newuntouchablesblog

A NUTTY NEW YEAR BASH!

Howdy Folks
Its that time again, Xmas followed by the age old dilemma, WHERE TO SPEND NYE? well what about joining in the festive fun at the NUTTY NEW YEAR BASH!
See the flyer for full details, and make sure you pencil it in the diary now!

See you all there!

NUTS 11th Fab Year Anniversay Event!

Howdy Folks
Just a quicky to extend our mighty thanks to all the DJs, Bands, Fans, Regulars, Characters, Network Members that have supported the plethora of NUTs events over the past heady 11 years!

Heres the flyer for our celebration night out at the super Gramaphone venue, on Sat 29th Nov 08, so please come along and as always why not spread the woord about one of the undergrounds scenes best kept secrets? A super DJ line-up and live set from THE CAPER STORY

See you all there!

Le Best Bespoké? - An attendees’ review...

The following piece was sent to us independently without extortion, cohersion or bribery.

LBB4

As an eighteen year-old 60s obsessive, finding a club-night that tickles your fancy isn’t the easiest thing to do. So when browsing modculture.com, I came across a newly announced event solely geared towards celebrating 60s culture; I bought my tickets there and then.

Four months later, I was on a train from Leeds to London with my best friend. It suddenly hit me that maybe this thing wouldn’t live up to my expectations. Local 60s events had been lacklustre, and had often let me down – attacking my wallet in the process. I had a lot banking on LBB4 and it was the centrepiece of my little London holiday. Maybe it will be dead, I thought. Maybe the DJ will stick a load of horribly obscure crap on that I can’t dance to. Maybe it will be full of defensive Northern Soulies, who were there ‘the first time round’, and don’t much like ‘young kids taking the piss’ (I speak from experience).

The whole event kicked off in one of the most exciting ways possible – The Sonics playing live! On the tube ride to Camden, I found myself sitting next to what looked like a rocker and a prettier version of Yoko. Sure enough, this delightful pair were on their way to LBB4 and they assured me I’d dig the whole thing. Their words were assuring, but I was still going with an open mind.

On entering the Kentish Town Forum it was packed with absolutely all sorts of people. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a mixture of ages and styles in once place – punks, hippies, mods… Sure enough, the band didn’t fail to impress. The audience loved them. It was as if we were keen to right the wrongs of the past, when The Sonics were so sadly overlooked by the masses, and every song went down a storm. Any expectations of the band looking like a bunch of sad old has-beens, nodding at eachother during cringeworthy solos, were thankfully smashed, and luckily, The Sonics didn’t need to try and prove they still had it. The proof was in the performance.

I left shortly before the end, hoping to beat the queues at LBB4 – the thing I was most anticipating. The doormen told me it wasn’t open, so after twenty minutes eating a kebab around the corner, I went back up. The queue was creeping around the entire block. I couldn’t believe it.

Although disappointed I’d have to wait ages to get in, I was chuffed at the turnout. The clientele seemed good. And then, as if my prayers were answered, the doorman came around telling us that weekend ticket holders could jump the queues. I didn’t think it could get much better. I was wrong.

I found myself in what looked like a huge school assembly hall. Drinks were cheap, and slowly but surely, the place was filling up. And look how brilliant this crowd is, I thought. Most importantly, the tunes I was hearing were blowing my mind. Eventually, the place packed and the floor was filled. On nipping to the toilet, I heard music coming from elsewhere, and was literally ecstatic to find two other rooms. One was pumping out rhythm and blues, and Nuggets-ish garage tunes were coming from the other. I honestly could not believe my ears.

On returning to the big main room, I was finally fuelled enough to dance. I could not have asked for a better DJ. The guy was mesmerising. He wasn’t much older than me by the looks of it, but he was flawless. His playlist was divine. His set fit together like a magnificent little jigsaw, but he was never predictable. It was as if he’d been stalking me and had found out EXACTLY what I want from a 60s club. I couldn’t possibly pass up on the opportunity of such a perfect DJ (who I later learned was called Rob Henderson), and so the vast part of my Friday evening was spent dancing to his fine selection, right up until I danced myself to exhaustion and went back to my digs for some shut-eye.

The next day I visited everywhere I’d always wanted to go to in London. First stop was Carnaby Street, and I was a little gutted to discover how soul-less the place had become. Nevertheless, I headed over to the LBB to check out the market. As per, it didn’t fail to please. Although a bit smaller than I expected, I picked up a nice bunch of Tamla .45s and headed back to the house to scrub up for the evening ahead.

Approaching the venue on Saturday night, I thought it’d be much emptier. I assumed most the crowd from last night would have just naturally filtered through after The Sonics. Once again, I was very wrong. The place seemed fuller if anything. A euro garage band was playing in the main room this time – The Staggers. As I sipped my first few drinks, it was hard not to watch them. Their songs were infectious, and I found myself wanting them to carry on all night. I was so impressed that I silently even preferred them to Friday night’s gig in Camden!

We decided we’d focus on the R&B room tonight, and on being in there for only a few minutes, I was making lots of friends. The most striking thing about the R&B place was how well-dressed everyone was. The boys’ suits were so sharp and well fitted, and the girls were beautiful. The LBB crowd clearly went to the effort, and for that attention to detail, I loved them all. At the same time though, they weren’t at all cliquey. There’s a common misconception up north, that down in the capital, no-one talks to eachother. This wasn’t the case. There was no trouble, and without sounding like a walking cliché, the only thing anyone seemed to be bothered about was dancing with and meeting eachother. Again, the main room didn’t fail to deliver. Tonight it was pure rockabilly. Speaking to one or two 60s faithfuls, I gathered they weren’t too pleased about the main room showcasing a style they regarded as DEFINITELY 50s. But to be perfectly honest, I couldn’t have disagreed more, and I found myself sharing my night equally between the mod and rocker rooms. You might say I felt like a modern Ringo…!

Once again, I went home a happy boy. Not even the fact I was (quite worryingly) picked up by a taxi moonlighter - posing as the driver I had ordered, who even tried to extort an extra tenner out of me - shed any bad light on my evening. It seemed like my weekend was getting better.

I woke up on Sunday to hear the dreadful news that Liverpool had received a bitter pounding from Man United. I honestly don’t think anything other than the prospect of another night at LBB could have picked me up from a) the fact I slept right through the match, and b) the fact that horrible team had won again. But I was determined to make sure the weekend went out with a bang.

After a delicious curry on Brick Lane, we headed over to 229 for the final offering. By now I had got to know a lot of the staff and the regulars, and luckily, the fact this was the last night didn’t affect the mood. It seemed like the place to be was the garage room. I loved it in there. It was psychedelic and full of weird and wonderful people from literally all over the world. The atmosphere was electric. The girls were universally stunning and the DJs’ music even better. I noticed one of The Horrors was often in the booth, and although I’m not into his band’s work, his playlist was unquestionably fantastic. As the night wore on, I visited every one of the rooms one last time, to bid them goodbye. I ended up where I started though, in the garage room, for the final bow. And what a bow it was. Even now I can remember the last track as clear as day – a gorgeously selected “Get Off Of My Cloud” to end what was without a doubt, the finest weekend of my short little life!

Philip Wright-Lewis

*STOP-PRESS* 2ND SONICS SHOW ADDED!

Now in its fourth glorious year, the wildest weekender in the World returns to London this Easter Bank Holiday with its best bill yet. Yes,coinciding with the release of his new mix album, 'Le Beat Bespoké 3' (Circle Records), our host Rob Bailey and the NUTs team are throwing another 3-day global bash, tailor-made for all lovers of the '60s underground and far beyond.

This time they've really outdone themselves, managing to snare the first-ever European appearances by first-wave 1960s garage legends The Sonics. The wildest, dirtiest, rawest band to emerge from mid-'60s America. The Sonics reformed in New York last year, playing together for the first time in 40 years and now topping an international bill that includes Austria's The Staggers and The Jaybirds, UK bands the Good Time Charlies and rockin' blues act The Excellos, The Phantom Keys and Los Chicos from Spain,  and Sweden's The Branded.

Plus the second Sonics gig will see a supporting bill that includes The Horrors - Southend's goth-garage trailblazers who played an early gig at Le Beat Bespoke 2 back in 2006 and have since gone on to build up a loyal fanbase of identically-dressed teenage cavemen from Mexico to Japan.

It's a party planned by people who like good music for people who like good music - so you can expect to hear the very best in everything from Garage to Rockabilly, Folk to Funk, Psych to Soul, Freakbeat to Britpop, Ska to Club Jazz and all points in between!

Plus! 10 more live acts - as well as the most beautiful go-go girls, the trippiest eye-candy visuals, the freakiest cult cinema. Not forgetting the worlds' best DJs spinning records from dusk until daybreak in 3 rooms with an all night-bar! There's also a huge retro market selling choice vintage furniture, clothes, vinyl and pop artefacts and Art exhibitions. To top off the day there is also a cross-town scooter run on the Saturday afternoon.

Pat Long NME

Event details and regular updates go: www.newuntouchables.com
Ticket hotline go: www.229thevenue.co.uk 
or Tel: 020 7323 7229

Le Beat Bespoke 4 Weekend ticket includes admission to ALL EVENTS including a ground floor ticket for ONE SONICS gig at the FORUM.

Friday 21 March – Guest Club nights – Brainwashed & the Pow Wow : £8
Saturday 22 March – Daytime – Dirty Water records showcase/record fair & market : £6
Saturday Evening – Le Beat Bespoké 4 allnighter inc guest club nights : £12
Sunday 23 March – Crossfire + (Sonics aftershow party) : £12

*Please note a 2nd show for the Sonics @ the Forum has been added on Sun 23 March.
Your weekend ticket includes groundfloor admission to ONE Sonics show ONLY.       

Friday 21st March show if you booked before 21 Feb.                      
Sunday 23rd March show if you booked after 22 Feb

*Individual 'Sonics' ticket holders will have free entry to the aftershow party here at 229 on a strictly first come first served basis.
 

Crossfire 11 press release

Now in it’s sixth year the super successful London club night is back this time on bank holiday Sunday 23rd March as part of the 'Le Beat Bespoke 4' event for another night of pure vintage retro partying of epic proportions.

The 60s is back yet again on the high street and the fashion pages influencing today’s premier rock n roll bands, but for the fans who’ve always stayed with it, the underground 60s music scene is booming in London’s clubs. Sunday 23 March sees the best of the Capital’s specialist 60s music clubs join forces for a massive party to celebrate both the diversity and the unity of the 60s club scene.

The event, which takes place at the Venue formerly known as the International Students’ House on Great Portland Street will comprise three rooms, playing Northern Soul, 60s Beat and 60s Rhythm & Blues respectively. DJs from about a dozen London clubs playing to a large crowd of music fans who have gathered from all over the UK and Europe.

On just a couple of times a year this is one of the most anticipated dates in the calendar.

‘’The previous 10 have been a huge success, now every time I go anywhere people always ask me when is the next one", says co-promoter Rob Bailey. "Well we’ve managed to get it all together again."

The Northern Soul room will feature DJs from the legendary 100 Club allnighters, which has just celebrated an amazing 28 years. 100 Club promoter and Kent Records supremo Ady Croasdell reflects: "It was pretty tough to get a 60s Soul scene going in London in the early days, but the Soul fans have supported us all the way". Joining Ady on the decks is Londoners Jo Wallace of the sady defunct 'These old Shoes' and compiler of Universal record rare Motown series. Warren Booagloo of Boogaloo soul nights in Greenwich and the young Adam Torel who is making a name for himself with some suer rare northern soul gems. Completing a great DJ line-up is the excellent Pete Hullat. Bring your dancing shoes folks!

The Beat room is hosted by the extraordinarily successful Mousetrap all-nighters (now in their 17th year). Live beat band the PHANTOM KEYS from Spain have are exciting and have all the swagger of the Stones and Pretty Things in the pomp. Speed of (Circle Records) and Dr Robert of (Le Beat Bespoke) are joined on the decks by international DJ line up from all over the globe and UK special guests Spida Webb from exciting young London band the Horrors spinning their favorite Beat, Garage, Psych 45’s. All set to a backdrop of lysergic psychedelic lights and gorgeous go go girls.

If you’re planning to try the R&B room (which I’m consistently told is the best room in the building) Resident DJ and co promoter Rob Bailey from London hotspot the Mousetrap will be joined by fellow resident DJ's Chris Dale and Mark Raison and special guest Expect Roger ‘R&B’ Banks to play the hottest Big City Soul and new breed R&B 45’s. And Birmingham' Modfather Pid spinning top notch Rhythm & Soul, Funk and monster mod classics for the suave set.

"All the clubs involved are at the leading edge of what they do" says Crossfire co-organiser Ady Croasdell "and people come from all over the country to come to their gigs. It’s a great chance for anyone who is interested in this type of music to come and check out all the clubs under one roof and see what they have to offer"

If you are from out of town and need somewhere to get your head down before the trains start running some cheap overnight accommodation is available above the venue, which can be booked in advance call ISH 020 7631 8310 or by e-mailing accom@ish.org.uk

Information about the event can be found at:

www.newuntouchables.com

www.6ts.info

CROSSFIRE 11- THE ULTIMATE UNDERGROUND 60’s PARTY!

When? Sunday 23 March 2008, 9pm-5am

Where? The Venue  The International Student House, 229 Great Portland Street, Regents Park, London (right opposite Great Portland Street tube)

How? £12 on the door

Crossfire blends ‘3 rooms of musical perfection’ with seeming total ease and style! Always an event to look forward to at a superbly maintained venue in the nice part of the West End! A dedicated Northern Soul Ballroom (the main room) run by Ady C (100 Club Allniters), with toppermost guests! Hidden away, in a no-nosense room is top modernist haunt the rnb boogaloo in 2 room! Sharp suited hipsters, pull classy footmoves to a rare blend of vintage black sounds, whilst the beat room, hosts an ecelectic mix of garage groovers, big boss beat sounds and live acts too as an added bonus! Well worth a visit and only on a few times a years!

International Students House
229 Great Portland Street
London
W1W 5PN
T: 0207 323 7229

Map

Here are some useful travel information links:

LONDON TRAVEL

RAIL PLANNER

ROAD TRIP PLANNER 

One of Londons’ greatest nights out folks!

DJs confirmed for the Crossfire Room are:

Ady Croasdell
Neil Jones
Pete Hullat
Jo Wallace
Adam Torel

LBB4

New Untouchables

FULL INFO HERE!

Howdy folks, and welcome to the fourth incarnation of our must-be-at central London extravaganza, that has now become a calendar pin-up within the modernist/sixties/rockin’/garage fraternity and even beyond!
Yes, its Le Beat Bespoké 4, an Easter Weekender full of fun, fuzz and festivities to look forward too with true relish!

You can get your tickets here right now at: boxoffice@229thevenue.co.uk or call the ticket hotline on : 0207 323 7229

PROGRAMME > Download LBB4_brochure_a5_web.pdf  
'Le Beat Bespoké 4 Weekender'

Easter Fri/Sat/Sun
21/22/23 March 2008

THE SONICS
Friday 21st March 2008
THE SONICS live @ the Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, London, NW5 1JY
Friday ‘Official Sonics after show party free with weekend or Friday night ticket’ Venue for the weekend except THE SONICS gig. Its *£8 entry to the BRAINWASHED! & POW WOW otherwise!

'Le Beat Bespoké 4 Weekender'
The Venue: 229 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN (Opp Gt Portland St tube)
Info line: 0207 323 7229

9 Super Live acts from all over the World, Allnighters with 3 dancefloors & International DJ line-up,
Guest club nights, Go Go Dancers, Record fair/ Huge retro market, Eye candy visuals & rock n roll mayhem!

Weekend ticket £47 all events including SONICS show @ the FORUM (All events includes Sat daytime/Record fair)

Friday £25 (*£8 if you just want to go to the BRAINWASHED! + POW WOW afterparty!)
Saturday night £12
Sunday night £12
Sat daytime £6 Including admission to the record fair

Ticket hotline details
boxoffice@229thevenue.co.uk
Tel 020 7323 7229

Our Main Website:
www.newuntouchables.com
OR
myspace site

Accomodation
2/4/6/8 bed rooms available from £12-£26 per night above the venue on strictly first come first served basis, limited space available BOOK EARLY 0207 631 8310 or accom@ish.org.uk  you must mention ‘LBB4’ when booking.

Alternatives
www.cheaphotels.com
www.lastminute.com

In Le beat bespoké room: ‘Fuzz for Freaks’:
The Primest Garage, Beat & Psych records on the planet with NUTs’ DJs: Dr Robert & Speed + special UK guests Pat Long (N.M.E) Spider Webb + Coffin Joe (The Horrors). And our International guests Frantz (Italy), Miguel Ygarza (Spain), Josh Styles (USA), Stephan Golowka (Germany)

In Le R&B room:
Toppermost Northern, Soul/Motown, R&B, Ska, Blues and Boogaloo with NUTS DJs: Pid, Chris Dale, Rob Bailey and Mark Raison. Joined on the decks by guests, Roger Banks, Mikey Collins (Scotland), Nimah Lynch (Eire) Mik Parry & Gav Arno (The Pow Wow) + International guests Mocky Dimples (Spain), Damien Lapeyre (France) & Michael Wink (Germany)

Guest club nights in the R&B room

R&B ROOM
Opens 9.30pm (except friday which is 11pm)

Guest club nights:
Friday: Le POW WOW & BRAINWASHED!
Saturday: Le EURO R&B CLUB & THE BOSTON ARMS ROCKABILLY CLUB
Sunday: Le MOUSETRAP/CROSSFIRE  (in the main BALLROOM)

Friday night 7pm-11pm - Adm: £25
THE SONICS (USA) live on stage 9.30pm @ the FORUM (KENTISH TOWN)
plus support from  & The Jaybirds (Austria) and The Good time Charlies (UK)
Followed by SONICS Official aftershow party @ the VENUE (11pm-4am)
Hosted by BRAINWASHED! with guest club Le POW WOW! (£8 without gig ticket)

Saturday night 9.30pm-6am - Adm: £12
Allnighter with 3 dancefloors
The Staggers (Austria) & Excellos (UK) live in Ballroom
Followed by 3 rooms of top sounds with Le Beat Bespoké Room and guest clubs
Le EURO R&B CLUB & THE BOSTON ARMS ROCKABILLY CLUB

Sunday night 9.30pm-5am - Adm: £12
Allnighter with 3 dancefloors: The Phantom Keys (Spain) live at midnight in Le Beat Basement
Followed by 3 rooms of top sounds with Le Beat Bespoké Room and guest clubs
Le MOUSETRAP & CROSSFIRE  (in the main BALLROOM)

Sat Daytime events - 1-5pm Adm: £6
Dirty Water Records Showcase: Los Chicos (Spain) & The Branded (Sweden) + DJs Holly & Sarah
(EWO - Scotland) & Gazza (Italy)

BESPOKE RETRO MARKET: Market: Open every night and 1pm-5pm and Saturday afternoon with clothes, art, film and music. For stall enquiries contact: rob@newuntouchables.com

BEAT BESPOKE RECORD FAIR: in the Portland room
Saturday 12-5pm Portland Room - Adm: £6
For stall enquiries contact: rob@newuntouchables.com

Nutty New Year!

Wednesday 31st December 2008

Hip content to follow very soon...

Anniversary{s}

11th Anniversary Sat 29 November 2008

Hip content to follow very soon...

Hotwax Weekender 3/4 May 2008

Superb brand new midlands event aimed at lovers of rare black sounds in a perfect setting!

BOOK NOW!

Brighton Modernist Weekender

22/2/3/24 August 2008

Brighton Modernist/60’s weekender, August bank holiday 22/23/24 August 08!
Yes we are excited. After the huge success of Brighton the last three years we are heading back to the Modernist spiritual home on August bank holiday. The atmosphere over last three years reminded me of the golden era IOW circa 91-99. We have the best three venues in Brighton booked for your dancing pleasure.
Friday night starts 11pm at a brand new venue (the Loft) Smugglers Club in Ship Street next door to our old Friday night venue the Sussex Arts club. The venue boasts a superb wooden dance floor with licence till 3am. A great way to start the weekend off.
Saturday night starts at 10pm in the basement club of Brighton’s best venue the Komedia with low ceiling, wooden dance floor, great sound system, long bar and friendly staff. Pre club drinks just round the corner at the Hart and Hound from 9pm onwards with their excellent jukebox to warm you up.
The Sugars with Matt ‘the Mod’ Bolton on vocal/guitar are awesome 3 piece described on www.myspace.com/thesugarswww.myspace.com/thesugars appropriately as ‘'This love lost three found each other humming dirty Jackie Wilson and Sonics 45's down by the riverbank. Imagine 50's street corner harmonies colliding headlong with a tricked out hot-rod. All crashing cymbals with a clutch bag of distortion and high heels in tow. This knockout trio of fuzzed up, doo-wop sweethearts kick out bluesy duets of heartache and jealousy. Their only male studies the vocal arts of Bobby Bland, their teenage siren takes drumming lessons from Detroit's finest while the magic number is made up by a sugary voice so sweet she'll rot your teeth. Live, they throb to an undercurrent of the siren's kick-drum while the remaining two light up the stage with their high voltage chemistry. Belt up and hang on tight. Their saccharine ways will bleed themselves straight into your heart..... “'’ With a new album and single out this summer we are excited to welcome the Sugars as our headline act for the weekend. Local Brighton band the Dirty Socials are supporting and describe themselves as a Garage/Blues/Rock band with influences of some fine pedigree including the Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, the Faces, Robert Johnson and Led Zeppelin. Digging the slide guitar fellas and look forward to catching up with your live reputation. After the bands NUTs DJ’s and special guest Mik Parry from Sheffield’s Pow Wow club sock it to you till 5am.
Sunday’s allnighter is in two rooms at Brighton’s best venue the KOMEDIA this year.
The main room being 6t’s northern & rare soul with special guests DJ’s.
Room 2: Mod/60’s room with NUTs DJ’s and special guests. All night bar both rooms.
For our international friends trains from Gatwick airport (20 minutes) and London run all day and night.
Do book early Brighton is the most popular seaside resort in Britain.
B&B + Hotel info on: 0906 711 2255 and web site www.visitbrighton.com
Saturday and Sunday daytime our base is the excellent Volks club venue on Madeira Drive just east of Brighton pier, complete with good sound system inside and out, seafront beer garden and market stalls inside the venue along with plenty of scooter parking. The perfect place to spend your afternoon digging the sounds and socialising or buying a new tune or some threads.
Guest Club Saturday afternoon is Glasgow ladies Holly & Sarah ‘Eyes Wide Open’ with H&S + guests Djing and young London band Speak and the Spells live. Send us an email if you would like to spin some records at the afternoon Shindig Saturday or Sunday. Sunday afternoon is hosted by Jim Smith formerly Brighton club Action a Go Go and now Born Bad club. Live band is the Petty Hoodlums who are making a name for themselves in and around the London area. Sunday afternoon scooter comp kindly sponsored by Gran Sport, Bar Italia and Scooter Emporium is followed by a cruise to Beachy Head meet outside the Volks at 3pm.
Contact: rob@newuntouchables.com