DES PARKER  

Des parker is local to the area, originally from Gloucester but now living in Cheltenham. He DJ's in England and the USA. As well as Riverside Soul he is a resident DJ at Bidds, Pittsburgh USA, the  New Century Soul clubs in Wolverhampton and Manchester. He also regularly Guest DJ's throughout the Country. Des has been involved in the soul Scene for over 28 years. He is a record dealer and collector and can be seen at venues up and down the country with his boxes of records for sale.

He has been a resident DJ  at Riverside soul since February 2007. Always producing a quality set, which fits in well with the other resident DJ's.

His current favourite spins are: Robert Walker- Shake em up, Judy Street - Face the world and Soul Sensations - Baby I love you.

 DES PARKER  

Des parker is local to the area, originally from Gloucester but now living in Cheltenham. He DJ's in England and the USA. As well as Riverside Soul he is a resident DJ at Bidds, Pittsburgh USA, the  New Century Soul clubs in Wolverhampton and Manchester. He also regularly Guest DJ's throughout the Country. Des has been involved in the soul Scene for over 28 years. He is a record dealer and collector and can be seen at venues up and down the country with his boxes of records for sale.

He has been a resident DJ  at Riverside soul since February 2007. Always producing a quality set, which fits in well with the other resident DJ's.

His current favourite spins are: Robert Walker- Shake em up, Judy Street - Face the world and Soul Sensations - Baby I love you.

 MIKE ESKINS

MIKE ESKINS

Mike spent a lot of the 60's living and being brought up in Cheltenham. He was  a regular at the Blue Moon club in Cheltenham, where live acts such as: Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll, Rod Stewart who were in the Steam packet with the Brian Auger trinity. Lee Dorsey was seen there on frequent occassions, along with a lot of 1960's group who were active on the scene. He also went to Shaftesbury Hall, Sarah Siddons on a few occassions and the Dandelion in Brockworth. He got his taste of DJ'ing when on a Bank holiday the resident DJ's declined to work and Mike stepped in and on the night the place was rammed full.

During this time he followed the Mod scene and the music that went with it. . In 1967 he joined the Navy . Whilst based at Chatham in late 60's he  got a taste of what was became later known as 'Northern Soul'.  Lots of good music nights in the 'Pembroke club'. Also went to a  lot of the London clubs, which was a comparitively  short train Journey from Chatham. Whilst in the Navy he ran a Soul/R&B show on one of the ships he served on. During this time he also went to many clubs and venues throughout the UK.   After the Navy, it was time to get a proper job, get Married and bring up a family.

Whilst never giving up on the music, Mike became  involved again  in the scene in  the  1990's and has been to various weekenders and venues around the Country. After injury afflicted knees made dancing difficult he started  DJ'ing once again. He has been to Soul in the Sun'  where he has done some DJ'ing. A weeks non-stop dancing not help the knees!. Mike  started 'Soul at the Riverside' now ' Riverside Soul' in November 2006.

Current  favourite tunes:  Seven Souls -  I still love you, Four Tracks - Like my love for you, The Winstons - A'int nothing like a little lovin', Sam Fletcher - I'd think it over, The Fantastics - Me and you, The Majestics - I love her so much,  Houston Outlaws - Ain't no telling, OJ Smith - Colour him father, Ruby - Female ingenuity.  Just a few tunes  and my favourites do change  by the day or probably ' by  the Minute' !

Fot the price of a bag of chips what about :  The Dells - 'Make Sure'. One of the greats, In my view. Funeral tune too.

 MIKE ESKINS

MIKE ESKINS

Mike spent a lot of the 60's living and being brought up in Cheltenham. He was  a regular at the Blue Moon club in Cheltenham, where live acts such as: Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll, Rod Stewart who were in the Steam packet with the Brian Auger trinity. Lee Dorsey was seen there on frequent occassions, along with a lot of 1960's group who were active on the scene. He also went to Shaftesbury Hall, Sarah Siddons on a few occassions and the Dandelion in Brockworth. He got his taste of DJ'ing when on a Bank holiday the resident DJ's declined to work and Mike stepped in and on the night the place was rammed full.

During this time he followed the Mod scene and the music that went with it. . In 1967 he joined the Navy . Whilst based at Chatham in late 60's he  got a taste of what was became later known as 'Northern Soul'.  Lots of good music nights in the 'Pembroke club'. Also went to a  lot of the London clubs, which was a comparitively  short train Journey from Chatham. Whilst in the Navy he ran a Soul/R&B show on one of the ships he served on. During this time he also went to many clubs and venues throughout the UK.   After the Navy, it was time to get a proper job, get Married and bring up a family.

Whilst never giving up on the music, Mike became  involved again  in the scene in  the  1990's and has been to various weekenders and venues around the Country. After injury afflicted knees made dancing difficult he started  DJ'ing once again. He has been to Soul in the Sun'  where he has done some DJ'ing. A weeks non-stop dancing not help the knees!. Mike  started 'Soul at the Riverside' now ' Riverside Soul' in November 2006.

Current  favourite tunes:  Seven Souls -  I still love you, Four Tracks - Like my love for you, The Winstons - A'int nothing like a little lovin', Sam Fletcher - I'd think it over, The Fantastics - Me and you, The Majestics - I love her so much,  Houston Outlaws - Ain't no telling, OJ Smith - Colour him father, Ruby - Female ingenuity.  Just a few tunes  and my favourites do change  by the day or probably ' by  the Minute' !

Fot the price of a bag of chips what about :  The Dells - 'Make Sure'. One of the greats, In my view. Funeral tune too.

SUE TAYLOR

Sue Writes:

I was born in Bristol and been living in Gloucester for the last twenty years. For the past five years I have been building up a Motown/Soul collection of vinyl that I enjoy sharing. To pick out one favourite artist or group would be impossible as there is so much fantastic music but amongst the front runners would have to be the music of the Temptations, Brenda Holloway, Four Tops, Isley Brothers, Contours, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and Smokey Robinson to name but a few.

Been playing at local pubs and looking forward to reliving memories of the Motown sound at Riversidesoul with Mike and the other resident DJ's.

Sue

SUE TAYLOR

Sue Writes:

I was born in Bristol and been living in Gloucester for the last twenty years. For the past five years I have been building up a Motown/Soul collection of vinyl that I enjoy sharing. To pick out one favourite artist or group would be impossible as there is so much fantastic music but amongst the front runners would have to be the music of the Temptations, Brenda Holloway, Four Tops, Isley Brothers, Contours, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and Smokey Robinson to name but a few.

Been playing at local pubs and looking forward to reliving memories of the Motown sound at Riversidesoul with Mike and the other resident DJ's.

Sue

SID PRATT

Sid with Gloria Jones at Prestatyn 2008

Sid is  local to Gloucester and has been a collector for many years. He is an old 'Torch' boy and is regular seen at Soul events throughout the area. He has

DJ'ed at local events as well as promoting some of his own soul functions. A welcome addition to the Riverside team.

ROB ADAMS - WHO  DOES A MODERN SET PERIODICALLY  

Rob is 2nd from the left!

Before moving to Gloucester in 1988 I grew up in Walsall and at 14 or so, I first got hooked into the Nicky Steel soul show on BRMB radio listening to funk and northern soul.
My first single was ‘Rat Race’ as I started to go to venue’s playing northern soul around the midlands and then up north to Wigan, Blackpool and Manchester.  At the Mecca all dayers I often played ‘roadie’ for Neil Rushton helping to set up for gigs although when I dropped ‘Sylvester’s’ symbols in the kitchen it was more like an audition for a carry on film.
When the soul scene split in the latter half of the 70’s I went with the modern scene and tended to go where Colin Curtis played.  This developed into the soul and Jazz Funk scene and I travelled the country checking out clubs.   My sister in London was a useful connection to visit and take a look at what was happening in the south with the likes of Robbie Vincent on Capital Radio, Chris Hill at the Gold Mine and Colin Hudd at Flicks.

Some times life does not go to plan and friends tell stories of me dragging them around the country to a new soul venue I had read about in ‘Blues and Soul’…… only to find I had got the date wrong or this great new venue was half empty!

My music preference tends to be smooth floaty and inspirational soul and jazz.
Influential DJ’s include Colin Curtis, Robbie Vincent, Sean Williams and Dave Till, Richard Sealing, Neil Rushton and Tony Bowd (aka Craig)

As a DJ I ain’t Colin Curtis or Richard Sealing and my collection is small but I love a good tune and hope to please your ears, touch your soul, tickle your feet and get you in the groove.

If you were doing the rounds at clubs ‘a few years’ ago including the following venues come and have a chat.

Wolverhampton             Civic / Wulfrun halls / Club Lafayette
Stafford                Top of the World
Wigan                Casino
Blackpool            Mecca Highland room and all dayers / weekender in ..?2006…
Whitchurch             Civic hall all dayers
Walsall             Grosvenor  / Baileys / Nags Head / Town hall / Bloxwich baths
Manchester     Rafters / Rotters /  The Ritz / Club behind the railway station / Parkers in the 90’s
Standish             Casenellis
Stoke                 Cindy’s    / The Place / etc
Nottingham             Pallais / Rock City all dayers
Derby                 Blue Note
Nantwich            The Studio
Birmingham             Lacarnote, Powerhouse all dayers / Rum Runner /  Faces
Gloucester            The Roundabout
Cheltenham             Gas basement / Charles
Dartford Kent             Flicks
Canvey Island             Gold Mine
Dunstable             Mecca all dayers
Exeter                 Boxes
Torquay             100 Club
Burtwood            No.7 wine bar / Baths
Darlaston,            Town hall
Southport            Weekender

SID PRATT

Sid with Gloria Jones at Prestatyn 2008

Sid is  local to Gloucester and has been a collector for many years. He is an old 'Torch' boy and is regular seen at Soul events throughout the area. He has

DJ'ed at local events as well as promoting some of his own soul functions. A welcome addition to the Riverside team.

ROB ADAMS - WHO  DOES A MODERN SET PERIODICALLY  

Rob is 2nd from the left!

Before moving to Gloucester in 1988 I grew up in Walsall and at 14 or so, I first got hooked into the Nicky Steel soul show on BRMB radio listening to funk and northern soul.
My first single was ‘Rat Race’ as I started to go to venue’s playing northern soul around the midlands and then up north to Wigan, Blackpool and Manchester.  At the Mecca all dayers I often played ‘roadie’ for Neil Rushton helping to set up for gigs although when I dropped ‘Sylvester’s’ symbols in the kitchen it was more like an audition for a carry on film.
When the soul scene split in the latter half of the 70’s I went with the modern scene and tended to go where Colin Curtis played.  This developed into the soul and Jazz Funk scene and I travelled the country checking out clubs.   My sister in London was a useful connection to visit and take a look at what was happening in the south with the likes of Robbie Vincent on Capital Radio, Chris Hill at the Gold Mine and Colin Hudd at Flicks.

Some times life does not go to plan and friends tell stories of me dragging them around the country to a new soul venue I had read about in ‘Blues and Soul’…… only to find I had got the date wrong or this great new venue was half empty!

My music preference tends to be smooth floaty and inspirational soul and jazz.
Influential DJ’s include Colin Curtis, Robbie Vincent, Sean Williams and Dave Till, Richard Sealing, Neil Rushton and Tony Bowd (aka Craig)

As a DJ I ain’t Colin Curtis or Richard Sealing and my collection is small but I love a good tune and hope to please your ears, touch your soul, tickle your feet and get you in the groove.

If you were doing the rounds at clubs ‘a few years’ ago including the following venues come and have a chat.

Wolverhampton             Civic / Wulfrun halls / Club Lafayette
Stafford                Top of the World
Wigan                Casino
Blackpool            Mecca Highland room and all dayers / weekender in ..?2006…
Whitchurch             Civic hall all dayers
Walsall             Grosvenor  / Baileys / Nags Head / Town hall / Bloxwich baths
Manchester     Rafters / Rotters /  The Ritz / Club behind the railway station / Parkers in the 90’s
Standish             Casenellis
Stoke                 Cindy’s    / The Place / etc
Nottingham             Pallais / Rock City all dayers
Derby                 Blue Note
Nantwich            The Studio
Birmingham             Lacarnote, Powerhouse all dayers / Rum Runner /  Faces
Gloucester            The Roundabout
Cheltenham             Gas basement / Charles
Dartford Kent             Flicks
Canvey Island             Gold Mine
Dunstable             Mecca all dayers
Exeter                 Boxes
Torquay             100 Club
Burtwood            No.7 wine bar / Baths
Darlaston,            Town hall
Southport            Weekender