Monthly Archives: December 2020
The Northern Soul End of Year Quiz: 2020
As it’s the season of goodwill, and it’s been an incredibly testing year to say the least, we’re bringing back the annual Northern Soul End Of Year Quiz. Is your Northern knowledge up to scratch? No prizes, just a lovely feeling of smugness when you get them all right (answers are at the bottom…).
Read the full story..Books: Northern Soul’s Best Reads of 2020
As we approach the end of 2020 and look back over the past 12 months, it’s hard to be optimistic. But we can reach for the things that spark joy and provide solace. For the team at Northern Soul, books were a great source of comfort in 2020 and we did an awful lot of reading. Some of these books were new publications, some were titles waiting patiently on our shelves, and some were old favourites. Here are our 2020 best reads to expand your ever-growing ‘To Be Read’ pile. Maybe some of them will bring you a sense of comfort too.
Read the full story..Online Opera Review: Fidelio by Beethoven, Opera North
This week sees a landmark in my long walk on this weird and mostly wonderful world, although weird has the upper hand at the moment.
Read the full story..Book Review: The Abstainer by Ian McGuire
Here it is. The Manchester Martyrs were three members of a large gang who attacked a horse-drawn police van on Hyde Road in September 1867.
Read the full story..How are you spending Christmas 2020? We ask the Northern Soul team what they’re up to
The past 12 months have been a lot to process – and the world is looking at a very different festive period in 2020. As we head into the season of goodwill, we asked the brilliant Northern Soul team how they will be spending Christmas during a global pandemic.
Read the full story..The Northern Soul Christmas Poem: Northern Angel
While Christmas may look a little different this year, at Northern Soul we love our festive traditions and here’s a particular favourite: the Northern Soul Christmas poem written exclusively for us by Wendy Pratt in response to Phil Pounder’s beautiful photograph.
Read the full story..Review: Grayson Perry’s Art Club, Manchester Art Gallery
It was the swings swaddled in clingfilm-like tied-back curtains that got me.
Read the full story..“Artworks can tell stories.” Art historian Sara Riccardi writes about the importance of art – for everyone
When I meet someone I’ve only communicated with via email for the first time, they are sometimes surprised to find that I’m a rather cheerful young woman.
Read the full story..Northern Horizons: a North East childhood and big, big skies
There’s a wonderful poem written by Thomas Hood in the early 1800s which sums up the reality of a Northern winter.
Read the full story..Online Music Review: The Cavern Live, The Cavern Club, Liverpool
For a venue synonymous with The Beatles and well-used to packing out its basement, 2020 has seen its acts playing to an eerily empty room. But The Cavern Club in Liverpool is still going strong.
Read the full story..Editor's Picks
Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities
Is your organisation interested in supporting quality journalism about culture, life and enterprise in the North of England?
For advertising and sponsorship opportunities contact Northern Soul’s Founder and Editor Helen Hugent at helennugent@northernsoul.me.uk.
Sign up for Northern Soul newsletter
The Northern Soul Poll

Recent Tweets for @Northern_Soul_
"They smiled and bottles clinked. And that was how I got to hang out with The Eagles." Music review: The Eagles, Anfield, Liverpool northernsoul.me.uk/music-revi… pic.twitter.com/C1xmPVu8BW
A very happy birthday to Northern Soul favourite and Manchester legend Clint Boon, who is 63 today. @therealboon pic.twitter.com/GPA1sSBJuG
Spotted in Manchester's Northern Quarter. (photo by RM) pic.twitter.com/FcFSbbvtZ9
#GinnelWatch #ShowUsYourGinnels South Queensferry ginnel by Helen N pic.twitter.com/QT8Y8SIKKV
Meet Northern Soul's man about town...Hamiltonic. Keep your eyes peeled for posts and videos from Hamiltonic including foodie goodness and delectable drinks. #Hamiltonic #NorthernSoul @heribo1954 pic.twitter.com/vskSzHFKWo