Advance Ticket (E-Ticket – no physical ticket mailed – just quote your order # on the door and you’re all set !!) – Without Boundaries – Late Spring Ball – Branston Golf & Country Club, Burton Upon Trent, DE14 3DP – Saturday 30/5/26 – 6.00pm – 1.00am – BACK FOR MORE !!

At that point we re-located to the Bass Museum in Burton Upon Trent – the original piss up in a brewery (and yes we could organise one before anyone asks !!) – the walk in to the place was quite spectacular, as you had to snake through the breweries ‘Museum’ to get into the venue. Originally just in the one room playing all eras soul from 70’s to the newest tunes of the day (and there were plenty to get a first airing there !!), we later opened up the gig to a two room affair – playing 70’s connoisseurs cuts and rarities in one and 80’s & 90’s classics + all the new soul and soulful house of the day in the other.  Summertime brought the ‘Summer Ball’ events in the big Marquee in addition to the 2 roomers on each Bank Holiday Sunday + the occasional Saturday night thrown in for good measure – where we stayed until finally calling it a day @ Xmas in 2007 – the final night was naturally an emotional affair and very very busy !!

Bass Museum – All Time Top 10 Classics –

1. Hardsoul feat. Ron Carroll – Back Together – 12″

2. O’Jays – Put Our Heads Together – LP Vinyl

3. Marvin Gaye – Where Are We Going – CD Album

4. Urban Blues Project feat. Michael Procter – Love Don’t Live – 12″

5. Marc Sadane – One Minute From Love – 12″

6. Shazz – Innerside – 12″

7. MAW feat. India – Backfired (Joey Negro Remix) – 12″

8. Ron Hall & The Muthafunkaz  – The Way You Love Me – 12″

9. Michael Wycoff – Looking Up To You – 12″

10. Wahoo – Don’t Take It Personal – 12″

Dj’s to perform over the years included – Adam, Chris Anderton, Cleveland Anderson, Butch, Bigger, Colin Brown, Geoff Bingham, Conrad Bool, Steve Connor, Colin Curtis, Bob Cosby, Mike Charlton, John Corless,  Gareth Donovan, Gary Dennis, Tee Davies, Andy Davies, Damien Deighan, Arthur Fenn, Fish, Brian Flanders, Mick Farrer, Mark Grice, Steve Guarnori, Brian Goucher, Niki Golding, Steve Hobbs, Sean Hampsey,  Mark Houghton, Pete Haigh, Bob Hinsley, Gary Holyman (RIP), Jim Hargreaves (RIP), Steve Jackson (RIP), Dean Johnson (RIP), Terry Jones, Ivor Jones, Jonathan, Bob Jones, Ged Lunt, Barry Maleady, Mick O’Donnell, Gavin Page, Paul Phillips, Dave Ripolles, Mark Randle, Neil Rushton, Mike Stephens, Cliff Steele, Soul Sam, Snowboy, Rick Scott, Paul Sutton, Mark Simpson, Jamie Taylor, Andy ‘Tats’ Taylor, Roger Williams, Yours Sincerely Yours + Glenn Worthington on percussion (if I’ve forgotten anyone – I do apologise the memories not all that it was !!)

As the saying goes… – if I’d had a pound though for everyone that had asked for a re-union event since that day – then I might have retired a long long time ago !! – the answer however for 18 years was always a resounding NO – anyway fast forward to 2025 – and the more and more I thought about it, it just seemed the right time – so 25 years on since it’s inception here we are with the original dj team ‘back together again’ albeit a little bit older and wiser (the latter up for debate perhaps !!)

Things weren’t quite that straight forward though – the intention was to go back to the ‘Bass’  – but that wasn’t possible as Coors Brewers the current owners had decided to close the complex, and despite still owning the land – the venue was being bailed out by them to the tune of around £1,000,000 a year, having never really recovered economically after Covid and shut it doors back in 2022.

So the search was on for a new home in the area – it had to be just right though to do the event justice, or it wasn’t going to happen. Thankfully we’ve found that place – you know when you step into a space and you get that instant buzz – well that’s exactly the feeling I got walking into THE PAVILLION @ BRANSTON GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – so there you have it – a brief potted history of how we ended up where we are today !! – the venue is sensational – you’re going to love it – that I promise you and the music will be even better !! – (see the flyer for full details)

Hope to see you all again in 2026 for a new chapter.

EVENT INFO & ACCOMMODATION – Dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s

Advance Tickets – available now from – www.firstexperiencerecords.com and click on the ‘Event Tickets’ tab.

Facilities – the complex has a large range of facilities if you’re getting there early – including a championship 18 hole golf course (9 holes also available), driving range, crazy golf, padel tennis & an excellent restaurant (table reservations advisable).

All the above are available to non members. The golf course gets very busy though on a Saturday – so for the golfers amongst you – if you fancy a round on the day – pre-booking is essential – www.branstonclub.co.uk

Parking – very large area right in front of the Pavillion.

The Venue Bar – is card payment only.

Accommodation – there are several excellent hotels close by – these include –

Holiday Inn Express –  Burton On Trent – 1 mile from the venue.

Premier Inn – Burton On Trent Central Hotel – 1 mile from the venue.

Ibis– Burton On Trent – 1 mile from the venue.

Hotel prices will obviously increase as the date gets nearer – so if you are thinking of staying over – then early booking is highly recommended to get the best rates !!