That old Motown magic

When Berry Gordy brought a coachload of US black artists to the UK in 1965 — including a 14-year-old Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas and The Miracles — only Diana Ross and The Supremes were known to the British 45s-buying youth, having had a recent UK No1 hit with Baby Love.

That tour helped spark a new music scene that became Northern Soul, with its own dress code and dance moves.

Recently, Northern Soul’s star has been rising again almost exponentially and, with it, a revival of Motown classics.

The Barrowland Ballroom hosted an all-day soul extravaganza, Barraloadasoul, that was filmed as a documentary dvd and, last week saw the first showing of a feature length movie at the GFT about the Northern Soul phenomenon.

There’ll be soul gigs from here to Uddingston going on on Friday and what better to kickstart the night than by celebrating the 50th anniversary Magic of Motown tour at the Theatre Royal.

Legends such as the Temptations, the Four Tops, Jackson 5 and The Supremes will be reincarnated as authentically as possible for the spectacle with hits including all-time favourites Stop in the Name of Love; My Guy; Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, This Old Heart of Mine, I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Endless Love, All Night Long, Heatwave, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Get Ready, My Girl, I’ll Be There, How Sweet it Is and, of course, Baby Love.

What’s not to like? Be there for an 8pm start tomorrow (Friday). Tickets £28.90 plus fee.