LOVE, PEACE... and SOUL

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Soul Train DJ's AKA Soul Train Crew​​

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THE ORIGINS OF SOULTRAIN

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The founder members were Jason, Johnny Stallard and Paul Alexander, who launched the first ever event at CHASERS club and masterminded what was only ever planned as a ‘one off'.

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THE FIRST EVER SOULTRAIN EVENT AT CHASERS

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The night was an outstanding success with Adrian and Steve Ashby on the decks. Re-creating the early club scene of the 70’s from the Guildhall Tavern.

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Jason, who for many years was ‘Mr Top Rank’, took to the decks with anthems like Harold Melvins' “The love I lost”.

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House “full” signs were up by 11:30 pm. There were lots of familiar faces, many who have not been seen for years. It was a throwback to the early club scene of the 70’s.

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THE ORIGINAL SOULTRAIN CREW

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DJs from Left to Right: - Adrian, Steve Phillips, Andy Smith, Paul Alexander and Johnny Stallard.

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​EARLY BEGINNINGS

 

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Mr Top Rank Jason with guest Mr Disco Dynnamite Bob Prince.

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It all started way back in 1970s Soul Train DJ's / Soul Train Crew​

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Soul Train DJ,s originally started out as regular club nights in Bristol and the South West England.

Quoted by massive attack as early influencers on the ‘ Bristol sound ‘ the origins of Soultrain can be traced back to the early 1970’s which a BBC radio 6 documentary reported Soultrain DJ's importing funk 45's and creating an underground scene whilst everybody else was into pop or punk / heavy rock.

 

Local author Chris Brown has penned a book " suited and booted " acknowledging brothers Steve & Adrian Ashby & Paul Alexander as movers and shakers back in the day!

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In December 1992 Soultrain DJ’s launched a 70s & 80s one off reunion gig.

 

It all started in December 1992 when Paul (Alexander) got together with DJ friends, Jason (Lumbar), Johnny (Stallard), Steve & Adrian (Ashby) and Steve (Phillips) all original 70's soul & funk DJ's together for a one off re-union gig, the rest they say is history: we haven't stopped since. 

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AFTERWARDS
What emerged from the ‘one off’ event, was the need to form a Soultrain collective to include Steve Phillip, Andy Smith and Johnny Painter and to organise future events. So, without further ado, a Valentine’s Party was put together at Shoots Floating Restaurant Boat, it was another resounding success, (we rocked the boat!).
 

A return to Chasers for a second Christmas event was another full house by 11:30 pm. Advanced ticket sales alone has seen it almost sold out.

The following year, an Easter soul weekender at ‘The Port House’ on Sunday and Monday nights proved too be tempting to be missed, by then attracting many soul fans.

After a string of monthly events at ‘Chasers’, the scene was set for another Christmas Soul Party and then “Soultrain” at ‘Wedgies’ on Park Street was launched at Easter, to be followed by a resident Wednesday night at the Club.

1994 saw a change of residency for Soultrain. Easter had become the most popular time for Soultrain events and so a new home had to be found, a bigger venue and more importantly, the need for a twin scene, a venue able to give the soul fan a complete spectrum of Soul, Jazz and Funk.

 

The “Parkside” at Brislington become the no. 1 venue and with pre-club warm-up facilities in Liberty’s Bar, it was the perfect set-up and proved to be incredibly popular.

The “Parkside” became the home of Soultrain, up until its closure at Easter 2000. In fact, the venue was kept open just for this final farewell event, which was a nostalgic occasion.

Other venues over that period that had seen visits by Soultrain, DJ’s included Jo Banana’s @ Bath, one off Soultrain special @ Newton Abbot, “Kickers” in Clifton, “Spirals” @ Yate, working with Bob Prince (formerly Galaxy presenter).

Bob had also been a guest DJ at Parkside and had interviewed us on his show on Galaxy Radio. Galaxy’s ‘Tristan B’ also interviewed the Soultrain crew on his show and gave an opportunity for the DJ’s to feature some of their favourite Soultrain anthems.
 

The “Parkside” had also seen a live broadcast of Soultrain by BBC Radio presenter David White, which was broadcast throughout the region on his popular Saturday night Soul Show. Other guests at the Parkside were Brunel Classic Gold’s, Ian Hughes, bringing his own style and flavours to the soul scene.

In 1997, Soultrain had been approached by Kute FM, a local pirate radio station, with a view to putting out a two hour soul show on a Sunday morning, hosted by Paul Alexander and Steve Phillips.

Then, in 1998, Kute FM had applied for a legitimate licence and a after a six week trial, won an R.S.L. for Bristol. Kute then became Eagle FM and founder members Paul Alexander and Steve Phillips, took Soultrain to the airways in November 1999 until September 2000 and it was around that time that Soultrain had found its new home, after the closure of the Parkside.

It was decided that McClusky’s in All Saints Street would become the home of the now legendary Soultrain and to everyone’s delight, the venue has become immensely popular and can now accommodate a twin scene with the opening of Room 2 at Easter 2001, which had seen a full house yet by 11:30, still long queues waiting.

 

It was just awesome and we could have played on until 6:00 am.

Soultrain now regularly organise events there every Bank Holiday Sunday.

These events are now scheduled until 3:00 am.

 

The current Soultrain ‘line-up’ is as follows:- Paul Alexander / Johnny Stallard / Steve Phillips / Steve Ashby and Adrian Ashby.
Our events our highly acclaimed by “Blues & Soul”.

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​October 1999 - http://www.soultrain.co.uk/

Soultrain - Music Lives On....

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Soultrain for RnB, jazz-funk and soul music events around Bristol.

Welcome To The Home Of Soultrain Bristol's Favourite "Soul" Institution.

We hope you find this site informative and easy to use.

This site is undergoing several updates for the next few weeks so check back often to see the latest changes (Or subscribe to our mailing list).

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We have ambitious plans to make this the premier site for Bristols' "Soul" fans so if you have any comments or suggestions please contact us via the Feedaback link.

This page will be updated frequently with all the latest news and events so please return soon or join our mailing list.

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The next McClusky's Soultrain event is on August 26th

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SPECIAL SOULTRAIN EVENTS

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13:06:2001 - The Black Swan  

Outa of new york singer songwriter and poet the legendary gil scott- heron is appearing for one night only at the black swan bristol friday july 13th brought to you by bristol's favourite - the soultrain. Tickets available now from the black swan dont miss this nolstalgic funk trip back in time. jo'berg, the bottle , home is where the heart is , the revolutuion will not be televised and more check it out and put the word out -johannesburg

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26:08:2001 - McClusky's

Soultrain takes over McClusky's for a night to remember. Click the picture above for further info.

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REGULAR SOULTRAIN EVENTS

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Wednesday Nite - 10pm-2am​

​Wednesdays is classics nite at McClusky's. Soultrain is in Room 2 serving up 70's and 80's SOUL JAZZ FUNK. Check it out from 10pm to 2am.

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Thursday Nite - 8pm-10pm

Listen to Passion 106.2 FM on your radio every Thursday nite between 8pm and 10pm for the finest rare groove and essential SOUL JAZZ FUNK from the 70's and 80's.

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Friday Nite - 10pm-2am 

Its all happening for new resisdents @ The Met (Pawn Street) every Friday evening between 10pm and 2am. Thank Funk Its Friday (TFIF) is in room 2 grooving to SOUL JAZZ FUNK from the 70's and 80's.

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Sunday Nite - 8pm-12:30am 

There's free admission for all soulphiles at Brannigans every Sunday between 8pm and 12:30am. For the best mix of old school 70's, 80's and 90's soul with the latest RnB checkit out. DJ's are on rotation from Soultrain, Life and Soul Promotions, Bob Prince and Passion 106.2 FM.

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From early beginnings of Soultrain at Chasers , Soultrain has stopped off at The Parkside ,McCluskys , Panache , Evolution then in 2011 Motion became the new home of Soultrain . Consequently Soultrain were awarded by The Soul Survivor Magazine The Top Soul Night outside of London past & present and runners up in 2014.

 

Also voted by The Guardian as the Top Club night out Soultrain is now at at Projeckt on Baldwin Street as we hurtle towards our 25 year anniversary .

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Paul Alexander like rare groove and jazz funk. Retaining all of his original record collection from the 70's he has been an avid collector ever since, as well as catching US touring artiste when in the UK.

 

Paul has seen Freddie Jackson, Luther Vandross, Lonnie Liston, Roy Ayers, the Blackbyrds, Roy Ayers, Al Green, Maceo Parker, Manu Dibango, Herbie Hancock, Cameo and Maze as well as many of the original Tamla Motown acts. One of his favourite all time records is William Devaughan's crem' de la crème.

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The soundtrack is the finest in 70s & 80s soul and jazz funk Soultrain DJ’s is a collective , passionate about 70s & 80s soul and jazz funk.

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Up & Coming Events

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SOULTRAIN EVENTS

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August24th 2014 Soultrain Bank Holiday Java Cocktail Bar & Club

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November 1st Soultrain Express The Goods Yard

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VIP Invitation Only

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December 28th 2014 Soultrain Bank Holiday Java Cocktail Bar & Club

ANNOUNCING

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Our permanent home for all 2014 main Soultrain Bank Holiday Sundays is Java Cocktail bar and Club (formerly The Mauretania) 9 Park Street, Bristol.

 

Three rooms of Soul, Funk, Boogie, Disco and introducing A dedicated Reggae and Lovers Rock room that will go off with a BOOM.

 

See www.soultrain.co.uk for all up and coming dates and watch

 

The usual social media sites for where and how to get your tickets. City centre and great value ticket costs for a fantastic night that You know we always deliver.

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Welcome to the home page of Soultrain, Bristol's favourite "Soul Institution". At Soultrain we are purveyors of 70's & 80's soul funk & jazz funk, in Bristol and the surrounding areas ie south west (uk).Our mission statement is '' the music lives on :with soultrain ''. Our roots are music from the 70's onwards and whilst we have stayed with the music ever since we are avid collectors of soul / r 'n' b over the decades through to y2k ; if it's 70's & 80's that you are looking for check out our events every Bank Holiday Sundays @ Mcclusky's Bristol :the home of soultrain.

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​Soultrain is renowned for its large collection of 'soul' hits from the 70s and 80s. Below is a brief history of 'soul' music and the early Bristol scene together with a sample of the artists that you can expect to hear at a typical Soultrain event.

 

Whilst we play a varied selection of songs at each event it may be that your particular favourite is not given a spin. So we are always happy to consider requests for individual songs and if you have a particular favourite then you can post your request or dedication on the soultrain message board and we will do our best to accomodate it. If that isn't possible you can always ask at the event.

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