RIGHT ON! returns - Saturday 17th February, 2018

RIGHT ON! @ Hanway Social - Saturday 17th February

After more than 10 years' absence, London's much-missed vintage black music club night returns next month for a one-off 15th anniversary dance. Back in the West End where it all started, the night's new venue is an authentic old-school basement club with late-night bar and separate dancefloor. Expect nothing but the best vintage sounds from the all-star DJ line-up, which features some of the UK's top selectors:

JEAN-PAUL SÉCULAIRE (Right On!),
MARK NORTON (Gene Drayton Unit / The Fantastics),
TEXAS RANGER (Unique Radio / Trojan Explosion / Heritage Inn),
NATTY BO (Gaz's Rockin' Blues / Ska Cubano / Top Cats),
and the mighty GLADDY WAX (Notting Hill Carnival / Wax Unlimited).

DOORS: 9pm - 2am
ADMISSION: £10
VENUE: Hanway Social (basement)
ADDRESS: 20 Hanway Street, London, W1T 1UG
NEAREST TUBE: Tottenham Court Road

For more information visit www.right-on.org

Right On! - new vintage black music website launched

Well, I mentioned in my last post that I've been busy working on a number of projects. One of these I can now reveal — a brand new website for Right On! promotions to celebrate 10 years in the business (how time flies!)

Although I have plans to add more content, the bulk of the site is now finished and live on the web, including lots of different genres of music you can listen to. So, if you like vintage black music, be sure to check it out and join the mailing list!

www.right-on.org

Jean-Paul Séculaire - upcoming DJ sets - Aug-Sept

It's been a frightening and painful time for London and the UK recently, but it looks like things are starting to get back to normal again now. I say it's time to start getting out again!

I'm still working on relaunching the Right On! club night. Unfortunately, the venue I had lined up fell through at the last minute, but I am now researching alternatives. If you haven't already, do join the mailing list via www.right-on.org and "like" the Right On! Facebook page: www.facebook.com/rightonclub

Although there's no date for Right On! yet, I do have upcoming gigs at two other excellent, vintage black music nights in North London over the next couple of weeks. Details as follows:

Saturday 20th August, 2011
Sweet 'n' Dandy @ The Horatia
98-102 Holloway Road, London, N7 8JE
8pm - 2am. FREE before 11pm, then £3
www.thehoratia.co.uk

Friday 2nd September, 2011
Crawdaddy! @ The Wilmington Arms
69 Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4RL
7.30pm - 12.30am. FREE
www.thewilmingtonarms.co.uk

Hope to see some of you out on the dancefloor soon!

Right On! meets Bande À Part - Sat 4 June

After the success of our encounter in 2010, I've been invited back to Shoreditch's premier vintage black music night, Bande À Part, to play another Right On! style set.

You can expect a fantastic mix of jukejoint sounds from the 1950s, 1960s and beyond, aimed firmly at the dancefloor, from myself and resident DJs Cousin Benson and Kimihiro Oue: RHYTHM & BLUES, DOO WOP, BLACK ROCK 'n' ROLL, SOUL, SKA, REGGAE, BOOGALOO and more - all on original vinyl.

Located just off the main Shoreditch strip of Old Street, The Troy Bar is an atmospheric, one-floor venue with tucked-away booths and a separate bar area, leaving dancers all the space they need to shake a leg on the wooden dancefloor.

Right On! meets Bande À Part
@ Troy Bar, 10 Hoxton Street, London, N1 6NG
Saturday 4th June, 2011. 8pm - 2am
FREE before 11pm; £3 afterwards

To find out more about Right On! visit www.right-on.org

If you'd like to RSVP to the event on Facebook visit:
www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=213982018621214

The return of Right On!

I am planning to relaunch my respected and much-missed vintage black music club night, Right On!, this year and am currently working on the website and online presence. To that end, I have just created a page for the club on popular social networking site, Facebook. If you would like to be kept informed of the club's relaunch via Facebook or would just like to show your support or network online with fellow fans, please join the page by following the link below and then clicking the "Like" button (you will need to be logged into Facebook).

www.facebook.com/pages/Right-On-promotions/148484661874417

Of course the best way to stay informed is to join the mailing list by emailing me at paul@right-on.org

It would also be much appreciated if you could help spread the word to fellow lovers of vintage black music. Let's bring the club back with a bang!

To find out more about Right On! check out www.right-on.org

Bande À Part club night - Sat 2nd Oct

I'm really pleased to be DJing at the Bande À Part club night on Saturday 2nd October.

This is a fantastic session with a music policy not dissimilar to my Right On! club. Expect some great jukejoint sounds from the 1950s and 1960s aimed at the dancefloor. Think rhythm & blues, black rock 'n' roll, soul, ska, reggae, calypso, mento and Afro-Latin rhythms. I'll be joining resident DJs Cousin Benson and Vinyl Warrior on the decks to showcase some of my latest vinyl finds alongside some old Right On! favourites.

Located just off the main Shoreditch strip of Old Street, The Troy Bar is a cosy, one-floor venue with a great layout. Booths offer tucked-away seating and the bar area is separate from the wooden dancefloor, allowing dancers space to shake a leg. This is a session not to be missed!

Bande À Part @ The Troy Bar
10 Hoxton Street, London, N1 6NG. (020) 7739 6695‎
8pm - 3am
FREE before 10.30pm, then £3

To find out more about the club check out: www.myspace.com/bandeapartlondon

Gladdy Wax @ Chick-A-Boom - 12 Dec

Legendary Jamaican sound man Gladdy Wax is going to be joining myself and Mistah Brown on the decks at the Chick-A-Boom Xmas special this coming Friday, 12th December.

Gladdy is well known as one of the UK's top revival DJs and sound system operators and hosts a sound at Notting Hill Carnival every year. He has been DJing for nearly 40 years and has an extremely enviable collection of vintage black music.

He has been a regular guest at Right On! over the years and played a brilliant set at Chick-A-Boom earlier this year. If you missed that one, then make sure you get down to this as you will hear Gladdy selecting some fantastic ska, doo wop, 50s r&b and 60s soul.

Being the festive season, you can also expect me to pull out some interesting Xmas dancefloor numbers to get you in the mood!

Details as follows:

Chick-A-Boom! @ The Vibe Bar
The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
(nearest tube/train: Liverpool Street)
Friday 12th December
8pm - 1am
£5 on the door

NOTE: Unfortunately The Vibe Bar does not admit under 21s.

URGENT - Ronnie Scott's night CANCELLED - 15 Nov

I am extremely sorry to announce that just half an hour ago I received a phone call telling me the management of Ronnie Scott's have cancelled my night there tomorrow (15 Nov). Apparently they double booked the venue and forgot to tell the promoters and DJs until this evening! Unfortunately there was absolutely nothing I could do to change this decision.

As you can imagine, I am shocked and upset by this. In seven years DJing and promoting this has never happened to me before and I would never have expected a world-famous venue like Ronnie Scott's to display this level of unprofessionalism.

All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies to you all. Especially for the unbelievably short notice. If I had any idea this could have happened I would never have arranged the night there.

Not only has this messed up my weekend and wasted many hours of my time spent in promoting and preparing the night, but around 150 people have also had their weekends messed up including people who were going to celebrate their birthday there and some who had planned to travel from outside London like those from Brighton & Hove and even the Midlands. I really hope this hasn't put anyone out of pocket.

Please could I ask you to pass this information on to anyone you know who might be planning on attending tomorrow night? I would really hate for anyone to waste their time and money travelling down there.

I can only apologise again and assure you I will do everything in my power to never allow this to happen again at any venue I DJ at in the future.

Thank you for the music

More sad news today. I was shocked to read of the death of legendary South African singer Miriam Makeba - also known as Mama Afrika.

You can read the story here: www.miriammakeba.co.za

This comes just days after the death of Byron Lee whose band The Dragonaires were responsible for some of the finest ska, rocksteady, calypso and reggae recordings of the 1960s.

Despite the joy the news of Barack Obama being elected the first black president of the United States has brought to the world, this is a sad time as we have lost so many inspiring musical heroes during the last few weeks, including one of my all time favourite singers - Alton Ellis.

Read more about the passing of Alton Ellis, Byron Lee and other Jamaican greats here

Other legends who have just recently passed away are Levi Stubbs (lead singer of The Four Tops), Dee Dee Warwick (soul singer and sister of Dionne Warwick) and Andrew "Mike" Terry (Funk Brother and Detroit saxophonist who played on so many of the great 60s soul tunes).

This coming weekend I am playing Right On! sets at The Vibe Bar and Ronnie Scott's and am dedicating the sessions to the memory of all these wonderful singers and musicians. I will be paying tribute by playing many of their fantastic and life-affirming recordings. Their music will live forever.

Right On! weekend - 14-15 November - Vibe Bar & Ronnie Scott's

I'm extremely sorry to announce that I just received a phone call telling me the management of Ronnie Scott's have cancelled my night there tomorrow (15 Nov). Apparently they double booked the venue and forgot to tell the promoters and DJs until this evening! Unfortunately there was absolutely nothing I could do to change this decision.

All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies to you all. Especially for the unbelievably short notice. If I had any idea this could have happened I would never have arranged the night there.

Not only has this messed up my night and wasted many hours of my time spent in promoting and preparing it, but another 100 or more people have also had their Saturday night messed up including people who were going to celebrate their birthday there and some who had planned to travel from outside of London.

Please could I ask you to pass this information on to anyone you know who might be planning on attending tomorrow night? I would really hate for anyone to waste their time and money travelling down there.

I can only apologise again and assure you I will do everything in my power to never allow this to happen again at any venue I DJ at in the future.

Fortunately tonight (Friday the 14th November) is still happening, so come down to Chick-A-Boom at The Vibe Bar to hear me and Mistah Brown plus special guest Andy Smith (Portishead, Jazz Cafe, Lost & Found, Document, etc.). We'll be playing plenty of ska, reggae, Northern soul and rockin' rhythm & blues.

Chick-A-Boom @ The Vibe Bar
Friday 14th November
The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
8pm - 1am. £5 (NB. over 21s only)

R&B allnighter with Big Joe Louis live - Sat 18 Oct

Blues and r&b fans, don't miss this! On Saturday 18th October I will be DJing at a Rhythm & Blues allnighter at The Hootananny in Brixton alongside a live set from the fantastic Big Joe Louis - one of Britain's greatest blues voices.

Born and raised in Jamaica, Big Joe Louis has lived in Britain since the 1980s and has been twice voted "Best UK Male Blues Vocalist". His band The Blues Kings are widely considered one of the best in the UK.

As well as recording with David "Honeyboy" Edwards and Van Morrison, Big Joe Louis has played with artists such as: Lazy Lester, R L Burnside, Big Jack Johnson, Homesick James, Louisiana Red, Big Bad Smitty and Big Lucky Carter to name but a few.

His albums for Blue Horizon and Ace Records are highly acclaimed and his latest dancefloor 45 "Go Go Train" has won him popularity on the mod scene.

You can expect a rockin' dancefloor set from Big Joe Louis to get you on your dancing feet and I'll be keeping the vibe going before and after with some killer diller 50s and 60s r&b and soul platters as well as some ska thrown in for good measure.

To top it all off, admission to this night is absolutely free. But arrive early to guarantee admission!

Full details as follows:

Right On! Rhythm & Blues Allnighter @ Hootananny Brixton
Saturday 18th October. 10pm - 4am
95 Effra Road, London, SW2 1DF. (020) 7737 7273
(nearest tube: Brixton)
Admission FREE

For more information about Big Joe Louis and to listen to some of his music visit myspace.com/bigjoelouis

Walking In Rhythm @ Ronnie Scott's - 6 September

After running successfully every Friday for more than 6 months, Walking In Rhythm is to relaunch as a weekly Saturday session upstairs at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Club on the 6th September.

Thanks to two fantastic nights earlier in the year, I have been asked back by resident DJ Jimbo to join him on the decks again at the relaunch party and will be playing another three hour Right On! style set - which means nothing but the finest vintage black dance music on original vinyl.

Expect to hear plenty of soul, rhythm & blues, jazz, funk, ska, reggae and boogaloo plus a touch of samba, mambo, calypso and other exciting sounds from myself and Jimbo.

This will be a unique night in one of the coolest venues in London (see photo) - reminiscent of the days when Right On! ran down the road in Chinatown.

And to guarantee a great crowd, I have been given an unlimited free guestlist for all my contacts. So, if you would like to come along without having to pay a penny, just drop me an email ASAP to paul@right-on.org with the full names of anyone thinking of coming along.

Walking In Rhythm @ Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (upstairs bar)
47 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 4HT (opposite Bar Italia)
Saturday 6th September
9pm - 3am

To find out more about Ronnie Scott's Club visit their website:
www.ronniescotts.co.uk

Duke Vin & The Birth Of Ska - 7th August

The SERTUC film club presents a private screening and panel discussion of "Duke Vin and the Birth of Ska" on Thursday 7th August.

This documentary covers the arrival in London of pioneering Jamaican soundmen Duke Vin (who DJ'd for me at Right On! back in 2003) and Count Suckle and looks at the effect that Jamaican music and culture had on the UK. These men and the role they played in championing ska music in the UK has often been sadly neglected, so I am very pleased to hear of such an interesting sounding film on the subject. Hopefully this will help give them some of the recognition they deserve from the wider public.

Admission to the screening is free but advance booking is essential.

Location: Congress House, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3LS
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm

You can register by emailing sertucevents@tuc.org.uk or by calling (020) 7467 1220

Gladdy Wax @ Chick-A-Boom! - Fri 11 July

Jamaican sound system legend Gladdy Wax joins me and Mistah Brown at Chick-A-Boom! this Friday. Last time I DJ'd alongside Gladdy was at Right On! in September 2006, so I'm thrilled to have him back on the decks with me for some soul, funk, rhythm & blues and of course not forgetting the scorching ska!

Chick-A-Boom! @ The Vibe Bar (upstairs)
The Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E1
(nearest tube/train: Liverpool Street)
Friday 11th July
8pm - 1am
£4

One way ticket to Flipsville - Sunday 8th June

Dig this cats, it's Sunday evening. It's hot and sticky inside your pad and out. And yet you have a real gone urge to jump up and shake your feet. Like, too much! A no-goodnik would lie naked in front of a fan. But you have this beastly desire to dance - and not sedately. Wildly!

It's time to fall in and dig the happenings at Home Cookin', where the chicks and gators beat the boards to the crazy sound of the gonest lacquer crackers dished out with flair by El Nino and Jean-Paul Séculaire. And it won't cost you a cent.

The only thing that's square here are the meals, and they come on a round plate. So whether it's lubrication you need, or a real fine feedbag, this joint will send you to the end.

Like, make a shape in a drape and don't be late.

The date: Sunday 8th June
The time: 5.30pm - 10.30pm
The place: Filthy MacNasty's lounge bar, 68 Amwell St, EC1R 1UU
The sounds: Bebop, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Latin Jazz, Blues, Funk
The food: Pie & Mash
The drinks: Plentiful
The cover charge: Nix. Nothing. Zero.

NB: The first 20 groovers to hit the hop will bag themselves a hip to the tip compact disk of solid kicks.

And remember, it ain't no sin to take off your skin, and dance around in your bones, so cop the bop and make the scene. Home Cookin' is your one way ticket to Flipsville.

Find out more from www.right-on.org

Norton & Bourton @ Home Cookin' - Sun 13 April

Home Cookin' returns to Filthy MacNasty's this Sunday 13th April with two very special guest DJs joining me on the decks for a musical feast of uptempo bebop, hard bop, soul jazz, Latin jazz, blues and funk... and as usual admission is absolutely free.

MARK NORTON - talented sax player and front-man of London's favourite Hammond combo The Gene Drayton Unit will be showing off some of the records that have inspired his playing. He's DJ'd for me at Right On! in the past but this time will be playing an exclusive jazz set. Expect some great 60s dancefloor and Hammond jazz from Mark guaranteed to make you shake that moneymaker.

WILL BOURTON - co-host of It's A Shingaling Thing! and regular guest at clubs like The Stag O Lee, Will has one of the coolest and most eclectic record collections I've yet come across. As well as some amazingly rare Latin tunes, Will has the kind of jazz records that will blow your mind.

Between the three of us you are guaranteed to hear the sort of stuff you just won't hear anywhere else. So whether you want to come and try out your jazzy dance moves or simply sit back and chat with like-minded souls over a pint and some pie and mash, hope you can make it down for this tasty session.

Home Cookin' @ Filthy MacNasty's (lounge bar)
Sunday 13th April. 5.30pm - 10.30pm
68 Amwell Street, London, EC1R 1UU
(nearest tubes: Angel / Kings Cross)
FREE admission

For more info including guest DJ biographies visit www.right-on.org

The 45rpm Jukebox Jump-off - SAT 23 FEB

I'm very pleased to be playing another Right On! style set this coming Saturday. I've been invited to join resident DJ Simon Stretch on the decks at his Stormy Weather night at Barrio North - a bar opened last year dedicated to vintage and underground music.

We will be spinning a mix of 1950s-1970s black music - all off of original 45s. Expect to hear some fantastic rockin' r'n'b, 60s soul, funk, jazz, ska, reggae, mambo, calypso, boogaloo and whatever other aural curiosities spring to mind.

Simon and I DJ'd alongside each other at the last Rakehell's Revels and complemented each other perfectly, so I am really excited at this chance to DJ with him again.

Details as follows:

Stormy Weather presents the 45rpm Jukebox Jump-off
@ Barrio North, 45 Essex Road, London, N1 2SF (tube: Angel)
SATURDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2008
8pm til 1.30am; FREE entry

Home Cookin' after-party - Sunday 10th February

Well, this Sunday's Home Cookin' looks like being a really busy one! I've had great response to my promotion and we've even been recommended in this week's Time Out magazine. For full details on the night see my earlier blog post or check out www.right-on.org

If you're thinking of coming, please do get down early, as the band will be on at 7.30pm (you don't want to miss them!) and the night finishes at 10.30pm.

However, for those of you who don't have work the next morning, I can now confirm we will be holding a Right On! style after-party at a secret West End venue (to be revealed on the night). This will feature across-the-board vintage black music from the 50s, 60s and 70s played by special guest DJs Texas Ranger (Trojan Explosion), Mark Professor (Trojan Explosion, Reference Library), Truck Turner (Reference Library) and David Atkinson (Brighton).

Texas Ranger (pictured above at Right On!) and Mark Professor are famous for their sweet reggae selections whilst Truck Turner and David Atkinson are better known for playing dancefloor jazz. However, all of these DJs have vast record collections and play a whole range of styles: from jazz, soul and r&b through to ska, reggae and Latin boogaloo. One things for sure, they all know how to rock a dance.

This is truly going to be an unforgettable night, so I do hope you can make it!

Make It 'n' Shake It! - Sunday 3rd February

Well this year is proving to be a busy one for me so far. As well as my Home Cookin' jazz session, I've also got a great night coming up on Sunday 3rd February called Make It 'n' Shake It!

Me and Mistah Brown from Tighten Up will be salvaging what's left of the weekend with a riotous mix of Stax stompers, Motown movers, heavy Hammond groovers, scorchin' ska, Southern-fried soul, hip bumpin' funk, rollickin' rhythm 'n' blues and good old rock 'n' roll for all you hipsters, flipsters, finger-poppin' mamas & jive-talkin' daddies thinking about taking tomorrow off work!

The venue comes complete with a wooden floor too - perfect for dancing. Plus there's a back garden for the smokers.

And to top it all off, it won't cost you a dime to get in!

Details as follows:

Make It 'n' Shake It! @ The Old Queen's Head (upstairs bar)
DATE: Sunday 3rd February
TIMES: 5pm - Midnight
ADDRESS: 44 Essex Road, London, N1 8LN
ADMISSION: FREE

Home Cookin' extravaganza - Sunday 10th February

As next month's Home Cookin' falls on my birthday, I've decided to pull all the stops out to put on a really exciting and unique night.

Come down and be treated to a smokin' live Hammond duo plus two of my favourite guest DJs spinning 100% real jazz on original vinyl - think uptempo hard bop, bebop, soul jazz, Latin jazz, cool jazz, funk and blues.

For one night only, I will be joined by highly respected DJs Smiler (Rude, Steppin' Out) and Mary Boogaloo (The Blue Bar) - all the way from Rome. Both of these DJs have played for me a number of times at Right On! and are always hugely popular.

And as if this wasn't enough, there is an exclusive live set from the amazing Andy Fairclough-Larry Clack Duo with their fantastic blend of 60s-influenced soul jazz, hard bop and funk. Both the Hammond organist and drummer have made a real name for themselves on the jazz scene with their bands The Root Source (Freestyle Records) and The Organism. At Home Cookin' they will be tailoring a mix of Organism originals plus choice covers of 60s club classics to get your feet moving and your fingers snappin'.

You can check out some of the Organism's material on their MySpace page: www.myspace.com/theorganismuk

As usual, the whole session takes place in the Lounge bar at the back of Filthy MacNasty's which has just the right atmosphere for a jazz night. There is space to dance as well as room to just sit back and relax over a drink or some delicious pie and mash. And this night always attracts a really friendly crowd of dancers and jazz lovers, so you can be assured of great company too.

To top it all off, admission to the night is still absolutely FREE - and drinks are at pub prices too, so there really is no excuse not to come down.

Being a Sunday, the night kicks off at 5.30pm and runs until 10.30pm - so get down early! The band will be on at 7.30pm.

I may also be holding an after-party this month; please drop me an email to paul@right-on.org if you would be interested in attending.

Full details as follows:

Home Cookin' @ Filthy MacNasty's (Lounge bar)
Dates: Sunday 10th February 2008
Time: 5.30pm - 10.30pm
Admission: FREE
Address: 68 Amwell Street, London EC1R 1UU
Tubes: Angel / King's Cross