Northern Soul scene in Wigan gives support to Black Lives Matter

The genre made famous by Wigan Casino was a celebration of African-American music and artists, with the scene even using the Black Power image of the clenched fist as its logo.

And now, as protests and demands for an end to discrimination and unequal treatment have once again been seen around the world in the response to US police killing George Floyd, Northern Soul enthusiasts are being encouraged to remember the history of the sounds they love.

Music enthusiast Curtis Turner, from Scholes, told how he hopes the scene will rally around the slogan that black lives matter and support those calling for change.

And the anti-racism message has been backed up by Casino DJ Russ Winstanley, who ran the iconic all-nighters there.

Russ said: “Northern Soul is a celebration of the music of black America. That is the sound we love.

“I can’t speak for everybody but I would hope the majority of Northern Soul lovers are behind the movement.

“It is unbelievable and disappointing that we are still in this awful situation so many years on.

“The artists loved coming over here because we loved them.

“They told me how when travelling in America they had to make sure their driver or the driver’s assistant was white because otherwise when they stopped for food or checked rooms lots of places wouldn’t let them in.

“It was still very segregated.

“Thankfully I’ve never seen any racism linked to the Northern Soul scene.”

In his book Young Soul Rebels, the author Stuart Cosgrove spoke of how the Northern Soul enthusiasts revered black artists, with the revelation that a singer or group was white being enough to fatally damage their reputation in the eyes of some diehard enthusiasts.

Music fan Curtis said: “Much of the music we listen to today, whether it’s soul and Motown, jazz, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, reggae or rap and hip-hop, has its origins and foundations in black music.

“We should honour and celebrate that.

“Black music is integral to Northern Soul so I think it is only right that the scene should support Black Lives Matter.

“We should treat everyone equally, not give in to hate and prejudice.”