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Topic Newsletter Archive

TOPIC FOLK CLUB, BRADFORD NEWSLETTER No 69 - NOVEMBER 2007

Greetings:  with details of some great concerts coming up

Nov 1             CLIVE GREGSON
Welcome to his first visit to the Topic for 20 years (yes, last here 18 September 1987) for this engaging singer-songwriter from Manchester.  Variously described as “embodying the state of the art in British Folk Rock” and “brilliant”, he has had a long and illustrious career not just as a performing artist in his own right, but as a record producer and session musician for such names as Richard Thompson.  Tonight’s Featured Support Ceri-Mai Pedrick:  a youthful singer of largely self-written unaccompanied ballads in the style of the big musicals, tackling an eclectic range of subjects from a hard-drinking astronomer uncle to her imaginary flea-ridden pet dog.  A tremendous and contrasting evening in prospect.  Tickets £5 / £6: MC Tony Levy.

Nov 8             JULIE FELIX
I don’t have to waste electrons and screen-space describing Julie do I?   Julie’s gig last year was the highlight of the 50th Anniversary season: a first half with interesting and some self-written material, some of which reflected her father’s Mexican influence.  The second half was entirely requests of all your old 60s favourites, delivered with punch, panache and not a little humility, as when she momentarily had to ask the audience to remind her of the Universal Soldier’s height parameters.   As I write, we still have a few tickets left.  Email guy.killingbeck@orange-ftgroup.com and you could secure one.  (Don’t “reply” to this newsletter: I’m not in the UK).  Hurry though: we’ll sell them by post in advance, and in person on the door if there are any left, but we can’t “reserve” them.  £8 / £10  MCs Ian Gobbi and/or John Waller. 

Julie’s concert is part of the Raise Your Banners Festival of Campaigning Song, in Bradford for the week 5 -11 November.  Some great gigs, scores of quality artists and a whole massed harmony of choirs.  See  www.raiseyourbanners.org/ <http://www.raiseyourbanners.org/> for a full programme and more information.  Lend this important national festival your support – by attending!

Nov 15           SARA GREY and KEIRON MEANS
A fascinating Mother-Son duo.  Sara first graced our boards in 1971, but has not been since 1990.   Kieron will be making his first appearance.  Two superb voices: “smooth as silk”, “powerful and sweet”, “rich and mellow” together with musical accompaniment on banjo and guitar, and a repertoire of mostly traditional ballads from both sides of the Atlantic.    Featured Support comes tonight from Michael Rossiter, a youthful Leeds-based singer-songwriter of some considerable talent and original mien.  £5 / £6 to come in: MC Tony Levy.

Nov 22           ALLAN TAYLOR
A one-time Topic regular who gave an excellent set this time last year, back again with financial support from the Arts Council England Musicians in Residence scheme.   Faultlessly constructed songs drawn from a lifetime of travelling, faultlessly performed, with a dark and mellow voice and intricate yet full guitar work.  This will be a real treat.  No Featured Support booked: so anyone wanting a good floor-spot in the presence of the Master; come on down!  Price £6 / £8.  MC Tony Levy.

Nov 29           A Double Header Evening packed with very high-quality local musicians: Lime Scurvy features Ian Hill, Jim Lawton and Malcolm Devereux with their mixture of (mostly traditional) fare; plus Tony Taffinder and Mark Mawby, who have more credits than you can shake a stick at (the Toms, Dark Horse), and will probably also be mostly traditional.  But I’m guessing.  Come see for yourselves, and enjoy!   £4 / £5   MC Ian Gobbi

Coming later in the year (and into early 2008):

Dec 6              Phil Hare:   veteran singer-songwriter, with guitar masterclass. FS Dave Allen/Barry Smith

Dec 13            Christmas singaround musiciathon seasonal social party event (with FS mince pies)

Dec 20            Scarlet Heights: the original duo plus Stuart: FS the Holbeck Moor Mummers

Dec 27            Singers and Musicians – for anyone who wants to perform to/with whoever else comes

Jan 3  2008     Singers and Musicians – come and shake off those over-indulgency blues

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

Jan 17             Double Header:  Dark Horse and Chris Milner

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

Jan 31             Elbow Jane Band:  all the way from Merseyside

It goes on: but more of that in later editions of the Newsletter

PARISH NOTICES

            AGM    Most recipients of this Newsletter are not Topic members: but most members are recipients of the Newsletter: so members!  Please use this as a reminder that the Topic AGM will be held on Monday 19 November at 8.00pm in the Club Room.  Relevant documents should be circulated (to members only) by email in due course, or even earlier.             

            Raise Your Banners   I mentioned it before, but here it is again.  Let’s all make sure that this National Festival has a visit to Bradford that is truly memorable and worthy of our city’s history in the forefront of social change (the founding of the Independent Labour Party, William Forster’s 1870 Education Act, the Manningham Mill Strike, and the world’s first academic centre for Peace Studies – to name but a few).

            Topic 50th Anniversary T-Shirts.  We still have some, if you’d like one.  XL or M.  £4 each. (Well, we still have some, whether you want one or not)

           Message from Ray Black of Harrogate: try this!  www.yorkshirefolksong.net <http://www.yorkshirefolksong.net>

            Need (or, more to the point, want) Guitar Lessons?  Try this!  www.jonharvison.com <http://www.jonharvison.com/>

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

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 69: November 2007