One thing you don’t necessarily expect at a midweek night of rhythm’n’blues and old school Jamaican ska is a dancefloor packed with a young crowd going mental. But that’s exactly what happens at Thursday Night Fish Fry, a night that’s attracting both music lovers and revellers out for a dose of retro fun. It’s a balance that’s kept firmly in check by an excellent selection of tunes that sound like old favourites without being worn out. It’s proper party music chosen by connoisseurs – and the dancers respond by singing along to all the songs they know and staying in the groove for those they don’t. At no point does anyone seem to think sitting down and catching their breath is a good idea. To give you an idea of the quality of the night former Portishead DJ Andy Smith has brought his dusty crate-dug gems down. Not that he’s needed, the residents have got it down pat.
TOP TEN
Dandy With Rico ‘Rudy, A Message To You’
Wynonie Harris ‘Lovin’ Machine’
Big Maybelle ‘New Kind Of Mambo’
Ruth Brown ‘As Long as I’m Movin”
Howlin’ Wolf ‘Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy’
Don Drummond ‘Alipang’ The Isley Brothers ‘Shout! (Parts 1 & 2)’
Jeanne Demetz (Feat. Johnny Alston Orchestra) ‘Calypso Daddy’
Lloyd Price ‘Coconut Woman’
Sister Rosetta Tharpe ‘Jericho’
FYI EVENTS: Every Thursday, Jam
FACEBOOK: tinyurl.com/fishfryface
THEY SAY: “Blastin’ 50’s r’n’b, original Jamaican scorching ska, jump blues, rocksteady, calypso, gospel, roots of rock n roll and jazz!”