The Cavern may be the most famous of Liverpool’s 1960’s clubs, but The Mardi Gras was the venue that influenced the 1970’s Northern Soul movement. The club, which opened in 1957, is the subject of a BBC Radio 2 documentary, Motown on the Mersey. The former cinema featured performances by Ben E King, Al Green and Arthur Conley. It was also the launch pad for local groups including The Vocal Perfection who later became 1970’s chart toppers The Real Thing. Presented by Craig Charles the programme explores the special relationship the Mardi Gras had with Sixties soul music. Motown on the Mersey is on BBC Radio 2 at 8.30pm, Tuesday 6 March 2007. The programme features interviews with The Real Thing’s Eddie and Chris Amoo, music journalist Paul Du Noyer and BBC Radio Merseyside’s Billy Butler who was compere at the legendary ‘Tamla Nights’. The Mardi Gras can also claim to be the forerunner of the tribute band phenomenon featuring regular shows by ‘The Fabulous Temptations’ and ‘The Original Drifters’. Beatles manager Brian Epstein’s ‘lost’ act The Chants were also one of the many groups who called the club home. | 
