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

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

TOPIC FOLK CLUB, BRADFORD

At Glyde House, Glydegate, Bradford BD5 0BQ

Newsletter No 163 - January 2016

Hello all and a very happy New Year from the Topic.

Apologies for slight tardiness of this newsletter: blame all that festive stuff. Without further ado, see how we're getting 2016 under way down at Glyde House.

7th January: Singers and musicians . 8.15 pm start. Free entry

14th January: Louise Jordan.
A second visit to the Topic from this delightful performer all the way from the New Forest. Since her last appearance at the Topic in 2013 Louise has gone from strength to strength, with a new CD (her fourth) in 2015 and far reaching tours of the UK and the continent. Between performing she uses her musical abilities to work with young people in projects, workshops and the like as well as with the learning disabled community. Equally adept on guitar and keyboards (she likes to play the grand piano when visiting the Topic) her self-penned songs reflect her views on life and the philosophy her experiences have taught her: questioning yet reflective would be a good way of describing her lyrical style. She also has a refreshing take on some more traditional songs and a unique ability to make you feel that you are hearing a well-worn song for the first time.

With her lovely voice, consummate musicianship and her ability to engage warmly with her audience, Louise will certainly bring the Topic’s first guest season of 2016 in on a perfect note.

...stirring, lilting grace... The Telegraph

Absolutely, totally and completely brilliant – Mike Harding

Haunting and unforgettable - The Sunday Express

21st January: Gerry Coooper and Phil Snell.
Local favourites Gerry and Phil bring their blues, ragtime and banter for another entertaining evening. They have been playing as a duo since 2010, performing in pubs, folk clubs, and at festivals. Their repertoire of blues, rags and hokum songs from the 1920s and 1930s is supplemented occasionally by their own compositions in similar styles. Between them they play a wide variety of instruments: six- and twelve string guitars, resophonic slide guitar, mandolin, fiddle and harmonica. They also bring together a broad range of musical experience: jazz, classical, rock, folk, blues, musicals, Cajun, old-timey and church music have all featured at some points in their individual careers.

As a duo, Gerry and Phil concentrate on the uptempo, cheerful sounds of ragtime blues (Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller are big favourites), hokum (Tampa Red, the Hokum Boys) and jugbands (the Memphis Jug Band, Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers). There is also a strong element of old-timey in their repertoire: they love the music of such artists as Charlie Poole and the Cedar Creek Sheikh.

Gerry and Phil have played at many festivals, - including Dent, Saltaire, The Aire Do (Keighley), BAMfest (Bedale), Malton & Norton, the Hardraw Gathering, the Shuttle Shuffle Festival (Bradford), Otley Folk Festival and the Scartop Summertime Blues Festival. and even more pubs and clubs: thery have a particular liking for their ‘home club’ (Otley Folk Club) and the Topic, both of which gave them early bookings. Welcome again.

Individually, these guys are fantastic. Together they are magical. Authentic roots sounds from two master-craftsmen. An inspiration - Nick Hall

28th January: Geoff Lakeman.
Mention the name Lakeman in folk circles and any one of three – Seth, Sean, Sam – will almost certainly spring to mind There is, however another one. The inspiration for their musical passion: father Geoff who, now retired, has entered the folk world as an accomplished performer in his own right, singing his favourite songs and playing the Crane duet concertina, generally regarded as one of the most difficult concertinas to play. Geoff’s repertoire consists of traditional Cornish and Devon material, a few songs he has penned himself and one or two Irish numbers.

Having been responsible for the unleashing of the musical talents of his sons onto the world, it’s Geoff’s turn to indulge his passion and we welcome him on this his first visit to the Topic.

TOPIC NEWS

At the AGM held in December the following were elected onto the committee:

Guy Killingbeck; Liz Narey; John Waller; Rob Martin; Sue Gaffney; Rahel Guzelian; Tony Charnock; Chris Hyland.

Rahel Guzelian takes over from Sue Gaffney as Bookings person. Sue has done a fantastic job, many thanks to her, and we welcome Chris Hyland as a new committee member.

Usual stuff
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