Almost Grown throw northern soul and mod weekender in Southend in honour of Lambretta Club (From Southend Standard)

Almost Grown throw northern soul and mod weekender in Southend in honour of Lambretta Club

4:06pm Friday 11th May 2012 in Echo News

SOUTHEND is set to look like a scene from cult mod film Quadrophenia this weekend.

Not only is The Lambretta Club of Great Britain holding its first big rally in the town since 1979, but two massive northern soul and mod events will be taking place, attracting die-hard revellers from miles around.

Almost Grown - a local mod night which has been going for 15 years - is throwing a lavish all-weekend affair from Friday until Sunday across three venues, which combines mod, soul, northern, reggae, R&B and clubs sounds, a live mod band, film and a vintage market.

Promoter and DJ Rob Messer, who has been running Almost Grown since it began with Aaron Bunch, said they decided to put the all-weekend event to coincide with the arrival of the “world’s biggest” scooter club. Former Almost Grown promoter and renowned DJ Marco Faccini has also returned to the threesome especially for the occasion.

They will be joined by a plethora of other big name DJs who will be playing across the three venues from Friday, including Chad Fredericks, Dean Chalkley, Eddie Piller, Jo Wallace, Pete Tebbutt, Eddie Paget, Dean ‘Boss’ Aylott and Olly H with The 1000 Tons Sound System, Jim Watson, Siy Aylott, Ben Harrup, Sean Pumfrett and Sonny ‘Scully’ Evans.

Part of the event will also be tied in with the Southend Film Festival dubbed the Almost Grown Cellar Cinema. It will take place in the basement of the Royal Hotel, with prestigious rock photographer and DJ Dean Chalkley’s short film Young Souls being shown on the hour every hour from 3pm - 8pm. The Black Cat DJ collective will be spinning the best in northern soul, R&B and ska in between. There will also be previously unseen footage and other surprise elements.

Rob said: “It’s the first time Almost Grown has put on a weekender and we’re pleased that we’ve linked up with other local organisations to make this happen.

“We are getting very excited and know that people will be travelling down from all over to attend.”

The whole event kicks off on Friday with a party at Saks Underground, Clifftown Road, from 9pm until 2am. Admission is £5.

On Saturday daytime, from 11:30am a vintage market will be held upstairs at The Royal Hotel.

The all-nighter begins on Saturday, kicking off at 9pm on all three floors at The Royal Hotel, with live music from mod band Bif Bam Pow from 10:30pm until 11:30pm. Tickets are £10. Weekend tickets can also be bought for £13.

The event will culminate in a lazy Sunday free all dayer at The Railway Hotel, Clifftown Road. Revellers are invited to wind down and enjoy the open deck policy.

Rob said: “If you’ve got a box of records, bring them along and play them - as long as it’s the right kind of music!”

For advance tickets via Paypal email samantha@hipcity.freeserve.co.uk (add £1 for postage).