Callum Simpson talks us through his new club night in Newcastle.
1. When and why did you set up the club?
Setting a night up has been on my mind for a while now but i would only put a night on if the venue was right…it is. The DJs were right…they are and there was a need for it…all three boxes are ticked 100 per cent. The night has only recently been set up with our first night fast approaching in May. The reason I set it up is because I’ve found the most awesome venue in a city centre which already has a reputation as a music lovers club and the building has the coolest name for a night to be held at – ‘Curtis Mayfield House’…..how cool is that? Newcastle is a vibrant city which has no nights like this running currently so I thought I’d give it a go.
2. Who are you DJs? Do you have guest DJs coming in too? If so, anyone we might know?
The DJs are just as important as the venue in my opinion so at first it was hit and miss whether the night would take place because I was waiting for confirmation but thankfully both confirmed and here we are. I’ve got my fellow Pow Wow disc jockey joining me behind the decks, Mr Gav Arno. The man has an amazing collection of Soul, Boogaloo, Jazz, Ska, Latin and more importantly knows what it takes to get the dancefloor going. Gav has a passion for unearthing new fresh sounds, I’ve never known a DJ who turns up so many new records! The other guest for the night and I am so pleased he can make it as he’s probably the most in-demand soul DJ in the country is Mr Karl Heard. Karl is the co-promoter of one of the biggest soul allnighters in the UK (Burnley). Karl has also played at all of the top venues in the country including the 100 club, Lifeline, Bidds etc. If you’ve not heard Karl play…you need to, he certainly inspired me. Not only amazing records but a real professional when he’s behind the decks. In my years going to nights I’ve never known a DJ to have such a positive impact on the crowd.
3. What kind of musical territory do you cover?
It’ll be an exciting mix of sounds all mixed together so the night flows and the dancefloor is packed. I have every confidence in both DJ’s to read the floor and know what to play. The emphasis will be on Soul, Rnb, Funk, Boogaloo, Latin & Ska. All the records played will be to make people want to move thier feet!
4. Give us an idea of a few tracks you might hear if you dropped in?
Here’s a few records that you are sure to here on the night:
Charles Johnson – You made a mistake – biggest Rnb record in the last 5 years…top of big collectors wants lists!
Danny Owens – Little too Late
Ricky Allen – Cut you loose
J T Parker – If you want to hold on – Massive tune
Jimmy Phillips – She Belongs to me
Bryant Headen – I think I better move on
Harvey Averne Dozen – Never Learned to dance
Hank Hodge – Eye for an Eye
Otis Lee – Hard Row to Hoe
Billy Hawks – Oh Baby
Loads of other tunes that just don’t grace the decks at other nights mainly because people just haven’t got them!
5. What do you think you offer that other clubs might not?
I keep mentioning it but it is my pet hate – I always hate the fact that our kind of nights have to put up with and settle for rubbish venues. This venue is awesome, it’s a city centre club which has a reputation of playing records on vinyl and people having a good time…a music lovers club. The reputation is has took over 20 years to build up and is regarded as one of the best nightclubs in Newcastle (don’t worry no dickheads).
In a nutshell Soul-ed out will offer people the chance to party to a mix of cutting edge consistent quality music with top draw DJs in a proper club environment with a unbelievable sound system and that is guaranteed – there’s not many clubs around like that these days!
7. And how many people do you tend to attract for each night? Do you think anything might put people off coming along?
It’s the first night so i’m being quite optimistic about people attending especially as it’s the only night of it’s kind in Newcastle. Promotions have already begun and going well. I’m advertising in all the right places so I’m sure it’ll be a busy night and a memorable one at that! I’ve already had a good response about people attending and I think we could attract people in from all over, especially as Karl Heard is playing!
8. What’s your view on the current state of mod/soul nights?
It needs to be cooler, it needs to be more accessible and it needs to feel like more of a club night than a social ‘get together’. I feel people put nights on and take things for granted. I always look at things from a punters’ perspective. That’s why when setting this night up I’ve looked at every little detail to make the night a success. The flyers have been done professionally, the venue is a proper club with a professional sound system, we’ve got a Facebook page, I’m promoting in magazines and posters in all the right places etc. I’ve run a club night before and learnt from my mistakes, this is why I’ve only gone ahead with Soul-ed out because all the things mentioned above I’m 100 per cent happy with. If people are going to take time and spend money to travel I want to make it the best night they’ve been to and I feel with Soul-ed Out thats exactly what people are going to get.
10. Finally, we need the lowdown on the club – listing details, how often, how to get in touch, that kind of thing.
What: SOUL-ED OUT – Downstairs @ WHQ
When: Saturday 14th May, 10pm – 3am
Where: World Headquarters Club, Curtis Mayfield House, Carliol Square, Newcastle, NE1 6UF
Who: Karl Heard, Gav Arno & Callum Simpson
An exciting new club night playing the finest in Soul, 60s Rnb, Funk, Boogaloo & Latin all played from original vinyl records.
Be sure not to miss it!
Check us out on Facebook – Soul-ed Out
