A Zodiac Christmas Soul Shakedown!
by Ben Davis on 18 December, 2009 | 0 comments
On Monday 28th December, The Zodiac Club presents it’s Xmas Soul Shakedown with very special guest Soul Sam.
Soul Sam hails from the Wrexham area and was responsible for introducing the late 1960’s and 1970’s youth of Wrexham to the world of soul music and Motown.
Although now one of the most sought after DJ’s on the northern/modern soul scene in the UK, Martin Barnfather aka Soul Sam cut his teeth in the Wrexham area whilst juggling with his day job as a teacher at Maelor School, Penley.
Sam used to regularly DJ at Queens Park and Victoria Youth Club’s in the town, and also recalls regular gigs at Coedpoeth Youth Club which used to attract up to 200 young ‘soulies’.
In a recent conversation with Sam, he recalled those early days with fondness. He then progressed to Peppers on a Tuesday night and confessed that when he had finished there for the evening he would move up town to do a second spot for the night at Minskys.
In a strange twist of fate, Minskys is now the venue of the Zodiac Club, L’etage.
From his Wrexham gigs, Sam was instrumental in ensuring the success of the famous Whitchurch All Dayer and from there, Sam never looked back. His awesome knack of turning up unknown tunes and breaking them as new sounds to eager fans has endeared him to thousands on our scene.
Having played at all the major venues throughout the country including Wigan Casino, Manchester Ritz, Stafford and the more recent 100 Club and King’s Hall, Stoke plus the Prestatyn, Blackpool and Cleethorpes weekenders, it will be a real trip down memory lane to see Sam perform back in what many regard as his home town, and in one of his old haunts to boot.
DJ Support comes from; Phil Blacknell, Lol Millward, Johnny Roberts, Bill Noir, Craig Baugh and Rob Lloyd. £5 entry on the door or £4 with Flyer, doors open at 8pm.
