The Northern Soul Podcast

The Golden Torch: Taking Away the Myth
Tonight on This Is Northern Soul, we're heading to Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, to revisit one of the most legendary venues in Northern Soul history: the Golden Torch.
But this time, we're looking beyond the legend. How much of the story is fact, and how much has grown through years of memories and retelling?
We explore the all-nighters, the packed rooms, the atmosphere, the DJs and, most importantly, the music that made the Torch so special. From rare American soul discoveries to the artists who performed live, including Major Lance's unforgettable appearance in December 1972, we uncover what really made this venue matter.
The Torch wasn't perfect, and it didn't need to be. Its legacy was built on the records, the dancing, the people and the excitement of discovering something extraordinary.
No rose-tinted glasses. No knocking the legend. Just the music, the memories and the real story of the Golden Torch.

The Golden Torch: Taking Away the Myth
Tonight on This Is Northern Soul, we're heading to Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, to revisit one of the most legendary venues in Northern Soul history: the Golden Torch.
But this time, we're looking beyond the legend. How much of the story is fact, and how much has grown through years of memories and retelling?
We explore the all-nighters, the packed rooms, the atmosphere, the DJs and, most importantly, the music that made the Torch so special. From rare American soul discoveries to the artists who performed live, including Major Lance's unforgettable appearance in December 1972, we uncover what really made this venue matter.
The Torch wasn't perfect, and it didn't need to be. Its legacy was built on the records, the dancing, the people and the excitement of discovering something extraordinary.
No rose-tinted glasses. No knocking the legend. Just the music, the memories and the real story of the Golden Torch.

The Twisted Wheel: Whitworth Street — Opening Night, 1965
Manchester, September 1965. A new chapter begins as the legendary Twisted Wheel moves from Brazennose Street to its new home on Whitworth Street.
Tonight, we step back in time and walk through the doors of one of Manchester's most iconic music clubs. Past the coffee bar, down the stairs and into the basement, where live bands, adventurous DJs and a crowd hungry for something different came together around the sounds of American rhythm and blues, Motown and soul.
Imagine the atmosphere: the dark surroundings, the distinctive twisted bicycle wheels surrounding the DJ's booth, the small stage, the packed rooms and the records arriving from across the Atlantic. These were the early days of a club that would help shape the culture we now know as Northern Soul.
We're turning the clock back to explore the music, the people and the atmosphere that made the Twisted Wheel so special, featuring soul records from the era and beyond that tell the story of its developing sound.
Before the legend, there was a club, a dancefloor and a passion for the music.
Welcome to the Twisted Wheel, Whitworth Street. Manchester, 1965. Let's get on that dancefloor.

Tonight, we dig deeper into the Northern Soul record box to rediscover the overlooked tracks, forgotten dancers and hidden gems that rarely make it onto today's playlists.
These are records that deserve a second chance. From the soulful sounds of Sean Oliver and Reggie Alexander to the wonderful voices of Freda Payne, Donald Jenkins and the Delighters, Jon Lucien and Bettye LaVette, we're exploring the lesser-heard side of soul music.
It's all about rarity, rediscovery and that special feeling when a record makes you wonder why it isn't played more often. Not every great soul record becomes a classic, and not every classic needs to be played every night.
And as we bring our Secret Soul journey to a close, we turn to one of my personal favourites, the great Major Lance, with “Too Hot to Hold”.
Forgotten sounds. Hidden soul. Northern Soul discoveries. Because some records deserve another spin.
Welcome to Tonight's Secret Soul Playlist.

Seven Lost Pieces of Northern Soul
it's the Seventh of October — and tonight we’re digging deep into the lost and forgotten side of Northern Soul.Seven tracks. Seven rare pieces of soul that slipped through the cracks, disappeared from view, or simply never received the attention they deserved.From Detroit to Texas, from Southern soul to obscure dancefloor favourites, this is thirty minutes of rare vocals, driving rhythms and records you may not have heard before.No obvious classics. No overplayed favourites.Just seven lost pieces of Northern Soul, rescued from the shelves and given another spin.Turn it up, settle in, and see if you discover a new favourite.