It is hard to imagine that just eight years ago Grand Rapids Soul Club debuted in our region to present a series of dance parties focused on the beauty of the ever-expansive genre of soul music.
Over the years, those who have shown up have not only witnessed legends of the 1’s and 2’s like De La Soul’s Maseo, DJ Soul Sister, and DJ Makossa, but our city’s GRSC has also spun rare unearthed 45s from Grand Rapids soul artists thought lost to time.
For their eighth anniversary event,
GRSC welcomes BreakBeat Lou and Chicago’s Dave Mata who are sure to entertain the faithful by their pedigree within dance music but also via the selections they will be spinning at The Pyramid Scheme (PS), where it all began. (GRSC has shuttled back and forth between Eastown’s Billy’s Lounge and downtown’s PS over the years with stops at other venues on special occasions.)
BreakBeat Lou (Louis Flores) is a legend in the music and entertainment industry as a disc jockey and music producer. Talk to any artist or fan of hip-hop culture and just by mentioning “The Ultimate Breaks and Beats” compilation, which included the late Leonard "BreakBeat Lenny" Roberts, you can be certain they are going to share how dope that release was and the influence it had on music culture.
According to the event’s description, “Part of the mystique of hip-hop culture revolves around folklore: the urban legends that circulate from generation to generation are the tales that separate true industry veterans from new jacks. In those few moments when myth and reality merge, we see the legacy of true OGs and pioneers who contribute to making the culture what it is today.
“So when one day two dudes meet in a record store – both looking for the same ‘Ultimate Breaks and Beats’ record – this story could include anyone. But when the two dudes are Dr. Dre and Easy E, you begin to understand the relevance of the ‘Ultimate Breaks and Beats’ Collection. And this collection doesn’t happen without the legendary BreakBeat Lou.”
No matter what year you have entered the GRSC’s universe (and I hope you will if you have not), this Friday night is a perfect chance to join a rooted-in-history-but-never-stuffy-nor-pretentious dance party that I, for one, am quite happy to have witnessed its evolution up close for all these years.
We are very fortunate to have local DJs who believe in the music and continue to invite legends of the dance floor to get our feet moving.
To follow the work of Grand Rapids Soul Club, please visit them
here.
Tickets are
$12 in advance or $15 at the door.