Part-time Traveller, Full-Time Brummie

The Big Birmingham Soul Night

This post refers to the first Big Birmingham Soul Night in 2017. Five years later, the Big Birmingham Soul Night is BACK! The next event takes place at Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday 12th February, from 9pm til late. I’ve got my tickets – you can get yours here!

Back in 2017, I’d been meaning to try out the Night Owl in Digbeth for a while.  For those not in the know, the Night Owl is a small independent music venue, with retro live music and club nights. Soul, funk, disco, motown, ska, britpop, reggae, beat; it ticked all the boxes. They’ve also managed to bag a Best New Venue award – they’ve been open less than 2 years.

When I heard the Night Owl were collaborating with the bods at the beautiful Birmingham Town Hall to put on a “Big Birmingham Soul Night” I was first in line (well, technically speaking “on-line” rather than “in line”) to pick up a couple of early bird tickets. I needed to dust off learn some northern soul moves.

Hang on a sec…what’s Northern soul?

Imagine growing up in Northern England in the late 60s. You’ve been influenced by the Mod scene – you’ve got the scooter, the clothes, the haircut – but you also want to dance. You find an obscure American R&B 7″ single – probably with no label or any idea what it is. It’s Black American soul music, but not the familiar smooth Tamla Motown sound peppering UK Radio; it’s deeper and funkier. It’s upbeat and it makes you want to dance. This is the essence of Northern Soul. American soul music, wooden “sprung” dancefloors, all-night dance parties. And Northern Soul fans love to dance…

The Night Owl brings Northern Soul to Birmingham

Wanting to emulate those days of Wigan Casino, the Golden Torch and the Twisted Wheel, The Night Owl turned the Birmingham Town Hall into an all-night (well, wee small hours anyway) dance club. The stall seats are removed to make way for a huge wooden dancefloor, big enough for professionals to spin and jump and kick, and novices like me to wobble around and try not to get my feet tangled.  The balcony up above becomes a chill-out zone, an opportunity to rest weary legs whilst not missing out on any of the music.


This is the not the usual crowd you would expect to spot on a night out in Brum. Firstly the mix of ages is huge. Those who appreciated the scene back in the 60s are back to strut their stuff like they are once again teenagers. Newcomers line the edge of the dancefloor, focusing on picking up a trick that will make them look like they know what they’re doing. And it’s one of the only times – apart from when Madness comes on at a wedding reception – that there are more men than women on the dance floor. We consider ourselves to be on the younger side of the age range (which is increasingly rare these days…).

The Big Birmingham Soul Night at Birmingham Town Hall 15th April 2017
From the Night Owl Facebook page…look very closely and you can spot Mr Fletche shaking his booty!

By the time Sonny and Spare leave the decks in the main room at midnight, making way for Northern Soul legend Colin Curtis, the room is buzzing. This is a night that’s about dancing rather than drinking. Which is a good job as the small bar downstairs is struggling to cope a little. Plus, you can’t hold a drink and break out your best Northern Soul moves at the same time.

We leave those that have 20 or 25 years or more on us twirling around the dancefloor. It’s been an awesome night; big thanks to The Night Owl and Birmingham Town Hall for hosting, and to all the DJs – as that famous Northern Soul band Abba once said – “Thank You For The Music”.

You can find The Night Owl at 17-18 Lower Trinity Street, Digbeth.  Entrance price varies depending on the event, but normal club price is £5 in advance or £6 on the door. You can find a list of upcoming events on their Facebook page and website. The Night Owl also now have a sister venue in Finsbury Park London.

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16 responses to “The Big Birmingham Soul Night”

  1. Ritu says:

    Sounds awesome!!!!

  2. That looks awesome, it really does sound toe tappingly good.
    That guy in the first video almost looks like he’s gliding 🙂

  3. I had heard of Northern Soul but wasn’t quite sure what its was…so thanks Em…can’t believe the moves!

  4. thebeasley says:

    Sounds ace & right up my street (not literally obvs). There’s loads of Northern Soul nights here in Leeds too- love them.

  5. I need to go to one of these events!

  6. Denzil says:

    If only I were 40 years younger …

  7. I love a good jump around – aka dancing 🙂 Fun post, Em.

  8. […] We went to the Night Owl takeover at Birmingham Town Hall for their “Big Birmingham Soul Night” on Easter Saturday.  You can read what happened here. […]

  9. […] Shaking my booty at the Big Birmingham Soul Night: Mr Fletche and I enjoyed this 2017 Northern Soul event so much that we’ve already booked for 2018! We still haven’t learnt any more swanky moves but I look forward to wobbling around the dancefloor with more confidence this time round! […]

  10. […] I got our sequins on for the Strictly Come Dancing Tour. Mr Fletche and I shook our booty at the Northern Soul Night Owl takeover at the Town Hall, and we look forward to doing the same again this year. We saw Pet Shop […]

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