Springtime Soul 3, Southend On Sea
Hope you’re well, and enjoying the start of the weekender season. As Spring slowly moves
into Summer, there’s plenty of events to visit and enjoy yourselves.
The start of the weekender season really starts with an event that has, in a short amount of
time, established itself as the marker of the change of seasons. Springtime Soul. Held at
Southend On Sea. This is an annual event held in early to mid April. The 3 rd event was held
over 2 days, 17 th and 18 th April 2026. So, read on to discover more on this brilliant event.
Friday 17 th April, suit bags and record box had been packed and ready for at least a week.
My wife and I made our way to Black Katz H.Q. to meet up with Lee Rochester and Vicki
Richardson (the beating hearts of Black Katz Mod Club). We transferred our luggage into
Lees car, and the journey began. With a long, minimum of a 3+ hour drive ahead, the laughs
immediately started. The vibe was already buoyant and very bubbly. Lee has DJ’d all 3
events so far, and I had made my debut last year. But this year, we wasn’t guest DJ’s, but
Black Katz Mod Club was headlining the Friday nights event. With Andy Hill and Sean
Chapman of Chills And Fever fame running the Saturday night. So on both nights it was a
club take over. Now, previous Springtime Soul events were held on one night, but this was
the inaugural 2 day event.
We arrived safe and sound at around 3pm, checked in to our respective hotels, I was asked
to help set up the P.A. and needed to be there for 5pm. So I got myself dolled up grabbed
my record box and off I went, planning to meet the others at the venue at around 7pm, the
official start time. When I got to the venue the P.A. was already set up and the bands
soundcheck was complete. Jason Norris had taken care of it all, a superb job. So, I waited it
out at the venue.
The rest of the gang turned up early, let the night begin. Simon Phillips and Roger Crawley
graced us on the decks till 9pm, representing The Self Preservation Society, as always they
played brilliant sets. 9pm The Fragments were on. An outfit from Glasgow, playing a
stripped down acoustic set. They were well received and played for an hour.
10pm came and it was time for those Black Katz flavours. Myself and Lee double-decked for
an hour. Then Lee took control till midnight, he lit the place up. A tough act to follow. I went
solo at midnight banking on the crowd being too drunk to care! What a blast.
Saturday 18 th .
Clothing stalls, record vendors and a scooter ride out. This started at around midday (I
think), and the venue was already pretty full. And already a few scooters had turned up. As
the afternoon progressed Andy Hill fired up the decks and provided a mighty set of sounds
as a perfect backdrop for the afternoon. More scooters turned up, on what could easily
have been a cold, wet day. But the weather was kind. Prizes were given out for the best
scooters, then off they went. Food, then off to hotel to get ready for the night time event.
Meandering Mod and Ian Clarke started the night off on the decks. Both playing some right
bangers! 9pm and the one and only The Chords were front and centre. Electric and as
energetic as ever. The room was heaving. 10pm Sean Chapman and Andy Hill were due on.
Now, an unplanned turn of events, Andy Hill had to go back to his hotel as he wasn’t feeling
too good at all. We were all concerned and worried. But I’m happy to say that he’s
absolutely fine now. So Sean Chapman, in his own inimitable style took the helm, and
smashed it right out of the park!!!
Springtime Soul 3. A brilliant, successful weekend.
Room 24 is a well suited venue. Situated right on the sea front, and is an event only venue.
Not a regular bar that’s open daily.
Springtime Soul has and does bring people together from all over. I myself have met many
people from all parts of the country I now consider friends. And I that holds true for many
others too.
Who’s behind Springtime Soul?
TwoFat Mods. That’s who. Mitch Goodwin and Paul Farrow are TwoFat Mods. I’ve known
and DJ’d alongside Mitch for a good while. A man with a big heart, which is made of gold.
With a passion for what he does. Fully supported by his good lady, Lynn Dance. Pauls wife
Janet Farrow also runs These And Those vintage stall, so it’s a concerted team effort. I’ve
spoken with Mitch about the history and back story of TwoFat Mods.
Here’s what he said.
“Hi mate the story behind springtime soul and two fat mods is one and the same ; both
myself and my mate paul farrow with our other halfs lynn and janet were regulary attending
mod events all round london brighton margate bristol etc together if i wentnto an event
without paul people would ask wheres the other one and visa versa i just love the music and
the clothes and most off all the social side ;so four years ago myself paul lynn and jan were
at an event ( cant say where) but it was SHIT everything was wrong bright lights bad sound
poor dress code etc so me and paul proceeded to get pissed during this drunken evening
we decided we could do a bit better so on the Sunday morn i set about it first i decided due
to our already busy schedule of events i thought lets do our do in the spring and from that
came the name springtime soul then i thought we need a brand for all the promo etc i said
to lynn me and paul are both mods and both fat im going to call our brand two fat mods so
it began then to choose a venue i wanted a coast town where no one did a do so southend
was it then a venue i simply googled event only venues and found room 24 poppedvdown to
see it and booked there and then then it was simply a case of callingon my dj pals and i
roped in a band got some flyers printed and away i went with it i self financed the first event
making it free entry as it was only ever going to be a one off and i wanted theevent to have
everything inc a host for everyone it cost me £5000 to put on but to see everyone enjoying
themselves it was worth every penny trouble is went to well and everyone asked for
another so the snowball began and as you know it became a weekender getting bigger
every year wilst this was going on i had the pleasure of meeting lee and vicki this lead to me
meeting all the black katz crew which in turn lead to me spinning few tunes with you guys
and know djing is a big part of my calander finally id like to add that i have many many
lovely mates in this scene from right across the country and im so proud that springtime
soul has put so many people together who would prehaps never had met so im going to
carry on doing my little bit for the scene each year and my little bit tohelp black katz”
Springtime Soul 4.
It’s happening, and trust me, it will be bigger and better. Each year it has grown, changed
and morphed. Black Katz Mod Club will be represented by Lee and myself with the addition
of Wayne Silky Ratcliffe this time. 23 rd /24 th April 2027. Will I see you there? I truly hope so!!!
For more information feel free to contact me or TwoFat Mods on Facebook, ticket email
address twofatmods@hotmail.com
For my next edition we’re talking scooters. In depth, technical. A deep dive into the
quintessential mode of transport for Mods. I’m visiting Black Katz Scooter Repair Works
which is run by John Edwards A.K.A. Eddie Spanners. So until then, keep it sharp.
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