Mick Ryan is well known on the folk scene as a fine singer of traditional and original songs. Having written both comic and serious material for the very popular band Crows in the 1980s, and his duo with Pete Harris which appeared at every major club and festival in the country, he has since written for radio and a series of highly successful folk musicals: A Tollpuddle Man (with Graham Moore); A Day’s Work; The Voyage; Tanks for the Memory; The Navvy’s Wife and Paupers Path.
Paul Downes has a sensitive yet fun approach to live performances which puts him among the most respected artists on the British acoustic music scene today. He has been introduced (to his embarrassment) as one of the greatest acoustic guitarists in the world. It is easy to see why when you see the dazzling array of styles he performs with effortless brilliance, but at the same time he considers himself a singer of songs rather than a guitar technician.
Paul has a rich musical background that has progressed through working with Phil Beer, The Arizona Smoke Revue, Pete Seeger and The Joyce Gang. Nine albums with bands, four highly acclaimed solo albums and over two hundred session credits have still left time for Paul to tour every concert venue, theatre and festival in Britain, plus many tours in the USA and Europe.
Together, Mick and Paul provide singing, music and entertainment of the very highest quality. Mick’s wry observations on modern life and Paul’s incisive asides make for an evening full of hilarity and engaging songs. Mick has a powerful, resonant voice and Paul is a splendid guitarist and singer and together they effortlessly shift between moods – one minute light-hearted and whimsical, the next deeply personal and moving, the next solidly traditional, and all inviting interaction with the audience.
ACCESS and PARKING for The Castle, 20, Grattan Road, Bradford BD1 2LU.
There are two entrances to the pub, the lower door with steps on Barry Street, the top door at ground floor level on Grattan Road. On guest act nights you have to use the Grattan Road entranceas the other one is locked. On-street parking on Barry Street, and a couple of spots on Grattan Road; also on Fulton St, which is a nearby turning off Grattan Road.
Songs With A Bradford Accent: To mark Bradford City of Culture in 2025 The Topic gathered a collection of folk songs about Bradford District. See the 62 songs uploaded at SWABA-LYRICS-FINAL.pdf .
Coming Soon
05 Nov
Singers and Musicians
A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
Entry £1
Doors open 7pm
12 Nov
Dana Robinson
Dana Robinson is a songwriter, guitarist and old time fiddler with a warm and soulful singing style.
Dana’s songs tell stories about rural life with intimate observations of the natural world. His songs delve deep into the landscape with wonder, humour and connection with community and sense of place.
Dana’s music remains firmly rooted in humanity, in the ways of nature, and in universal truths. Dana’s performances embody a vitality and excitement, which serves to reconnect the audience with the mundane and beautiful things that nourish and bring us joy.
For over 30 years, Dana has been a fixture on the folk and acoustic music scene in the United States and the UK, playing his unique blend of songwriting with traditional influences. Dana’s guitar playing combines British fingerstyle and Appalachian flat picking to create his own distinctive sound.
Dana’s latest album, The Sound of the Word, is his 14th full-length studio release and the culmination of six years of creative exploration. This record blends contemporary songwriting with southern old-time influences, resulting in a body of work that is at once expansive and intimate. Inspired by bands like The Horse Flies, Wilco, and Shooglenifty, Dana’s new material tackles the pressing issues of our era while always circling back to the solace and inspiration found in the natural world.
"Exquisite music - physical and spiritual, contemporary and ancient, up to its eyeballs in mud and transcendence. Musicians like Dana Robinson don't grow on trees!" — Music Upstream
A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
Entry £1
Doors open 7pm
26 Nov
The Hooliemen
The Hooliemen are four very seasoned accomplished musicians who have played together for years and have now formally come together as the Hooliemen.
Musicians of the highest calibre with a life time of performing experience: Chris Dyson on fiddle and vocals, from Roisin Ban & Gaelforce, ex Mike Harding Band, Leeds CCE; Richard Moss on guitar and vocals, ex-Mike Harding Band, Drop the Floor; Paddy Heffron on button accordion and vocals, Roisin Ban, Leeds CCE; and Brian Aylward on flute, Irish pipes, whistle and vocals, Leeds CCE, Damhsa, Ceilihouse.
An up-tempo Irish trad sound with great tunes and beautiful versions of songs you will be familiar with. Jigs 'n' reels, Irish ballads, harmony & a cappella vocals & sean nos dance
The group existed for a decade playing for the set dancing nights – the Hoolie – at Whitby Folk Week, and now they'renow formally a band not to miss.
A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
Entry £1
Doors open 7pm
10 Dec
Bryony Griffith and Alice Jones
Hailing from West Yorkshire, Bryony & Alice are long-time purveyors of English folk music, united by a fascination with local folk song and tune collections.
As an accomplished and powerful new duo, they took the folk scene by storm with their signature sound of fiddle, harmonium, tenor guitar, body percussion, beautifully matched vocals, and intricate harmonies in their trademark regional accents. Combining their respect and understanding of tradition with their own contemporary style of performance, they present a unique repertoire of harmony, heritage, and Northern banter.
Following the triumphant acclaim of their 2022 debut album A Year Too Late and a Month Too Soon, which earnt the pair 5-star reviews and global airplay, Bryony and Alice followed up with the hugely successful Wesselbobs, a sensational album of winter songs and tunes produced by Joe Rusby.
Featuring uniquely local versions of more classic seasonal songs, they have unearthed a treasure trove of traditional gems, intuitively arranged to cast a spotlight on the rich traditions, tales and winter rituals of Yorkshire. The album's title Wesselbobs refers to a local pastime whereby decorated, evergreen boughs, built around a spherical frame, were carried door to door by Wassailers or carol singers in the 18th and 19thC. Also known as Wessel-bobs, Wassail-bobs, or Wesley-bobs, it most notably occurred in the communities of West Yorkshire.
Mick Ryan and Paul Downes
