Topic Folk Club, Newsletter 79, July 2008
Greetings: with news of the hot July line-up at the Topic:
3 July Roger Sutcliffe
Yes, it’s him again, with his inimitable patter, banter, stories and selection of guitars, on the which he plays an assortment of Blues and related music. You know all this, you know him, you know what to expect and you know what you’ll get. Come and enjoy one of the Topic’s longest-serving regulars (40+ years if it’s a day). There’ll be a raffle for free entry to the following week, too! £4 / £5 entry: MC Ian.
10 July Ruth Notman
Be there to see next year’s emerging talent: the exciting Ruth, still in her teens, but achieving great reviews and support from some of the most established names in the business (Jon Kirkpatrick and Kate Rusby). You can try a sample via http://www.myspace/ruthnotman1. Ruth sings, plays guitar and keyboards, but will probably just bring guitar with her tonight. According to those who know, she has “one of the best folk voices heard in ages: compelling, vibrant”; which she combines with an engagingly innocent simplicity of delivery. See her now while we (and you) can still afford to! Only £4 / £5 entry: MC Tony Levy
17 July The Hall Brothers with John Carey.
Nick and Duncan Hall are well-known on the local circuit, and very welcome back to the Topic. Their on-stage persona (personae?) of good humour, banter and choreography is underpinned by musicianship of an exceptionally high order, and performances as professional as you could wish. With the understated contribution of John Carey, they will provide a thoroughly entertaining evening of songs both original and classic. £4 / £5 entry: MC Neil
24 July A Triple Whammy
You’ll by now be familiar with our Double Header evenings, offering two quality artists for the price of one. Well, now we are going to fit three in on the same bill. All local or local-ish; which is part of the idea. Ed McGurk is a lead member of the trans-Pennine outfit Bandersnatch, who have graced our boards a couple of times in the past two years (and will again in September); who we are pleased to welcome in a solo spot. Mixing up the Medicine is Richard Clay and James Whelan, who may be better known to many connoisseurs of the local scene as two-thirds of Mulberry Blue. They’ve gone a bit more blues/bluegrass since losing Beth: with a hint of old ISB: but retain an eclectivity with something for everyone. The final act is a more recent pairing: Paul Wrigley and Sue Burgess. Paul is a well-known member of Friendly Visit (it was they that were originally booked, but Phil Snell now finds he’s in France) and offers Dulcimer and Whistles as well as guitar; while Sue’s singing, sometimes alone, sometimes in a duo, is well known across Yorkshire. There will be a mixture of his ‘n’ hers ‘n’ theirs: including self-penned and traditional material. Hey, this is a great opportunity to see three of our best local talents all on one night. £4 / £5 to come in. Ian Gobbi will be MC; and will keep every act rigorously to time.
31 July Eddy O’Dwyer with special guest Tony Levy.
Continuing the summer theme of youth as in Ruth Notman, and the local theme as in the Hall Brothers and triple whammers above, we close our season with ex-punk Lincoln-via-Keighley Irish-influenced performer Eddy O’Dwyer. Friend and special guest Tony Levy will form a sort-of enhanced Featured Support; and I am sure audience participation will be welcome in some of Eddy’s renditions of well-known songs. £4 / £5: MC – it looks like Ian again.
AND ONWARDS (as it stands at present)
August Singers and Musicians throughout
Sept
4 Roger Davies The Bard of Brighouse: blunt Calderdale wit
11 Bandersnatch Multi-instrumental big folk band from Lancashire
18 Heather Dale Powerhouse Celtic-rooted Canadian singer on tour.
25 DH Ylem / Notts Alliance Eclectic international music / male a capella band
Oct
2 Singers and Musicians
9 The Amazing Mr Smith Eccentric visual and musical humour
16 Kirsty McGhee and Mat Martin Brilliant female songwriter, plus Mat’s guitar
23 Singers and Musicians
30 Bryony Long-standing female close harmony and dulcimer trio
Nov
6 Celtish Superb and energetic up-beat Welsh folk band
13 Mark Newman Fretwork like you would not believe
20 Triban Engaging Welsh trio
27 Tich Frier One-time Bradford regular: a great performer
Dec
4 Singers and Musicians
11 TBC
Weds 17 Scarlet Heights: Original 2 The annual visit from these Bradford-Irish greats
25 closed
See you all some Thursday at the BRADFORD IR.ISH CLUB. 8.30 start. Floor singers always welcome, especially in the first half: get down prompt and early if you’d like a slot. Featured Support slots may available in September, primarily for acts we don’t yet know who’d like to showcase their material. But please contact rahel@blueyonder.co.uk, not me.
John Waller
Topic Newsletter Editor
john@john-waller.co.uk
Topic Newsletter No 79 July 2008
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