The Twisted Wheel
Manchester
Overview
Started as a blues and soul live music coffee bar/dance club. Widely cited as the "birthplace of Northern Soul" — the first club to develop and hold Northern Soul all-nighters.
Live Acts Hosted
- The Drifters
- Don Covay
- Jimmy Ruffin
- Junior Walker
- Edwin Starr
- Mary Wells
- Ike and Tina Turner
- Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
- Inez and Charlie Foxx
- Oscar Toney Jr.
- Marv Johnson
Closure & Legacy
Closed early 1971 due to a local bylaw preventing premises from staying open more than two hours into the following day, plus police and council pressure over drug use from Manchester Chief Constable James Anderton.
Its closure catalysed the spread of the scene to the Midlands and created the opening for The Catacombs and The Golden Torch.
Important Notes
Soul fans travelled from across the entire UK for the all-nighters.