Fans of Northern Soul can scoot down to a Sandwell photography exhibition and sound out the music which inspired the 1970s iconic dance scene. Sandwell photographer Anthony McFarlane, of Mac13Soul Photographic, is showing his work at Sandwell Arts Café at Sandwell College’s Central 6 campus (formerly The Public).
SOULHEAVEN: truly yours looks at the link between style, scooters and Northern Soul and runs from August 20 to October 23.
Anthony McFarlane says the exhibition is a visual story about a man, a scooter, his music and the record he must dance to: Truly Yours by the Detroit Spinners.
It focuses on Northern Soul - a style of music with associated dance styles and fashions that developed in the north of England in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The music originally consisted of obscure American soul recordings with an up-tempo beat and foremost among the original clubs were those at the Torch in Stoke, Wigan Casino, the Blackpool Mecca, the Mojo in Sheffield, and the Twisted Wheel in Manchester. In later years, Northern Soul became synonymous with the Motown Sound.
As well as photographs and music, scooters courtesy of Wednesbury-based Supersprint are on show.
Sandwell Arts Café is open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm but closed Bank Holidays and the exhibition is free.
