Who Are We?

Hinckley is a market town in Leicestershire, halfway between Leicester and Coventry, just off the A5. Originally a hosiery and knitwear town, it has a population of just over 50,000. Strangely, Hinckley has always had strong northern soul connections. From local venues to holding national status all-nighters, northern soul has played a large part in the social life of the town since the seventies, and has found favour with any DJ who has played there. Hinckley was even featured on the cover and inside sleeve notes of the first Up All Night! CD, featuring adverts for local venues.

Northern soul had been actively followed in Hinckley since the early 70's, and the formation of the Hinckley Soul Club back in 1978 by Graham Evans, created a new impetus. Graham was a local commercial DJ who had just become interested in the northern soul scene, starting a local venue in the St. Johns Ambulance Hall in Hinckley. Though having many "owners" through the years, the Hinckley Soul Club existed primarily to satisfy the need of soul lovers in the area. From local soul nights to coach trips to national-status all-nighters, it covered all the bases.

Although the Hinckley Soul Club is no longer active, northern soul is still alive and well in Hinckley, with periodic soul nights at Wykin Social Club and The Green Rooms, and many soulies like myself who are now probably past their prime still occasionally polish up their dancing shoes and turn out for some alco-soul (thanks Pete!) and a bit of a slow shuffle!

Just a quick word to say that certain parts of this web site contain comments and viewpoints that come from personal experiences, and as far as I know, these are correct. If anyone disagrees, feel free to contact us.

This web site is dedicated to all those, past and present, who had a hand in keeping the northern soul scene alive in the area, and serves to catalogue a history, which for a small Midlands town, is nothing short of impressive.

For those who were part of it, as organisers or participants, enjoy those memories.

For those of you that are just passing, enjoy your visit!