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

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

TOPIC FOLK CLUB, BRADFORD

At the Bradford Irish Club, Rebecca Street, BD1 2RX a wheelchair-friendly venue

Newsletter No. 107 - February 2011

http://www.topic-folk-club.org.uk

First of all many apologies to those of you who came to the club on Thursday hoping to see Reg Meuross - especially those who travelled from Sheffield and Stockport. Reg's daughter had to undergo an emergency operation that day and understandably he wanted to be close by. Thanks to plumhall for standing in at the last minute and giving us a brilliant night.

As well as bringing you a great roster of artists this month we can also give you the news that long standing Topic member and former Committee man, Trevor Charnock, has added to his historical record of the club. We now have a gig list stretching back (with a few omissions) to 1960! Nick Waller, who looks after our website, has posted the information on the site and it gives us a great reminder of folk names of the past - some sadly no longer with us and some still going strong.

Why not take a stroll down memory lane and pay a visit to the site at http://www.topic-folk-club.org.uk/ - if you can fill any of the gaps please let me know and I will ensure the information is passed on to Trevor & Nick.

Our guest list for this month is as follows:

3 February
Singers & Musicians Free

All welcome to sing, play or listen. 8.15pm start.

10 February
Tom Kitching and Gren Bartley £6/£5

Tom Kitching & Gren Bartley are one of the brightest young acts on the folk scene today. Playing music from a remarkably broad range of sources, their recent album ŒBoundary‚ crosses genres with a healthy disdain for arbitrary pigeon-holing of styles and traditions. Some songs just need to be sung.

'The instruments spark, with the combination of the bright fiddle and the acclaimed finger picking style of Bartley giving a lovely flow to the tunes' - Maverick Magazine

Having met at Loughborough University, through presenting a folk show on the campus radio, the duo grew out of a wish to perform the music they loved. Over time, Gren developed a distinctive passionate song writing style that manages to push boundaries, whilst staying respectful to the traditions.

'Bartley proves to be an accomplished songwriter, with a restful voice that lulls its way into the mind and heart.' -Allmusic.com

To add to their musical abilities they are relaxed and charming performers who can be guaranteed to send the audience home with a smile on its collective face.

17 February
Dave Swarbrick £6/£5

The almost legendary Dave Swarbrick has been a stalwart of the folk scene for about as long as the Topic Folk Club has! From working on the original Radio Ballads with Ewan McColl, Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker to touring with the Ian Campbell Folk Group; from his duo performances with Martin Carthy and Alistair Hulett to his major contribution to sound of Fairport Convention at their zenith; Dave has been at the cutting edge of folk music for most of his life.

Although he had battled serious illness for a number of years, reports of his demise in the Daily Telegraph were thankfully unfounded and Dave has returned to performance with a renewed zest. He has travelled Britain, Europe and Australia playing with his band, Swarb‚s Lazarus, and has been re-united with both Martin Carthy and Alistair Hulett for outstanding duo tours. He has recently returned to solo performances for the first time in a decade and has released his first solo album for nearly 20 years, Œraison d‚être‚

We are delighted to be able to welcome Dave back to the Topic for the first time in many years and hope you will get down very early to secure your seat for what will undoubtedly be a memorable night at the club.

24 February
Lester Simpson £6/£5

Lester Simpson is known to most folk enthusiasts as one third of the acclaimed a cappella trio Coope Boyes & Simpson. He is, however, also a very gifted songwriter and performer in his own right, as anyone who has heard his solo CD 'One' will attest to. The CD is described by Living Tradition Magazine as 'an emotive recording of finely gauged strengths and challenging depths'. He has also recorded numerous other CD‚s with British and international artists. His work in film and theatre includes a period with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre in London and as Musical Director of ŒPrivate Peaceful‚ in Belgium. We are delighted that Lester has been able to include a visit to the Topic in his very busy schedule.

Best Wishes

Joe Grint