At: Hullabaloo, 41 Westgate, Shipley, BD18 3QX

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

TOPIC FOLK CLUB, BRADFORD NEWSLETTER No 70 - DECEMBER 2007

Greetings one and all: and a reminder of the December programme.

Dec 6             PHIL HARE
I know it is short notice, but do come and enjoy a relaxing evening with one of the Topic’s old stagers: a regular visitor for over 20 years.  Phil is a superb guitarist and an engaging songwriter, with his own individual delivery.  If past appearances are anything to go by, he may even fashion an improvised song from random ideas offered by the audience.  The sharp social edge may be less evident now in his songs, but he remains a perceptive observer of contemporary life.  Tonight’s Featured Support consists of a relatively new pairing of Barry Smith with guitarist Dave Allen; collectively known as The Allensmith.  Barry is well known for his Irish songs and excellent work on the whistle, while Dave’s guitar is more than accomplished.    Tickets £4 / £5: MC Simon Alexander. Dec 13           Singers and Musicians (Dec 13)   We’ve not had one of these free-for-all evenings for a while, so do come down and join in our communal music making.  A relaxed atmosphere, with anecdotes as well as music; and we’ll even provide an obligatory seasonal mince pie or two.     

Dec 20           SCARLET HEIGHTS: The Original Duo.
Following on from their sell-out gig here last year, Pat Sherry, Nigel Broadbent and Stuart Douglas have been working up some new (to them) material, and even promise some Christmas-oriented songs.   Just to avoid any confusion, it isn’t the full Band.  Pat is still the leader of the full Scarlet Heights band, and for many years Nigel was its bassist (and a songwriter) before successfully trying his hand as a bar entertainer in Majorca.  Stuart was a regular early performer with Nigel, and would have been a founder member of Scarlet Heights himself had he not emigrated to the States.  So between them you have decades of professional musical talent, which did form the kernel of the Scarls we know today.  Featured Support comes tonight from The Holbeck Mummers, now in their 145th year, and not a line changed since the 1870s.  £4 / £5 entry, but expect to make a contribution to the Doctor’s fee.  MC John Waller.

Dec 27           Singers and Musicians
The pub will be open; and whoever wants can come and do their bit.   All free.

Jan 3              Singers and Musicians
Same again, but with a special welcome to instrumentalists. 

Coming later in the new year:

Jan 10             Kimber’s Men: Superb four-part harmony and songs of the sea.  FS VoiceMale

Jan 17             Double Header:  Dark Horse and Chris Milner

Jan 24             David Moss with Masha Kaestner:  FS OTRA; our own Tony and Rahel

Jan 31             Elbow Jane Band:  all the way from Merseyside.

Feb 7               Singers and Musicians:  We are going to have more of these evenings in 2008.

Feb 14             Jon Harvison:  the Heavy Horse himself: with FS Geoff Watson

Feb 21             Double Header: Gareth Davies-Jones and Katriona Gilmore / Jamie Roberts

Feb 28             Emily Smith and Jamie McLellan   (this will be a big one, honest!)

Mar 6               Singers and Musicians: 

POINTS FROM THE AGM

Your hardworking Committee was re-elected unopposed: so no lessons needed from Comrade Putin.  The last year was undoubtedly one of the most successful of all time in terms of sheer financial turnover; which is now running well over double what it was four years ago.  But like many local clubs (see below), we struggle for audiences, especially given our very busy programme with a full guest artist almost every week.  There were a number of nights recently when door-take fell well short of the artists’ minimum guarantees, even for apparently bankable names: and this is unsustainable over the longer term.   Just three more paying people per night would, like Mr Micawber’s sixpence, make all the difference.  Could you be one of the prodigal three?

Members who attend other local clubs report similar problems; and readers of Tykes News will no doubt have noticed the imminent demise of two such: General Ludd and Polaris.  Very sad: and let’s hope that their organisers and regulars will resurface in other guises: or even feel moved to open their doors again.  But there does seem to be a drift towards (and even a preference for) more informal gatherings of amateur performers rather than the regular opportunity to see the best in the business that (we hope) the Topic offers: which inevitably involves paying and sitting and listening, rather than performing.

Topic membership is at an all-time high (well, in recent years at least) and we shall shortly be circulating members with a questionnaire to elicit views on what we should do to improve attendance by members and others.  But if any reader of this newsletter has any observations, whether you are a member or not, do feel free to respond to this.            

Keep coming to support the oldest Folk Club in the World; and help to keep music live, (and professional musicians alive)!  It is only by, with, from and because of your support that we and they keep going.

Enjoy your Festive Season, and make sure that part of your celebration includes at least one visit to a Folk Club.  

See you all some Thursday at the C.ock and Bottle at one, all or more of the above Topic events.  8.30 start.  Floor spots are available every night, even where a Featured Support artist is booked; though it helps if you arrive by 8.30.  No need to say no smoking any more!

John Waller      
Topic Newsletter Editor  
john@john-waller.co.uk              

Topic Newsletter No 70: December 2007