We've finally got off our arses

I will be DJing with the Major (Andy) at the Kelsey in Tunbridge Wells on Good Friday (6th April 2007). I will post more details as I have them. I've been busy hoovering up some fine soul sevens over the last year and a bit and am really looking forward to getting a chance to play them out, I might even write about some of them on here but then I've promised that before and not done it.

Ed and I have also been talking about getting a regular night up and running again but the problem, as ever in Tunbridge Wells, is finding a decent venue, if anyone has any ideas I'd be delighted to hear from you.

We have also been talking about doing a one off in London. No firm details as yet, Ed and I are planning a days reconnaissance to see if we can find a venue, again all tip offs gratefully received.

Finally, to celebrate our return to action, I will be giving this site a spring clean and adding some new features.

Have a soulful New Year and keep the faith.

Billy Preston

Billy Preston sadly died aged 59 earlier this week. He was of course famous for his work with the Beatles and Stones but it is solo material and session work with Sly Stone and Aretha that is closest to my heart.



If you don't have a copy of Billy's Bag do yourself a favour and get one double quick, Hammond craziness at it's best and dancefloor dynamite too boot. Most Exciting Organ Ever released in 65 and Wildest Organ in Town! from 66 are both cracking albums and well worth checking out. There's an excellent compilation of Billy's sixties material also called Billy's Bag that I can thoroughly recommend.

The BBC has an obituary on their site

Just a quick update on all things Blush Organisation

We have taken a few months off from spinning soulful sounds to regroup, refresh and relax. We have no confirmed date for the next Hip Huggin’ but hope that it will be sometime in early Spring. I’ve been busy buying up rarities on eBay and I plan to write a few pieces for here on some of the more interesting ones in the next few weeks.

Cheers,
Roger

25% Extra Hip Huggin' Free

Thanks to our new licensing laws we will be open until midnight on Saturday. That’s 25% extra soul and still free entry.

Hip Huggin' - Sat 3rd December

We're back at the basment bar of the Sussex Arms on Satyrday 3rd December to fire up the dancefloor with our rare 6Ts soul.

Expect to hear The Fascinations, The Volumes, Tina Britt, Barbara Randolph, Chuck Wood, Major Lance, Little Milton, The Shirelles, Jackie Ross, Jackie Wilson, Little Esther Phillips, Betty La Vette, Linda Jones, Dean Parrish, Nella Dodds, Ike & Tina, Ella Fitzgerald, Al King, Little Carl Carlton and many more.

Full details are as follows:

Hip Huggin’

@ The Basement Bar, The Sussex Arms, Sussex Mews, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (01892 549579)

Saturday 3rd December

DJs: The Blush Organisation
Adm. Free
7pm 'till 11pm

A map of how to find us can be found here

Hip Huggin' Launch Night Photos

Some photos from the Hip Huggin’ launch night on Saturday 1st October. Thanks to all of you who came along. Our next night is on 3rd December.

Hip Huggin’ Launch Party - Saturday 1st October

We now have the full details of our new night at the Basement Bar of the Sussex Arms. The first night will be on Saturday 1st October and our guest DJ will be The Major, who will be better known to some of you as Andy (owner of the coolest scooter in Tunbridge Wells).

The new night is called Hip Huggin’ and will be more northern based than Uptight was. Expect to hear The Fascinations, The Volumes, Tina Britt, Barbara Randolph, Chuck Wood, Major Lance, Little Milton, The Shirelles, Jackie Ross, Jackie Wilson, “Little Esther” Phillips, Betty La Vette, Linda Jones, Dean Parrish, Nella Dodds, Ike & Tina, Ella Fitzgerald, Al King, Little Carl Carlton and many more.



Full details are as follows:

Hip Huggin’

@ The Basement Bar, The Sussex Arms, Sussex Mews, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (01892 549579)

Saturday 1st October

DJs: The Blush Organisation & special guest The Major
Adm. Free
7pm 'till 11pm

A map of how to find us can be found here

New Night, New Home

Our search for a venue is at an end. We will be launching a new night in the Basement Bar at the Sussex Arms on Saturday 1st October.

The Sussex Arms in on Sussex Mews on the Pantiles. The Basement Bar is a vastly superior venue to the Office and we have sole use of it for the evening. It’s got a great sound system and plenty of room for dancing. The Sussex Arms has recently had a refurb and looks great. Their website can be found here

The new night will have a new name and slightly different music policy. We will be looking to bring in guest DJs in the future, if you are interested in playing then drop us a line.

Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to know the details of our launch night.

Full details to follow…

Ben's Set List 13th August

use it before you lose it - bobby valentin
shake 'n' fingerpop - the soul lovers
time - edwin starr
seven days too long - chuck wood
forget it - the sandpebbles
what - judy street
all turned on - bob wilson and the san remo quartet
bernadette - the four tops
breakin' down the walls of heartache - johnny johnson and the bandwagon
nothing but heartaches - the supremes
do i love you - frank wilson
ain't too proud to beg - the temptations
we'll be makin' out - jesse james and the outlaws
hide nor hair - earl jackson
soul finger - the bar-keys
you keep me hangin' on - the supremes
you're a wonderful one - marvin gaye
this old heart of mine - the isley brothers
do it one more time (the twine) alvin cash and the crawlers
tainted love - gloria jones
s o s - edwin starr
ain't nothin' but a house party - the show stoppers

Moving On

Saturday was sadly our last night at the Office. We are looking for a new venue and hope to have something sorted out very soon. I will post something up here as soon as we know anything. The easiest way to guarantee being the first to know when we sort out our new venue is to join our mailing list by emailing me at roger@blushorganisation.co.uk

Thanks to everyone who has supported the night over the last year and a half, we’ve really enjoyed doing it and are looking forward to starting afresh somewhere else.