Hi there. I am Nick James, been into the Northern soul scene since the early 70s, and went to my first all niter at the age of 14½ around 1976. it took a couple of visits and hearing the music, and the experience, then I got addicted to it. I then spent some years and most weekends a Friday, Saturday all niter and an all dayer on a Sunday, to feed my new addiction of this great music.
It was not long after that I started to buy some Northern soul 45s. And got a collection together. I also used to take a tape player and record the sounds so I could keep learning and hearing this wonderful dance music. Then I got into the dancing side of it, and did my backdrops and spins. The other great thing on the Northern soul scene, as is still today it’s about the music, dancing and the friendliness’ of the fans. In short. I just fell in love with the music; ask me more if you feel. I even got three tattoos. Do join us for this great scene.

Denmark 1990s
After a short time in Denmark I realized how much I missed a place to hear the music and dance the night away. So I had a thought after investigating around Denmark, that there was no Soul scene. So by the end of 1990 I started to think about searching for a venue to promote Northern soul. But well oh well what a hard time it seemed to be with something new. It took until spring 1991, to get just a Thursday night booked at a place then called sweet dreams. Back then I called the club the Danish Northern soul club; you can see a picture of that in old pictures. So to my knowledge that was the birth of Northern soul music in Copenhagen Denmark.
I was struggling alone in the start of all this. But by miracle or what ever, I went around the bars etc, giving out flyers hand written photo copies. Then some one pulled at me, and said Northern soul woh that's great. This was to be my 1st partner from then on. Roy parkin, an, English man from Derby. He had also spent some years on the scene and like me went to the Wigan casino club. Sure we got together. There were also a few fans getting into the music by now. So I used to have Soul nights in my flat and dance there.

Other nights, we also played in a venue called U matic, and a few private places. And a one of night in Stengade 30. Then in 1998. I had heard the scene was going well in Sweden so by chance again I met some fans in England. So with there fans, I decided to try pin down a more permanent venue, but it was again very hard, and I wanted a wooden floor. After some time, luck was on my side and alone again. I got a trial period in Stengade 30. It was there the scene moved on, more and more people got into the music. I spent about 1½ years there and had a mail list, of fans and the many that just turned up every month. It was then that I named the club Backstreet Northern soul club. And we won an award as one of the top four clubs in Copenhagen, from Nat and dag culture mag. See scan in flyers section.

After our time was done in Stengade we then had a small break and later went into Operaen in Christiana and had some very good nights down there. We even had ex Wigan casino Dj Dave evison, + Steve Csorda paid us a visit in 2001. What a great night that was.
Some of the time we also spent in a small place called Saxons, and that’s where our 1st Danish Dj joined us, Stephan young and enthusiastic. Later having Jacob join us. We then did quite a few other arrangements at mod parties. And a night in Århus and a Thursday promotion night with the indie club in Stereo bar. For a time there was a few visit to radio stations.

2005
I got a phone call one night from a lad named kaspar and he asked up to play a night or two in various other places. He was also getting into the Northern soul scene and started to buy some rare sounds to. Later we spoke of starting some nights in a club named Basement. So I got a new team of promoters together. Myself and Roy still. Then Anders, Kaspar and for a while Sven. We involved a few more new Dj-s in the club on regular spots. And that’s when Basement got on the move.
Since then the club has grown and grown. There has been nights when we had to turn people away. So there is small part of the history of the Northern soul scene in Denmark. I may also add that a Dj named Nikolai has also been busy getting booking in other parts of Denmark for the scene. So for me, I am so glad to see rare soul spreading around Denmark. And some other smaller clubs pushing the Northern soul out in there spots.
Our biggest thanks goes to all of you who turns up regular, and also those who pop in and dance the night away with us. Join us soon in the world’s longest underground movement. Mail list on home page.

Thanks for reading.

Nick James Dj and promoter.