Topic Folk Club, Bradford Newsletter no. 61, January 2007
Coc.k and Bottle, 93 Barkerend Road
Greetings: and welcome to 2007.
As usual, some great acts in the up-coming field.
Jan 25 Jez Lowe
One of the country’s very best songwriters, often dealing with history and change in his native north-east, and especially the mining industry. Jez has a fine guitar technique, smooth voice; and will be appearing solo tonight. Featured Support will come from Liz Ryder from Sheffield. Again, self-written songs, fine guitar technique, lovely voice. That’s true of Liz as well as Jez, albeit in a very different way. Tickets £5 / £6.
Feb 1 A Double Header evening: two artists for the price of one.
Gerry Cooper is keeping himself very busy on the local scene with his affectionate and accomplished renditions of the greats of the blues world. Clive Leyland is a more recent addition to the Topic’s regulars: a former member of Bandersnatch and a singer-songwriter in his own right, Clive styles himself as A Northern Man, with many of his songs doing for his Lancastrian industrial roots what Jez Lowe’s songs do for the north-east. Tickets £4 / £5
Feb 8 Vicky Swan and Jonny Dyer
Two performers at the younger end of the spectrum. Vicky is one of the most accomplished performers of the Scottish smallpipes (and border pipes, flute, low whistle and double bass for that matter) and a graduate of the Royal College of Music, while Jonny is an innovative and technically-accomplished guitarist, accordion player and singer. Hauntingly beautiful tunes and songs. Tonight’s Featured Support is talented singer-songwriter Roger Davies, the Voice of Calderdale, who impressed us at a recent Singers and Musicians evening. Tickets £4 / £5.
Feb 15 Pete Morton
One of the better crop of songwriters, Pete sings mostly his own material, with a song-writing and performance technique developed from his roots as a busker across Europe. He tours extensively in Europe and worldwide, and his songs (including “Another Train”) are widely covered. His subject matter is politics, humour, love and social comment, delivered with a forthright guitar style. No Featured Support this week: instead an extended opportunity for floor singers to come and perform. Tickets £4 / £5.
Feb 22 The Hall Brothers
Never mind what it may say in Tykes News, a late rearrangement after Tykes had gone to press tonight brings us the irrepressible Nick and Duncan. They may or may not be accompanied by one or both of Hannah and Clair; but whatever the line-up, you are guaranteed strong songs, powerfully delivered with humour and not a little choreography. Featured support this evening comes from Huddersfield’s Dave Haigh, a songwriter with a rich deep creamy voice. Tickets £4 / £5.
And onwards into March:
March 1 Singers and Musicians: no special theme
March 8 Grace Notes with FS Simon Alexander
March 15 DH Laura Hockenhull and Mulberry Blue
March 22 John Wright (+ band) with extended opportunity for Floorsingers
March 29 Mark Newman with FS Whitney Gin
April (come she will) sees the likes of Martin Carthy, Steve Tilston and Anthony John Clarke.
May (she will stay) for Tom McConville, Bandersnatch, Lynn Geddes, Sketch and George Papavgeris
June (change of tune) for Julie Ellison, Pete Abbott and the Duncan McFarlane Acoustic Band
July (she will fly in) for Roger Sutcliffe and other bands still on the cusp of the booking circle
You can access all these acts, and read on to how the programme is developing, yea, verily up until December, via our excellent Topic Website: see above and below for the address.
We are doing our best to counteract a common Folk Club disease of starting late and finishing later. Staff at the C&B like to call last orders at 11.00 prompt, and we are trying to finish shortly thereafter. It helps if audience can arrive by 8.30, so we can make a prompt start then without early disruption.
See you all some Thursday at the C.ock and Bottle at one or more of the above events. 8.30 start. Be there by then if you want a floor spot, which are available every night even where a Featured Support artist is booked. No smoking in the club room.
John Waller
Topic Newsletter Editor
john@john-waller.co.uk
Topic Newsletter No 61: January 2007
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