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is that like north american soul? or north of england soul?

either way it sounds like something middle age chavs used to like in the 60s judging by the people ive heard talk about it at work.

Great music and some serious dancing.

Read this, then google the bits you find interesting...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_soul

Also, watch this documentary about Wigan Casion too. It was a bit of a mecca at the time.

bouncy dance floors designed with the groover in mind
mother and father fished me out of the river at the pier, I was in a tesco's bag blue and stiff, but breathing

At my point of view, Northern soul is also associated with particular dance styles and fashions that grew out of the underground rhythm & soul scene of the late 1960s, at venues such as the Twisted Wheel in Manchester. It is Black American Soul music which became popular in the North of England.

Northern soul are "The Mods" - like the Who or the Beatles. Basically brits that were into american soul music, amphetamines, vespas, italian suits, and dancing. THey would catch American RnB reviews when theyd tour europe and pick up american soul dancing fom Jackie wilson and etc. After that style of early 60s Motown went out of style in the states, the british kept the whole scene going. In the early 80s post punk new wave scene, many of the uk synth acts made updated version of the sound - like soft cell, yazoo and etc. these new wave bands then influenced detroit techno (as well as chi house). so it came full circle. there are japanese scenesters that are into "northern soul" and have some sick dance tutorials up on youtube.