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. 113 Aug-Oct 2011

Guest Nights start at 8.30pm, Singers & Musicians Nights start at 8.15pm

Hi everyone and welcome to the September 2011 edition of the Topic Newsletter. I hope you are all making the most of the summer (such as it is!!). Now, I know we are only half way through August, but as we kick off our Autumn guest nights on 1st September I wanted to ensure you had plenty of notice as we have another great season in store for you, hence the early delivery of this newsletter!

A night of live music at the Topic continues to be superb value with entry usually only £5 for members and £6 for non members - and its free on Singers & Musicians Nights. So, if you haven't visited us for a while, why not come down and see what you have been missing?

I should also give you advance notice of a very special night on 24 November when Martin Carthy will be our guest as the Topic's contribution to the Raise Your Banners Festival of Political Song which takes place here in Bradford over the following weekend. Tickets for Martin's concert (£8 members / £9 non members) will be on sale at the club - or send a stamped SAE & cheque, payable to Topic Folk Club, to 9 Kingsley Drive, Birkenshaw, Bradford, BD11 2ND (nearer the time check for availability on 01274 877556).

The Raise Your Banners Festival has a great line up including Peggy Seeger, John Tams & Barry Coope, Roy Bailey, Robb Johnson, Sisters Unlimited, Ewan McLennan and many others. There will also be lots of choirs visiting from across the country, workshops and other activities. More details are available at http://raiseyourbanners.org/ <http://raiseyourbanners.org/ and Tickets> and tickets for the festival will be going on sale from the website very soon.

Before all that, though, we have our September line up to look forward to and so without further ado here it is:

Sep 1 Double Header
Jason Johnson and Garron Frith Entry: £6 (£5 members)

Our Autumn Double Header features two excellent songwriters hailing from just across the Pennines in Greater Manchester.

From picking up his first guitar at the age of 9, Jason Johnson has been playing most of his life and was once asked “ Where do you get your influence for your song writing. ”That's easy just step outside and the world is for the taking." Once described as a male Taylor Swift, with a flavour of Damien Rice and, some say, an English Dave Matthews Band. Think Crowded House with considerably more more angst!

Garron Frith's debut album received enthusiastic reviews from publications as diverse as the Sunday Express and Maverick and has also been described as one of Manchester's most underrated singer/songwriters. He has supported Peter Green, Robin Hitchcock, Imedla May and Madeleine Peyroux as well as performing in many solo and band appearances across the country. Garron's eagerly awaited second album "Away From The Bright Lights" should be ready in time for his appearance at the Topic.

Sep 8 Walsh & Pound Entry: £6 (£5 members)

Will Pound and Dan Walsh are two of the most exciting and unique young musicians on today's music scene. Labelled respectively as 'one of the most original harmonica players in Britain' and 'the UK's top Clawhammer banjoist', the two have joined forces to create a highly entertaining and astonishing live set which made its debut in May 2009 at Manchester's Chetham's School of Music to a rapturous reception. Since then they have gained critical acclaim for their live performances across the UK, including The Sage Gateshead, London’s Southbank Centre and many festivals.

Both of them are working with Martin Simpson and Will has also appeared on primetime BBC TV as part of “The Goldie Project – by Royal Appointment”, which included a concert performance in Buckingham Palace, working with luminaries such as Soweto Kinch, Miss Dynamite, Guy Chambers and James Galway. The project has also been invited to headline a night at Musicport world music festival.

The duo has recently released their debut album and this has been as rapturously received as their live performances.

Prepare to be astounded by stunning vocals, frailing banjo wizardry and sounds you didn’t think were possible on harmonica. This duo is destined for great things, with their ability to encompass an amazing array of musical genres with ease, energy and excellence!

Sep 15 Tom & Barbara Brown Entry: £6 (£5 members)

Tom and Barbara discovered each other as kindred spirits over the course of Mayday in Padstow in 1969 and married in 1970. They have been singing and organising together ever since. Although their speciality is songs of the West Country, their repertoire draws from a huge range of traditional and, to a lesser extent, modern songs. Barbara rapidly gave up playing guitar once she had Tom's instrumental ability on guitar, mandola, concertina and melodeon to accompany her.

'Guitars, concertina, melodeon, strong voices and an upbeat presentation accompany an intimate knowledge of the West Country and its music and songs. Fine singers, giving us achingly beautiful harmonies to subtle instrumental accompaniment: fine ballads with utterly charming and irresistible melodies, comic songs with catchy choruses, all firmly in the English tradition.’ Rob Strawson, Folklife West

Sep 22 Gerry Cooper & Phil Snell Entry: £6 (£5 members)

Gerry and Phil are soloists who discovered that together they can make an intricate, great big sound. After only a few appearances at clubs and festivals, audiences are getting excited about their act and asking for more. Featuring Ragtime, Jugband and Country Blues styles on guitars, mandolin, harmonica and fiddle, they present a programme of songs and tunes old and new, accompanied by amiable banter underpinned by many years’ experience in a wide range of musical genres.

Here's what they're saying about Gerry and Phil:
"Individually, these guys are fantastic. Together they are magical. Authentic roots sounds from two master-craftsmen. An inspiration.", Nick Hall

Sep 29 Reg Meuross Entry: £6 (£5 members)

'There’s something special about the way he writes and delivers a song’ – Townes Van Zandt

'The taut delicacy and lyricism of Meuross’s work shines out … ' Independent

Anyone who has seen Reg perform or listened to any of his CDs will know how true these comments are. His craft has been honed over the years through solo and collaborative performances (Panic Brothers, The Flamingos, Hank Wangford & The Lost Cowboys) and he is now widely respected as a major force on the national folk and acoustic circuit with appearances at many major festivals.

In 1996 he released the critically acclaimed CD ‘The Goodbye Hat’ and was nominated for several music awards, including best song for ‘Ring around the Roses’. This was followed by a series of strong CDs culminating with the 2010 release of 'All This Longing'.

Reg’s writing, performing and acting credits include work with people as diverse as French composer Vladimir Cosma – who wrote the cult movie ‘Diva’; Gerard Depardieu; Marsha Malamet; Nick Lowe; Not The Nine O’Clock News; Robbie Coltrane; Chris Difford; Charlie Dore; Gary Clark; Antonia Bird; Lenny Henry; Jeremy Hardy; Paul Merton, etc.

It gives us huge pleasure to welcome Reg on his first visit to the Topic (postponed from January due to family illness) and we hope that you will take this rare chance to see him in this part of the world.

Oct 6 Singers & Musicians Entry: Free

Oct 13 Richard Grainger Entry: £6 (£5 members) 

During the 1990’s Richard performed with well known folk musician, Dick Miles and then accordion genius, Chris Parkinson. Both partnerships were recorded and received critical acclaim. Both partnerships have been renewed during 2008.

Since 1995 Richard has been filling the role of artistic director to several festivals. He is in demand by local authorities and arts organisations to use his expertise in developing new events and staging productions.

In recent years he has added several musical plays to his repertoire. Among the most notable of these is ‘The Journey Home’ – a rewrite of Homer’s ‘Odyssey’, which was premiered in Sicily at The University of Catania, in 2003. That was preceded by 'Eye of the Wind' telling the tale of the world renowned explorer James Cook. The play was produced for radio with BBC's David Attenborough narrating.

His latest production,'The Moorland Whalers’, was inspired by his long association with the Yorkshire Coast town of Whitby and work he carried out for The Ryedale Folk Museum in North Yorkshire . It tells the story of The Yorkshire Whaling Industry through the recollections of those who took part.

Richard released his 11th album ‘WAR HORSE’, in January 2008. The CD has received much critical acclaim and was described by folkradio.co.uk as: “a classic folk album that will stand the test of time”.

Richard is a guitarist, singer, songwriter , writer and entertainer . An innovator who likes to perform to a wide audience and we are very much looking forward to his visit to the Topic

Oct 20 Paul Handyside Entry: £6 (£5 members)

Singer songwriter Paul Handyside was founder member of eighties indie group HURRAH! who had several releases on Arista and Kitchenware records. Paul then went on to tour and record with fellow Kitchenware label-mate Martin Stephenson. In 2001 he formed Bronze and released two albums "The statue in the stone " and "A common prayer".

Now solo, Paul's songs are a mixture of Americana, pop, gospel, folk and 19th century hymns but all with a unique flavour of their on.

Nov 3 Faerd Entry: £6 (£5 members) 
  
 Nov 10 Singers & Musicians Entry: Free

Nov 17 Bob Fox Entry: £6 (£5 members) 
 
Nov 24 Martin Carthy Entry: £9 (£8 members)

Best Wishes

Joe Grint