Explosion of soul for Cali-R summer

The rugby club, at the bottom of Bedford Road, Houghton Regis, has been a popular venue for the reunion nights in the past, and the latest event promises to be the biggest one yet, with Sid manning the decks for a mixture of soul, Tamla and reggae favourites in the big tent.

Louie Martin and Jellybean, fresh from a sensational Dunstable Soul Family event at the Ivory Lounge in Dunstable, will be playing the best of jazz-funk, rare grooves and modern soul In the clubhouse.

And for good measure, there’s a third room – All Things Soulful – with “DJ Duncan” Bedford at the controls.

For live music fans, the ever-popular three-piece RDG (Richie, Denis and George), who have become big favourites with Cali-R crowds over the years, will take the stage, while to round things off, a crew of Dunstablians members will man a barbecue outside the clubhouse.

Tickets for the event are £11 and are available from the rugby club (01582 866555); Mae’s Boutique, Bedford Square, Houghton Regis (07427 401089); Big Stuff, Queensway, Dunstable (01582 666678); Vinyl Revelations, Cardigan Street, Luton (01582 876391); or www.cali-r.com.

Before Summer Soul, Sid takes Cali-R to the Rufus Centre, Flitwick, this Saturday (May 28) for another night of soul, Tamla, funk and reggae. Tickets at £9.50 from Big Stuff, Vinyl Revelations, Top Gear, Flitwick (01525 715299) or the website.

The Dunstable Soul Family event promoted in Dunstable earlier this month was such a success that a follow-up takes place in the bigger lounge downstairs – complete with air-conditioning – at the Ivory Lounge, High Street North, on Friday, June 17. Louie and Jellybean will team up again with Colin Watts to play jazz-funk, rare grooves and modern soul.

Tickets, £6 in advance or £7 on the door, are available from the Ivory Lounge (01582 470171), Big Stuff, Vinyl Revelations and the website.