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Topic Newsletter Archive

TOPIC FOLK CLUB, BRADFORD

At Glyde House, Glydegate, Bradford BD5 0BQ

Newsletter No 167 - May 2016

Hello all,

A feast of good performers coming up in May with the seasons turning and summer hopefully looming, as April departs in a flurry of snow. Come down to Glyde House on Thursdays, where whatever the weather, whatever the season, there's always good quality music to be found.

5th May: Singers and musicians . 8.15 pm start. Free entry

12th May: Colum Sands
Colum Sands is a universal storyteller who draws on a long Irish tradition of poetic musicality to weave songs for the world. He has performed in over thirty countries around the world, confirming the universal appeal for the songs and stories with which he observes the minute and often humorous details of life.

A member of the internationally renowned Sands Family from County Down, Colum established his reputation as a songwriter with the release of his first solo album, Unapproved Road in 1981. His songs like were soon in the repertoire of artists from Billy Connolly to Maddy Prior and June Tabor.

Between touring and recording, countless other performers have been introduced to the air waves through Colum's work as a presenter of BBC Radio Ulster's Folk Club programme, he has also broadcast a series of programmes for BBC Radio 2 and has compiled and presented a series RTE Radio called "Rootin About'.

His work in radio and studio production earned him the Living Tradition Award for services to Folk and Traditional Music. Colum has also produced countless albums for traditional singers and songwriters, he also produced four tracks on the Sound Neighbours CD released by the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, an album which was short listed for a Grammy Nomination. £6/£5

Colum's gift is of breaking down cultural barriers through choice words and eloquent music - Rock 'n' Reel

... warm, witty, moving and funny - Steve Barnes, Director Fairbridge Folk Festival

19th May: Landermason
Multi instrumentalist Fiona Lander (vocals, piano, whistles, saxes, clarinet and recorder) and Paul Mason (guitars and vocals) have developed a unique sound which displays their undoubted talents. They combine both traditional and contemporary folk with other styles in their beautiful compositions and striking arrangements.

They have recorded and produced 5 CD's to date on their own label LAMA Records and have enjoyed airplay on BBC Radio 2, 3 and 4 as well as on many other radio shows across the network. Their version of Dance to Your Daddy was used in an episode of BBC 1's Antiques Road Show, whilst their track Somalia was featured in a BBC 3 documentary narrated by Scarlett Johansson called Escape From The World’s Most Dangerous Place. They recently composed an original sound track for The Pied Piper of Hamelin, a puppet show staged at the Up-Front Puppet Theatre in Cumbria, based on Michael Morpurgo's new adaptation of the well known childrens’ classic.

Their live sound is impressive, full of variety and with plenty of audience interaction. Often described as 'refreshingly different', Landermason are equally at home entertaining audiences in folk and acoustic music clubs, theatres, festivals, village halls and pubs and are proud to have performed at some of the UK's best known live music venues. £6/£5

A stunning blend of diverse musical influences which captivated our audience from the very first few seconds, all the way to the sumptuous encore. Fiona and Paul are a great song-writing team, and deliver their unique music with such passion and style – Steve Robson

26th May: Ewan McLennan. Support: Sam Martyn
Ewan McLennan has, in a short space of time, come to be known as a guitarist at the forefront of his generation; a troubadour, balladeer and storyteller cut in the old style; a singer that can move audiences with his passion and pathos; and a songwriter for whom social justice is still a burning issue.

By the time he began playing the folk and acoustic music clubs around Britain in 2010 he'd already been playing music for years - guitar and piano and all kinds of styles but with a strong interest in folk songs.

He was signed to Fellside Records also in 2010 and recorded his first full album, Rags & Robes. It received critical acclaim, put him firmly on the folk circuit and in 2011 won him the prestigious Horizon Award at the BBC Folk Awards.

His second album, The Last Bird To Sing was released two years later in 2012 and again was enthusiastically received. He continued to win awards off the back of this: two Spiral Earth Awards in 2013 and then the Alistair Hulett Memorial Prize for Political Songwriting the same year.

This also led on to him being asked to be part of the acclaimed Transatlantic Sessions in 2013, which saw him performing and recording alongside some of the world’s finest folk musicians.

Having learnt from and worked with both Martin Simpson and Dick Gaughan over recent years, it’s evident in Ewan’s guitar playing and in his music that he has absorbed and inherited a great deal, and at first hand, from the older generation of ‘folk greats’ before carving his own path. The songs he sings and writes are rooted in traditional songs and the tradition of folk music as social commentary. £6/£5

McLennan continues his evolution into a major figure on the folk scene...an artist whose music lives and breathes - Songlines

Tonight’s support Sam Martyn is a folk singer, musician and artist from Hull. She is a member of Hull folk band Beggar's Bridge, and the White Horse Ceilidh Band. A regular at the (Not) The White Horse Folk Club in Beverley for a few years now, she plays piano, low and high whistle, and harmonium.

NEWS

Don't forget the Topic has a dedicated stage at this year's Holmfirth Festival of Folk which takes place next weekend. The venue is the Massala Lounge (above Spice 4 You), on the main road right by the main junction in the middle of Holmfirth.

There will be two concerts run by the club on Saturday 7th May, the first at 1 pm to 3.30 pm featuring Otra, Bric-a-Brac, and Yan Tan Tether, the second at 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm which will feature Sam Martyn, Jack Patchett, Beggars Bridge and Plumhall. If you would like to do a floor spot at any of these concerts, please arrive in good time and seek out the MC who will decide how many can be accommodated. Tickets at £5 for each concert will be available on the door. For details about the rest of the festival see www.holmfirthfestivaloffolk.co.uk

Topic friend Eddie Lawler is also appearing at the festival on the Saturday, performing from 3.35 to 4.10 pm in Holmfirth Parish church.

Talking about Topic friends, Bella Gaffney (of Bric-a-Brac - see above) has followed her earlier success at Celtic Connections Festival by being booked to appear at this year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival on the Isle of Lewis and Butefest on the Isle of Bute alongside some of the big names in the music world. You can read a stunning review of her performance at the showcase event that secured her booking for these festivals here: https://www.hebceltfest.com/backstage/blog/ and follow the reference to Bella on the right-hand side.

Looking a bit further ahead,the Topic will once again have its own stage at this year's Bradford Festival which runs from 8th-10th July. The Topic stage will be running on the Sunday, 10th July, 2 pm to 5 pm when The Phil Cockerham Trio, Gerry Cooper & Phil Snell, and Paula Ryan will be entertaining the crowds on our behalf.

Lots going on!

TOPIC STUFF

Don't forget the Topic song project for this year's anniversary - see recent newsletters for details. They are starting to trickle in, hopefully the trickle will become a flood. You can contact anyone at the club if you would like more information.

For performers who may be thinking of approaching the club for a booking, please note that the bookings organiser is, as mentioned above, now Rahel Guzelian, email address : rahel@guzelian.com

If you would like to become a member of the Topic Folk Club, it costs just £5.00 per year, running from 1st January. Being a member entitles you to the lower ticket prices shown in this newsletter, as well as the chance to become more involved in the workings of the club if you would like to.

If you’re visiting the club for the first time, be sure to come and say hello, and if anyone has any suggestions for the club, for example if you would like us to try to book a particular artist, we’d like to hear them.

The Topic runs on Thursdays at Glyde House, Glydegate, Little Horton Lane, BD5 0BQ  8.30pm start. (Singers & Musicians nights start at 8.15pm). Like all the clubs in the area, our aim is to provide good quality live entertainment to suit all tastes of those interested in folk music, and we thank you for your continued support.

Floor singers are always welcome, especially in the first half. Please try to get there by 8.15 pm if you’d like a slot – it helps the MC to plan the evening.

To find the Topic on Facebook search for "Topic Fc"

Tony Charnock, Topic Newsletter Editor  
Topic Folk Club

tocharn@gmail.co.uk