Thursday 19th April 2018 at 8:30
Entry - £6 (£5 members)

Paul Walker &
Karen Pfeiffer

With their unique onstage-chemistry and their widely praised harmonies, the Anglo-German duo Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer entertain and engage their audiences wherever they perform. Combining their original material with a fine choice of folk favourites Paul and Karen craft a show of "songs with groove and goosebumps guaranteed", as the Stuttgart press put it recently. Karen’s voice, clear and yet so powerful, leaves audiences mesmerised. She adds with alto recorder, tin whistle and percussive instruments to Paul’s vocal and individual guitar style. In addition to their UK tours, these two exceptional musicians (Stuttgart press) have established a significant reputation in Ireland and Germany and therefore sometimes the odd German folk song, or even a German ‘joke’ will find its way into a "fantastically entertaining night" (Secret Sounds).

The duo hails from Staffordshire although Karen is originally from Stuttgart, Germany, where Paul discovered her busking in a city centre park. He invited her to perform in England and the two of them have now been playing music together since 2012
 

Topic News - IMPORTANT - EARLIER START/FINISH 
Having considered the response to the proposal for earlier start/finish times, the committee has decided to implement a starting time for Guest Nights of 8 pm to finish at 10.30 pm.

This will start in SEPTEMBER 2018 and will be closely monitored. Comments about the new arrangement will always be welcomed. Tony Charnock will be reminding Topic-goers relentlessly in future newsletters, and it will also be mentioned on club nights

Topic Historic Photo Gallery
In 1956 The Topic had its 60th anniversary. Each week during that autumn we posted a different historic photo taken in or relevant to the club during the 60s, 70s, 60s and even 90s, with some historical context. Many photos were by Eddie Saxton and Brian Lawton, and others centred on the 21st and 25th anniversaries. Finally they are on the website in a single gallery here.

The Topic at 60
The view from 2016, by John Waller. This is not a comprehensive history - instead John has put together a snapshot of the Topic as it is now, telling the story of how those currently responsible for the club's running came to be involved.

Topic 60th Song Lyrics
Club members and attenders were invited to write a song to mark our 60th birthday. Those who did were able to sing them at a special Singers' and Musicians' Night on the 3rd of November 2016. The lyrics of the various songs performed are now available on the website here.

Topic Club Membership
£5 a year from 1st January. That gives you £1 off concert tickets, and you can get more involved with running the club too if you are interested.

THE BRIAN LAWTON LEGACY PROJECT
This is an ongoing project during the next 12 months concerning thousands of photographs taken by Brian Lawton which cover much of the history of folk music and folk festivals in West Yorkshire. See more at http://www.brianlawtonproject.org.uk. Send in your stories and memories. You can help by identifying as many people, places and events from the past as you can.

PS: CASTLE HOTEL
Plenty of Topic regulars play and listen at the Castle Hotel in Bradford on Fridays - why not join them? April: Apr 20 Eddie Lawler; Apr 27 Mic & Susie Darling 

Clicks since 03-2-2004:

Apr 26

The Twangles

The Twangles are: Kevin Loughran: Vocals, Guitar; David Bowie Jr: Bass; Phil Snell: Mandolin, Fiddle, Guitar.

Kevin Loughran has been a face on the West Yorkshire scene since the mid-1970s. He has long been resolute in presenting a variety of song entertainment but is a notable interpreter of ‘vintage’ popular song from the 30s and 40s. 

Dave Bowie Jr is the go-to bass player for many well-known performers. He brings his formidable technique and impeccable good taste to such diverse ensembles as The Phil Cockerham Trio, regular performers on the local acoustic music scene, including of course The Topic.

Phil Snell appears in many different collaborations are perhaps currently capped by the solid and highly entertaining duo Gerry Cooper and Phil Snell -also familiar to Topic audiences -and is also much admired and hired for his excellent sound engineering and recording skills. 

As a trio, The Twangles are all about musical enjoyment for their audiences and themselves. Recently asked what “genre” they could be introduced as, they were reduced to muttering and foot shuffling. Clearly they didn’t know what the word meant …
 

May 03

Singers & Musicians

A chance to sing a song or play a tune or just listen. Entry free

May 10

Phil Hare

Phil Hare’s solo music career began almost 30 years ago and he is now widely regarded as one of the finest and most distinctive guitarists working on the current UK acoustic / folk music circuit. In addition, many years of gigging have resulted in Phil evolving into a perceptive and heartfelt songwriter as well as a 'freestyle', humorous troubadour who puts on a great show.

Phil originally came from Wirral and as a teenager in the 1970s, his first musical influences came from the popular music of the day. Playing guitar and bass he was involved with various bands playing around the Liverpool scene at that time; a scene that spawned bands such as OMD and Teardrop Explodes. Phil realised that his real love was acoustic music, mainly influenced by the likes of Roy Harper, John Martyn, Dylan and Joni Mitchell amongst others so was drawn to the (still vibrant) folk scene at that time. Whilst exploring the folk scene, Phil was greatly inspired by hearing the virtuoso guitar playing of Nic Jones, Martin Carthy, Martin Simpson, Bert Jansch and Dick Gaughan, as well as by the traditional music of Ireland and Scotland.

Phil’s song-writing often reflects his own social/political views, not in a ‘tub-thumping’ way but in a more thoughtful, often humorous and chorus-based style, reminiscent of his folk roots. On stage Phil is an accomplished performer mixing his virtuosity on the guitar with songs highlighting his rich, husky voice. He is a hugely entertaining performer and uses his humorous stage banter to foster good audience participation.
 

May 17

Peter and Barbara Snape

Peter and Barbara Snape have a great love of traditional British folk music especially that of the north of England where they live.

All of their traditional songs have been carefully researched from their native north (Lancashire) and likewise with the 'quirky' stuff, a northern resonance prevails as they bring back to life songs from late music hall/early variety hall 78rpms.

Barbara has exactly the right sort of voice for folksong with many years of solid experience and love of singing on her personal CV. Originally from Birkenhead, she was a young observer of the many singers that performed at the Spinners Folk Club in Liverpool during that legendary period of the 'revival'. Inspired and excited, she later became involved in the Liverpool Traditional Club, where, as a teenager she began singing herself, both solo and in various duos and groups.

There is a synergy with Peter and Barbara and a bounce and a lift in what they do. They have a refreshing and individual approach and their performances are varied, interesting and enjoyable.
 

May 24

Plumhall

Topic favourites Plumhall (for those who don’t know) are Michelle Plum and Nick B. Hall, a feisty Yorkshire based duo whose award winning self-penned songs are already winning them plaudits from the likes of R2 Magazine (4 stars), Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff), Steve Knightley (Show of Hands) and many more. The pair deliver guitar and harmony driven textures of folk, Americana and pop, and have have been wowing audiences on the live acoustic circuit in the UK. Winners of the Yorkshire Gig Guide Outstanding Songwriters award 2014, Plumhall were recently joined on stage by Bob Dylan's legendary guitarist Larry Campbell for a performance of Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) at the BBC Radio 2 award winning folk club The Black Swan in York.

Michelle Plum is a former member of Chumbawamba, Waking the Witch and The Accidental Tourists, and in her own right has supported Aimee Mann, Capercaillie, Ralph McTell, Nerina Pallot, Texas and Shane MacGowan to name but a few. She also provided guest vocals for Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts' UK spring 2013 tour. More recently, Michelle's other session work has taken her on tour all over Europe.

Nick B Hall has been a member of the Hall Brothers band nearly all his life, and has supported Fairport Convention, Hugh Cornwell, Show of Hands, Kate Rusby, Glenn Tilbrook plus many more.

Together as Plumhall Michelle & Nick have supported more top names than can be mentioned here, among them Peter Tork of The Monkees who invited them onstage to perform Daydream Believer with him. A very special moment!

Recently, Michelle and Nick appeared as special guests on a pair of shows on the Al Stewart UK tour - at Manchester Bridgewater Hall and the London Palladium (where they sang a verse on one of Al's songs). Another very special moment!

Plumhall have consistently wowed critics and audiences with their live performances on the UK acoustic circuit, delivering outstanding guitar playing, smart lyric writing and wonderful harmonies which set them above most of their contemporaries - Miles Hunt - The Wonder Stuff
 

May 31

Louise Jordan - No Petticoats Here

Louise Jordan is no stranger to the Topic, having already made a name for herself as an exceptional songwriter performer and musician. No Petticoats Here is her own project which tells the inspirational stories of remarkable women of the First World War through songs and narrative. But this is no dry history lesson, and no dogmatic feminist pronouncement: it is merely a seeking out of the truth, bringing hitherto unknown facts into the public domain: Louise brings the women and their stories to life through anecdotes from the time and her original songs in an emotional and passionate presentation. Each of the stories illustrates the bravery of these women in the face of physical danger and their determination in the face of prejudice.

The research, songwriting, composition and delivery took eighteen months and has taken Louise from Portsmouth to Pervijze and from Ulverston to Ypres by way of many museums, battlefields, private collections, libraries and research centres and she has had the support of the women’s families and leading historians.

Since first touring with No Petticoats Here she has won funding from Arts Council England to develop the project and take it to wider audiences. Her meticulous research and obvious passion for the subject shine through this unique performance: it is without doubt an absolute must see. Reviews, including from the national press, have been full of superlatives.

Jordan has approached her subject with the diligence of a scholar and the heart of an artist…. it is in responses like this set of songs that our collective cultural memories are kept alive… - R2 Magazine

Visit nopetticoatshere.co.uk/ for further information about the project and how it came into being.
 

June 07

 

Singers & Musicians

A chance to sing a song or play a tune or just listen. Entry free

Jun 14

 

Red Hippo. Support Pete Ivatts
 

Jun 21

Bob Wood

Jun 28

Miriam Erasmus (formerly Miriam Backhouse)

Jul 05

Roger Sutcliffe

Jul 12

Singers and Musicians

Jul 19

The Quiggs

Jul 26

Steve Dan Mills

2rd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th August - Summer singers and musicians nights