The Original Modrunner

Yesterday I met Catherine and John once again. Let me say something about them: they moved from Manchester to Bagni di Lucca, and while they left a lot behind, they brought their lifelong passion for Northern Soul to Italy. They are the promoters behind the “Heart and Soul” weekend. I managed to get down there for a day last year and the energy was incredible.

We often talk about passion, but it is discipline that actually builds things. It takes a specific kind of dedication to organize international events and maintain the standards this music deserves. We share that same obsession for the best music in the world.

You can find the dates for their September weekend and our Smart Soul Connection in Livorno in the slides.
Two dates. One soul.
Are you coming to both? Comment “double” below. If you attend both events, I have a special surprise in mind for you. Details to follow.

ITALIANO:
Vi comunico una bellissima news, giá pubblicata sul nuovo sito https://smartsoulconnection.it, ossia la presenza domenica mattina di Andrea Maccarone⁩ che in questi giorni esce con il suo libro “Gli ultimi ribelli- chi ha ucciso le sottoculture?” e che si confronterà con Ray Butler da Londra con il suo imminente libro sul modernismo del mondo. Poi come sapete, Andrea è un cultore di northern soul nonchè grandissimo ballerino e sarà sicuramente uno spettacolo vederlo insieme a tanti altri bravissimi dancers e la coordinatrce Cecilia Serafini ⁩ sulla terrazza Mascagni a scacchi bianchi e neri 🏁 per un ballo sfrenato e stiloso (con shooting e videoriprese incluse)! Vi aspetto tutti!
🙏🏻Mi raccomando🙏🏻: per chi verrá a Livorno, chiedo di acquistare il biglietto sul sito per aiutarci a gestire al minimo la cassa presso il surfer joe. Prima lo fate piú ci date anche un grande supporto. Trovate tutto sul sito ! Grazie ❤️✊🏻

ENGLISH
I’m thrilled to share some fantastic news with you, already published on our new website https://smartsoulconnection.it! This Sunday morning, we will have the pleasure of hosting Andrea Maccarone, who is launching their new book “Gli ultimi ribelli – chi ha ucciso le sottoculture?” (The Last Rebels – Who Killed Subcultures?). Andrea will be engaging in a fascinating discussion with Ray Butler from London, who will also be presenting their upcoming book on global modernism.
As many of you already know, Andrea is not only an expert on northern soul but also an exceptional dancer. It will be a true spectacle to see them perform alongside many other talented dancers, including our wonderful coordinator Cecilia Serafini, on the checkered black and white terrace of Mascagni 🏁. Get ready for a lively and stylish dance session—with photo shoots and video recordings included! I truly hope to see all of you there.
A quick reminder: if you’re planning to come to Livorno, please remember to purchase your ticket on the website. This will help us keep things organized and reduce the need for cash handling at Surfer Joe. The sooner you buy your ticket, the more you support us! All the details can be found on the site.

HOME - SMART SOUL CONNECTION Vol. 4 · Edizione 2026 SMART SOUL CONNECTION 12 - 13 - 14 giugno 2026 Surfer Joe · Terrazza Mascagni · Livorno, Toscana, Italia ACQUISTA I BIGLIETTI SCOPRI IL PROGRAMMA Il Programma — Tre Giorni di Musica 12 Venerdì - Giugno €10 Dalle ore 18 fino a tarda notteKick off con DJ Set Smart CrewAp...

Design is an act of respect.
For the Smart Soul Connection 2026 flyers, we went back to the sources. This carousel follows a timeline of our obsessions. We start in 1962 with the Blue Note geometry of Dexter Gordon and move through the Motown soul of The Marvelettes and the sharp lines of The Skatalities. We pass through the Acid Jazz revival and land in 1994, in the messy Manchester bedroom of the first Oasis LP. These 5 records are the pillars of what we do in Livorno. We are thinking of printing a limited edition box set of these cards on 300gsm cardstock for the event at Surfer Joe. Would you add this set to your collection?

Which of these 5 eras defines your style the most? Let us know in the comments.

Leaving Florence for Milan today. I’ve been coming to this city for over 30 years, and it never fails to remind me that geometry matters, whether it’s the marble facade of Santa Croce or the roll of a button-down collar.
These shots are a bit of a personal archive. Different years, different layers, but always the same “Modernist Discipline.” You see me testing out everything from 60s-leaning knitwear to that red Baracuta-style pop of color against the Tuscan stone.
Even when I’m here for the art, I’m secretly checking the break on a stranger’s trousers or wondering if David would have looked better in a pair of desert boots. Florence is a city of details; luckily, so am I.
Milan, see you in a few hours. The trainers are packed, the records are waiting.

Which look wins? The seersucker sharpness or the Harrington/denim combo for the road?