you went in.
A cloakroom that was empty...not many people knew it was there, nice for the lady minding the coats...she had time to study.
Loo's that you could practice your acrobats in.
A bar that was separate from the floor, which had the ambience of a Parisian cafe.....buzzing. Was even approached by Flynny for talking too much in his dance stewards blazer :-)
Fantastic...tops only regret that I wasn't there all night.......come on people give us all a taste of the whole cherry ...I only got a smell :-(
Would love to see a London clubs joint venture do here......awesome ! a coming together of the clans that are serving us southernites so well.
Well done Nick......a cracker made in heaven..it's got it all !
So sorry I missed the Pic & Bills....and any R&B
Perfect hours :-)
Carmen McCullough (Soul Talk)
_______________________________________
Enjoyed Nicks new do. Sound was a bit boomy round the edges, but fine on the floor so good incentive to get on. Guy played dancer version of Temps ‘I’m Losing You’. Said it was Apocryphals on MAD. I think I was the only one who liked it. Anyone got it? Andy played one I liked, sounded like Barbara McNair. Lots danced to this one. Anyone?
Does anyone know if ‘So Much Love’ by Invincables is on disc?
Don’t worry, I had a great laugh too as well as all that nerdy stuff :-)
Tom Wood (KTF)
________________________________
What a great venue Nick has found in the Camden Centre! Reminded me of Loughborough Town Hall in a lot of ways which was a good omen from the start. Great Soul music of all tempos, Great soul DJs and a great crowd and dancers. I never thought I'd say that this night for me was even better than the Dome and believe me this must mean it was good. I enjoyed myself so much I thought I should get back in the thick of things as I seemed to have missed something. Thanks Nick, Dawn, Andy, Dave, Guy you hit the bulls eye soul wise.
Mark Hanson (Soul Talk)
______________________________
Just to add to the above, I thought it was a superb night. Lovely venue, some top sounds played, and a good crowd. Nice one Nick & Dawn.
Chatting to Nick after, he reckons they had just about 200 through the doors. The place could comfortably hold half that again and still have enough room on that lovely floor to dance.
The bar being in a different room was a slight cause for concern I think as it meant that there was a tendency for people to get "stuck" in there socialising and missing some of the sounds, rather than getting back into the main room. And the sound system needs looking at perhaps for next month, as it was a bit "reverby" at times. Still a top night though, looking forward to the next.
Ian Rowland (‘Rowly’) (Soul Talk)
(Mark Hanson replied:)
Well I can tell all of you I did a head count in the main room when Guy was DJing and I lost count at 212 and that was in there. As I was standing next to the stage I couldn't see all of them in the far left but at a guess there was about 20 or so. Then there were about 30 regulars in the bar area.
Think your comments were right about the sound system, but I thought this was down to the huge height of the ceiling so the sound was being swirled around. A way round that might be to angle the speakers down a little....Nick did also mention to me that he hopes to get something sorted regards the bar. What about a DJ trying out some new sounds in there?
Still a great night. If it had been perfect the first night after the week Nick and Dawn had then I think they were entitled to a few hiccups.
Mark Hanson (Soul Talk)
Guy played some great tracks Friday.......hope Nick was taking notes.....can recall the infamous "Backstreet" inst. (naturally), Embers - "Aware of Love", Soul Set c/up, Eddie Foster's "Together", Gordon Keith "Look Ahead",
Phrenetics "Michigan Move" to name a few! ;-)
David Flynn (Soul Talk)
*******************************************************
JUNE 2002
Well just thought I'd post a little resume of my weekend down seeing how the other half lives for your information.
Friday Night went to Scenesville after threatening to attend for some time. Had a really good time, the music policy was much to my liking nice cross section played including enough faves to ensure my adrenaline level dropped so I couldn't be arsed to get on the floor. The Venue is nice although I don't think that the shape of the hall helps the sound. The bar is quite a long trek away from the dance floor ensuring there is no point trying to run back to the floor when you hear something you want to dance to, you wouldn't be able to hear it. The crowd was a little disappointing although I suppose with other things going on maybe people decided they were too old for a big weekend. With a few more people in I'm sure it would be even better, but I had a really good time and look forward to going again soon. Most of the DJ's played good mixed sets and I was particularly pleased to hear "Try Love One More Time" by the Sparkels, a current fave. Only negative thing was a 2AM finish when I still wasn't ready to give up, but that's the mark of a good night.
(Kurt then reviews ‘Shotgun’ on Saturday night)
Probably have withdrawal symptoms by the time I get out and about at the end of next month, but as long as there are weekends as good as this one its worth the wait.
Have shoes will travel..........
Kurt Fricker (Northern Mods)
***********************************************
After sitting for over an hour in heavy traffic at 11 O' clock at night, arrived at Scenesville, to be met on the door by the luvvery Janine, the smashing Driv and old bald big ears Andy Rix. I was so glad that I'd gone, not often I get a chance to hear some of those rare gems spun by the likes of Roger Banks & Andy R. I wasn't disappointed, trouble was I couldn't understand either when they announced what they were, so I remain in the dark to what the records were. I understand the numbers where a tad down on normal, holiday time maybe ? These types of venues, and it's only my OHO, are not competitors to the All-Niters or big venues, but are more of an opportunity to hear stuff you can't normally and if you want to dance, that's fine and if you don't that's also fine. I haven't played the cassette I got given on the door, but will do tomorrow in the comfort of my own office. I had to cackle when the Driv played "Major Lance - You Dont Want Me No More", the place erupted and filled the floor, I had said earlier "they won't be playing that kinda stuff here tonight, that's for sure" - moral of the story - don't sleep in the subway.
Chris Lalor (KTF)
*****************************************************
AUGUST 2002
Just a quick line about Scenesville, I had a great night although had been drinking since 5.30pm, I unfortunately missed Dawn's set, although she was on at These Old Shoes Thursday, who was the DJ on after Chris? (like I said, I was drinking pretty early!)
NB, good bar prices, great atmosphere and nice crowd- keep it up Driv!
Gordon, (KTF)
*******************************
OCTOBER 2002 SECOND ANNIVERSARY
Bloody fantastic night, packed with a fantastic party atmosphere, well done Nick and Dawn
Janine Snow (KTF)
____________________
Agreed, top night! Top sets by everyone, my fave two were Andy Rix Incl. Tina Roberts :-) & Kitch including the fantastic Mello Souls. Worth the entrance money alone just to hear those two. Well done Nick & Dawn!
Simon Bridger (KTF)
____________________
Nick - bloody awesome last nite mate...abosolutely beltin nite bro....top tunes ALL NITE...so glad I made it.
Nige Brown, Stafford (Soul Talk)
_____________________
Just add to the words above, probably the best soul night I've been to this year, absolutely brilliant.
Nick Gilbert (Soul Talk)
______________________
....and if Mr Gilbert says so....it must really be good....must agree with that...it was a great night. Nick and Dawn WELL DONE !!!you really deserve it all! And about the only 7ts tune played by Chris (nobody amongst us could work out what it was...anybody can help???) it was absolutely magic, top tune! I would not mind a few more of this across the board stuff...then it would really be absolute perfection!
Cristina Naggar (Soul Talk)
_______________________
A big thanks to Nick & Dawn for a top night. I complained before about the sound quality, but this has been sorted 100% with the different speakers & some up the back. Happy hour moved the kick off forward which made a great atmosphere, I never stopped dancing. Tons of KtFr’s there who shared my opinion. Scenesville can only go from strength to strength on this showing.
Oh! and the dancefloor is a dream & the sounds you don’t know are instantly recognisable.
Tom Wood, KTF)
_____________________
Just to say it was a magical night - such great sounds! Big thanks to Nick & Dawn and major respect for putting together such a great club. The main thing I noticed with this place is the age group, so many young souls of all shapes sizes and colours which makes me burn for the future of the scene. They are not "trendy" types . You only need to watch the expressions on their faces and the love for the music in their movements.
The sounds! amazing! Big thanks to Nick for playing Pic & Bill "Talk About Love" - it was a dream to dance to, worth the entrance fee for that alone. Plus Andy's “Wanted In Three States” inst, adored it, it felt faster than Larrys and was soooooooooo good to dance to.
Great night, great people and as I watched Nick clearing up with his bin liner I thought YES, labour of love this one :)
I can't express a thank you big enough. I go to quite a few soul nites /nighters and I love my oldies ...but this place has something different makes you feel like you are at the beginning if you know what I mean, so fresh and vibrant and open to embrace all types of SOUL.
Carmen McCullough (KTF)
________________________
I'd also like to add a public pat on the back for you Nick, as you deserved such a great night after all the hard work you've put into establishing Scenesville. IMO it eclipsed the great "last night at the Notre Dame" doo, and for me Kitch's guest set was one of the best selections I've heard for quite a few years, by any DJ, anywhere!
David Flynn (Soul Talk)
|
