Born in Sheffield over half a century ago and eventually settling in Market Harborough, Ady Croasdell is responsible for running the countries longest running Northern Soul All Nighter at London's 100 Club in Oxford Street. He also runs the packed Cleethorpes weekenders and is the driving force behind the hugely successful Kent label.

Haboro Soul Skins - Mick Humphries, Dick Shaw, Martin Millington and a hairy Ady Croasdell

Responsible for discovering many great soul records and bringing several soul artists out of obscurity and to the UK. What he doesn't know about rare soul, is probably not worth knowing and if you've been to The 100 Club you will have nattered with him At The Top Of The Stairs as you queued to get in.

If you're reading this, you will most likely have more than one Kent LP or CD and be familiar with the detailed sleeve notes of Harboro Horace. Ace / Kent celebrate their 25th anniversary this year and Ady has news of a special concert lined up for October.

OK - let's get at it....

When did you start the 100 Club All Nighters?

That was 1981, but I'd been putting on soul nights with Randy Cousins since 1979 when we started the 6t's Rhythm and Soul Society. We ran sixties soul nights at The Bedford Head in 1979 which was basically a mix of classic sixties soul, Motown, Stax, Atlantic and R&B. Then we moved to The Birds Nest Club at The Railway in West Hampstead.

Initially in 1980 we had Friday nights at The 100 Club. Then, when the management said they needed the club for Jazz sessions on the evening, we said how about an all nighter? And that's how we started.

    Above : Reaching For The Best at 100 Club

It's The Longest Running Soul Night And You Get an International Crowd Down There - Is It As Busy As Ever?

Well, we have a 250 / 300 capacity which isn't huge and as a basement club with Northern Soul dancers it soon gets very busy.

We appeal to our own hard core regulars and we get other folks from all over the place. They seem to come as a sort of pilgrimage after buying / collecting the Kent LPs. I suppose second generation mods and scooterists probably best describes many of our folks.                       

        "I'm Still Very Positive"                        Above : Last years Christmas Party

The northern scene has always had ups and downs and at times it's been disjointed. However our last all nighter was brilliant. The great thing about northern / rare soul, is it's always evolving and changing, I'm still very positive about it.

How would you best describe the music policy?

Originally we were a general Northern night like everyone else, playing Wigan oldies etc. Then we had guys like Ian Clark with big collections and we started playing big beat ballads and Latin soul.

Some northern soul purists slagged me off, but I think that mid / up tempo sound is great. Stafford in the mid eighties really changed things and it became clear to me you had to keep moving, breaking new sounds or stand still.

< Ady selecting the sounds

Tell Us About Some Of The Best Live Acts That Have Appeared There?

"Maxine Brown Was The Best"

I suppose Maxine Brown was the best. Randy turned me on to her, and to finally bring her over was fantastic. She was terrific and a really nice person. Betty Lavette was also very good, and a highlight was when one of her tits popped out of her tight dress.

Hoagy Lands was incredible, not really quite together with a sort of innocent charm. I remember he sang this ballad about a lost lover and ended up on his knees crying his heart out. It was an intense and emotional experience for everyone!

Oh, Ray Pollard was excellent too and one of the original Drifters came down and described it as one of the greatest performances he'd ever seen.

                                                                            Right > Maxine Brown

What About This Year - What's Happening?

Well, it's Ace's 25th anniversary and we're having a concert at The Forum in Kentish Town. That's with be with Maxine Brown, Chuck Jackson, Tommy Hunt and Mary Love - It's all happening on October 19th this year. Full details Click Here

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