Northern Soul

Northern Soul

Northern soul is a style of mid-tempo and uptempo, heavy-beat soul music that develops from mainly African American music and becomes popular in Northern England from the mid 1960s onwards. The term also covers the dance styles and fashions associated with the scene.

Scene and venues

The style is linked to the Twisted Wheel club in Manchester, where the scene develops before spreading to other dancehalls and nightclubs. These include the Golden Torch in Stoke-upon-Trent, the Highland Rooms at the Blackpool Mecca, and the Wigan Casino.

Dance style

Northern soul dancing is usually athletic and includes spins, flips and backdrops. It resembles later disco and breakdancing styles, and it draws inspiration from the stage performances of visiting American soul acts such as Little Anthony & The Imperials and Jackie Wilson.