ILKLEY Soul Club returns to the Hollygarth on Leeds Road, on Sunday (January 27) following a change in personnel. Due to work and personal commitments one of the co founders Barry Innocenti has stepped down from running the club. Fellow co founder and DJ Ian Smith will now be taking over along with fellow resident DJ Keith Hudson.

Ian said: “Barry’s departure is a sad loss to the club. We will miss his commitment and enthusiasm. We set up the club just over 15 months ago as, unlike Skipton and Keighley, Ilkley had no regular northern soul event. It has proved very popular with local soul fans as well as aficionados from further afield in Bradford, Leeds and Lancashire. Barry was a friendly face and excellent host.”

Ian added “However I am sure that Barry will be popping in, as an honorary life member of the club, and will be doing the odd DJ spot in future. In the meantime we have some of the scene’s most respected DJ’s lined up to play this year. All tunes will be played on the original US vinyl or contemporary British release. The authenticity of the music is important to us but we always try to play what the dancers want to hear and keep the floor busy. We specialise in danceable northern soul tunes and up tempo Tamla Motown and in 2019 we will be adding a few popular 1970’s soul classics onto the playlist”.

2019 kicks off with guest DJ’s Mick Nichols of Burnley, who is a regular on the Lancashire scene, and Addingham’s Vic Hankins. The spring season continues on Sunday, February 24 with Jim Hirst of Leeds Wardrobe and Stuart Arber of Crigglestone Soul Club. Glenn Walker Foster, originally of Blackpool, a well known guest DJ at soul venues across the north takes centre stage on Sunday, March 31. Then in April Garry Place and Shaun Callon of Northern Noise and Blackburn Oldies soul clubs guest. The club opens at 3pm and closes at 8pm with a £5 entry fee.

Further dates are planned for later in the year and will be announced soon.