History 2001-2009 It started in a shop, as I seem 
to recall. Not a record shop, strangely enough, but a bookshop - Helter Skelter, now defunct. That’s where the fellas gave birth to the idea of running a club night. The venue was to be the Dove Regent in Islington, a Belgian drinking den, formerly a gay pub: perfect in all respects, except that the bar was upstairs and it was all to easy for the punters to ignore the good groove that the guys were laying down.  History records that ‘Tainted Love’ by Gloria Jones was the first song to get everyone dancing down at the Dove. The World Of Twist/Human League segue was less well received. Soon afterwards, the Rock’n’RollSouljers actually presided over the closing of the Dove Regent. They hoped to carry on until the beer ran out, but sadly the party stopped at 12 when the police came round to enquire about a broken window. It was a few months later that two of the guys walked into the Albany - former home of the infamously debauched Heavenly Sunday Social - with an idea, and walked out with a firm booking for Rock’n’RollSoul. Despite a lady from Time Out promising “the worst review ever” and pouring a pint over the manager, it’s a residency they’ve clung on to - managing five years of sell-outs in fair weather and foul, and attracting the likes of The Libertines, The Vines, Martin Freeman and Kings Of Leon. Sister night Health & Happiness came next (at the Social, but originally at Smersh), followed by a couple of wild trips to the Isle Of Man where the crowds weren’t always huge, but the welcome certainly was. The Rock’n’RollSouljers also DJed at the NME Awards and an aftershow party for Aussie rockers Jet. Perhaps the biggest night of all was 2005’s Rock’n’RollSoul Festive Bowl when over 300 punters queued round the block to get into the Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes for the mother of all festive bashes starring The Pipettes and Heavenly “all star” band The Whore Dogs. With the likes of Dean Rudland (Acid Jazz), Andy Lewis (Blow Up), Danny DeCourtelle (Deep Funk), Andy Davies (Radio 2), The Go! Team and The Bees helping out behind the decks, Rock’n’RollSoul is still a blast for all concerned, The Souljers mix their drinks a lot better than they mix their tunes (or me my metaphors), but it’s one cocktail that’s well worth sharing. Pennington, June 2007 2006http://members.lycos.co.uk/rockandrollsoul/resume.htmlhttp://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/events/418942/rock-n-rollsoul.htmlhttp://www.healthandhappiness.co.uk/http://www.nme.com/http://www.jettheband.com/http://www.underexposed.org.uk/pipettes/pipettesbowl1.htmhttp://www.bloomsburybowling.com/http://thepipettes.co.uk/shapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4shapeimage_1_link_5shapeimage_1_link_6shapeimage_1_link_7
ABOUT US On the decks Gary Barrell Supports Brentford FC. Plays 60s, mod, psych rock.  Al Harper Supports Aston Villa FC. Plays funk and assorted exotica.  Martin Horsfield Supports Wigan Ath, Plays soul, southern and northern. The final five… Last night at the Albany, July 7, 2007 Psycho - The Sonics Dirty Water - The Inmates Stay With Me - Faces Southern Man - Sylvester & The Hot Band Rock’n’RollSoul - Grand Funk Railroad  The drummer from Jet - red ‘I’m A Rock’n’RollSouljer’ badge, model’s own. Queues around the block for the first Rock’n’RollSoul Christmas party