BRIGHTON SCOOTER RIDE-OUT, SUNDAY 27 AUGUST 2017

Such was the success of The New Untouchables returning the Mods to Brighton for August Bank Holidays back in the late 90s, the town now hosts a multitude of events across the weekend put on by various promoters to cover the overspill and cater for differing tastes. The NUTs scooter rideout on Sunday remains the focal point and the largest congregation of Mods in all their dominations come together outside the Volks Tavern. Such were the numbers it took ten whole minutes for the procession of Lambrettas and Vespas to pootle off. Here they are...

SCOOT THE THAMES - SATURDAY 26th JULY 2014

Today was Scoot The Thames, an annual London ride out for vintage scooters. It began by Aldgate and criss-crossed Old Father Thames across his bridges - Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, Westminster Bridge – before ending over Waterloo Bridge on Lower Marsh Street for tea and biscuits.

With the sun blazing there must’ve been a couple of hundred Lambrettas and Vespas stopping traffic and causing a spectacle for the general public. As always it’s difficult to take snaps that capture the scale of the event or even the sights. Unfortunately it's not easy to flip the camera out the pocket as zipping over Tower Bridge on an SX150 (although I did try) but here’s a little collection to give a small snapshot of the day.

Many thanks to the organisers, marshals and everybody who took part. See you next year.   

NEW UNTOUCHABLES BRIGHTON MOD RALLY SCOOTER RIDEOUT, AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY 2013

When the New Untouchables moved their August Bank Holiday Mod Rally from Margate to Brighton a decade ago scooters played a very minor part of the weekend which was focused on three nights of clubbing. Numbers have increased annually and the Sunday afternoon rideout from outside the Volks Tavern is now the focal point for many with hundreds of Lambrettas and Vespas lined up along the seafront and many riders (and non-riders) attending only this part of the weekend.

Here are a few random snaps.

BRIGHTON MOD RALLY SCOOTER RIDE OUT, 26 AUGUST 2012

August Bank Holiday and the Mods descended on Brighton once again for the New Untouchables rally. Sunday afternoon's scooter ride out used to be something of a minor element of the weekend but has grown steadily; yesterday's one - organised with the Bar Italia Scooter Club - had the highest turn out in modern times. My footage of riders gratefully escaping the rancid stench emanating from the Volk’s Tavern toilets won’t win any cinematography awards but if you want to count hundreds of Lambrettas and Vespas as they putt-putt past, fill yer desert boots.   

COOL BRIGHTON FILM

Found this great little film of the Brighton rally on YouTube. Dont know who made it but they've captured it just right I reckon. Well done whoever you are.

BRIGHTON MODERNIST/60S WEEKENDER

After another depressing week of reading the on-line bickering and pronouncements on the Death of the Mod Scene, plus a few balls being taking home in a huff, it was a welcome relief to get to Brighton and find there’s plenty of life in the old dog yet.

Friday night at the Smugglers had yard for yard the smartest turnout I’d witnessed for ages and those that fret about ruining their tan suede driving shoes could’ve relaxed as friendly, civilized decorum mixed seamlessly with well mannered hedonism to a soundtrack heavily slanted in the R&B direction.


The Saturday and Sunday allnighters were less civilized (but no less fun) as a sell-out 400/500 crowd packed the Komedia Theatre. It’s increasingly difficult to get an aging scene (with some very notable and welcome exceptions) to run of the mill club nights but they’ll make the effort when presented with something special. From a DJ-ing point of view, it was a real buzz to play to an appreciative and enthusiastic crowd more into dancing than standing around (bit of pot, kettle and black there I admit), and in a venue with not only a cracking PA system but a decent sound engineer too. Also the fact mine and Speed’s sets tended to be next to each over the weekend, me playing R&B/Soul and he British Beat/US Garage, with no discernable difference to the dance floor showed people’s tastes aren’t always as black and white as you could be led to believe.


Sunday daytime saw the scooter ride-out and although numbers were small fry compared to what was happening at the Isle of Wight, they were up on previous years and I’d sooner see Mods on Mod scooters than any number of scooterists (or "trees" for those that are still scarred by the 80s) on whatever bastardized machines they want to inflict on the world. Some footage.

A weekend, as always, to meet old friends and new and rekindle the faith. Next year I’ll finally take the SX.

Here’s my playlist from Saturday (to save on space I'll skip the Sunday ones):

Early Set
Lou Donaldson – The Humpback (Blue Note)
Fred Ford – Blackeyed Rattlesnake (Duke)
Toussaint McCall – The Toussaint Shuffle (Ronn)
Ray Charles – You’re Just About To Lose Your Clown (ABC)
Lloyd Price – Take All (Jad)
BB King – Beautician Blues (Kent)
Jimmy McCracklin – Susie and Pat (Art-Tone)
Big Jack Reynolds – I Had A Little Dog (Hi-Q)
L. Roy Baimes – Hey L. Roy (BJR)
Buddy Lamp – My Tears (Double-L)
Danny Brown – Chewing Gum (Earth)
Anna Belle Caesar – Little Annie (Gladhamp)
Gospel Pearls – Two Little Fishes (Liberty)
Guitar Red – Just You and I (Checker)

Later Set
Leo Price and Band – Hey Now Baby (Up-Down)
Dee Dee Sharp – Deep Dark Secret (Cameo)
Gloria Grey – It’s A Sweet World (Warner Brothers)
Ray Scott – Right Now (Decca)
Aretha Franklin – Tighten Up Your Tie, Button Up Your Jacket (Columbia)
Mike Pedecin – Burnt Toast and Black Coffee (Federal)
Grover Pruitt – Little Girl (Salem)
Bobby Peterson Quintet – Mama Get Your Hammer (V-Tone)
Gardenias – What’s The Matter With Me (Fairline)
Lloyd Price – The Chicken and the Bop (KRC)
JB Lenior – She Don’t Know (Checker)
Sugar Boy Williams – Little Girl (Herald)
Banny Price – You Love Me Pretty Baby (Jewel)
Dick Holler – Mooba Grooba (Comet)
Ritchie Barrett – Some Other Guy (Atlantic)
Marv Johnson – Come On and Stop (United Artists)
James Brown – Good Good Lovin’ (Federal)