Video
Richard Searling
2026

In this episode of Manchester Scene Stories, I sit down with Northern Soul legend Richard Searling to explore one of the most important cultural movements to ever come out of the North of England.

We start at the beginning — The Twisted Wheel in Manchester. Richard explains how the club evolved from a blues and R&B venue in the early 1960s into the birthplace of Northern Soul, with its legendary all-nighters, rare American records, and unforgettable live performances from artists like Junior Walker, Ben E. King and Billy Stewart.

From there, we move into the early 1970s and the transition from The Wheel to The Pendulum — a key but often overlooked bridge between Manchester’s original soul scene and the rise of Wigan Casino. Richard shares how DJs were constantly searching for new, unheard records, creating a culture built on exclusivity, knowledge and deep digging.

He then tells the story of how he got his break — from record collecting and working at Global Records to DJing all-nighters at Va Va’s in Bolton, before eventually landing a residency at Wigan Casino in 1974. What followed was a defining moment in Northern Soul history.

We also hear incredible stories about:

* Travelling to Philadelphia to dig for rare soul records
* The importance of record shops like Spinning and Bowker’s in Manchester
* The discovery and rise of Tainted Love by Gloria Jones
* The culture of DJ exclusives, cover-ups and protecting records from bootleggers
* How Northern Soul became a global movement

Richard also reflects on the legacy of the scene — from packed all-nighters with thousands travelling across the UK, to a new generation of young fans discovering Northern Soul today.

If you’re interested in Manchester music history, rare soul, DJ culture, or the roots of clubbing in the UK, this is a must-watch.

Richard also features in my latest book, Manchester Scene Stories Book 3, where I explore more stories from the people who helped shape Manchester’s music, club and cultural history.

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