Directions

At The Bradford Irish Club Rebecca Street, Bradford BD1 2RX tel: 01274 732000

Map

Club Gigs Since 1960 Click on the year you want, or just scroll down - this is all one long page 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015        Below is a list of the guest dates at The Topic since 1960. It is not 100% complete. We had a well-maintained list from 1992 onwards, but records for the first 35 years of the club were patchy or mislaid, until Trevor Charnock did sterling work putting together information from a variety of sources for the period from 1956 to 1991, for which the club owes him many thanks.      An alphabetical list of acts, most with web links, is on the A to Z of Past Guests page of this site.     Nicholas Waller Topic Webo Compiling the historical information, by Trevor Charnock      This is an update on the post I made in 2004. Some things have happened and I am amending the post to bring it up to date.      When I started with the guest list in 2004 I compiled it from handouts that I had in my possession at that time and copies of Tykes' News that I had from its inception in magazine form from late 1975. With this I managed to put together the guest list from October 30th 1970 to the end of 1991. This list, however, had some omissions in 1971 and 1972, as well as everything before 1970.      I said that I hoped to do a more complete guest list if and when I managed to recover the club minute books covering 1958-1982. I discovered that three of the club's Treasurers' Books were also missing; these of course would have helped greatly as they would have had the record of payments to guest artists. For quite some time I tried to track these books down with no luck and I had just about given up hope of recovering them, but at the end of 2009 I was given a case that had been used to carry the club's equipment for running the club's admissions table. Much to my surprise, when opening it I found it contained the missing minute books and one of the Treasurers' Books covering November 1968 to October 1974. More...      When going through the Minute books I found that the guests booked were mentioned, but in a lot of cases not the dates that they were booked for. There are no minutes at all from November 30th 1962 to January 29th 1964. The Treasurer's book had a period - around 1970-71 - where the date and the amount that the guest was paid was entered, but not the name of the guest. Some of these gaps could be filled in, though there are quite a number of holes.      It is worth noting that in the very early years of the club guests were not booked on a regular basis, as that was not really what the club was about in those days. It was mainly to learn about folk music and develop the singing and musicianship of the members. This allowed the club to provide its own entertainment. It does appear to be the case in those days that if concerts or Hootenannies were held they would be on a Saturday in the clubroom, with Fridays being mainly for the social gatherings and self-entertainment. Due to the fact that in the early days there were not many folk clubs about, especially outside London, guests could be booked at very short notice. Towards the end of the 1960s guests became booked on a more frequent basis and Singers' Nights became more rare.      I have to thank the following for their help. Geoff and Mary Twentyman, who put me in touch with Terry and Audrey Stott. Terry was the club treasurer from 1962-1969 and had at one time copies of all the club's accounts over that period. Unfortunately the only ones that had survived covered the period November 19th 1965 to November 11th 1966, so my guest list dates for this period are down to him. Eddie Saxton, a very early member of the club, who let me copy some of the photographs he had taken in the clubroom. In the background of one photo were posters on the clubroom wall which gave me four dates for 1960. Malcolm McGeorge, a former club Secretary between 1963-64, who let me have copies of some booking forms he had for 1964. Elaine Carter (nee Claffey), who sent me a handout covering a three-month period. Also Jacquie Wilks, who let me know from notations in one of her diaries a guest night that had been changed at short notice.      These people have been a great help to me, and there may still be others out there who might be able to help. At this moment in time I think I have gone as far as I can go. The missing two Treasurers' books may still turn up, in particular covering 1958 to 1968. One can hope.      It has been suggested to me that I could go to Central Library and look back through the editions of the Telegraph and Argus that they have stored there, more than likely on microfilm. This of course would be a very time-consuming exercise. One problem in the past is that even when I knew the club had an advert in the paper it took some spotting. The time I would have to cover is between, September 1956 to December 1971, excluding the weeks I have already got. I do not totally rule this out but it will be a case of finding the time, as it would be a big project.       If anybody out there has any information on the club including photos you can get in touch with me via the web site or e-mail me at tc.number1@gmail.com      Trevor Charnock Bradford January 2011 ----------------------- Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1958 EEC founded, Krushchev takes over in USSR, The Bridge on the River Kwai wins 7 Oscars. Instant noodles go on sale for the first time. 19th September - The First AGM of the club. Held at The Unity Hall, Rawson Square. Although the club was formed in September 1956, this was the first official Annual General Meeting. A constitution was agreed but the wording was not minuted. Listed below is the first elected committee and offices: Committee Eddie Saxton, Vince Lacey, J Ellis, Miss Jacquie Richmond, Miss L Humells. Secretary Miss Isobel Allott, Treasurer. John B Stuart (JB) President Mr A Lancaster. We know Dr John Hasted was a guest this year - in fact, the first ever - from the 25th Anniversary pamphlet produced in 1981, but we don't know the specific date, and we think Ramblin' Jack Elliot also appeared at some point this year. Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1959 Castro takes over in Cuba. Buddy Holly is killed. The Dalai Lama flees Tibet. Alaska becomes 49th US State. The first American combat deaths in Vietnam. Launch of the Mini in the UK. The first section of the M1 is opened. Antarctic Treaty is the first major Cold War treaty, reserving the Antarctic for peaceful purposes. Ben Hur gets 11 Oscars. 18th September - The Second AGM Committee and Officers elected: Paul Tattersall, D Aldread, Alan Emmett Eddie Saxton, Vince Lacey, D Mills Secretary Miss Molly Brown, Treasurer John B Stuart. President A Lancaster 12th December - Saturday Hootenanny for the purpose of raising club funds. We are sure Jerry Silverman and Steve Benbow were guests this year from the 25th Anniversary pamphlet produced in 1981, but we don't know the specific dates. Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1960 Harold MacMillan makes Wind of Change speech. John F Kennedy wins US presidential election. 16th January - Saturday Concert featuring Jimmie MacGregor and Shirley Bland 29th January - The Stewart Family 5th February - Roy Harris 6th February - Saturday Concert featuring The Crimple Mountain Boys Support: Club regulars John Pashley, Eddie Saxton and John Stuart 20th February - Jacqui McDonald and Bridie O'Donnell 14th May - Saturday Hootenanny Club Fund Raiser 23rd September - The Third AGM Committee and Officers Elected: J B Stuart, D Aldred, P Tattersall B Emmett, M Cunningham. Treasurer D Mills. Secretary Miss M Brown. 1st October - Saturday Concert Featuring Steve Benbow 29th October - Saturday Hootenanny for club funds 17th December - Saturday Concert featuring Winston and Mary-Jane Young Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1961 Yuri Gagarin is the first human to go into space. Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. Berlin Wall is built. 22nd April - Saturday Hootenanny for Club Funds 3rd May - Wednesday Film Show in Club Room 27th May - Saturday Hootenanny for Club funds 8th July - Saturday Concert featuring The Heritage Singers Alan Emmett and Bert Worth 29th July - Saturday Concert featuring Dave Keddie and Eddie Saxton 26th August - Saturday Concert featuring Mark and Sue (Mark Newman and Sue Rock) 16th September - Saturday Concert featuring Winston and Mary-Jane Young 11th November - The Fourth AGM Committee and Officers elected: Alan Emmett, John Barraclough, T Greenwood, Vince Lacey, Terry Stott, A Diepetris and Sandra Kitchingham. The Secretary and Treasurer were not elected at this point but at later committee meeting Sandra Kitchingham was elected Secretary and Terry Stott as Treasurer. Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1962 Algeria gains independence. Telstar, the world's first commercial communications satellite, goes into orbit. Marilyn Monroe dies. Cuban missile crisis. 16th November - The Fifth AGM. Committee and Officers elected: Alan Emmett, Miss Jaquie Richmond, John Barraclough, William McLocklan, Dave Keddie, D Harris, A Edmondson. Treasurer Terry Stott. Secretary Sandra Kitchingham. Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1963 JFK assassinated. The reason for the gap between 1962 and 1964 is that there were no minutes kept between the 30th of November 1962 and the 29th of January 1964. So although there was activity at the club during this time no minutes were recorded. Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1964 The Beatles start the British Invasion of America. The first BASIC program is run. The last executions in the UK take place. Mary Poppins is released. Cosmic microwave background radiation is discovered. Gulf of Tonkin incident escalates Vietnam War. Krushchev is deposed in the USSR, Harold Wilson become PM in the first Labour government in 13 years. 28th February - Dave Brady 22nd May - Jean Redpath 27th June - Saturday Concert featuring Bill Clifton with support from The Crimple Mountain Boys 18th July - Saturday Concert featuring Jaqui and Bridie - Jacqui McDonald and Bridie O'Donnell 12th September - Saturday Concert featuring The Spinners 25th September - Cyril Tawney 13th November - The Sixth AGM Committee and Officers elected: D Gledhill, T Sheals, P Sheals, J Wilcock J Pashley, L Phillips, R Hipworth, K Brady, B Lane, C Goodhall. Treasurer T Stott. Secretary H Stevenson. 20th November - Martin Carthy 4th December - Tony and Dave - Tony Irvine and Dave Spalding, from Sheffield 18th December - Sandy Darlington and Jeanie McLerie Blackmar Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1965 Winston Churchill dies. Jim Clark wins Formula One championship and Indianapolis 500 race. Bob Dylan goes electric at Newport. Mont Blanc tunnel opens. Thunderbirds starts on ITV. Brady and Hindley arrested for the Moors Murders. 70 mph speed limit imposed on British roads. 1st January - A Concert to welcome The New Year featuring The Topic's Resident Singers 29th January - The Stewart Family 5th February - Roy Harris 6th February - Saturday Concert featuring The Crimple Mountain Boys, John Pashley, John B Stewart and Eddie Saxton 26th February - Jacqui and Bridie 26 March - Sandy Darlington and Jeanie McLerie Blackmar 30th April - Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger 14th May - Joe Heaney 4th June - Barry Skinner 25th June - The McPeakes 16th July - Tommy Gillfellon 27th August - The Islanders 8th October - Thills 29th October - Ian McCann (of the Malcolm Price Trio) 12th November - The Seventh Club AGM. Committee and Officers Elected. D Gledhill, T Sheals, P Sheals, J Pashley, J Wicock, L Phillips, R Hipworth, K Brady, B Lane, C Goodhall, D Sabey, J Slater. Treasurer T Stott. Secretary H Stevenson. 19th November Club Meeting 26th November Bert Jansch 3rd December Club Meeting 10th December Robin Williamson and the Incredible String Band 17th December Club Meeting 24th December Club Meeting and concert given by club regulars 31st December Club Meeting for the New Year We know the following also appeared in 1965 from a list in the 25th Anniversary pamphlet produced in 1981, but we don't know the specific dates: Nigel Denver Mark Newman John Freshwater Harry Boardman The Spinners Pete Sayers Gerry Lockran Hedy West New Lost City Ramblers Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1966 Cultural Revolution kicks off in China. The Vatican abolishes the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (index of banned books). England wins the only Football World Cup competition acknowledged by the world at large to be of any lasting significance. Star Trek starts. Aberfan disaster in Wales. Walt Disney dies (and is not frozen in cryonic suspension). 7th January - Club Meeting 14th January - Club Meeting 21st January - Club Meeting 28th January - Club Meeting and Concert with Paul and Georgina Smith 4th February - Club Meeting 11th February - Club Meeting and Concert with Matt McGinn 18th February - Club Meeting 25th February - Club Meeting 4th March - Club Meeting 11th March - Club Meeting and Concert with Martin Carthy and also Dave Swarbrick showed up 18th March - Club Meeting 25th March - Club Meeting and Concert with Guy Carawan 1st April - Club Meeting 8th April - Club Meeting and Concert with Ian McCann 15th April - Club Meeting 22nd April - Club Meeting 29th April - Club Meetingand Concert with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger 6th May - Club Meeting and Concert with Jacqui and Bridie 13th May - Club Meeting 20th May - Club Meeting 27th May - Club Meeting and Concert with Johnny Handle 3rd June - Club Meeting 10th June - Club Meeting 17th June - Club Meeting 24th June - Club Meeting 1st July - Club Meeting 8th July - Club Meeting and Concert with The New Folk 15th July - Club Meeting 22nd July - Club Meeting 29th July - Club Meeting and Concert with Harry Boardman 5th August - Club Meeting 12th August - Club Meeting plus Featured Spot by Roger Sutcliffe 19th August - Club Meeting and Concert with Roy Harris Jack Elliott of Birtley was originally booked but                         had to cancel owing to illness, and indeed died this year. 26th August - Club Meeting 2nd September - Club Meeting and Concert with Jimmy and The Sinn Feiners 9th September - Club Meeting 16th September - Club Meeting and Concert with Trevor Lucas 23rd September - Club Meeting 30th September - Club Meeting 7th October - Club Meeting 14th October - Club Meeting featuring The Cropper Lads 21st October - Club Meeting 28th October - Club Meeting 4th November - Club Meeting and Concert with Harry Hart 11th November - Club Meeting 18th November - The Eighth Club AGM. Committee and Officers elected: T Sheals, P Sheals, J Pashley, J Wilcock, L Phillips B Campbell-Lane, J Slater. S. Holgate, S Farrell Treasurer T Stott. Secretary P Butterfield 9th December - Alex Campbell Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1967 Donald Campbell killed in Bluebird K7 attempting a speed record on Coniston Water. The Summer of Love in San Francisco and Segeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Six Day War in the Middle East. Three astronauts killed in Apollo 1 during a launch pad test. North Sea Gas starts to come ashore in the UK. Torrey Canyon oil tanker disaster. First Boeing 737 flies. Sandie Shaw wins Eurovision Song Contest with Puppet On A String. Colonels take over in Greece. Vladimir Komarov killed on re-entry of Soyuz 1, the first space traveller to die on a mission. Fairport Convention play their first gig. Colour TV on BBC2 starts. Sweden switches from driving on the left side to the right side of the road one day at 5am. Che Guevara shot. Ceausescu becomes leader of Romania. Christiaan Barnard does world's first heart transplant. 6th January - Nigel Denver 11th February - Matt McGinn 18th February - John Wall and his Jug Band 25th February - The Cropper Lads 11th March - Martin Carthy 25th March - Guy Carawan 6th May - Jaquie and Bridie 13th May - Haly Hact 15th July - Dave Keddie 22nd July - Stefan Sobell 29th July - Harry Boardman 13th October - Johnny Handle 10 November - Hamish Imlach 17th November The Ninth Club AGM Committee and Officers elected: N Ingram, C Ormanroyde, D Heatherington,T Gough, D Sabey, S Holgate, P Butterfield, M Sheals, T Sheals. Treasurer T Stott. Secretary J Heatherington. Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1968 Riots and anti-Vietnam demos all over the place. Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King assassinated. Prague Spring and Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In starts . My Lai massacre in Vietnam. 2001: A Space Odyssey premieres. Nixon wins US election. This was the only year of the twentieth century during which no British serviceman or servicewoman was killed in action. On Christmas Eve Apollo 8 becomes the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon. 2nd February - Roy and Val Bailey 16th February - Mike Cooper 26th April - Martyn Wyndham-Read 10th May - Barry Skinner 17th May - Mary Asquith 24th May - Christy Moore 7th June - John Steel 21st June - Roy Harris 5th July - Diz Disley 19th July - The Teesside Fettlers 2nd August - Mary Asquith 16th August - The John Wall Jug Band 30th August - Noel Murphy 13th September - Mike Cooper 27th September - Tim Hart & Maddy Prior 11th October - Dave Miles and Dave Brindley 18th October - Humblebums - Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty 25th October - Rosemary Hardman 8th November - Pete Nalder 15th November - Roy and Val Bailey Also Club AGM 22nd November - Pete Stanley and Brian Golbey 29th November - Roger Knowles and Nick Strutt 6th December - Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick 13th December - Martyn Wyndham-Read 20th December - Christy Moore plus Bob and Carole Pegg 27th December - Derek and Dorothy Elliott Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1969 Beatles do their last live performance, on the roof of their Apple office. Boeing 747 first flies. Concorde first flies. Yasser Arafat elected head of the PLO. British troops deployed in Northern Ireland. Robin Knox-Johnston becomes the first person to sail around the world solo without stopping. Charles de Gaulle steps down as president of France. Lennon and Ono do their Bed-In. The halfpenny ceases to be legal tender in the UK. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11 achieve the first manned landing on the moon. Chappaquidick incident kills Mary Jo Kopechne and permanently damages Edward Kennedy's career. Woodstock festival. Manson family killing of Sharon Tate and others. Monty Python's Flying Circus first on TV. The first message is sent over ARPANET, the precursor of the internet. 3rd January - Roger Sutcliffe 10th January - Hamish Imlach 17th January - The Cumberland Folk 24th January - The Humblebums 31st January - Dave Burland 7th February - Roger Watson and Colin Cater 14th February - Diz Disley and Jimmy McKinley 21st February - The Yetties 28th February - Packie Byrne 7th March - Cliff Aungier 14 March - Mary Asquith 21st March - Mick Hipkiss 28th March - The Broadside 4th April - Roy Harris 11th April - Robin Dransfield 18th April - Leon Rosselson 25th April - Rosemary Hardman 2nd May - Pete Stanley 9th May - Martyn Wyndham-Read 16th May - Dave Burland 23rd May - Roy and Val Bailey 30th May - The Young Tradition 6th June - Gerry Lockran 13th June - Ian Manuel and Mike Waterson 20th June - Tom Gilfellon 27th June - Tony Capstick 4th July - Roger Knowles and Nick Strutt 11th July - Derek and Dorothy Elliott 18th July - Bob and Carole Pegg 25th July - Jon Rennard 1st August - The Folk Weavers 8th August - Mike Harding 15th August - Mary Asquith 22nd August - Finbar and Eddie Furey 29th Augusts - Mick Hipkiss 5th September - Stefan Sobell 12th September - Singers and Musicians Night 19th September - Roger Watson and Colin Cater 26th September - Tony Rose 3rd October - The Mathews Brothers 10th October - Brian Golbey and Pete Stanley 17th October - The Louisville Burglars 24thOctober - Roger Sutcliffe 31st October - Bob Axton 7th November - Tim Hart and Maddy Prior 14th November - Gerry Lockran 21st November - Mike James and Barrie Roberts Also Club AGM 28th November - Jugular Vein 5th December - 12 December - Allan Taylor 19th December - Roger Sutcliffe (Ralph McTell had originally been booked but his agent withdrew him as his burgeoning career demanded bigger venues; Roger Sutcliffe appeared for the second time in two months) 26th December - Boxing Day - Club was closed Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1970 First international Pan Am 747 jumbo lands at Heathrow. Apollo 13 blows up on the way to the moon. Beatles split up. Nixon invades Cambodia. World Cup in Mexico. Heath wins election. Bertrand Russell and General de Gaulle die. 150,000 killed in East Pakistan typhoon. 2nd January - Singers and Musicians Night 9th January - Roger Knowles and Nick Strutt 16th January - Hamish Imlach 23rd January - Bernard Wrigley 30th January - Roy Bailey 6th February - Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger 13th February - Roger Sutcliffe 27th February - Martin Carthy 6th March - Johnny Handle 13th March - Dave Shannon and Sam Bracken 20th March - Tony Capstick 27th March - Old Richmond String Band 3rd April - Mary Asquith 10th April - Jon Rennard 17th April - Dave Burland 24th April - Jon Raven 1st May - Stefan Sobell 8th May - Robin and Barry Dransfield 15th May - Jugular Vein 22nd May - Michael Cooney 29th May - Tony Rose 5th June - Archie Fisher 12th June - Roy Harris 19th June - Dave Campbell 26th June - Gerry Lockran 3rd July - Louis Killen 10th July - Nic Jones 17th July - Roger Watson and Colin Cater 21st August - The Cutlers 30th October - Marie Little 6th November - Mick Hipkiss & Dave Jones. 13th November - Leon Rosselson 20th November - Dill Davis 27th November - Roger Knowles & Nick Strutt 4th December - Jimmy Hutchison 11th December - 18th December - Jon Rennard 25th December - Club Closed for Christmas Day Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1971 Ibrox Park disaster kills 66. Britain goes decimal. Idi Amin takes power in Uganda. London Bridge rebuilt in Arizona. Three USSR cosmonauts die after occupying the world's first space station. First British soldier killed in Ulster. India defeats Pakistan and Bangladesh is created. Louis Armstrong dies. Kurt Waldheim is new UN chief. 8th January - Dave Shannon & Sam Bracken 15th January - Dave & Toni Arthur 5th February - Jugular Vein 26th February - Johnny Handle 5th March - Roy Harris 12th March - Tony Rose 19th March - Dave Burland 26th March - Bill Sables 2nd April - David Campbell 9th April - Bernard Wrigley 16th April - Mathews Brothers 23rd April - Roy & Val Bailey 7th May - Sara Grey 14th May - Count Orlando's Spasm Circus 21st May - Marsden Rattlers Band Traditional North-eastern band. 28th May - John Pashley Traditional, contemporary, ragtime, hilarity and vulgarity 4th June - Bill Clifton Originator of radio folk music programmes — great American Musician and singer — do not miss this night 18th June - Jimmy Hutchison Scottish ballad singer — 1970 Blairgowrie Festival champion. 25th June - Archie Fisher Super traditional and contemporary Scottish singer and guitarist. 2nd July - Mike Harding Hay-oop, it's our lad. 9th July - King's Shilling Trio from Liverpool. 16th July - Christy Moore Wild man from Ireland. 23rd July - Northern Front - Mike Elliott, Ed Pickford, Nick Fenwick 30th July - The Teesside Fettlers — Vin Garbutt plus — traditional and contemporary Teesside songs. 6th August - Peter Bellamy ex Young Tradition 13th August - Therapy - Dave Shannon, Sam Bracken and Fiona Simpson - contemporary 20th August - Dorothy & Derek Elliott - traditional with bells on. 27th August - Tony Capstick - no comment. 3rd September - The Druids - Keith Kendrick, John Adams,Mick Hennessy, Judi Longden, Dave Broughton, Derek Pearce) - fantastic ceilidh band from Derby. 10th September - David Campbell - singer and songwriter. 17th September - Richard Bartram & John Coverdale 24th September - Vin Garbutt - Versatility personified. 1st October - Richards & Coe - Peter Coe & Christine Richards, traditional English duo 8th October - Bill Sables Northeastern singer — musical saw, Jews harp etc. 15th October - Bill Barclay - ‘Let your hair hang low' 22nd October - Rosie Hardman - a really big night. 29th October - Dave Burland - another big knight. 5th November - Dave and June Brooks Also Club AGM 12th November - Dave "Baz" Farrar 19th November - John Pashley - traditional, contemporary, ragtime, hilarity and vulgarity. 26th November - Brian Senior & Keith Marsden - traditional — guitar — concertina and‘organ'. 3rd December - Anne Briggs 10th December - Martin Carter - Traditional humorist. 17th December - Dave & Heather Brady - Inexplicable. 24th December - Singers Night featuring Richard Hudson, Gerry Jackson & other Singers 31st December - Come All Ye - Members free, guests 10p and Singers paid. (Bar until 12.15 am). Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1972 Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland. Britain joins EEC. Miners' strike and power cuts. Nixon visits China. J Edgar Hoover dies after nearly 50 years as head of FBI. Munich Olympics: Mark Spitz & Olga Korbut triumph but 11 Israeli hostages killed. The Godfather comes out. Nixon wins landslide in re-election. Apollo 17 makes Gene Cernan the last man on the moon (in the 20thC, anyway). Andes plane crash passengers eat fellow passengers to survive. 7th January - Clive Woolf - Excellent singer and guitarist. 14th January - Mathews Brothers - Irish entertaining multi instrumentalists. 21st January - Peter Bellamy - ex Young Tradition. — traditional. 28th January - Andy Irvine - Funniest man this side of the Pecos. 4th February - Knight's Anthem - Blackpool's answer to Steeleye Span. 11th February - Sara Grey - Fine American traditional singer. 18th February - Knowles & Stanley - Roger Knowles and Pete Stanley - the best in country music. 25th February - Dave Shannon & Fiona Simpson Ex Therapy — much new material. 3rd March - Tony Capstick - Funniest man the other side of the Pecos. 10th March - Bill Barclay - "Polly's Piddling Poodle" 17th March - Hamish Imlach - Scotch Whiskey's best vocal advertisement. 24th March - Nic Jones - Great traditional singer. 31st March - Finbar & Eddie Fury - Probably most accomplished Irish duo on the scene 7th April - Tony Rose - West country wonder. 14th April - Vera Johnson - Excellent singer and songwriter from our late Empire. 21st April - Tom Gilfellon - One of the best singer/guitarists to come out of the North-East Scene. 28th April - Martin Carthy - Brilliant singer musician — recently prominent member of Steeleye Span. 5th May - Rosie Hardman - excellent singer and writer of some of the most valid of today's songs. 12th May - Mike Harding - Aye-oop it's our lad. 19th May - Vin Garbutt - Besides being the greatest tin whistle player in captivity, he is also the most prolific writer of songs about modern Teesside. 26th May - Sam Bracken 2nd June - Rab Noakes 9th June - Cyril Tawney 16th June - The Cobblers 23rd June - Derek and Dorothy Elliott 30th June - Denis Sabey 7th July - Dave Burland 14th July - Denis Sabey 21st July - Singers' Night with featured Artist Dave "Baz" Farrar 28th July - Jacqui and Bridie 4th August - Bill Price 11th August - Knight's Anthem 18th August - Dave Moorehouse and Dave "Baz" Farrar 25th August - Mike Absalom 1st September - Bob Pegg and Nick Strutt 8th September - Gordon Giltrap 15th September - Gary and Vera Aspey 22nd September - Roger Knowles and Pete Stanley 29th September - Bob Davenport 6th October - Martyn Wyndham-Read 13th October - Alex Campbell 20th October - Swan Arcade 27th October - Martin Carthy 3rd November - Jim Wishart 10th November - 16th Anniversary Night with Johnny Silvo & David Moses and full supporting artists 17th November - Dave & June Brooks 24th November - Mathews Brothers 1st December - Marie Little 8th December - Finbar & Eddie Furey 15th December - Carole Pegg's Band 22nd December - Christmas Festivities featuring Mike Harding 29th December - New Year Celebrations featuring Tony Capstick Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1973 LBJ dies. Watergate blows up. Israel shoots down Libyan airliner. Noel Coward, WHAuden, JRRTolkien and Pablo Picasso die. 100 Somerset women die in Basle plane crash. US launches Skylab. Allende killed in CIA-backed Chile coup. Yom Kippur Israel-Arab war. World oil price surge. Princess Anne marries. Three-day week in Britain. Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon is released. 5th January - ‘Welcome 1973' with Martin Carthy 12th January - Therapy 19th January - Bobby Eaglesham 26th January - Bernard Wrigley 2nd February - Stefan & Liz Sobell 9th February - Johnny Handle 16th February - New Heritage Singers Brian Senior and Keith Marsden 23rd February - Hedgehog Pie 2nd March - Roy Bailey 9th March - John Leonard & Mick Miller 16th March - Roger Knowles and Pete Stanley 23rd March - Harry Boardman 30th March - John Pashley 6th April - Dave Burland 13th April - Alex Atterson 20th April - Easter Celebrations with Peter Bellamy 27th April - Hawgs Folly incl. Eamon Toland 4th May - Pendas Way 11th May - Swan Arcade 18th May - Hamish Imlach 25th May - Vin Garbutt 1st June Sam Bracken 8th June - Alex Campbell 15th June - Staverton Bridge - Sam Richards, Tish Stubbs and Paul Wilson 22nd June - Dorothy & Derek Elliott 29th June - Mary Asquith 6th July - Nic Jones 13th July - Leon Rosselson 20th July - Tony Rose 27th July - Tom Gilfellon 3rd August - English Tapestry Ruth and Brian Brittain and James Eisner 10th August - Ripley Wayfarers Mick Peat, Barry Renshaw, Andrew Train, Arthur Renshaw, Phil Langham 17th August - Dave Turner 24th August - Gary & Vera Aspey 31st August - Janet Jones 7th September - Bob Davenport 14th September - Muckram Wakes 21st September - Martin Wyndam Read 28th September - Barbara Dickson 5th October - Jim Wishart 12th October - Johnny Collins 19th October - The Watersons (Roy Harris was booked but cancelled). 26th October - Mathews Brothers 2nd November - Roy Bailey 9th November - 17th Anniversary Night with The Watersons 16th November - John James 23rd November - Peter & Chris Coe 30th November - Noel Murphy 7th December - Ray Fisher 14th December - Therapy 21st December - Christmas Festivities featuring Tony Capstick 28th December - New Year Celebrations presenting Martin Carthy Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1974 Solzhenitsyn exiled from USSR. Local Government reorganisation abolishes Ridings, creates Humberside. Wilson becomes PM for third time, and the fourth. Turkish DC-10 crash at Paris kills 344. West Germany wins World Cup. Greek colonels ousted. Selassie overthrown after 60 years in Ethiopia. Peron dies. Cyprus partitioned. Nixon resigns, Ford pardons him. 20% inflation. Lucan disappears after nanny's murder. John Stonehouse MP reappears after faking death. Birmingham pub IRA bombs. 4th January WELCOME 1974 with Hedgehog Pie 11th January Jeremy Taylor 18th January Bernard Wrigley 25th January Finbar & Eddie Furey 1st February Alex Campbell 8th February New Heritage 15th February Peter Bellamy 22nd February John & Sue Kirkpatrick 1st March Gordon Rakes 8th March John Leonard & Mick Miller 15th March Local Singers Night 22nd March Johnny Handle 29th March Dave Burland 5th April Threefold 12th April EasterTime - Mike Harding & the Brooks Band 19th April Pendas Way 26th April Derek Brimstone 3rd May Jim Boyes 10th May Dorothy & Derek Elliott 17th May Geoff & Penny Harris 24th May Swan Arcade 31st May Staverton Bridge - Sam Richards, Tish Stubbs and Paul Wilson 7th June Vin Garbutt 14th June Nic Jones 21st June John Goodluck 28th June Kight's Anthem 5th July Richard Digance 12th July Bob Eaglesham 19th July Chris Foster 26th July Dave Bull 2nd August John Pashley 9th August Staverton Bridge - Sam Richards, Tish Stubbs and Paul Wilson 16th August Ripley Wayfarers Mick Peat, Barry Renshaw, Andrew Train, Arthur Renshaw, Phil Langham 23rd August Leon Rosselson 30th August Mike Absalom 6th September Roy Harris 13th September Mathews Brothers 20th SeptemberMuckram Wakes 27th September Magic Lantern - founder, Taffy Thomas - folk theatre company using puppets 4th October Marie Little 11th October Crooked Oak - Steve Evans, Paul Bagley 18th October English Tapestry Ruth and Brian Brittain and James Eisner 25th October Pat Cooksey & Brian Patten 8th November 18th Anniversary Night: Elliott & Coe plus Burland 15th November Johnny Collins 22nd November Tup - Keith Kendrick, Jim Boyes and Lester Simpson - a capella (Miriam Backhouse was booked but cancelled) 29th November Sam Bracken 6th December Lord Mayor's Charity Night with Local Singers 13th December Harry Boardman 20th December The Watersons 27th December Christmas Festivities featuring Tony Capstick Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1975 Thatcher becomes Tory leader. Apollo-Soyuz joint US-USSR space mission. Vietnam War ends, Cambodia falls to Khmer Rouge. West Indies win first cricket world cup. UK referendum says Yes to EEC. Terracotta army discovered in Xian. Eamonn de Valera dies. British Leyland nationalised. Beirut torn up by civil war. Franco dies, monarchy restored in Spain. Whitlam sacked as Australian PM by Queen's governor. Fawlty Towers starts. 3rd January ‘Welcome 1975' Martin Carthy 10th January Burnt Peat 17th January Cilla Fisher & Artie Trezise 24th January The Boys Of The Lough 31st January Dave Farrar 7th February Muckram Wakes 14th February Bob Pegg 21st February Lazy Reel - Kevin Burke, Tom Madden and Chris Andretti 28th February Michael Moore 7th March Bernard Wrigley 14th March Ray Fisher 21st March John Pashley (John Goodluck - Ill health cancellation at short notice and was replaced) 28th March Dave Calderhead 4th April Gary & Vera Aspey 11th April Allan Taylor 18th April Roger Sutcliffe & Nick Strutt 25th April Peter Bellamy 2nd May The Teesside Fettlers 9th May Mike Harding 16th May Yorkshire Folk Company 23rd May Dave & June Brooks 30th May Hawgs Folly incl. Eamon Toland 6th June Hebric - John Bromley, Philip Bond, Malcolm Stocks, Dave Calvert and others 13th June Threefold 20th June Bob Davenport 27th June Bully Wee 4th July John Goodluck (John Goodluck's voice went during night so he was replaced by local singer who was there: Bill Price) 11th July Dave & Viv Speight 18th July Mary Asquith 25th July Chris Foster 1st August Cyril Tawney 8th August White Hart 15th August John Leonard & John Squire 22nd August Kitsyke Will - Mike Absalom was booked, cancelled and was replaced 29th August Geoff & Penny Harris 5th September Sean Cannon 12th September Swan Arcade 19th September Jim Wishart 26th September Widdershins 3rd October Tony Rose 10th October Mr Gladstone's Bag 17th October Roger Sutcliffe (stood in at short notice as Marie Little broke down on her way)) 24th October Dave Burland 31st October Sam Bracken 7th November 19th Anniversary Weekend: Roy Bailey & Leon Roselson 8th November Saturday Afternoon - Sing Around with Johnny Collins & local singers Saturday Evening - Widdershins 14th November Archie Fisher 21st November Mathews Brothers 28th November English Tapestry Ruth and Brian Brittain and James Eisner 5th December Crowdy Crawn 12th December John & Sue Kirkpatrick 19th December Bill Price (Roy Harris cancelled the booking at short notice and was replaced.) 26th December Dave Farrar Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1976 Concorde starts commercial flights. Agatha Christie and Howard Hughes die. Wilson quits. Drought in Britain. US is 200, and Carter wins election. Borg wins Wimbledon. Viking lands on Mars. 100 die in Soweto. Wilkie wins swimming gold in Montreal Olympics, James Hunt wins F1 Championship. Chairman Mao dies; his widow and the Gang of Four are jailed for plotting to take over. Sex Pistols make splash. Rocky is a hit. 2nd January Welcome 1976 with The Watersons 9th January Bob Williamson 16th January Derek & Dorothy Elliott 23rd January Vin Garbutt 30th January Hot Pot Belly Band 6th February Louis & Sally Killen 13th February Pete & Chris Coe 20th February Tony Capstick 27th February Cilla & Artie Trezise 5th March Michael Moore 12th March Singers from The Fox at Shafton, Barnsley 19th March Robin Garside & Paul Gough (June Tabor had to cancel at short notice due to a throat infection) 26th March Mike Elliott 2nd April Allan Taylor 9th April Sam Bracken (Tim Laycock cancelled at short notice due to joining Magic Lantern and was replaced by Sam Bracken) 16th April Pat Ryan 23rd April Rosie Hardman 30th April Mountain Ash 7th May Derek Brimstone 14th May Muckram Wakes 21st May John Pashley 28th May John Leonard & John Squire 4th June Bill Caddick 11th June Martin Carthy 18th June Hamish Imlach 25th June Peter Bellamy 2nd July Roger Sutcliffe 9th July Roy Harris 16th July Jim Irvine & Jim Boyes 23rd July Gary & Vera Aspey 30th July Bob Pegg 6th August June Tabor 21st August Residents & Local Singers 13th August Residents & Local Singers 27th August Dave Farrar 3rd September Derek and Dorothy Elliott Dave Burland had been booked but was ill. 10th September Nic Jones 17th September Leon Rosselson 24th September Kitsyke Will 1st October White Hart 8th October Tony Rose 15th October Mathews Brothers 22nd October English Tapestry Ruth and Brian Brittain and James Eisner 29th October Mr Gladstone's Bag 5th November Chris Foster 12th November 20th Anniversary Weekend Cyril Tawney 14th November Sunday at Bradford Library Theatre - Allan Taylor's Cajun Moon were booked but unfortunately due to a late acrimonious break up of the Band this concert had to be cancelled 19th November Roy Bailey 26th November Johnny Collins ( + rearranged AGM from 5th) 3rd December Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger 10th December Peter Bond 17th December Peter Bellamy 24th December Robin Garside & Paul Gough 31st December New Years Eve Party Night Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1977 Roy Jenkins is president of EU. Gary Gilmore is executed. 574 die in Tenerife 747 collision. Red Rum gets hat trick. Packer splits cricket. Elvis, Charlie Chaplin and and Werner von Braun die. Queen's Silver Jubilee. Bhutto ousted by Zia in Pakistan. Boycott gets his 100th 100. Sadat addresses Knesset. Close Encounters of the Third Kind comes out. And Saturday Night Fever. 7th January Welcome 1977 with Tony Capstick 14th January Geoff & Pennie Harris Night Recorded live for BBC Folkweave Programme. 21st January Bill Price 28th January Pegleg Ferrett 4th February Bill Caddick 11th February Jean Redpath 18th February Vin Garbutt 25th February Pete & Chris Coe and John Adams 4th March Michael Moore 11th March Canny Fettle - Bob Diehl, Steve Turner, Gerry Murphy and Bob Morton 18th March John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris 25th March Roaring Jelly - Clive Harvey, Derek Pearce and Mick Hennessy 1st April Derek, Dorothy & Nadine Elliott 8th April Fred Jordan 15th April John Pashley 22nd April Allan Taylor 29th April Dave Burland 6th May Muckram Wakes 13th May June Tabor 20th May Somerville Gentlemen's Band 27th May Dave Farrar 3rd June Packie Byrne & Bonnie Shaljean 10th June Strawhead 17th June Roger Sutcliffe - (National Folk Event for EFDSS ) 24th June The Celebrated Ratcliffe Stout Band 1st July Graham & Eileen Pratt 8th July Bob Pegg 15th July Gordon Tyrrall 22nd July Mick Ryan & Jon Burge 29th July Threefold 5th August Squire 12th August WRFF Roadshow -( For West Riding Festival Funds ) 19th August Dave Walters 26th August Graham Shaw 2nd September Bill Caddick 9th September Hedgehog Pie 16th September Wendy Grossman 23rd September White Hart 30th September Leon Rosselson 7th October Roy Harris 14th October Alison McMorland 21st October Cyril Tawney 28th October Nic Jones 4th November Roy Bailey 11th November 21st Anniversary Night with The Watersons 18th November Somerville Gentlemens' Band (Mr Gladstone's Bag cancelled at short notice and were replaced) 25th November Peter Bond 2nd December Cocky - Kevan Hall, Keith Calton, Malvern "Mal" Dann and Clive Whiffin 9th December Pat Ryan 16th December Chris Foster 23rd December Major Mustard's Travelling Punch & Judy Show 30th December Tony Capstick Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1978 Amoco Cadiz sinks. Aldo Moro kidnapped and shot. Argentina wins World Cup. Superman flies. Test tube pioneer Louise Brown is born. Jomo Kenyatta dies. Liberal leader Thorpe goes on trial for murder. Pope John Paul dies after 33 days in office, the shortest papal reign 1,226 years. 913 commit suicide at Jonestown, Guyana. Golda Meir dies. 6th January Welcome 1978 Mathews Brothers 13th January Sean Cannon 20th January Strawhead 27th January Pegleg Ferrett 3rd February Geoff & Penny Harris (Penny was ill and Geoff did the gig alone) 10th February Sam Bracken 17th February Mike Soar 24th February Dave Burland 3rd March Allan Taylor 10th March Yorkshire Relish ( Derek, Dorothy and Nadine Elliott ) 17th March Hebric 24th March Good Friday Special: Peta Webb & Alison McMorland 31st March Mr Gladstone's Bag 7th April Cilla & Artie Trezise 14th April Tim Laycock (ex Magic Lantern) 21st April Muckram Wakes 28th April Mick Ryan & Jon Burge 5th May Martyn Wyndham-Read 12th May Vin Garbutt ( Advance tickets from club ) 19th May Ron Taylor ( founder member of The Songwainers) 26th May Louis Killen 2nd June Bob Pegg 9th June Robin Garside & Paul Gough 16th June Tykes Association Road Show (All proceeds to Association) 23rd June Graham & Eileen Pratt 30th June The Auld Triangle 7th July Fred Jordan 14th July Packie Byrne & Bonnie Shaljean 21st July Nick Dow 28th July Cut Throat Jake - Sue Moffat and other 4th August Jolly Jack - Martin Hall, Alan Taylor and Dave Weatherall 11th August Mike Absalom 18th August Mick Doonan (of Hedgehog Pie) 25th August Shirley & Dolly Collins 1st September Singers' Night - All proceeds to the Andrea Oats Fund 8th September Bill Caddick 15th September Roy Bailey 22nd September Pete Wood 29th September Peter Bond 6th October The Watersons — Advance Tickets 13th October Bill Shute & Lisa Null 20th October Dave Walters 27th October Tufty Swift (John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris had to give backword at last moment and were replaced) 3rd November 22nd Anniversary Weekend Martin Carthy — Advance Tickets 10th November Cyril Tawney — Preceded by A.G.M 17th November June Tabor 24th November Leon Rosselson 1st December The Somerville Gentlemen's Band 8th December Pat Ryan 15th December White Hart - Geoff Bibby, Dave Cotton and Cynthia Sheath 22nd December Festive Foolery with Tony Capstick 29th December Prepare for the New Year with New Heritage Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1979 Shah driven out of Iran; Khomeini and Islam take over. Winter of discontent. Three Mile Island nuclear plants boils over. Israel-Egypt peace pact. Rings discovered round Jupiter. Bhutto hanged. Margaret Thatcher wins first general election. Brezhnev and Carter sign SALT treaty. New Polish Pope goes to Poland. 1000th anniversary of Man Tynwald. Mountbatten assassinated. Yorkshire Ripper claims 12th victim. Apocalypse Now. Russians invade Afghanistan. 5th January Welcome to 1979 with Strawhead 12th January Sean Cannon 19th January Wendy Grossman 26th January And now for something different: Major Mustard's Travelling Punch & Judy Show 2nd February Mike Soar & John Guy - Mainly traditional with guitar banjo and mandolin. 9th February Mathews Brothers - Irish and contemporary music and song with fiddle, guitar and banjo 16th February Impromptu Singers' Night -Due to snow, booked guest Nic Jones could not make it 23rd February Dave Burland - Traditional and contemporary song from a member of Hedgehog Pie 2nd March Jolly Jack - Martin Hall, Alan Taylor and Dave Weatherall -Lancashire trio singing plenty of traditional participation material 9th March Allan Taylor - One of the country's finestsinger/songwriters. 16th March Yorkshire Relish - A quartet — the Elliotts plus Parkinson — performing traditional song 23rd March Roy Bailey - Fine singer of traditional and contemporary song. 6th April Tufty Swift - Traditional and music hall material from a member of the Umps & Dumps' Band. Remember his great night standing in for John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris last year 13th April Graham Shaw - Traditional, contemporary, own songs and monologues with and without guitar 20th April Tom Shepley Band - From across the Pennines, combining traditional songs and tunes on a wide variety of instruments. 27th April Pegleg Ferret - Popular North—East trio with traditional and music hall songs and tunes 1st June Vin Garbutt - Incredible, fantastic, hilarious! Don't be disappointed, get your tickets early. At the club only. Members from May 4th others from May 18th. 8th June John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris - Traditional, Music hall and contemporary song and music from one of the country's leading folk duos 15th June Roger Sutcliffe - Bradford's blues superstar — proceeds to E.F.D.S.S. 22nd June Pete Howells & Jim Gordon- Contemporary duo from Wakefield. 29th June The Auld Triangle - Traditional and contemporary material from Lancashire quartet. 6th July Geoff Bowen & Dave Farrar - Song and tunes on guitar and two fiddles. 13th July Nick Dow - From London; traditional song with guitar 20th July Mick Doonan & Tom Brown - Traditional song and tunes with guitar, piccolo and uillean pipes. 27th July Yorkshire Relish - The Elliots & Parkinson, with traditional song and tunes. 3rd August T.A.F.C. Roadshow -Proceeds to Association 10th August Mike Absalom - Highly original contemporary act. 17th August Squire - Traditional four-piece harmony group. 24th August Colin Thompson - From the midlands, traditional and contemporary song with guitar. 31st August Singers' Night - All singers especially welcome. 7th September Hot Vultures - One of the country's top blues acts 14th September Gary & Vera Aspey - Help celebrate 10 years at the Star with this popular duo. 21st September Packie Byrne & Bonnie Shaljean -Mainly Irish material with harps, harmonium and whistles. 28th September Eddie Walker - From Teeside; American folk-blues, rags and own songs. 5th October Tranter's Gallup - Mike Soar and John Coy - From Selby; traditional and contemporary with mandolin and guitars. 12th October Michael Moore - One of the country's top singer- songwriters. 19th October Graham & Eileen Pratt - Ever popular guests from Gloucestershire; Traditional and own songs 26th October David Burland Bill Caddick had to cancel as he was ill 2nd November 23rd Anniversary Weekend: Nic Jones - Fine singer and musician, mainly traditional with guitar and fiddle. 9th November White Hart - Unaccompanied British traditional trio from Cheshire. 16th November Roger Sutciffe & the Demolition Blues band - Bradford's own blues superstar with his band: bound to be amazing 23rd November Cyril Tawney - Long-established folklorist, songwriter and singer of traditional song. 30th November The Winfield Brothers - A crazy, zany Hawaiian night from Woolworth refugees. 7th December Pat Ryan - Female singer from Lancashire; Traditional and contemporary song 14th December English Tapestry - Ruth and Brian Brittain and James Eisner - Traditional and Music Hall songs in 3-part harmony perfection. Celebrate the coming and arrival of Christmas and the New Year 21st December New Heritage - Traditional and own songs with a wide range of instruments. 28th December Tony Capstick - Traditional and Contemporary song plus his own brand of humour. Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1980 Mugabe elected Zimbabwe premier. Mount St Helens explodes. US-Iran hostage crisis. Peter Sellers, Steve McQueen, Hitchcock and Sartre die. SAS storm Iran's London embassy. Ovett, Wells and Coe win at Moscow Olympics. Iraq invades Iran. Walesa and Solidarity strike in Poland. Diana emerges as new Charles girlfriend. Who shot JR in Dallas? Reagan wins election. John Lennon shot. Tito dies. 4th January The Somerville Gentlemen's Band - Traditional/Music Hall plus tunes from multi instrumental foursome 11th January Sean Cannon - Mainly Irish traditional material. 18th January Singers Night — Proceeds to Imperial Cancer Research - Frank Cahill & Roger Sutcliffe welcome you and other singers 25th January Cauldron - Five piece group, mainly traditional songs and tunes. 1st February Tufty Swift -Traditional and Music Hall songs and tunes with melodeons and fiddle 8th February Jolly Jack - Martin Hall, Alan Taylor and Dave Weatherall - Three piece participation group from Lancashire, with various instruments 15th February June Tabor & Martin Simpson - Traditional and contemporary song from newly formed superstar duo 22nd February Sam Bracken & Bobbie Eaglesham - Mainly Irish and Scottish material from members of Five Hand Reel. 29th February Roy Bailey & Leon Rosselson - A rare chance to see this duo in a folk club. 7th March Roger Sutcliffe - Bradford's Blues export holds an ‘at home' night. 14th March Alistair Anderson - King of the concertina plus Northumbrian small pipes. 21st March Graham Shaw - Traditional, own songs and monologues. 28th March Tony Rose - The West Country Wonder; traditional song with with guitar and concertina 4th April Singers' Night - Club regulars and others to give a good Good Friday Night 11th April The Wassailers - Traditional song and tunes from Lancashire trio. 18th April Bill Caddick - Well-known songsmith comes for rearranged booking from last year. 25th April Pyewackett- The village band with traditional songs and tunes. 2nd May Bob Pegg - Long-established folklorist and songwriter. 9th May Strawhead- A highly entertaining traditional trio from Lancashire. 16th May Wendy Grossman -On tour from America with traditional songs and tunes. 23rd May Kevin Loughran - Popular Leeds lad singing Traditional and Contemporary material. 30th May The Celebrated Ratcliffe Stout Band - A highly original contemporary act from Northampton 6th June Singers Night (had to be held at short notice as Mike Absalom decided to go and live in America; he had tried to make contact to tell us but Secretary away, post card informing us arrived late) 13th June Gerry Hallom - Back from Australia with songs, tales and monologues. 20th June Pre-National Folk Day Singers Night - Club regulars and others — proceeds to E.F.D.S.S. 27th June White Hart - Three part harmony with traditional British songs. 4th July Mike Doonan & Tony Wilson - Hedgehog Pie and Iona men combine for songs and tunes 11th July Colin Cater - Mainly traditional songs and tunes with concertina. 18th July Graham Pirt -Standing in for Squire who cancelled due to group breaking up. 25th July Tim Laycock - Traditional and Music hall songs and tunes with duet concertina 1st August John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris - Traditional, Music Hall and Contemporary — not to be missed Advance tickets available. 8th August Tom McConville & Kieran Halpin - mainly traditional Celtic songs and tunes 15th August Sue Ashby & Lynne Heraud - From Hertfordshire, a duo new to the area. 22nd August Singers Night - Another of our popular singers nights. 29th August Vin Garbutt - Incredible, fantastic, the one and only Tin Whistle Pest. Advance tickets are available. 5th September Nick Dow - From Birmingham with traditional song + guitar. 12th September Manchester Folly - Lancashire trio new to the area with traditional and Music hall songs. 19th September Graham & Eileen Pratt- Fine duo who attract more admirers with every visit. 26th September Gerry Lockran - Internationally known Blues Star. 3rd October Major Mustard's Travelling Show - The most unique show on the folk scene. 10th October Bob Thomas, Chas Marshall, & Tony Harris - Ex-Kitsyke Will and Kempion men with traditional songs and tunes. 17th October Jim Mageean - Sings songs with choruses - shanties, sea, drinking and ballads. 24th October Hamish Imlach - Songs and humour from Scotland's leading musical export. 31st October Hallowe'en Singers Night - Fancy dress optional but a prize for the best; proceeds to Algerian Red Cross. 7th November 24th Anniversary Night: English Tapestry - Ruth and Brian Brittain and James Eisner - Three part harmony in song to perfection. 14th November Pat Ryan - A Lancashire Lass with traditional and contemporary songs. 21st November Alex Campbell - A folk world legend in his own time. 28th November Roger Sutcliffe & Demolition Blues Band - Bradford's Blues superstar plus band--- wild man wild! 5th December Roy Bailey - A very popular and fine singer of traditional and contemporary songs. 12th December Singers Night - One of our more informal nights. 19th December The Watersons ( no tickets; just come early ) - What can one say except to repeat: come early. 26th December CLOSED for Boxing Day - One of the club's very, very rare closed nights Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1981 - The Club's Silver Jubilee Year Peter Sutcliffe trial in Ripper case. Gang of Four split from Labour to create Social Democrats. Charles and Di marry. Reagan shot at. Columbia launched on first Space Shuttle flight. Brixton, Moss Side, Toxteth riots. Pope shot. Bob Marley dies. Israel bombs downtown Beirut. Botham wins Headingley Test. Sadat assassinated, Mubarak takes over. French Lieutenant's Woman. 2nd January Nic Jones - Fine exponent of songs and tunes with guitar and fiddle 9th January Sean Cannon - Annual visit from the silver-voiced Irish traditional singer 16th January Vin Garbutt (no tickets; again, come early - Comes to fulfil booking cancelled through illness last year). 23rd January Singers Night - Another informal night — come see or sing 30th January Liz Jenkinson & John Carey - Local duo with songs and tunes on guitar and fiddle 6th February Jolly Jack - Martin Hall, Alan Taylor and Dave Weatherall - Popular Lancashire visitors, with participation songs and tunes 13th February Singers night - Come All Ye for a good old sing. 20th February Packie Byrne & Bonnie Shaljean - Mainly Irish material with harps, harmonium and whistles 27th February Tony Rose -Traditional song with guitar and concertina from the West Country Wonder. 6th March June Tabor - A vary rare solo gig from June–don't miss it. 13th March The Oyster Band (No Tickets) yes in the club, this exciting multi-instrumental band. 20th March Martin Wyndham- Read - Fine singer of Australian and English ballads 27th March Mathews, Wilson, Doonan (Recorded by BBC Radio Leeds as part of Radio Leeds Feastweek) Newly formed band on tour; mainly Celtic material. 3rd April Tufty Swift - Music hall and traditional songs and tunes; a melodeon wizard. 10th April Martin Carthy (No tickets) - What can be said about this man that's not known. 17th April Good Friday Singers Night - A good old-fashioned type of evening. 24th April Martin Simpson - Mainly American songs and tunes; guitarist extraordinaire. 1st May Strawhead - Songs of the olden time from this dynamic trio. 8th May Bob Pegg - Singer-songwriter and respected folklorist. 15th May Helen Watson & Suzie Adams - Newly formed duo, but no strangers to the club. 22nd May Hom Bru - A band of multi-instrumental Shetland musicians. 29th May John Coy - But not in his ability to sing traditional songs. 5th June Singers Night ( ** means no door charge; optional collection usually taken ) 12th June Roger Sutcliffe - blues from the Bradford Delta 19th June Singers Night ( ** ) 26th June Sammy Vomacka -First British Tour — not to be missed. 3rd July Singers Night ( ** ) 10th July Pete Thompson & Alan Bell - From the North East with traditional sons and tunes. 17th July Singers Night ( ** ) 24th July Graham Shaw - Contemporary, traditional and own songs. 31st July Singers Night ( ** ) 7th August Footloose -Val Bailey's group — women's songs in folk music. 14th August Steve Turner - Ex-Canny Fettle; traditional songs and tunes 21st August Singers Night ( ** ) 28th August Tom McConville & Kieran Halpin - Popular Leeds duo with traditional songs and tunes. 4th September Singers night ( ** ) 11th September Peta Webb & Webbs Wonders - Traditional music from long established London band 18th September Robin Dransfield - Traditional and contemporary song from this former Harrogate resident. 25th September The Gentleman Players (Geoff Bowen, Dave Farrar and Jamie O'Dwyer). Pyewackett were booked but had to cancel 2nd October Singers Night ( ** ) 9th October Graham & Eileen Pratt - Traditional and contemporary songs from this fine duo. 16th October The High Level Ranters - From Tyneside Music Hall to Northumbrian pipes 23rd October Singers Night had to be held as Diz Disley failed to turn up; no reason given before or after, discovered later he had a reputation for this. 30th October Cilla Fisher & Artie Trezise - The very best of Scottish folk singing. 6th November Footloose (Val Bailey's group stood as Roy Bailey, her husband, was ill) ---------------------------------------------------------- 25th ANNIVERSARY AT THE FOLK CLUB 12th Nov Workshop with BOB PEGG (Thu) This well-known folksinger, songwriter and folklorist presents a new look at folklore, especially that of the Calder Valley. Everyone is welcome to come along and hear about. Forgotten local customs, illustrated with rare field recordings collected by Bob Pegg and may even help to bring to light undiscovered folklore. 13th Nov THE OYSTER BAND (Fri) This well known multi-instrumental band from Kent will be presenting an exciting, lively evening of songs and tunes, as the main guests of this special Silver Jubilee Night. 14th Nov LUNCHTIME SESSION IN THE BAR (Sat from noon) With the Oyster Band and all other musicians and singers who have recovered from Friday night (who remembers 1975 when we last did this) 14th Nov Grand Silver Jubilee Ceilidh with THE OYSTER BAND (Sat from 8pm at Shelf Village Hall) Celebrating 25 years of folk song and music in Bradford. 15th Nov FINAL SESSION IN THE BAR OF THE STAR HOTEL (Sun from noon) For anyone who has still not had enough and can play, sing or simply sit, stand, drink and listen. ---------------------------------------------------------- 20th November Mick Doonan & Tony Wilson - Irish music par excellence. 27th November Tim Laycock - Traditional and Music hall song and tunes with duet concertina. 4th December Gary & Vera Aspey - Internationally known duo. 11th December Singers Night (Was supposed to be the Somerville Gentlemen's Band but due to heavy snow in Warwickshire they could not get up to the club) 18th December Pat Ryan - Lancashire lass sings traditional and contemporary songs. 25th December CLOSED Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1982 Laker Airways and DeLorean Cars crash. Chariots of Fire wins Oscars. Argentina invades Falklands, UK invades them back. Pope visits Britain for the first time in 450 years. Fagan visits Queen's bedroom. Israel invades Lebanon; Falangists massacre Palestinian refugees. Italy wins World Cup. Princess Grace of Monaco killed. ET and Romans in Britain. Channel 4 starts up. 1st January CLOSED Rare closings for festive celebrations and recoveries. 8th January Sean Cannon - Celtic songs from the cannon's mouth. 15th January Singers Night (** informal, no door charge, optional collection) 22nd January Strawhead - Dynamic singing from the Book of England. 29th January Jolly Jack - Martin Hall, Alan Taylor and Dave Weatherall - Popular participationists, singers from Lancashire. 5th February Nic Jones - Top singer and guitarist. 12th February Leon Rosselson - Sharp self penned songs to make you think. 19th February Singers Night (**) 26th February Jez Lowe - Traditional songs from his native North-East. 5th March Martin Carthy - The number one of the folk revivalists. 12th March Eric Bogle & John Munroe - We have waited six years for this night! Don't miss it. 19th March Martin Wyndham-Read - Songs of Britain and Australia. 26th March Singers Night (**) 2nd April White Hart - Traditional three part harmony group from Warrington. 9th April Singers Night (**) 16th April The Watersons - It's all been said before, so come early. 23rd April Somerville Gentlemen's Band - Rearranged booking of this multi instrumental band. 30th April June Tabor - A very rare solo gig! Don't miss it. 7th May John Kirkpatrick (* No advance tickets on sale just come early) - Songs and tunes, traditional and contemporary. 14th May Vin Garbutt ( * ) Songs, tunes and humour from Mr Tin Whistle Pest. 21st May Singers Night ( ** ) 28th May Johnny Handle - Songs, tines from this son of Tyneside. 4th June Singers Night ( ** ) 11th June Roy Bailey - Contemporary and traditional songs, from a long-time favourite. 18th June Singers Night ( ** ) 25th June Bob Pegg - A forthright songwriter, from traditional sources. 2nd July Roger Sutcliffe - Old ginger blues himself, at the Bradford Delta. 9th July Footloose - A woman's point of view with traditional and contemporary songs. 16th July Jacquie & Bridie - Good time folk from duo long time missed from this area. 23rd July Heather Whittaker - Traditional and contemporary songs, new guest to this area. 30th July Singers Night ( ** ) 6th August Hot Pot Belly Band - A different night, away from our normal format. 13th August Singers Night ( ** ) 20th August The Gentlemen Players - Music and song from a variety of periods and traditions. 27th August Singers Night ( ** ) 2nd September Dave Burland - Radio Aire's very own. 10th September Mike Chapman - Very rare club gig from legendary hero. 17th September Singers Night ( ** ) 24th September Burnt Peat - Irish night with popular Leeds band. 1st October Alistair Anderson - Master of the concertina. 8th October Tim Wood - Contemporary songs and guitar from new song writing talent. 15th October Sally Rogers - On tour from America, Ballads with guitar, banjo and dulcimer. 22nd October Singers Night ( ** ) 29th October Jim Mageean & Johnny Collins - Shanties to the fore from two fine singers now as a duo. 5th November Paul Metsers - Fine song writer from New Zealand rapidly making a name for himself on the scene. 12th November 26th Anniversary Night: Hamish Imlach - Song and humour from this Scottish folk entertainer. 19th November Tony Rose - The West Country Wonder — traditional song with guitar and concertina. 26th November Isaac Guillory - Sammy Vomacka had to cancel at short notice 3rd December Peg Leg Ferret - Reformed giants of the folk scene 10th December High Level Ranters - Long established Tyneside group. 17th December Xmas Party with Pat Ryan and Aikens Drum - Advance tickets are available. 24th December Closed for Christmas 31st December Closed for New Year - We don't close all that often. Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1983 Borg retires at 26. Greenham Common protests at nuclear cruise missiles. Hitler Diary spoof explodes. Thatcher wins second election. Sally Ride becomes first female US astronaut. David Niven dies. Aquino assassinated in Philippines. USSR shoots down Korean civil airliner. 299 French and US marines killed in Beirut suicide bombing. Cecil Parkinson resigns over love-child. US invades Grenada. Brinks-Mat bullion haul. Gandhi wins Oscars. Compact Discs introduced. 7th January Strawhead - Songs from the olden thyme. 14th January Sean Cannon - Songs, stories and lilts from popular Irish lad. 21st January Jacquie & Bridie - Back again, by special request. 28th January Pete Davis - Singer/guitarist from the North East. 4th February Tony Capstick - The man himself! Come early. 11th February Nic Dow - Traditional song and guitar. 18th February Jolly Jack - Martin Hall, Alan Taylor and Dave Weatherall - Popular visitors with humour and participation. 25th February Leon Rosselson - The songwriter of the 1980's 4th March Archie Fisher - Long established Scottish singer with guitar accompaniment. 11th March Jim Eldon - Cheeky folk entertainer from Hull. 18th March Jim Couza - On tour from America — exceptional dulcimer player. 25th March Bill Caddick - Welcome return for one of the best singer songwriters. 1st April Good Friday ----- Club Closed 8th April Tim Laycock - Songs & concertina with traditional music hall flavour. 15th April The Watersons -Legendary group on annual visit --- please come early. 22nd April Isaac Guillory - Guitarist ex. Al Stewart and Barbara Dickson Bands. 29th April Vin Garbutt - The old grey whistle pest ---- please come early. 6th May Sully & Suzie - All Irish banjo champion with vocals and percussion. 13th May Harvey Andrews - First time at the Topic --- please come early. 20th May Burnt Peat - Irish night with popular Leeds Irish Band. 27th May Stanley Accrington - Fast becoming known as a top folk comedian. 3rd June Mike Chapman - Quick return for the legendary guitarist. 10th June Jez Lowe - Fine singer guitarist from the North East. 17th June Bernard Wrigley - Humour from the Bolton Bullfrog. 24th June Roger Sutcliffe - Bradford's own Blues' man 1st July Bryony - All girl trio, harmony and instrumental. 8th July Martin Carthy - The man himself ---- please come early. 15th July Ellie Ellis & Sara Grey - American traditional music 22nd July Martin Appleby & John Townsend - New duo on tour from the South. 29th July Cockersdale - Local vocal group. 5th August Gordon Tyrrall - Traditional music, guitar, flute and vocals. 12th August Hot Pot Belly Band - And now for something completely different. 19th August Graham Shaw - Song, guitar and humour from popular local artist. 26th August Bob Pegg - Much respected songwriter and performer. 2nd September Dave Burland - Radio Aire's very own top lad. 9th September Dave Swarbrick & Simon Nicol - ( ticket only ) First Topic visit of Fairport favourites. (Their performance of Sloth here tonight was recorded and now appears on the recent Dave Swarbrick retrospective boxset 4-CD Swarb!, so anyone listening to that would have some evidence of the character of the club in those Star days - Ed Webo.) 16th September Tony Wilson & Ian Fairbairn - Traditional, contemporary, Music hall songs with guitar banjo and fiddle. 23rd September Roy Harris - Chorus songs to the fore from this fine singer. 30th September Packie Byrne - Wit, tunes and songs from this Irish character. 7th October Kieran Halpin - First solo appearance from this great singer. 14th October Tony Hall - First time in the North for this top melodeon player. 21st October Sam Stephens & Anne Lennox-Martin - Top duo from the South. 28th October Dick Miles - Traditional song with concertina. 4th November Tim Wood - Talented singer songwriter. 11th November 27th Club Anniversary Weekend: June Tabor - First lady of folk, rare solo club gig. See separate advert for Ceilidh details. 18th November Jimmy Crowley - Traditional song and own material from Irish Vin Garbutt. 25th November Stanley Accrington - Humorous chap. 2nd December Pat Ryan - Songs with guitar accompaniment from popular Lancashire lass. 9th December Graham & Eileen Pratt - Welcome return from popular duo. 16th December Xmas Party with Bryony and Martin Appleby & John Townsend - Supper included in admission price. 23rd December Club closed for Xmas 30th December Club closed for New Year Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1984 Chernenko succeeds Andropov in USSR. Torvill and Dean win Olympic gold in Sarajevo, as do Daley Thompson and Tessa Sanderson in LA. John Betjeman and Eric Morecambe die. UK miners' strike. York Minster burns after lightning strike. Navratilova wins 5th Wimbledon. Richard Burton dies. Mrs Gandhi assassinated on way to talk to Peter Ustinov. Bhopal kills and blinds thousands.Gorbachev visits UK. 6th January Strawhead - Big start for the year, songs from the olden thyme. 13th January Sean Cannon - Now a member of The Dubliners, Irish song and humour. 20th January Magna Carta - Chris Simpson's legendary folk band. 27th January Doonan, Thomas, & Burge - Exciting band of talented individuals. 3rd February Leon Rosselson - Songs with a message 10th February Tony Capstick - The lad himself. 17th February Tundra - Doug and Sue Hudson - Popular duo from Kent. 24th February Tich Frier - The hit of Whitby festival. 2nd March Jolly Jack - Martin Hall, Alan Taylor and Dave Weatherall - Humour, participation from popular Lancashire trio. 9th March Martin Wyndham-Read - By popular request, fine singer in the traditional vein. 16th March Jim Couza - The American dulcimer wizard. 23rd March Roger Sutcliffe - Blues from the Bradford Delta. 30th March The Watersons - Rare chance to see this legendary group, now in semi retirement. 5th April - The Spinnners - extra Thursday Special charity concert for War on Want; the band took no fee and raised £400 6th April Jim Eldon - Loveable folk character from East Yorkshire. 13th April Jacquie & Bridie - Good time folk from long established duo. 20th March Good Friday Charity Singaround - In aid of Cancer Research. 27th March Maxie & Mitch - The hilarious Geordie outfit. 4th May Calennig - Welsh traditional music. 11th May Harvey Andrews - The Songwriter. 18th May Robin Garside & Chris Parkinson - Parkinson stood in for Paul Gough 25th May Peter Bellamy - Carry on Kipling. 1st June Burnt Peat - Well received Leeds Irish Band 8th June Martin Carthy - Needs no introduction. 15th June Ron Taylor & Sue Taylor - One half of Regal Slip on tour from the South. 22nd June Steve Turner - Ex Canny Fettle — Traditional material, concertina accompaniment. 29th June Byrony - All female band — instrumental and vocal. 6th July Stanley Accrington - Songs, lunacy and hats. 13th July Vin Garbutt - The Old Grey Whistle Pest — come down early. 20th July Kathy O'Sullivan - On tour from Australia- harp playing — Celtic flavour. 27th July Cockersdale - 4 piece vocals featuring Keith Marsden. 3rd August Club Singaround Free admission. 10th August Andy Caven - Contemporary with a touch of Rock n Roll. 17th August Club Singaround - Free admission 24th August Tony Wilson - Traditional, contemporary, music hall with guitar and banjo. 31st August Gordon Tyrrall - Guitar, whistle, flute, Irish flavour. 7th September Club Singaround Free admission - collection in aid of Cancer Research. 14th September Martin Appleby & John Townsend - Excellent duo from York. 21st September Dave Swarbrick & Simon Nicol - Tickets £3 non members, £2 members Fairport favourites make a welcome return. 28th September John Coy - Fine traditional singer with guitar accompaniment. 5th October Jane Rothfield & Allan Carr - American & Scottish folk music featuring fiddle and banjo. 12th October Cyril Tawney - Long established writer of so many club standards. 19th October English Tapestry - Ruth and Brian Brittain and James Eisner - Excellent harmony folk singing. 26th October June Tabor - First lady of folk unaccompanied singing at the highest level. 2nd November Kieran Halpin - Talented songwriter on tour from Ireland. 9th November 28th Club Anniversary Weekend: Harvey Andrews - Contemporary folk song at its best. (See separate advert for Saturday Ceilidh) 16th November Jez Lowe - Excellent return of North East folk song both contemporary and traditional. 23rd November Tony Hall - Melodeon virtuoso of Fieldvole fame, a must for Morris enthusiasts. 30th November Keith Hancock - Exciting new purveyor of contemporary material in traditional vein. 7th December Andy Irvine - Planxty star on rare solo gig. 14th December Pat Ryan - Traditional and contemporary songs from our favourite Lancashire lass. 21st December Xmas Special with The Watersons - Carols to the fore with legendary folk group. 28th December Closed for the New Year Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1985 More than 40 fans killed in Bradford stadium fire. 40 more crushed at Heysel. LiveAid raises awareness and money for Ethiopia. Clive Sinclair launches C5. £1 falls to almost $1. Gorbachev takes over in USSR on Chernenko's death. Coke launches New Coke. Roy Plomley dies after 44 years of presenting Desert Island Discs. 325 killed in bombed Air India jetliner. Mengele's skull found. Becker wins Wimbledon at 17. Laura Ashley and Rock Hudson die. Mexico earthquake. 4th January Strawhead - Songs of the olden thyme. 11th January Jim & Lynette Eldon - Songs from one of Yorkshire's leading collectors plus clog dancing from Lynette 18th January Roger Sutcliffe - Blues from the Bradford Delta 25th January Magna Carta - Chris Simpson's legendary folk band. 1st February Charity Singaround - Free admission --- collection in aid of charity. 8th February Leon Rosselson - Songs with a message. 15th February Graham Pirt - A two hour workshop on the Miners' Union with film slides and song. 22nd February The Oyster Band - Leading folk electric band. 1st March Dick Miles - Concertina and traditional song 8th March Charity Singaround ---- free admission 15th March Rab Noakes - Singer songwriterof long standing. 22nd March Tony Capstick - The lad himself. 29th March Martin Wyndam-Read - well respected traditional singer. 5th April Easter Singaround ---- free admission 12th April The Kipper Family - Songs from the Trunch Tradition. 19th April Charley Yarwood - First time at club ---- fine traditional singer. 26th April Jolly Jack - Martin Hall, Alan Taylor and Dave Weatherall - Good chorus singers from Topic favourites. 3rd May Jim Couza - The Dulcimer Wizard. 10th May Roaring Jelly - Clive Harvey, Derek Pearce and Mick Hennessy - Farewell tour from folk loonies. 17th May Bryony - All female vocalists & instrumentalists. -------------------------------------------- Bradford City fire disaster 24th May - Charity Singaround 25th May - Special Saturday concert                  with Swan Arcade, Gary and Vera Aspey and Stanley Accrington The Bradford City fire happened on the 11th May and these events raised £350 for the disaster fund. -------------------------------------------- 31st May Richard Grainger - Traditional and contemporary songs with guitar accompaniment. 7th June Dave Burland - Smart lad from Barnsley and Radio Aire fame. 14th June Dick Gaughan - Recognised as leading singer on the folk scene adm Members £1.50 non members £1.80. 21st June Singaround Admission free 28th June Dab Hand - Tom McConville, Gordon Tyrall & Tom Napper - Exciting new band admission members 90p non members £1.50. 5th July Martin Carthy - The singer, the guitarist Admission members 90p Non Members £1.80. 12th July Singaround Admission free. 19th July Wool Exchange - New local band with Jimmy, Dave and Liz. admission members 50p non members 60p. 26th July Ian Hill - Geordie songs, traditional and contemporary. Admission members 50p non members 60p. 2nd August Singaround Admission free. 9th August Joy & Stuart Crampton - Chorus songs to the fore. Admission members 50p non members 60p. 16th August Singaround free admission. 23rd August Closed - Whitby Folk Festival. 30th August Singaround admission free. 6th September Kemps Jig - Local lads from Leeds --- members 50p non members 60p. 13th September Vin Garbutt - The Old Grey Whistle Pest. Members 90p non members £1.80. 20th September The Fabulous Salami Brothers - Feats of strength and stupidity. Members 90p non members £1.80. 27th September Stanley Accrington - Currently the funniest man on the folk scene. 4th October Alan Hull - Singer songwriter from Lindisfarne: Fog on the Tyne, Lady Eleanor etc Members £2.00 non members £3.00. 11th October Keith Hancock - Contemporary songs in traditional vein, with melodeon accompaniment. 18th October Canadim - Songs and tunes with Irish flavour. 25th October Tony Rose - Fine revivalist singer of longstanding. 1st November Tich Frier - The Scottish Wizard. 8th November Topic 29th Anniversary Night - An Evening with Cecil Sharp and Ashley Hutchings Special night with folk founder of Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention Albion Band etc. 15th November Club A.G.M. 22nd November Roger Sutcliffe - Bradford's Hoochie Coochie man. 29th November Kieran Halpin - One of the best contemporary singers for the 1980s --- members 90p non members £1.50. 6th December Tony Hall - Melodeon magician from Fieldvole fame 13th December June Tabor & Martin Simpson - First lady of folk with talented guitarist. Members £2.00 Non-members £3.00 20th December Swan Arcade - Bradford's very own, rare club gig. Members £1.50 Non-members £2.00. 27th December Closed for Xmas Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger blows up on launch. Olof Palme shot in Sweden. Baby Doc thrown out of Haiti. James Cagney and Cary Grant die. US strikes Libya. Chernobyl blows up. Hand of God helps Argentina win World Cup. Spycatcher banned. 1500 Cameroonians killed by CO2 from lake. Geoffrey Boycott sacked by Yorkshire. Mike Tyson youngest heavyweight champ. Halley's Comet returns. Superlight plane circumnavigates world non-stop. 3rd January Strawhead - Songs from the olden thyme. 10th January Jovial Gentlemen - John Bromley, Steve Buckley and Bruce Baillie - Refreshing local band. 17th January The Wilsons - Legendary Geordie band , first visit to club. 24th January Tony Wilson - Geordie funster. 31st January Holme Valley Tradition - Excellent four piece harmony. 7th February Leon Rosselson - Songs to make you think. 14th February Kieran Halpin - rescheduled gig for gifted songwriter. 21st February Steve Turner 28th February Geoff Higginbottom-Original talent from Stockport. 7th March Roger Sutcliffe's 40th Birthday Extravaganza - For one night only blues super group with many guests. 14th March Gary & Vera Aspey - Popular Lancashire duo. 21st March The Kipper Family - From the Trunch Tradition. 28th March Good Friday, Easter Singaround 4th April Martin Wyndam-Read - Traditional songs with a down under flavour. 11th April Paul Metsers - Exciting songwriter from New Zealand. 18th April Tufty Swift - Of Bakewell Tart fame---a must for melodeon freaks. 25th April John Coy - A good local singer. 2nd May Singaround 9th May Dab Hand - Best band on the scene. 16th May Sean Cannon - Popular member of the Dubliners. 23rd May Keith Marsden - Traditional and contemporary songs. 30th May Herring's Belly - Stuart Crampton and Roy Hardacre - popular duo. 6th June Allan Taylor - Long established singer songwriter. 13th June Swan & Burge - Solo gig from two members of the ‘Solicitors'. 20th June John James - Best guitarist in the business. 27th June Paul Buckley & Chris Newman - Swing, Jazz, blues duo. 4th July Nick Dow - Traditional songs guitar accompaniment. 11th July Ian Hill - Geordie, Irish, guitar and banjo. 18th July Roar - Former House Band members on tour from Scotland. 25th July Martin Carthy - Needs no introduction. 1st August John Pashley - Makes a welcome return to the folk scene. 8th August Mick Haywood - Yorkshire songs and stories. 15th August Whitney Gin - Local harmony group. 22nd August Closed for Whitby Festival 29th August Wool Exchange - Bradford's very own. 5th September Bryony - All girl vocal and instrumental trio. 12th September Singers Night - By popular request a return to regular singers nights. 19th September Magna Carta - Chris Simpson's legendary folk rock band. 26th September Stuart Crampton Benefit Night - All star guest bill. 3rd October Kevin Loughran - The Leeds thrush sings traditional and humorous ballads. 10th October Dave Speight and ‘Shelto' - Two of the area's top blues exponents. 17th October Singers Night 24th October Harvey Andrews - International singer songwriter. 31st October Mike Sheardown - A songwriter fast making himself a name -------------------------------------------- Club's 30th Anniversary 7th November - Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger Members £2.00 Non Members £3.00 8th November - Strawhead 12 noon in the Star Hotel, Compere Roger Sutcliffe Members 90p Non members £1.30. Saturday Evening at Shelf Village Hall: Grand Concert with: Napper, Andy Irvine, Strawhead, Roger Sutcliffe Tickets £4.00 -------------------------------------------- 14th November Singers Night Featuring The Barnsley Lads - Ray Padgett, John Booker and others - A special featuring 'Barnsley Lads' formally known as 'Sod All'. 21st November Pete Castle - A Topic newcomer with a reputation as a good guitarist 28th November Vin Garbutt - The Old Tin Whistle Pest, please come early. 5th December Stanley Accrington - Direct from the Commonwealth Games 12th December Roger Sutcliffe - Blues from the Bradford delta with Old Rog. 19th December Christmas Singers Night 26th December Club Closed Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1987 Terry Waite kidnapped in Beirut. Andy Warhol dies. Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes with bow doors open, killing 200. Thatcher goes to Moscow, wins third election. Matthias Rust flies light plane to Red Square. Oliver North testifies in Iran-Contragate. Michael Ryan shoots 14 in Hungerford. Hurricane-force winds kill 17 after Michael Fish says there's nothing to worry about. King's Cross Tube fire. 2nd January Sing In The New Year 9th January Jolly Jack - Martin Hall, Alan Taylor and Dave Weatherall - Traditional songs, participation and humour. 16th January Sean Cannon - Popular Irish ballad singer from the Dubliners. 23rd January The Wilsons - Popular re-booking for best group in the Country. 30th January Downham & Nudger - Duo from Lancashire. 6th February Leon Rosselson - Songs with a message. 13th February Kieran Halpin - Popular singer-songwriter on tour from Ireland. 20th February Singers Night - By popular request another singers night. 27th February Tich Frier - On tour from Glasgow. 6th March The Donald Swaine Benefit Night 13th March The Kipper Family - From the Trunch Tradition. 20th March Singers Night 27th March Hans Theessink - Euro bluesman 3rd April Dave Burland - The Barnsley thrush. 10th April Dick Miles - Concertina and traditional songs. 17th April Singers Night 24th April Aire Play - A Topic debut for Linda & Barbara. 1st May Jim Couza - Dulcimer wizard. 8th May 15th May Tonie Burrell - Songs from mediaeval to present day, dulcimer and guitar. 22nd May Dave Goulder - The January man in May. 29th May Gordon Tyrrall - Solo spot for Dab Hand man. 5th June Tony Martin & Andy McColl - Up and coming local duo. 12th June Singers Night Admission free 19th June Kathryn Tickell - Outstanding female piper. 26th June Pig Bucket Ensemble - Zany wit, remember them on Leon's night. 3rd July Les Barker - Hilarious rhymes and poems. 10th July Singers Night 17th July Ian Hill - Irish Geordie, guitar and banjo. 24th July Miriam Backhouse - Super female singer back from South Africa. 31st July Slade The Leveller (with the Rev Hammer was booked) - a rare solo appearance of the lead singer of New Model Army, but due to the band having a late tour of America offered this Gig had to be cancelled; however there was a good turn out of local artists and a very good impromptu Singers Night was held instead with the Rev Hammer finishing off the second half of the night. 7th August Singers Night Admission free 14th August Herring's Belly - Stuart Crampton and Roy Hardacre - Local band 21st August Tony Wilson - Traditional, music hall and enjoyaty. 28th August Singers Night Admission free 4th September Martin Carthy - Come early. 11th September Singers Night 18th September Clive Gregson & Christine Collister - Ex Richard Thompson Band. 25th September Bev Sanders - Local singer. 2nd October Vin Garbutt - The Old Grey Whistle Pest. 9th October Singers Night 16th October Hobson & Lees - Superb Guitar duo. 23rd October John Strong - Contemporary night. 30th October Roy Bailey - Return of the popular Singer's Singer. 6th November Whippersnapper -Dave Swarbrick's Band, with Kevin Demspey, Chris Leslie and Martin Jenkins -------------------------------------- The Club's 31st Anniversary Weekend 13th November Strawhead Members £1.00 Non - members £1.75 14th November Session in The Star from 12.30 With Swan Arcade, Roger Sutcliffe and others Members 90 pence Non — Members £1.30 Shelf Village Hall All Star Concert From 7.45pm Jake Thackray, Swan Arcade and John James - Compere Roger Sutcliffe Saturday night tickets Members £3.50 Non members £4.25 All day Saturday tickets Members £4.00 Non members £5.00 -------------------------------------- 20th November The Club's A.G.M. And Singers Night 27th November Tom McConville - Fiddle & Geordie 4th December Jim & Lynnette Eldon - East Riding songs from Jim plus clog dancing from Lynnette. 11th December Pete Morton - Voted most promising newcomer on the scene. 18th December The Concert to finish off 1987: Slade The Leveller (From New Model Army ) With poems from Jooles and the songs of Rev Hammer. 25th December Club Closed Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1988 Palestinian Intifada starts. Eddie the Eagle fails to triumph at Calgary Olympics. IRA three killed in Gibraltar. US shoots down Iranian civil airliner. Iran promises revenge. American civil airliner bombed over Lockerbie. Piper Alpha oil rig explodes, killing 150. Iran-Iraq war comes to an end. 20,000,000 Bangladeshis made homeless by floods. Ben Johnson wins drugs gold at Seoul. Edwina Currie resigns over egg salmonella. Spycatcher published. 100,000 die in Armenian earthquake. George Bush elected US President. 1st January Club Closed 8th January Artisan - Promising local unaccompanied group. 15th January Concert with The House Band - Plus support from Tony Martin & Andy McColl 22nd January Concert with The Wilsons - Plus support from Herring's Belly - Stuart Crampton and Roy Hardacre 29th January Concert with Harvey Andrews Plus support. 5th February Concert with Rory McLeod the ‘Cockney Rebel' - Plus support of Geoff Higginhbottom. 12th February Concert with Leon Rosselson - Plus support of Pig Bucket Ensemble. 19th February Jim Couza - The dulcimer wizard. 26th February Maire Ni Chathasaigh (Harpist) & Chris Newman (Guitarist) 4th March Stanley Accrington - And his zany humour from our Stan. 11th March Concert with Dick Gaughan - Currently the most influential singer on the scene. Support John Harvison. New lad from Keighley making great strides. 18th March Singers Night 25th March Concert with The Kipper Family - From the Trunch tradition Support HerringsBelly : Stuart and Roy mainly traditional. 1st April Good Friday Singers Night 8th April Jez Lowe & Jake Walton - Two exciting talents now together as a duo. 15th April Singers Night 22nd April Martin Wyndam-Read -Bi-Centennial special. 29th April Duck Baker - Legendary American guitarist on tour. 6th May Brian Whitmee - Excellent local singer. 13th May Blues Night With Roger Sutcliffe - The evening will feature a guitar workshop from 7-8pm. 20th May Graham & Eileen Pratt - Ever popular duo. 27th May Rory McLeod - The name for 1988. 3rd June Bev Sanders - Great new female singer fast earning a name for herself. 10th June Concert — Ray Fisher With Support From Tufty Swift - A combination not to be missed. 17th June Singers Night 24th June Marie Little - She's back; don't miss her. 1st July Mick Haywood & Friends - Unaccompanied singer with company. 8th July GordonTyrrall - Musician-singer Dab Hand 15th July Peter Norman & Norrie Spence - Local duo - well worth getting to know 22nd July Ian Hill - Multi-talented performer making a name for himself. 29th July Hair Of The Dog - Local duo. 5th August Stuart Crampton - Our very own. 12th August Jon Harvison - Local singer-songwriter. 19th August Singers Night 26th August Singers Night 2nd September Bradford Women Singers - Jane Coker and Company. 9th September Derek Gifford - Traditional and contemporary songs. 16th September Concert with Vin Garbutt - support from Bandwaggon. Be early or you'll be too late 23rd September Cosmotheka - Too good to miss. 30th September Singers Night 7th October Hans Theessink - Blues guitarist and singer. 14th October Cockersdale - Harmony Trio. 21st October John McCormack - New sound from the U.S.A. 28th October Spring Chickens - Adrian May and Dave MitchellGood lively night. 4th November Gunpowder Treason & Plot - Fun & Games Night. -------------------------------------- THE CLUB'S 32nd BIRTHDAY ALL EVENTS AT THE STAR HOTEL 11th November Concert Mike Elliott " A Comedy Genius" - with support from Whitney Gin Members £2.5 Non-Members £3.00 12th November From 12 noon Dr Sunshine's Pavement Show Lunch time prices members £1.50. Non-Members £2.00. From 8.30pm Concert Derek Brimstone " Humour all the way" - Guest MC Tony Wilson. Evening prices Members £2.50. Non-Members £3.00. All day ticket Members £4.00. Non-Members £4.50. -------------------------------------- 18th November The Club's A.G.M. - Followed by a singaround if time. 25th November Nick Dow - Back by popular demand. 2nd December Brian Peters - Singer and Anglo concertina player. 9th December Singaround 16th December Strawhead - Christmas Party Night 23rd December Closed For Christmas 30th December Closed For New Year Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1989 Emperor Hirohito dies. Bradford Islamic protestors burn Satanic Verses. USSR leaves Afghanistan. Exxon Valdez runs aground. Hillsborough disaster kills 94. Sonia Sutlciffe wins £600,000 from Private Eye; Ian Hislop says: "If that is justice, then I am a banana." Tiananmen Square kills hundreds. Ayatollah Khomeini and Lord Olivier die. Marchioness sinks on Thames. Guildford 4 freed after 14 years. Berlin Wall falls. Playwright Havel becomes Czech President. Ceaucescu shot. Cold War over. US invades Panama. 6th January Harvey Andrews - Come early. 13th January Stuart Crampton Benefit Night 20th January Singaround - Your turn again. 27th January Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle - Two out of three from Shipper Falls. 3rd February Irish Night - Good music from various artists, jig along with us. 10th February Dick Miles - Back by popular demand. 17th February Fabulous Salami Brothers - With their new variety show, just back from U.S.A. 24th February Kevin Loughran - Melody and mirth. 3rd March Keith Hancock - Singer-songwriter. He wrote Chase The Dragon 10th March Singaround come and join us. 17th March Steve Philips - Puts the blues in your soul. 24th March Singaround - Good songs, good company. Good Time. 31st March Leon Rosselson - "Bringing the News from Nowhere". 7th April Janet Russell - Scottish traditional songs of the 80s. 14th April Singaround 21st April Roger Sutcliffe - Blues from the Bradford delta. 28th April Jim Couza - Jim's birthday BONANZA. 5th May Bradford Women Singers - Return by popular request. 12th May Paul Metsers - Guitar, Appalachian Dulcimer and mando-cello. 19th May Dick Gaughan - Most influential singer on the scene. Come early if you want a seat. 26 May Just Us plus Liz Ingrams - 2 vocals and two acoustic guitars = good music. 2nd June Singaround - It's free so why not come and join us. 9th June The House Band - Lively Music with a fun band. 16th June Mal Waite - Traditional and original songs with or without guitar. 23rd June The Kipper Family - But seriously folks, have a laugh with him and him. 30th June Roy Bailey - Fine singer, guitarist who successfully combines artistic and political comments. 7th July Singaround — Still no charge!! 14th July Jon Harvison - His own and other peoples' songs in his own style. 21st July Ian Scott Massie& Lulu Fidler - Singer Songwriters plus some traditional. 28th July Cocky - You will come and Crow about a night of good music. 6-piece Folk Rock Band - and not at all the same Cocky who appeared 12 years ago in Dec 1977. 4th August Singers Night - Will not cost you a thing to have a good sing. 11th August Singaround - After last week's practice this week will be fantastic. 18th August Scumalash - 5 MacDonald family players. Traditional Cape Breton Fiddle Music sing songs. 25th August Singaround Free. Come all ye who be not at Whitby. 1st September Singaround Free (practice makes perfect) 8th September Tom McVicker - Songs, whistles — Irish & British. Members £1.00. Non members £1.50. -------------------------------------- THE BRADFORD FESTIVAL The Topic took part. Extra gigs were held at the Club, and these are listed as well 12th September Tuesday Bradford Women Singers Members £1.50. Non-Members £2.00 A women's choir , excellent songs, excellent company. 13th September Wednesday Singaround Free so why not have a go?. 15th September Friday Dave Shay Members £1.50. Non-Members £2.00 Contemporary & traditional American songs. 17th September Sunday Roy Bailey Members £2.00 Non-Members £2.50. For all those who begged for him back. 18th September Monday The Rambling Boys Members £1.50. Non-Members £2.00. An Irish Group. 19th September Tuesday Scarlet Heights Members £1.50. Non-Members £2.00. Local multi instrumental group. 20th September Wednesday Roger Sutcliffe Members £1.50. Non-Members £2.00. 22nd September Friday - Special Event To Close The Festival Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick Advance Members £3.50. Non-Members £4.50 On the night Members £4.00. Non-Members £5.00. -------------------------------------- 29th September Artisan Members £2.00 Non members £2.50 Yorkshire-based harmony trio. 6th October Cockersdale Members £2.00 Non-Members £2.50. 4 piece harmony group 13th October Singaround Free 20th October Jez Lowe & Bev Sanders Members £2.00 Non-Members £2.50. New combination for Jez. Excellent music 27th October Makvirag Members £2.00. Non-Members £2.50.3-piece Hungarian Folk Musicians. 3rd November Gunpowder Plot Night 50p for all including supper.Anything goes tonight. 10th November Richard Grainger Members £1.00 Non-Members £1.50. Singer/guitarist. 17th November Annual General Meeting ( Members Only )Followed by a singaround. 24th November Concert with Vin Garbutt And The Barnsley Lads Members £3.00 Non-Members £3.50. 1st December Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh Members £2.50 Non members £3.00. Chris is the man other guitarists love to hate. Maire plays the harp like an angel. 8th December Singaround - Last one this year. 15th December Hamish Imlach - Singer-Songwriter of renown. 22nd December Closed for Christmas 29th December Closed For New Year Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1990 Nelson Mandela freed. Poll tax riot in London. Iraqi supergun seized in Britain. Yeltsin becomes President of Russia. Gummer feeds his daughter beefburgers. 40,000 die in Iran earthquake. West Germany wins World Cup after beating England on penalties in the semi-final. Iraq invades and annexes Kuwait. East and West Germany reunite. Thatcher ousted from Tory party; Major becomes PM. Channel Tunnellers meet under sea. (Little did the rest of us know it then, but Tim Berners-Lee wrote his first memos at CERN regarding something he called the World Wide Web) 5th January Archie Fisher - Legendary Scot that's not seen a lot. 12th January Singaround - 1st of the year. 19th January The Jay Birds - We got the blues tonight. 26th January Singaround 2nd February Geoff Higginbottom 9th February The Wilson Family - Five piece harmony group. 16th February Marilyn Middleton-Pollock 23rd February Leon Rosselson - Singer songwriter. 2nd March Singaround (Free) 9th March Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle - Members £2.00. Non-members £2.50. - Brilliant guitar, harmonious singing. 16th March Roger Sutcliffe - Guitar workshop — early start 7.30pm. Members £150. Non-Members £2.00. 23th March Singaround ( Free ) 30th March Dick Miles - Members £1.50. Non-Members £2.00. - Traditional song with concertina.. 6th April Hans Theessink Members £2.00 Non-Members £2.50. - Blues man from Holland. Brilliant back for third visit. 13th April The Lakeman Family Members £1.80. Non-Members £2.30. - 5 superb musicians with full range of music. 20th April Tom McConville Members £2.00. Non-Members £2.50. - Superb fiddle player and singer 27th April Singaround ( Free ). 4th May Hand On Heart - Mike Scott, Rob Taylor - Members £1.80. Non-Members £2.30. 3 piece Acoustic Celtic Instrumentalists. 11th May Janet Russell Members £2.00 Non-Members £2.50. - Singer songwriter + traditional songs. --------------------------------------------- 8th May The Club Moves Away From The Star For This Night: --------------------------------------------- A Memorial Concert For Ewan MacColl At Dewsbury Town Hall 7pm till Midnight. Artists Appearing So Far Peggy Seeger Tony Capstick Dave Burland Pete Coe Janet Russell Roger Sutcliffe Lost Nation Band Tickets Main hall where beer is allowed £6.00 Balcony where no beer is allowed £4.00 All The Proceeds To Be Donated To Amnesty International ------------------------------------ 25th May Jim Couza Members £1.50. Non-members £2.00.The Great Dulcimer player himself 1st June Al O' Donnell - All the way from Scotland. 8th June Fintan Vallely - Melodeon, flute and guitar. 15th June Singaround 22nd June Keith Hinchcliffe 29th June Singaround 6th July Spring Chickens 13th July Jim Eldon 20th July Singaround 27th July Dean Johnson - Contemporary songs. 3rd August Derek Gifford 10th August Pat Ryan 17th August Singaround 24th August Singaround 31st August Stanley Accrington 7th September Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh - Excellent guitarist with angelic Harpist. 14th September Lost Nation Band - Sara Grey, Roger Wilson, Brian Peters. 21st September Tony Capstick - Combination of traditional music with lots of laughs. 28th September Singaround Free 5th October Derek Brimstone 12th October Phil Hare 19th October Jungr & Parker - Barb Jungr and Michael Parker - From the infamous Julian Clary Show 26th October Singaround Free 2nd November Brian Peters 9th November Harvey Andrews - With his special one man show. 16th November A.G.M. followed by Singaround - Members only for AGM please. 23rd November Folkinger - Folk and Dance from East Berlin Band on tour. 30th November Roy Bailey - His own songs in his own style. 7th December Singaround (Free ) 14th December The Kipper Family - With their special Christmas show. 21st December Closed For Christmas 28th December Closed For New Year Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1991 30-strong Allied coalition invades Iraq. Viz sells more than one million copies. Birmingham Six freed after 16 years. Poll Tax abolished. Graham Greene, Freddy Mercury, David Lean and Robert Maxwell die. Rajiv Gandhi assassinated by Tamils. Yugoslavia breaks up. Gorbachev toppled in hardline Communist coup. Yeltsin stands on tank, USSR breaks up. John McCarthy and Terry Waite released in Beirut. 4th January The Watersons - The family of song. 11th January Singaround ( Free ) 18th January Gordon Tyrrall - Guitarist par excellence. 25th January Daaaave Shea & Norman Collins - Singing songwriting duo, excellent musicians. 1st February Leon Rosselson - Singer songwriter of renown. 8th February Singaround ( Free ) 15th February Marilyn Middleton-Pollock - Her Voice will entrance you. 22nd February Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle - Fabulous guitar work from Steve, dulcet tones from Maggie. 1st March Cockersdale - Four piece harmony quartet, sheer perfection. After 22 Years and 6 Months The Club Moves From The Star Hotel To The Peel Hotel 8th March Roger Sutcliffe - Blues from the Bradford Delta; Guitar workshop at 7pm, before club. 15th March Theme Singaround - Songs of love and death — Free 22nd March Talisman - Lancashire duo - Traditional and modern songs accompanied on guitar and bongos 29th March Singaround — Free 5th April Singers Night - featuring George Clark's zany humour. 12th April Whitney Gin - 4 piece Harmony group accompanied on Keyboards, Guitar, Bass & Mandolin. 19th April Theme Singaround Songs in bad taste — Free 26th April Dave Burland - Sings everything from Ewan MacColl to The Eagles. 3rd May Singers Night - Featuring the Voice and Guitar Artistry of Pete Norman. 10th May Geoff Higginbottom - Traditional and modern songs with 6 & 12 string guitars. Bodrhan & dulcimer. 17th May Singaround - Free 24th May Vin Garbutt - In our opinion the most entertaining and controversial Singer songwriter on the scene. 31st May Singers Night 7th June Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies - Northern Echoes - news views, and songs from the North-East's finest songsmiths. 14th June Songswop - Free - Join us for an informal evening of songs and tunes. 21st June Tony Capstick - More mirth and mayhem from everyone's favourite hooligan — Tickets only, book early. 28th June Jon Harvison - Popular and talented local singer songwriter. 5th July Terry Leadfingers Silver - Poseur and song thief: guitar, banjo and manual dexterity on mandolin and flageolet. 12th July Theme Singaround - Free - Doom, gloom and despondency - award for most miserable song. 19th July Folkinger - Song and dance from East Germany - limited space due to dance floor - come early. 26th July Bread & Roses - Superb female harmonies - hearing is believing. 2nd August Tony Wilson - Just the right mixture of music and song including the world's loudest banjo. 9th August Songswop - Free - Another informal night of song and music. 16th August Martin Wyndham-Read - The best thing to come out of Australia since tinned peaches — fine interpreter of Antipodean songs. 23rd August Theme Singaround - Free - Songs of mirth and merriment. 30th August Theme Singaround - Free - Songs of sun, sea and sailors. 6th September Stanley Accrington - Our Stanley's back with more silly songs in his own inimitable style. 13th September Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh - Unique blend of guitar and traditional Irish harp. 20th September Leon Rosselson - Superb contemporary songwriter facing the issues of today. 27th September Roy Bailey - Freedom peacefully — strong messages — beautiful music. 4th October Singers Night - Featuring Band X. 11th October Theme Singaround - Free - Songs of the workplace. 18th October Second String - Welcome first night for some fine musicians. 25th October Dick Miles - Contemporary & traditional music from talented singer and concertina player. 1st November Dave Vermond - Overdue first visit from local singer songwriter. 8th November A.G.M. followed by Singaround - Members only for AGM please. 15th November Phil Hare - Welcome return for thought provoking songwriter & guitarist. 22nd November Amnesty Benefit Night Featuring Stanley Accrington & Roger Sutcliffe 29th November Singaround - Free - A chance for you to join in. 6th December Singaround - Come and celebrate Eddie's birthday bash! 13th December Ian Scott Massie - Contemporary songwriter with unique folk and jazz style. 20th December Strawhead - Overdue return for folk's loudest trio. 27th December Theme Singaround - Anything but Christmas songs — bah humbug! Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1992 Silence of the Lambs does well at the Oscars. John Major wins election. Benny Hill dies. Punch closes after 150 years. Tyson jailed for rape. Barcelona Olympics. Mansell is F1 champion. Clinton wins election. Francis Bacon dies. January 3 The Watersons January 10 Los Zimmos January 17 Singaround January 24 Singers' Night January 31 Tony Martin February 7 Chris Newman and Maire Ni Chathasaigh February 14 Theme Singaround Love songs February 21 Roger Sutcliffe February 28 Theme Singaround Drinking songs March 6 Singers and Musicians March 13 Richard Grainger March 20 Harvey Andrews March 27 Theme Singaround Times they are a'changing April 3 Show of Hands April 10 Bradford Women Singers April 17 Singers and Musicians for Good Friday April 24 Theme Singaround Patriotic songs for St George and Shakespeare May 1 Makvirag May 8 Singers and Musicians May 15 Featured Singers Night: Sandra Roberts with Bob Taylor May 22 Sing-a-round. Theme: Humbug (May 20 was old date for Xmas) May 29 Vin Garbutt June 5 Dick Gaughan June 12 Bram Taylor June 19 Tom McConville July/August Singers and Musicians September 4 Sing-a-Round September 11 Jago September 18 Johnny Handle (High Level Ranter) September 25 Sing-a-Round October 2 Marie Little October 9 Derek Gifford October 16 Featured Singers' Night Susan Asquith October 23 Sing-a-Round October 30 Gary and Vera Aspey November 6 Roy Bailey November 13 Sing-a-Round November 20 Featured Singer's Night - Gemini November 27 AGM plus Sing-a-round December 4 First Principles December 11 Geoff Higginbottom December 18 Singers' and Musicians' Night December 25 Closed. Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1993 Czech Republic and Slovakia part. Jamie Bulger murdered. Waco seige in USA. Sihanouk returns to the Cambodian throne. Maastricht Treaty ratified by UK. Mostar's bridge destroyed. Northern Ireland peace pact signed. January 1 Survivors' Singaround January 8 Graham and Eileen Pratt January 15 Singers' and Musicians' Night January 22 Lorraine Jordan January 29 (no entry in listings; presumably a singers' night) February 5 Pete Bolton and Mick Jackson February 12 Singers and Musicians February 19 George Clarke February 26 Gary and Vera Aspey Roger Sutcliffe takes over organisation from Brenda Baldwin March 5 Joe Stead March 12 Local Musicians' and Singers' Night March 19 Dick Miles March 26 Singaround and Musician Around April 2 Chris Newman and Maire Ni Chathasaigh April 9 Local Singers' and Musicians' Night April 16 Singaround and Musicianaround April 23 Phil Hare April 30 Local Singers' and Musicians' Night May 7 Tony Martin May 14 Local Singers' and Musicians' Night May 21 Jane Threlfall and Carl Hogsden May 28 Local Singers' and Musicians' Night June 4 Robb Johnson and Pip Collings June 11 Martin Carthy June 18 Stanley Accrington June 25 Roger Sutcliffe July 2 Maxie and Mitch July 9 Cyril Tawney July 16 - September 3 Local Musicians and Singers Nights September 10 Pat Ryan and Ken Howard September 17 Leon Rosselson September 24 Local Singers and Musicians October 1 Singaround/Musicianaround October 8 The Wilsons October 15 Local Singers and Musicians October 22 Singaround/Musicianaround October 29 Jim Reynolds November 5 Fireworkaround November 12 Dave Goulder November 19 AGM followed by singasession November 26 Old Rope String Band December 3 Singaround December 10 Geoff Higginbottom December 17 Roy Bailey December 24 The pub... December 31 ...will be open Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1994 Big earthquake in Los Angeles.Berlusconi wins in Italy. Mandela sworn in in South Africa. Channel Tunnel opens. Ayrton Senna killed. OJ Simpson goes on the run. Yasser Arafat returns to Gaza. Tony Blair becomes leader of Labour Party. Carlos the Jackal is hunted down. Baltic Ferry disaster kills 912. UK lottery opens. Russians storm into Chechnya. Rwanda genocide kills 800,000. January 7 Music Session - Singaround January 14 Los Zimmos January 21 Music Session cum Singaround January 28 John Kirkpatrick February 4 Tom McConville February 11 Music Session cum Singaround February 18 Johnny Handle February 25 Music Session cum Singaround March 4 Jay Turner March 11 Singers and Musicians Night March 18 Steve Phillips The move to Thursdays rather than Fridays March 24 Singers and Musicians Start Thursdays rolling March 31 Another Singers' night to get over the shock April 7 Highly Strung - cancelled April 14 Singers and Musicians Session April 21 Talisman April 28 Singers and Musicians Session May 5 Tony Martin May 12 Singers and Musicians Session May 19 Grace Notes May 26 Singers and Musicians Session June 2 Jools Parker June 9 Singers and Musicians Session June 16 Bradford Women Singers (Festival) June 23 Roger Sutcliffe (Festival) June 30 Marilyn Middleton-Pollock (Festival) July 7 - Sept 1 Singers and Musicians Sessions September 8 The Inimitable Mr John Pashley September 15 Michael Chapman September 22 Singers and Musicians Night September 29 Lowtown Blues October 6 Dark Lantern October 13 Rolling Crones October 20 Singers and Musicians October 27 Richard Grainger November 3 Singers and Musicians November 10 The Old One Two November 17 AGM and Singaround Philomena takes over from Roger Sutcliffe November 24 Avalon December 1 Jon Harvison December 8 Singaround Session December 15 Geoff Higginbottom December 22 Singaround session December 29 Singaround session Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1995 Peter Cook dies. Kobe earthquake kills thousands. Nick Leeson brings down Barings. Aun Shinrikyo sect releases Sarin on Tokyo tube. Harold Wilson dies. World Trade Organisation established. Fossett croses Pacific in a balloon. Schengenland established. Christopher Reeve is paralysed after a horse accident. US Space Shuttle docks with Russian Mir space station for the first time. DVD format comes out. Israeli PM Rabin assassinated. Ken Saro-Wiwa hanged in Nigeria. Serial killer Fred West commits suicide, wife Rosemary sentenced to life imprisonment. January 5 Singaround Session January 12 Singaround Session January 19 Stanley Accrington January 26 Singaround Session February 2 Kieran Halpin February 9 Singaround Session February 16 Singaround Session February 23 John Kirkpatrick March 2 Singaround Session March 9 Singaround Session March 16 Johnny Silvo March 23 Singaround Session March 30 Singaround Session April 6 Tony Martin April 13 Singaround Session April 20 Singaround Session April 27 Henwen - Gillian Edwards, Fay Gillanders, Magda Phillips, Jill Sampson and Rowena Sommerville May 4 Singaround Session May 11 Roy Harris cancelled May 18 Singaround Session May 25 Singaround Session June 1 George Clarke June 8 Sylvia Needham and Peter Norman June 15 Bridget Guest and Roy Wilcock June 22 Singaround Session June 29 Roger Sutcliffe July 6 Bradford Women Singers July 8 Attwenger plus Richard Grainger and Saskia Tomkins New Venue: Move to the Melborn Hotel, White Abbey Road, Bradford July 13 Singaround Session July 20 Fiona-Katie Roberts July 27 Gordon Tyrrall August 3-24 Singaround Sessions August 31 Phil Hare September 7 Jon Harvison September 14 Judging for Traditional Award 1995 + Singaround September 21 John Pashley September 28 Hall Brothers October 5 Prism October 12 Roy Harris October 19 Dovetail Joint October 26 Joe Stead November 2 Geoff Higginbottom November 9 LocTup Together November 16 Tom McConville November 23 AGM + Singaround November 30 Martin Long December 7 Roy Bailey December 14 Rare Breed December 21 Christmas Party + Singaround December 28 Survivors' Singaround Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1996 Dunblane massacre of 16 schoolkids. Sri Lanka win cricket world cup. Deep blue computer beats Gary Kasparov. Government announces BSE could transfer to humans. Manchester and Canary Wharf bombs.Dolly the Sheep is born. Charles and Diana divroce. Taliban take over Kabul. Clinton wins second election. John Howard becomes PM of Australia. January 4 The Old One Two January 11 Viv Bjerregaard January 18 Singaround January 25 Jools Parker February 1 Risky Business February 8 Singaround February 15 Elaine Morgan February 22 Robb Johnson March 7 Singaround March 14 Jane Ludlam March 21 John Zarfas March 28 Brian Taylor April 4 Anne Gregson April 11 Rare Breed April 18 Johnny Silvo April 25 Tony Martin May 2 Ron Angel May 9 Fiona-Katie Roberts May 16 Bernie Parry May 23 Cathy Winter May 30 Singaround June 6 Pete Morton June 13 Roy Wilcock and Bridget Guest June 20 Stanley Accrington June 27 Gordon Tyrrall July 4 Roger Sutcliffe July 11 John Kirkpatrick July 18 Alchemy July 25 Mike Willoughby August 1, 8, 15 Singarounds August 22 Kevin Loughran August 29 Roy Bailey September 5 Jon Harvison September 12 Barry Smith September 19 Singaround September 26 Penni McLaren-Walker October 3 The Hall Brothers October 10 Phil Hare October 17 Prism October 24 Geoff Higginbottom October 31 Joe Stead November 7 AGM + Singaround ----------------------------------- 40th Anniversary Weekend ----------------------------------- November 14 Robb Johnson and Jon Harvison November 15 New Bushberry Mountain Daredevils, Roger Sutcliffe, Cyril Tawney, Bernie Parry, Risky Business (at Windsor Baths) November 16 Ceilidh (at Windsor Baths) November 17 Survivors' Session ------------------------------------ November 21 Singaround November 28 Roy Harris December 5 Steve Tilston December 12 Martin Long December 19 Gaelforce December 26 Shindig Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1997 Diane Blood wins right to use her dead husband's sperm to produce babies. Hubble space telescope repaired in orbit. The English Patient gets 9 Oscars. Cheddar history teacher found to be related to 9000-yr old Cheddar cave man skeleton. 39 Heaven's Gate cultists commit suicide to join Hale-Bopp. Channel 5 starts up. Tony Blair wins first election. JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book is published. Lady Di killed in car crash. 60 tourists killed at Temple of Hatshepsut. The term "weblog" coined. China takes back Hong Kong. January 2 Singers and Musicians January 9 Bev Sanders and Bob Surgeoner January 16 The Noisy Planet Band January 23 Tony Wilson January 30 Singer-Session (in aid of Amnesty International) February 6 Rare Breed February 13 Tom McConville February 20 Singers and Musicians February 27 Jed Grimes and Stuart Hardy March 6 Vin Garbutt March 13 Brian Swinton and Angie Brown March 20 Wizz Jones March 27 Alistair Hulett and Dave Swarbrick April 3 Mark Atherton and John Price April 10 Roy Wilcock and Bridget Guest April 17 Anthony John Clarke April 24 Anne Curran May 1 Singers and Musicians May 8 Jeff Warner May 15 Enda Kenny May 22 Snakey Jake Johnson May 29 Roy Bailey June 5 Kate Rusby June 12 Elaine Samuels June 19 Bernie Parry June 26 Singers and Musicians July 3 Roger Sutcliffe July 10 John Kirkpatrick July 17 Mike Hurst July 24 Keith Christmas July 31 Tanglefoot August 7-21 Singers and Musicians August 28 Phil Hare September 4 Pete Castle September 11 Brian Swinton and Angela Brown September 18 Risky Business September 25 Jez Lowe October 2 Mike Willoughby October 9 David Fairfax October 16 Donkey's Breakfast October 23 Robb Johnson Sat October 25 Roger Sutcliffe, Sarah Mallinson, Debbie Warren, Joe Stead October 30 Geoff Higginbottom November 6 Kevin Loughran November 13 Singers and Musicians November 20 LocTup Together November 27 Joe Stead December 4 Johnny Handle December 11 Kieran Halpin December 18 Tom Napper and guests December 25 closed Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1998 Cosmologists discover the expansion rate of the universe is increasing. Unabomber pleads guilty. John Glenn becomes oldest man in space (77) on his second flight, 36 years after his first. Lewinsky crisis hits Clinton (or Clinton crisis hits Lewinsky). Viagra gets first approvals. Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. Geri leaves the Spice Girls. Google founded. Catherine Cookson, Pol Pot and Ted Hughes die. Shakespeare in Love wins Oscar. January 01 Singers and Musicians January 08 Gordon Tyrrall January 15 Singers and Musicians January 22 Loobie January 29 Gerry Hallom February 05 Stanley Accrington February 12 Fiona-Katie Roberts and Neal Higgins February 19 Ray Stubbs and his One Man Blues Band February 26 Singers and Musicians March 05 Roy Harris March 12 Banoffi March 19 Bernie Parry March 26 Gaelforce April 02 Graham and Eileen Pratt April 09 Tony Wilson and Mick Roberts April 16 Fil Campbell and Tom McFarland April 23 George Clarke April 30 Snakey-Jake Johnson May 07 Tom McConville May 14 Enda Kenny May 21 Galliard May 28 Anthony John Clark June 04 Risky Business June 11 Paul Downes June 18 Steve Tilston June 25 Colum Sands July 02 Hall Brothers July 09 Travelling Charles Fyson July 16 Roger Sutcliffe July 23 The Borrowers July 30 Jane Edwards August 06 Singers and Musicians August 13 Roy Bailey August 20 Singers and Musicians August 27 Tony Martin 03 September Bruce Baillie and Barry Smith 10 September Jon Harvison and Dave Moss 17 September Tall Stories (Pat Ryan, Ken Howard and Malcolm Gibbons) 24 September Singers and Musicians 01 October Leon Rosselson 08 October Martin Sumpton 15 October Tania Opland and Mike Freeman 22 October LocTup Together 29 October Keith Christmas and Julia Howe 05 November AGM + Singers and Musicians 12 November Oliver Bootle 19 November Alistair Hulett 26 November Robb Johnson 03 December Les Barker 10 December Grace Notes 17 December Ray Stubbs and his One Man Blues Band 24 December CLOSED Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 1999 Designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations, and erroneously thought by many to be the last year of the second millennium AD. Y2K problem excited many people. Global population passed 6 billion. King Hussein of Jordan dies. Columbine High School massacre. Oliver Reed dies during making of Gladiator. NATO in Kosovo war. Posh and Becks marry. George Harrison stabbed. Millennium Dome openbed 07 January Geoff Higginbottom 14 January David Fairfax and Esther Priim 21 January WAZ (Martin Allcock, Pete Zorn and Steve Tilston) 28 January Martin Long 04 February Derek Gifford 11 February Singers and Musicians 18 February Whitney Gin 25 February Fos Brothers Duo 04 March Bram Taylor 11 March John Kirkpatrick 18 March Stuart Boyd 25 March Banoffi 01 April Phil Hare 08 April Tony Wilson and Mick Roberts 15 April Singers and Musicians 22 April Sylvia Needham and Pete Norman 29 April Sarah Mallinson and Debbie Warren 06 May Bee Charmers (Charlie Daykin and Rachel Goodwin) 13 May Singers and Musicians 20 May Jez Lowe 27 May Jim Jarratt 03 June Gordon Tyrrall 10 June Singers and Musicians 17 June John Wright Band 24 June Singers and Musicians 01 July Roger Sutcliffe 08 July Kieran Halpin 15 July Hall Brothers 22 July Singers and Musicians 29 July Stanley Accrington August Singers and Musicians 02 September Singers and Musicians 09 September Roy Bailey 16 September Singers and Musicians 23 September Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley 30 September Kim Seymour 07 October Robb Johnson 14 October Risky Business 21 October Singers and Musicians 28 October Brian Peters 04 November Ron Angel 11 November AGM plus Singers and Musicians 18 November Singers and Musicians 25 November Leon Rosselson 02 December Jon Harvison 09 December Singers and Musicians 16 December Vin Garbutt 23 December CLOSED Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2000 Y2k bug fails to bite. Harold Shipman sentenced for murder of at least 15 people (possibly 350). Tate Modern opens. Israel leaves Lebanon. Concorde crashes in Paris. Kursk sinks. UK fuel protest blockades take place. Sydeny Olympics. Bush beats Gore in Presidential race after a month of legal wrangling over Florida votes. 06 January Singers and Musicians 13 January Pete Morton 20 January Banoffi 27 January Geoff Higginbottom 03 February Steve Tilston 10 February Davy Jones and Frank Kay 17 February Bernie Parry and Tony Taffinder 24 February Tony Wilson 02 March John Kirkpatrick 09 March John Harvison 16 March Singers and Musicians 23 March Pete Castle 30 March Bill Jones 06 April John Birkby 13 April Singers and Musicians 20 April Phil Hare 27 April Magic (Keith Christmas / Julia Howe) 04 May Singers and Musicians 11 May Alistair Hulett 18 May Through the Hedge Backwards 25 May Singers and Musicians 01 June Colum Sands 08 June Bernard Carney 15 June Joe Stead 22 June Keiran Halpin 29 June Singers and Musicians 30 June Roy Bailey: Songs of Resistance (at New Beehive) 06 July Roger Sutcliffe 13 July Keith Kendrick 20 July Singers and Musicians 27 July Gordon Tyrrall 3,10,17,24,31 August Singers and Musicians 07 September Alien Folklife (Joan Kosby / Paul Mercer) 14 September Singers and Musicians 21 September Tom McConville and Pauline Cato 28 September Lester Simpson 05 October Damien Barber 12 October Cockersdale (Val Marsden / John O'Hagan /Graham Pirt) 19 October Singers and Musicians 26 October Belshazzar's Feast (Paul Sartin / Paul Hutchinson) 02 November Singers and Musicians 09 November Maggie Boyle and Steve Anstee 16 November AGM, then Singers and Musicians 23 November Vin Garbutt 30 November Robb Johnson 07 December Singers and Musicians 14 December Esther's Lost Boys 21 December Christmas Party singers 28 December Singers and Musicians Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2001 First year of the 21st century and the Third Millennium. Foot and mouth hits the UK. Space Station Mir is steered out of orbit and falls into the Pacific after 15 years of service. Milosevic surrenders. Apple's OSX and iPod launched. Douglas Adams dies at 49. Nepalese Crown Prince kills his family and then himself. Blair re-elected. 9/11 airliner attacks on WTC and Pentagon. Enron collapses. Denis Tito becomes first space tourist, blasting off from Baikonur Cosmodrome. The first Harry Potter film is released. It's 33 years since 2001: A Space Odyssey was released. 04 Jan Singers and Musicians 11 Jan Geoff Higginbottom 18 Jan Singers and Musicians 25 Jan Martin Young (was Martin Long) 01 Feb Singers and Musicians 08 Feb Bill Jones 15 Feb Singers and Musicians 22 Feb Solan (Richard Chaff, Frances Wilkins, Chris Henderson) 01 March Singers and Musicians 08 March Steve Tilston 15 March Kenny Spiers 22 March Singers and Musicians 29 March Banoffi 05 April Kellie While 12 April Singers and Musicians 19 April Jon Harvison and Dave Moss 26 April Phil Hare 03 May Leon Rosselson 10 May Whitney Gin 17 May Bernard Carney 24 May Bob Dylan's 60th Birthday tribute 31 May Singers and Musicians 07 June Brian Peters 14 June Charity Singers Night 21 June Kate Howden and Paul Jones 28 June Roger Sutcliffe 05 July Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies 12 July Singers and Musicians 19 July Singers and Musicians 26 July John Birkby 02, 09, 16, 23, 30 August Singers and Musicians 06 September Alistair Hulett 13 September Hamish Currie 20 September Singers and Musicians 27 September Chris Manners 04 October Bernie Parry and Tony Taffinder 11 October Kinin 18 October Singers and Musicians 25 October Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman 01 November Hoover the Dog 08 November Singers and Musicians 15 November Ray Stubbs 22 November AGM and Singers 29 November Alistair Russell 06 December Through the Hedge Backwards 13 December Keith Donnelly 20 December Jim Jarrett 27 December Singers and Musicians Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2002 Euro introduced. US invades Afghanistan. East Timor becomes independent. Rock music party in the Palace for the Queen's Golden Jubilee - will the Topic have something similar for ours? Brazil wins world cup. Bali bombing kills 200. John Thaw, Spike Milligan, the Queen Mother and Chuck (Bugs Bunny) Jones die. 03 January - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Summertime 10 January - Singers and Musicians - Theme: The Sea 17 January - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Murder and Death 24 January - Tom McConville 31 January - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Revenge 07 February - Robb Johnson 14 February - Singers and musicians: Romance, spite, sadness, love 21 February - Mick Ryan and Pete Harris 28 February - Geoff Higginbottom 07 March - Belshazzar's Feast: Paul Sartin and Paul Hutchinson 14 March - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Ireland and Irish songs 21 March - Chris Ellis 28 March - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Original work 04 April - Jon Harvison 11 April - Solan: Chris Henderson, Frances Wilkins and Richard Chaff 18 April - Ken Nicol 25 April - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Traditional songs 02 May - Kenny Speirs and Joe Wright 09 May - Banoffi 16 May - Bernard Carney 23 May - Kate Howden, Paul Jones and Tony Taffington 30 May - Emily and Ben, plus Duncan McFarlane 06 June - Singers and Musicians. 13 June - Damien Barber 20 June - Visit from Friday 13 Folk Club 27 June - Leon Rosselson 04 July - Roger Sutcliffe 11 July - Slide featuring Tom Bliss 18 July - Singers and Musicians: Theme: Travelling 25 July - Hall Brothers 01 August - Singers and Musicians: Theme: Yorkshire 08 August - Stanley Accrington 15 August - Singers and Musicians 22 August - Singers and Musicians 29 August - Singers and Musicians 05 Sept - Roy Clinging 12 Sept - Singers and Musicians 19 Sept - Pete Castle 26 Sept - Kieran Halpin Featured Support: Anne Curran 03 October - Ray Stubbs 10 October - Singers and Musicians: Theme: Work 17 October - Kimber's Men, incl Joe Stead 24 October - Singer and Musicians: Theme: Leisure 31 October - Phil Hare 07 November - Duncan McFarlane with Instruments of Torture 14 November - Singers and Musicians: Theme: War 21 November - Hoover the Dog 28 November - Mark Newman 05 December - Roy Bailey 12 December - John Kirkpatrick Featured support Eddie Lawler 19 December - Banoffi 26 December - CLOSED Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates on reentry, killing seven and making the ISS dependent on Russian launchers. Chinese launch first space mission. $100 million of diamons stolen in Belgium. SARS causes a global health alert. Hu Jintao replaces Jiang Zemin as President of China. US-led coalition invades Iraq and topples Saddam Hussein. Human Genome Project completed. David Kelly commits suicide. Mars gets closest to Earth in 60,000 years, Beagle goes but fails to report back. 38.1 deg C highest temp ever recorded in the UK. Schwarzenegger becomes Governator. Concorde retired. 02 January - Instruments of Torture 09 January - Singers and Musicians - Knavery, cheating & cuckoldry 16 January - Robb Johnson 23 January - Risky Business 30 January - Singers and Musicians - Burns Night & Scotland 06 February - Gordon Tyrrall 13 February - Singer and Musicians - no song similar to the one before 20 February - Geoff Higginbottom 27 February - Steve Tilston 06 March - Singers and Musicians - the Sea, Water, Ships . 13 March - Tim Moon 20 March - Jon Harvison 27 March - Singers and Musicians - Ireland and things Irish 03 April - Paul Tiernan 10 April - Vin Garbutt 17 April - Singers and Musicians - Luck, Chance 24 April - Bill Jones and Sarah Wright 01 May - Singers and Musicians - Death and Destruction 08 May - Jezz Lowe and the Bad Pennies 15 May - Singers and Musicians - Travelling, Migration, Homeland 22 May - Maggie Boyle 27 May - Singers and Musicians - War, Politics, Peace, Passion 05 June - Instruments of Torture 12 June - Pete Morton 19 June - The Lost Boys. Featured Support John Waller 26 June - Singers and Musicians: new material.. 03 July - Roger Sutcliffe FS Tony Martin and Roger Knowles 10 July - Tony Martin and Roger Knowles 17 July - Tom Napper Tom Bliss FS: Carole Langdale 24 July - Singers and Musicians: Chorus 31 July - Roy Harris 70th Birthday Round August - Singers and Musicians 04 September - Kate Howden, Paul Jones and Tony Taffinder FS: Gerry Cooper 11 September - Simon Howarth and Andy May FS: Fountainhead 18 September - Karl Dallas FS:KTB 25 September - Singers and Musicians: Drinking Songs 02 October - Kevin Loughran. FS: Ian Hill 09 October - Bridget Guest and Roy Wilcock 16 October - Darren Poyzer FS: Julie Ellison 23 October - Singers and Musicians: Gaping Goose visit 30 October - Tom and Barbara Brown FS Emily and Ben 06 November - Singers and Musicians: Treason, Plot and Revolt 13 November - Steafan Hannigan and Saskia Tomkins FS: Friendly Visit 20 November - The Amazing Mr Smith FS:Wench All 27 November - Emily Weygang and Ben Harker FS Kevin Young 04 December - AGM and Singers' and Musicians' Night 11 December - Kieran Halpin 18 December - The Durbervilles 25 December - closed Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2004 UN's International Year of Rice. Queen Mary 2 launched. Last Lord of the Rings film gets 11 Oscars. Madrid Al-Qaeda bombings kill 200. EU expands to 25 members incl Poland. SpaceShipOne is the first private space mission. Chechnyans take 1300 people hostage at a school. Colossal tsunami in the Indian Ocean kills nearly 300,000. Taipei 101 becomes tallest skyscraper, at 8metres over half a kilometre tall. 01 January - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Old and New 08 January - Barbara Baker Jazz Quintet 15 January - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Distance, Space and Time. 22 January - Derek Gifford Featured support: Robin and Ben 29 January - Singers and Musicians - Scotland/Burns Theme 05 February - Phil Hare Featured Support: Susie Fox 12 February - Grace Notes Featured Support: Dave Speight 19 February - Geoff Higginbottom. Featured Support: Bruce Baillie 26 February - Singers and Musicians - Theme: The Countryside. 04 March - Barry Smith & The Westport Tinkers FS: The Waggoners 11 March - John Conolly Featured Support: Dave Kidman 18 March - Steve and Kristi Nebel Featured Support: Bar the Shouting 25 March - Singers and Musicians - Theme: colours; reds, blues, yellows 01 April - Mundy Turner Featured Support: Ian Hill 08 April - Keith Kendrick Featured Support: Debra Cowan 15 April - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Cheerful, happy, uplifting songs. 22 April - Duncan McFarlane Featured Support: Eddie Lawler 29 April - Roy Bailey Featured Support: Darren Poyzer 06 May - Singers and Musicians - Theme: English Songs 13 May - Tom McConville Featured Support : Tony Taffinder 20 May - Pete Smith and John Buckley 27 May - Kevin Dempsey and Joe Broughton Featured Support : Hannah and Clair 03 June - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Moon, June, Lunes and Tunes 10 June - Jon Harvison. Featurd Support: Karl Dallas 17 June - Wench All. Featured Support: Loose Covers 24 June - Banoffi Featured Support: Tony Morris 01 July - Roger Sutcliffe Featured Support: Ray Padgett 08 July - Touchwood Featured Support: Codarajo 15 July - Hamish Currie Featured Support: Janet Wood 22 July - Stony Featured Support: Karen and Colin Thompson 29 July - First Double Header- Chris Manners and Fountainhead August - Singers and Musicians 2 September - Gina le Faux Featured Support: Three Score and Ten 9 September - Jed Grimes Featured Support: Adrian Nation 16 September - Ron Trueman Border Featured Support: Paul Pearson 23 September - Singers and Musicians: Theme: Food 30 September - The Lost Boys. Featured Support: Lyn Geddes 07 October - The Queensberry Rules Featured Support: Dominic Collins 14 October - The Hall Brothers Featured Support: Shaun T Hunter 21 October - Singers and Musicians - Theme: Leaving, parting, separation 28 October - Whitney Gin. Featured Support: Anne Curran 4 November - Julie Ellison Featured Support: Lyte Flyte 11 November - Kimber's Men Featured Support: Shady Coves 18 November - AGM and General Singaround 25 November - Darren Poyzer Featured Support: Steve O'Donoghue 02 December - Ruth Price and Sadie Greenwood 09 December - Vin Garbutt 16 December - Scold's Bridle 23 December - The Durbervilles Featured Support: Holbeck Mummers 30 December - Singers and Musicians: Out with the Old Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2005 Another new Tory leader: David Cameron the fifth since 1996. The space shuttle makes one brief return to space. Adriana Iliescu gives birth at 66, the oldest woman to do so. Saddam Hussein goes on trial. Israel leaves Gaza after 38 years. Former PM Hariri assassinated in Beirut and Syrians leave Lebanon after 29 years. Pope dies, new Pope installed. A380 superjumbo makes first test flight. Labour wins 3rd term. Star Wars and Star Trek both do last episodes. Live8 in Hyde Park. London wins 2012 Olympics. July 7 London tube bombs kill 50. England win Ashes for the first time since 1987. Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans. Huge earthquake hits Pakistan, killing 80,000. Buncefield Oil Terminal blows up. Topic leaves The Melborn Hotel after 11 years. 06 January - Singers and Musicians: Theme: (In with) the new: fresh, original songs 13 January - Joe Stead's lecture on Paul Robeson 20 January - Double Header: Dave Speight and Susie Fox 27 January - Tom Napper Tom Bliss Featured Support - Birkenschawe 03 February - Gordon Tyrrall 10 February - Singers and Musicians: Scottish evening 17 February - Dana and Susan Robinson 24 February - Donal O'Connor 03 March - John Wright Band 10 March - Maggie Holland 16 March - Steve Newman and Tony Cox 24 March - Singers and Musicians - Irish and Welsh songs 31 March - Kate Howden and Paul Jones 07 April - Double Header: George Papavgeris and Shaun T Hunter 14 April - Roy Clinging and Neil Brookes 21 April - Singers and Musicians: Theme: English songs 28 April - Phil Hare Featured Support - Ryan McGovern 05 May - Artisan Featured Support - Mark Wilson 12 May - Singers and Musicians: - Things missing, disappointments. 19 May - Lyn Geddes 26 May -Double Header: Tom Bliss and Mark Newman 02 June - Singers and Musicians - Royalty 09 June - Jez Lowe Featured Support - Darren Poyzer 16 June - Soundsphere 23 June - Tom and Barbara Brown 30 June - Double Header: Janet Wood and Friendly Visit 07 July - Roger Sutcliffe 14 July - Singers and Musicians 21 July - Hall Brothers with Hannah + Clair 28 July - Double Header: Bruce Baillie & Tony Taffinder and Karen & Colin Thompson August - Unthemed Singers and Musicians 01 September - Jeff Warner 08 September - Kirsty McGee and Mat Martin 15 September - Magna Carta Featured Support - Anne Curran 22 September - cloudstreet Featured Support - Tom Napper and Tom Bliss 29 September - Singers and Musicians: Theme: Plants and Growing 06 October - Dave Gibb Featured Support : Sam Dunkley 13 October - Brian Peters 20 October - The Bisserov Sisters 27 October - Winter Wilson Featured Support : David Camlin 03 November - Singers and Musicians - 49-Up/Time 10 November - Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman Featured Support - Gerry Mcneice 17 November - AGM and Singers' Night 24 November - Steve Tilston Featured Support: Bitter Shanty 01 December - Alan Reid and Rob van Sante Featured Support - Alistair Russell 08 December - Duncan McFarlane Acoustic Band 15 December - Double Header: Gerry Cooper and Kevin Loughran 22 December - Singaround, with Three Score and Ten and the Holbeck Moor Mummers 29 December - Singers' and Musicians' night. Last session at the Melborn! Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2006 - 50th Anniversary Year! Other 50th birthdays celebrated this year are the Hungarian Uprising, the Suez Crisis and the magazine New Scienitst. The Topic starts at new venue, Cock & Bottle. 350 killed in Haj stampede in Mecca. Charles Kennedy resigns as LibDem leader with alcohol problems. Hamas wins Palestine elections. Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit wins an Oscar. Flintoff leads England to first Test victory in India in 21 years. Bird flu arrives in the form of a dead swan in Cellardyke. Israel pummels Lebanon over the summer after a border incident with Hezbollah. North Korea lets off its first nuclear device. The new and successful Bond is Daniel Craig. Russian spy Litvinenko poisoned in London with Polonium-210. Saddam Hussein hanged. 05 January - Singers and Musicians: Theme: Water. And the new venue! 12 January - Westport Featured Support - Scarlet Heights 19 January - Solan Extended Floor Spot - Achord 26 January - Double Header Kath Reade and Richard Heacock and Becky Price 02 February - Tom Napper Tom Bliss Featured Support : Ian Hill 09 February - Singers and Musicians: St Patrick Burns 16 February - William Pint and Felicia Dale Featured Support - Pedigree Chums 23 February - Roy Bailey Featured Support : Simon Alexander 02 March - Anne Lister Featured support: FYRISH 09 March - Stanley Accrington 16 March - Singers and Musicians Optional Theme: Earth 23 March - Judy Cook Featured support: Andy Hill 30 March - Julie Ellison Featured support: Danyluk and Card 06 April - Rodney Cordner and Jean-Pierre Rudolph 13 April - Singers and Musicians Optional Theme: Fire 20 April - Double Header Emily and Ben and Tim Moon 27 April - Steve Ashley 04 May - John Conolly Featured Support: Vince Jerrison & Nickie Willis 11 May - Singers and Musicians Optional Theme: Air 18 May - Bernard Carney Featured Support: Mulberry Blue 25 May - Pete Abbott Featured Support: Bandersnatch 01 June - Pete Smith and John Buckley Featured Support: Sebastian Clark 08 June - Singers and Musicians Optional Theme: Freedom 15 June - CrossCurrent Featured Support: Cive Leyland 17 June - Cock & Bottle Beer and Folkfest Saturday special with Mulberry Blue, Eddie Lawler, Clive Leyland, Emily and Ben, Bruce Baillie, Lyn Geddes, Tony and Rahel, and John Waller 22 June - Robin Laing Featured Support: Rough Pearl 29 June - Roger Sutcliffe 06 July - Alistair Russell and Chris Parkinson Featured Support: Dark Horse 13 July - The Amazing Mr Smith Featured Support: Ed McGurk 20 July - Double Header Robin and Ben and Entropy 27 July - Roger Sutcliffe Featured Support:Molly Bloom 03 August - Singers and Musicians 10 August - Singers and Musicians 17 August - Singers and Musicians 24 August - Singers and Musicians TOPIC 50th ANNIVERSARY SEASON An autumn season of performances to mark the founding of the Topic in September 1956 31 August - Jim Malcolm Featured Support:Pillowfish 07 September - Paul Downes 14 September - Vin Garbutt 21 September - The Queensberry Rules 28 September - Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen Featured Support: Notts Alliance 05 October - Beck Sian Featured Support: Mulberry Blue 12 October - Double Header David Moss and Gordon Tyrrall 19 October - Phil Hare Featured Support: The Jill Fielding Band 26 October - Eddie WalkerFeatured Support Paul Harrison 02 November - Allan Taylor Featured Support: The Hall Brothers 09 November - Dana and Susan Robinson Featured Support: Debra Cowan 16 November - Julie Felix 23 November - Singers and Musicians 30 November - Wizz Jones Featured Support: Ryan McGovern 07 December - Tom Kitching and Paul Sullivan Featured Support: Pigjig 14 December - Kieran Halpin Featured Support Aidan Jolly 21 December - Scarlet Heights (the Original Duo) Featured Support: The Holbeck Mummers and Three Score and Ten 28 December - Singers and Musicians Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2007 51st year. Bulgaria and Romania join the EEC. South Korea's Ban Ki-moon becomes UN Secretary-General. England surrender the Ashes in a 5-0 whitewash. David Beckham moves to the US for a quarter billion dollars. The rebuilt Wembley is finally opened. Several British TV companies are involved in dodgy phone-in scandals. Hoo-ha over 15 Royal Navy personnel kidnapped by Iran, and the selling of their stories afterwards. Mass shooting kills 33 at Virginia Tech. Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness sit together in Stormont. Tony Blair hands over to Gordon Brown after 10 years as PM, and immediately the nation is assailed by terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow, floods all over the place and a return of foot and mouth. And England fails to qualify for Euro 2008. Lewis Hamilton has a storming start to his Formula 1 career and fails to win his debut championship by just one point. Alesha Dixon wins Strictly Come Dancing. Benazir Bhutto is assassinated. 04 January - The Durbervilles 11 January - Tom Napper Tom Bliss Featured Support - Gerry McNeice 18 January - Singers and Musicians 25 January - Jez Lowe Featured Support - Liz Ryder 01 February - Double Header Gerry Cooper and Clive Leyland 08 February - Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer Featured Support - Roger Davies 15 February - Pete Morton and Floorspots 22 February - Hall Brothers Featured Support - Dave Haigh 01 March - Singers and Musicians 08 March - Grace Notes 15 March - Double Header Laura Hockenhull and Mulberry Blue 22 March - John Wright 29 March - Mark Newman Featured support - Whitney Gin (Mick Folkard, Tony Suttill, Phil Donely, Chris Folkard) 05 April - Martin Carthy 12 April - Steve Tilston Featured support: Chris and Siobhan Nelson 19 April - Singers and Musicians 26 April - Anthony John Clarke Featured support - Sam Hird 03 May - Tom McConville and Dave Wood Featured Support - Simon Alexander 10 May - Double Header Bandersnatch and Lyn Geddes 17 May - Sketch 24 May - Singers and Musicians 31 May - George Papavgeris Featured support - Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts 07 June - Julie Ellison Featured Support - Ryan McGovern 14 June - Pete Abbott Featured support - Elbow Jane 21 June - Singers and Musicians 28 June - Duncan McFarlane Acoustic Band Featured support - Bruce Baillie 05 July - Roger Sutcliffe 12 July - Double Header FYRISH and Liz Ryder 19 July - Invited Singers Night Local perfomers Rahel Guzelian, Tony Levy, Ceri Mai Pedrick, Simon Alexander, Dave Kidman and John Waller. 26 July - Robb Johnson Featured Support - YLEM 02 August - Singers and Musicians 09 August - Singers and Musicians 16 August - Singers and Musicians 23 August - Singers and Musicians 30 August - Singers and Musicians 06 September - Roy Bailey 13 September - cloudstreet Featured Support - John Burge 20 September - Laura Hockenhull Featured Support - Dark Horse 27 September - Singers and Musicians 04 October - The Music of The Carter Family 11 October - Hoover the Dog Featured Support - Heather Dale 18 October - Double Header Rosie Clegg and Roger Davis 25 October - Bob Fox 01 November - Clive Gregson Featured Support - Ceri Mai Pedrick 08 November - Julie Felix 15 November - Sara Grey and Kieron Means Featured Support - Michael Rossiter 22 November - Allan Taylor 29 November - Double Header Bitter Shanty and Tony Taffinder and Mark Mawby 06 December - Phil Hare Featured Support - Allen Smith 13 December - Singers and Musicians 20 December - Scarlet Heights Featured Support - Holbeck Mummers 27 December - Singers and Musicians Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2008 Violence and ethnic tension in Kenya kick off the year after apparently rigged elections. The Topic moves to the Bradford Irish Club. Worst snowstorms in China in 50 years. In Cuba, Castro stands down in favour of his brother. Zimbabwe in crisis, including a rigged election. The Beijing Olympic flame's tour of cities around the world is met with protests about Tibet. House prices finally start to fall in the UK. Boris Johnson becomes Mayor of London, ousting Ken Livingstone after 8 years. Huge cyclone hits Burma, killing more than 100,000 people. Arthur C Clarke dies. 42-year old Austrian woman freed after 24 years locked in her basement by her father. Huge earthquake hits China, killing tens of thousands. UK wins 47 medals at the Beijing Olympics, including 19 gold. Russia and Georgia have a small war that presages a new Cold War. Worldwide credit crunch, bank collapses and rising food prices presages recession, depression and the collapse of civilisation and the deaths of billions. China launches a 3-man space mission and undertakes its first spacewalk. Lewis Hamilton becomes the youngest-ever Formula 1 champion. Barack Obama is elected US President. Woolworths goes bust. Sir Chris Hoy is BBC Sports Personality of the Year. 03 January - Singers and Musicians 10 January - Kimber's Men Featured Support - Voicemale 17 January - Double Header Dark Horse and Chris Milner 24 January - David Moss and Masha Kaestner Featured Support - Otra 31 January - Elbow Jane 07 February - Singers and Musicians 14 February - Jon Harvison Featured Support - Geoff Watson 21 February - Double Header Gareth Davies-Jones and Katriona & Jamie Roberts 28 February - Emily Smith with Jamie McClennan Featured Support - John Parkes 06 March - Singers and Musicians 13 March - Jackie Oates 20 March - Double Header Pillowfish and YLEM 27 March - Ceri Rhys Matthews and Christine Cooper 03 April - Singers and Musicians 10 April - Debra Cowan and Pete Smith Featured support: Peter & Barbara Snape 17 April - Bernard Carney Featured support: Troy Faid 24 April - Double Header Danyluk and Card and Chris and Siobhan Nelson 01 May - Tom Bliss 08 May - Fil Campbell 15 May - Cockersdale Featured Support - Desi Friel 22 May - Ember (Emily Williams and Rebecca Sullivan) Featured Support - The Tuppenny Ceilidh Band 29 May - Double Header Pamela Ward and Paul Cherrington and Kate Bramley 05 June - Singers and Musicians 12 June - Soundsphere 19 June - John Conolly 26 June - Singers and Musicians 03 July - Roger Sutcliffe 10 July - Ruth Notman 17 July - Hall Brothers + John Carey 24 July - Triple Whammy: Ed McGurk, Mixing Up The Medicine, and Paul Wrigley & Sue Burgess 31 July - Eddy O'Dwyer with special guest Tony Levy 07 August - Singers and Musicians 14 August - Singers and Musicians 21 August - Singers and Musicians 28 August - Singers and Musicians 04 September - Roger Davies 11 September - Bandersnatch Featured Support - John Hepworth 18 September - Singers and Musicians 25 September - Double Header Notts Alliance and YLEM 02 October - Singers and Musicians 09 October - The Amazing Mr Smith 16 October - Kirsty McGee and Mat Martin 23 October - Singers and Musicians 30 October - Bryony 06 November - Celtish 13 November - Mark Newman Featured Support - Lazy Dazy 20 November - Fiona Katie Roberts Featured Support - Traditional Echoes 27 November - Tich Frier 04 December - Singers and Musicians 11 December - Tom Bliss 17 December - Scarlet Heights Featured Support - Holbeck Mummers NB we know 17th was a Wednesday 25 December - Closed! for the first club night since 2003 Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2009 Israel-Gaza war over the new year. Matt Smith announced as new Doctor Who. 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11. Airbus ditches in Hudson River with no deaths among the 155 on board. Biggest snowfall in the UK for 18 (or in the South West, 30) years. JG Ballard dies, as do Clement Freud, Bill Frindall, John Mortimer, Keith Floyd, Tony Hart, Norman Painting (Phil Archer), Patrick McGoohan, Farah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and long-time colour cameraman Jack Cardiff (A Matter of Life and Death, Black Narcissus, The African Queen, The Vikings, Death on the Nile and Rambo: First Blood Part II). Slumdog Millionaire wins 8 Oscars. Big earthquake in Italy. Piracy off the Somali coast gets more headlines. Swine Flu pandemic kills more than 14,000 around the globe, though it is less deadly than originally feared. Expenses row dogs some MPs. Jenson Button becomes Formula 1 World Champion. Mass protests in Tehran follow a disputed presidential election. The deaths of Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch during 2009 means that this November 11th - 91 years after the First World War ended - was the first Armistice Day with no soldier, sailor or airman of the millions in the The Great War left alive to bear witness. Big climate change conference in Copenhagen doesn't go very well. 01 January - Closed 08 January - David Ferrard 15 January - Double Header Wendy Arrowsmith and Berkana 22 January - Pete Morton 29 January - Flossie Malavialle 05 February - Singers and Musicians 12 February - Janet Russell 19 February - Landermason 26 February - Stanley Accrington 05 March - Singers and Musicians 12 March - Gina le Faux 19 March - Irish Night with Phoenix 26 March - Bernie Parry 02 April - Singers and Musicians Featuring John Waller and his Tapestry CD 09 April - Marie Little 16 April - Double Header Acoustica and Gerry McNeice 23 April - Rosie Doonan 30 April - The Durbervilles 07 May - Singers and Musicians 14 May - Kieran Halpin 21May - FYRISH 28 May - Steve Turner 04 June - Singers and Musicians 11 June - Gareth Davies-Jones 18 June - Kimber's Men 25 June - Double Header Amy Atkinson & Midnight Special and Ian McKone 02July - Roger Sutcliffe 09 July - Vin Garbutt 16 July - Double Header Anna Shannon and Jon Brindley 23 July - Double Header Andy Hill and Five and Dimers 30 July - Robb Johnson 06 August - Singers and Musicians 13 August - Singers and Musicians 20 August - Singers and Musicians 27 August - Singers and Musicians 03 September - Jez Lowe 10 September - Double Header Andi Neate and Ewan McLennan 17 September - Dana and Susan Robinson 24 September - Singers and Musicians 01 October - Martin Wyndham-Read 08 October - Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby 15 October - Rag Mama Rag 22 October - Duncan McFarlane 29 October - Queensberry Rules 05 November - Singers and Musicians plus Raise Your Banners Songwriting final 12 November - Marian Bradfield 19 November - Broom Bezzums 26 November - Singers and Musicians 03 December - Gwyneth Keen and Scarlett Bazaar 10 December - George Papavgeris 16 December - Scarlet Heights plus Holbeck Mummers NB we know the 16th was a Wednesday 24 December - Singers and Musicians 31 December - Closed Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2010 January has temps down to -22degC in some parts of Britain. Huge earthquake in Haiti, and an even huger one in Chile. Amy Williams wins GB skeleton bob Olympic gold. Ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano disrupts European air traffic. General Election in the UK results in a Con-Lib coalition, the first peacetime coalition in 70 years, with David Cameron as Prime Minister - and £83 billion in cuts. Massive oil spill from BP drill rig in Gulf of Mexico. The Glastonbury Festival is 40, with temps 50degCs higher than six months ago... World Cup football in South Africa, England were bundled out of it 1-4 to Germany, then fail to win bid to host 2018 event. 25th anniversary of Live Aid. Pope visits Britain. Ed Miliband beats brother David to be new Labour leader. Los 33 miners rescued after 69 days stuck 2000 feet underground in Chile. Sebastian Vettel is the youngest ever Formula 1 world champion. North Korea tries to start WW3. WikiLeaks releases hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic messages. Rare Topic Gig cancellation! 3 December 2010's performance by Bowie, Bliss and Cockerham off owing to heavy snow. Students protest fees going to £9000 a year. 07 January - Singers and Musicians 14 January - Double Header Paula Ryan and Sarah Dean 21 January - Brian Peters 28 January - Fiona-Katie Roberts 04 February - Singers and Musicians 11 February - Ray Hearne 18 February - Tom Leary & PJ Wright 25 February - Zoox - Linda Game, Jo May and Becky Menday 04 March - Anthony John Clarke 11 March - LightGarden - David Moss and Masha Kaestner 18 March - Singers and Musicians (Irish theme for St Patrick's) 25 March - Tattie Jam 01 April - Steve Ashley 08 April - Wendy Arrowsmith 15 April - Singers and Musicians 22 April - Mark Newman 29 April - Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts 06 May - Singers and Musicians 13 May - John Kirkpatrick 20 May - Grace Notes - Maggie Boyle, Lynda Hardcastle, Helen Hockenhull 27 May - Double Header Eddie Lawler and Pamela Wyn Shannon 03 June - Rubus - Emily Portman, David Newey and Christi Andropolis 10 June - Mela Matik Singers and Musicians 17 June - Ewan McLennan 24 June - Larry Hanks 01 July - Roger Sutcliffe 08 July - Singers and Musicians 15 July - Double header James Bar Bowen and Zoe Mulford 22 July - Pat Sherry & Stuart Douglas 29 July - Robb Johnson 05 August - Singers and Musicians 12 August - Singers and Musicians 19 August - Singers and Musicians 26 August - Singers and Musicians 02 September - Steve Tilston 09 September - Singers and Musicians 16 September - Edwina Hayes 23 September - Sarah McQuaid 30 September - John Tams & Barry Coope 07 October - Tich Frier 14 October - Singers and Musicians 21 October - Suntrap - Sara Byers, Elisa Bergersen, Paul Hoad, Mary Wilson 28 October - Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner 04 November - Singers and Musicians 11 November - Winter Wilson 18 November - Hall Brothers and John Carey with Michelle Plum 25 November - Singers and Musicians 02 December - Bowie, Bliss & Cockerham booked but gig was cancelled due to snow 09 December - Kieran Halpin 16 December - Roger Davies 23 December - Singers and Musicians 30 December - Singers and Musicians Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2011 Small earthquake in Yorkshire, epicentre near Ripon. Gerry Rafferty dies - he and Billy Connolly were The Humblebums and were at the Topic in 1968. Bert Jansch dies - he was at the Topic in 1965. Old Topic minute and treasurers' books turn up, and Trevor Charnock fills in missing details of acts hosted by us from 1960 to 1970. Sudan splits. Massive La Nina floods in Australia and Brazil. Popular uprising in Tunisia. Popular uprising in Egypt, internet cut off, President Mubarak ejected. Massive earthquake and tsunami hits Japan and kills 20,000. Popular uprising in Libya leads to Western military intervention and death of Gaddafi. Popular uprising in Syria leads to suppression. US Special Forces kill Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. Queen visits Ireland - first monarch in 100 years. William and Kate get married. Obama makes state visit to Britain. In one week in July, the eighth and last Harry Potter film is released, ten years after the first; the last ever Space Shuttle is launched, 30 years after the first; and the News Of The World comes to a sudden final issue 167 years after the first, victim of its phone-hacking culture. Eurozone crisis, esp in Greece. Occupy Wall Street protests all over the West. Kim dies in North Korea. 06 January - Singers and Musicians 13 January - Double Header Luke Hirst and Kath Reade 20 January - Gerry McNeice & Niamh Boadle 27 January - Plum Hall Reg Meuross had to cancel owing to family illness 03 February - Singers and Musicians 10 February - Tom Kitching and Gren Bartley 17 February - Dave Swarbrick - 45 years after his first appearance here 24 February - Lester Simpson 03 March - Singers and Musicians 10 March - Jez Lowe - legend from the North East 16 March - St Patrick's Special - A Wednesday event 24 March - Lucy Ward - eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary folk songs from Derby 31 March - Darren Poyzer & friends - singer-songwriter and friends 07 April - Singers and Musicians 14 April - Tom Bliss and Phil Wilcox 21 April - Jinski - acoustic guitar duo Steve Jinski (songwriter) and Dave Kennedy 28 April - Jason McNiff 05 May - Singers and Musicians 12 May - Brother Crow - acoustic duo from Weardale, Andrew Davison (guitar and bouzouki) and Graeme Carroll (mandolin). 19 May - The Hut People - duo playing tunes from around the world, Sam Pirt (accordion) and Gary Hammond (percussion) 26 May - Rodney Branigan - blends rock, folk, flamenco, madrigal, classical, bluegrass and jazz 02 June - Singers and Musicians - 09 June - GU4 - four part a cappella harmony group based in Leicestershire 16 June - Andi Neate - Scottish singer-songwriter from a west coast island 23 June - Rebekah Findlay - singer and multi-instrumentalist based in North Yorkshire 30 June - Roger Sucliffe - hardy perennial blues man and former Topic resident 07 July - Singers and Musicians 14 July - Robb Johnson / plumhall - combining protest and chanson 21 July - Double Header Jon Harvison and Phil Cockerham - two local songwriters 28 July - Gareth Davies-Jones - performer, activist and campaigner originally from County Down August - Singers and Musicians 01 September - Double Header Jason Johnson and Garron Frith - two Manchester songwriters 08 September - Walsh & Pound - harmonica/banjo duo 15 September - Tom & Barbara Brown - married duo singing together since 1970 22 September - Gerry Cooper & Phil Snell 29 September - Reg Meuross 06 October - Singers and Musicians 13 October - Richard Grainger and Chris Parkinson 20 October - Paul Handyside 27 October - Christi Andropolis & Matt Price 03 November - Faerd, Dørge, Becker & Hjetland 10 November - Singers and Musicians 17 November - Benny Graham Featured Support: VoiceMale 24 November - Martin Carthy Raise Your Banners night special 01 December - Singers' and Musicians' night 08 December - Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston 15 December - Pat Sherry and Stuart Douglas 22 December - Singers' and Musicians' night 29 December - Singers' and Musicians' night Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2012 Encyclopaedia Britannica discontinues its print edition after 244 years, as does Newsweek magazine after 80. Last solar Transit of Venus until 2117. Whitney Houston, Donna Summer and Davy Jones die. Also guitarist Bert Weedon, author of Play In A Day; Levon Helm, of The Band; Deep Purple's Jon Lord and Bee Gee Robin Gibb. And Max Bygraves. Outside music, Clive Dunn, Larry Hagman, Neil Armstrong, Vidal Sassoon and Bernard Lovell die. The 100th anniversaries of the death of Scott of the Antarctic (March), and the sinking of the Titanic (April). Titanic film-maker James Cameron makes it to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest solo descent. Felix Baumgartner jumps from a record 24 miles high and is the first person to go supersonic by by himself. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Wettest April and wettest June in the UK for 100 years. Andy Murray is the first British male to reach a Wimbledon singles final in 74 years, then wins the US Open. 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London go very well. Bradley Wiggins wins Tour de France. Europe nicks Ryder Cup. Jimmy Savile posthumously exposed as a serial paedophile. Higgs boson discovered, and some wacky exoplanets. Enormous Frankenstormsurge called Sandy floods New York. ("IT'S GLOBAL WARMING, STUPID" is Bloomberg Businessweek's headline). Obama re-elected President of the US. 05 January - Singers and Musicians 12 January - The Sail Pattern 19 January - Dave Vermond 26 January - Pilgrim's Way 02 February - Singers and Musicians 09 February - The Durbervilles 16 February - Pete Morton 23 February - O'Holley & Tidow 01 March - Singers and Musicians 08 March - Jon Palmer Acoustic Band 15 March - St Patrick's - Open Mic Night 22 March - Stanley Accrington 29 March - Caffrey/McGurk 05 April - Singers and Musicians 12 April - Vicki Swann and Jonny Dyer 19 April - Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar 26 April - Marie Little 03 May - Singers and Musicians 10 May - Leon Rosselson 17 May - Dave Ellis & Boo Howard 24 May - Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts 31 May - Joseph Topping 07 June - Singers and Musicians 14 June - Paula Ryan 21 June - Brian Peters 28 June - Martin Wyndham-Read 05 July - Singers and Musicians 12 July - Roger Sutcliffe and Liz Ryder 19 July - David Newey and Shona Kipling 26 July - Robb Johnson 02 August - Singers and Musicians 09 August - Singers and Musicians 16 August - Singers and Musicians 23 August - Singers and Musicians 30 August - Singers and Musicians (Dana and Susan Robinson had to cancel as Dana broke his wrist) 06 September - Roger Davies 13 September - Jaywalkers 20 September - Anna Elias and The Forlorn Hope 27 September - Gren Bartley 04 October - Singers and Musicians 11 October - David Gibb & Elly Lucas 18 October - Fiona Katie Roberts and Eddie Lawler 25 October - Alistair Russell 01 November - Singers & Musicians Special tribute night for club founder Alex Eaton 08 November - Soundsphere 15 November - Roger Wilson 22 November - Steve Tilston 29 November - Gerry McNeice Band 06 December - Singers & Musicians 13 December - Emily Weygang and Ben Harker 20 December - Pat Sherry & Stuart Douglas 27 December - Festive Singers and Musicians Top | topic home | topic history | links to guest sites 2013 First known fatal helicopter crash in London. Violent hostage incident in Algeria. French intervention in Mali. Pope Benedict XVI resigns - the first pope to do so in 598 years (which is more than 10x the lifespan of The Topic). Francis I takes over. In February a 7,000 tonne meteor arrives over Russia at 40,000 mph, exploding several miles in the air with the force of 30 Hiroshima-level atom bombs. Richard III (the 15thC king) confirmed found buried in a Leicester car park. Horsemeat-in-beef-products scandal alarms Europe. North Korea threatens merciless thermonuclear war. Richard Briers (The Good Life) dies, as does Margaret Thatcher (The Prime Minister). Iain Banks pre-announces his own death, then marries his future widow (as he put it). Alex Ferguson retires as Man United manager after 26 years; David Beckham also retires. 03 January - Singers and Musicians 10 January - Bella Gaffney 17 January - Will Kaufman's presentation on Woody Guthrie - Hard Times and Hard Travelin' 24 January - Steve Hicks & Lynn Goulbourn 31 January - Wendy Arrowsmith 07 February - Singers and Musicians 14 February - Plumhall 21 February - Lousie Jordan 28 February - Jez Lowe 07 March - Singers and Musicians 14 March - Ray Hearne 21 March - Michael J. Tinker 28 March - Gavin Davenport & Tom Kitching 04 April - Singers and Musicians 11 April - Winter Wilson 18 April - Miriam Backhouse-Evans 25 April - Duncan McFarlane with Anne Brivonese 02 May - Singers and Musicians 09 May - Kyle Carey with Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker 16 May - Steve and Ruth Smith with Nancy Schneeloch