"THE SPIDERS WEB"  -  EDINBURGH

​

1996  To  2015  (19 YEARS)

​

​

​

​

SPIDERS WEB - “The Early Years” (Ken Burrell)

​

 

BACKGROUND

Following the end of the soul venue at the Claremont Hotel (itself a small basement venue) which I attended regularly with Billy Ramsay, in the early 90's, meeting lots of like minded soul fans. I really enjoyed  it's “up front” music policy and one night I was talking with Derek (Robertson) who suggested that he and I should start up a regular soul night. Derek sourced the Spiders Web as a venue and when I saw it, the basement layout with low ceilings and several alcove recesses it came across as an intimate layout where a potential great atmosphere was the likely outcome all else being equal.

 

FIRST NIGHT

This was in January 1996 and was more or less advertised by “word of mouth”. I had decided from the start to take everyone's names & addresses on arrival the rationale being we were starting what I perceived as a “club” and these details would come in useful. It's important to note at this point that 60 attendees would make the venue feel pretty busy and with 90-100 it would be totally rammed.

 

FLYERS & MEMBERSHIP CARDS

I arranged to have these produced in colour (coordinating both for “brand awareness”) and given the numbers above I had 2000 A4 size flyers printed and 300 membership cards done in credit card size and material. These were used until the flyers ran out by which time most of the membership cards were distributed. In those days (1996) remember, unlike today nobody could advertise on Facebook, Very few people had personal email facilities, and for group texting to mobile numbers we'd needed to have gone “back to the future” meaning every month I'd print address labels for members, type onto blank paper specific date and  DJ details, photocopy onto the pre-printed coloured flyers, pop them in envelopes, apply stamps, address labels and post them phew!! This was the protocol rather than “dump” flyers at various venues.

 

DJ'S & MUSIC

In the early days Derek would mostly arrange the DJ line-up where 3 guests plus him and I would grace the decks between 8pm-1am. It was always a given to rotate guest DJs from Glasgow. Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh etc (bringing new members  from all over) and the word spread pretty quickly. After a few months I latched onto what I thought was a “clever” idea which was to hand out C60 cassette tapes (SEE PHOTO) to the first 30 people through the doors containing either lesser known records and/or new acquisitions for myself, the idea was to play a lot of these records the “next again” month when they'd be more familiar to more people. This I did for 6-7 months culminating in the 1st Anniversary tape and it also helped with “club” loyalty and big “family feel”. As well as all the fabulous sounds played that year by all our guest DJs and Derek I included the following (selection only) from the aforementioned tapes again all played in 1996

Dennis Edwards “Johnny on the spot”, Jesse Davis “Gonna hang on in there”, Jimmy Gresham “This feeling I have,  Anderson Brothers “I can see him loving you” Silhouettes “Not me baby”, Arin Demain “Silent treatment” Johnny Hendley “My baby came in from nowhere”, Rita & Tiaras “Gone with the wind” Cajun Hart “Gotta find a way” Magnetics “lady in green”, Romona Collins “you've been cheating: Dreamettes “That's not love Yvonne Vernee :Just like you did to me” Fascinators “In other words” Sea Shells “quiet home” Hytones “You dont even know my name”etc.

Going forward from year 2 we'd also have a guest DJ from eg England and even in the early years we had for example Terry Davies, Mick H, and Arthur Fenn (twice) I smile at Arthur's first appearance because he and Maria simply turned up “as punters”having come to Edinburgh for the weekend and then heard the Spiders Web was on. Not to miss an opportunity I “coerced” him to DJ from my record box. (It was the best spot he ever played ha-ha)

 

AWAY TRIPS

Once we were pretty established I arranged a couple of bus trips which left from the Web to go to The Griffin in Leeds having arranged with Pat Brady a“Scotland V England DJ line up. The 45 seater buses full on both occasions with Spiders Web members and where more fantastic music was played. The buses sound system also blared out our compiled tapes on the 4-5 hour trip.

 

MY 50th BIRTHDAY (2003)

Nearing the end of my tenure with the Web (I was working down south a lot and had precious little spare time) I decided to celebrate my 50th birthday and have our monthly night as a “freebie” with no admission cost plus I stuck £1200 behind the bar as a “thank you” (to our members) to cover drinks (the monthly bar take was normally £1000). I'd hand out vouchers to people on arrival 6 if they arrived early reducing to 3 at 11pm. The music digressed that night to mainstream oldies from all the DJs and it was jumping (even my kids were there aged 17 & 20) The Web would then continue to go from strength to strength over the the next 15 years with George at the helm and I'd make occassional guest DJ appearances (normally at an anniversary.

​

 

​

Many thanks to Kenny Burrell for the above insights to the early days at "The Spiders Web"

​

​

**********************************************************

 

​

REVIEWS


THIS REVIEW WAS PUT IN "SOUL UP NORTH" ISSUE NUMBER 71 FOR SPRING 2011

ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY   ANDY BELLWOOD   (YORK) 

FOLLOWING HIS VISIT TO OUR 15th ANNIVERSARY IN FEBRUARY 2011




Travelled up from rural North Yorkshire for the weekend and boy was it worth it, one of those memorable nights for all the right reasons.
A venue oozing with charm and atmosphere, a throwback to those legendary 6t's vaulted basement mod/beat/jazz club venues. Managed about 7 of the 10 hours on offer and caught most of the excellent sets from the residents (Ray Parker, John Reid, Lenny Toshack and host extraordinaire George Wallace). I sadly missed Roddy Brass, but word was out it was outstanding.

Throughout it was floor filling stuff including 
The Broadways  -  "You just dont know"
Clifford Binns  -  "You've got to help me"
Alma Faye  -  "Believed" 
and a current fav at "The Spiders Web" judging by the woops of delight,
Lou Rawls  -  "Time will take care of Everything".

Particularly nice tunes from Eddie Hubbard (Standing in for Mick H), loved the in demand Denise LaSalle version of "The right track" and blown away with Barbara Grassi's set (All the way from Italy) , varied with lovely rarities, the occasional golden oldie, well crafted & flowed like a dream. Lots of stand out tracks, though for me  
Mark 1V  -  "Sounds of dying love", 
Nate Evans  -  "The look on your face"
Sandra Wright  -  "Midnight Affair", just pipped it.

The grand finale was of course (King) Kenny "Do I love you" Burrell, being his last ever DJ appearance. Uptempo and a floor packing reaction tune after tune - a simply wonderful tribute to the man who has embraced and contributed so much to the Northern Soul scene over the years. Brought a tear to the eye when Kenny played Katie Briggs  -  "Last Time Around" 

Exchanged a few CD's, extended the "wants List" and on Kenny's recommendation had the best Indian meal ever.......

Big thanks to all who made us so welcome, nice to see a few from Yorkshire (especially Steve Crawshaw & Lydia) and from across the Pennines, Greatstones Pete & Lady Best

ANDY BELLWOOD



***********************



COMMENTS LEFT ON FACEBOOK AFTER OUR 15th ANNIVERSARY ALL-DAYER

FEBRUARY 2011

 

George Wallace
Many thanks to everyone that made it along last night, great night, great music, lets do it all again next year 2012 !

 

Fiona Cameron

Thank you George, Ray, John and last but not least Lenny! Truely memorable night! Tis what the SOUL is all about xx KTF

 

Gilbert Denny

Twas a great night George

 

Paul Jones

Cracking night George,big up to the DJ's

 

Barbara Lucia Grassi

Great music, friendly people, fantastic atmosphere! thanks George... I'll be back for sure!!

 

Lenny Toshack

What a brilliant day / night that was, the last record by Kenny really hit home hard :(

 

Susan Cameron

Just home after my long weekend on duty so sorry for the delay.....Took the day off specially and totally glad that I did, had an absolute ball, great day, great atmoz, great people and last but not least, great music, best dance I've had in a long time, massive congratulations to you George and not forgetting your partners in crime lol Take care :) x

 

Phyllis Horn

Have to say George... this is one of the best anniversaries ever... enjoyed it from start to finish and did not want it to end.... but end it did and with such style.... thank you for such a great time... xx

 

Steve Eckersley

A very different weekend than Im used to recently - Eventually got to Spiders
ATB George

 

Julie Logan

Got to say what a fantastic night , thanks for making ma birthday a great night. x

 

Norma Melville

nxt year wot u on aboot george nxt month x

 

Bill Wright

Great night, see you all in a couple of months

​

​

​

​