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 178- April 2017 

Hello all,

Don't let the lighter evenings, welcome though they are, put you off coming down to Glyde House on Thursdays to see what's going on. "Lots"  is the answer....

6th April:  Singers and musicians night. 8.15pm. Free entry

13th April:  Iain Thomson & Marc Duff.
Iain Thomson has been described as a man who writes contemporary songs with a traditional twist. He was brought up in Dumfries and started learning the piano at 7. By age of 15 he moved on from the discipline of classical piano to take up the guitar and singing.

Iain moved to Mull in 1986 to run a large hill farm and became known as the "Singing Shepherd" after producing two successful tapes of self penned songs.

In 1996 he left Mull spending 7 restless years driving trucks and playing in bars.Due to changing circumstances and an almost magnetic draw he returned to Mull and his rural roots and within a short time produced the successful CD The Long Road Home which was played extensively on local and national radio.

In 2010 he brought out the His album Fields of Dreams consisting of 12 tracks of self-penned songs and tunes received critical acclaim. His sensitive songs and tunes of the changing face of rural Argyll move the hearts and souls of his audience.

Iain is at present concentrating on developing the duo he has formed with the wonderfully talented Marc Duff, known primarily for co-founding the notable Celtic band Capercaillie with whom he has toured extensively and made many successful recordings. Iain and Marc’s style and sound complement one another, definitely contemporary but with that traditional twist.

Since leaving Capercaillie in 1995 to pursue his own career, Marc has worked with many prominent artists, playing low D whistle, Bodhran, bouzouki ,wind synthesizer and latterly uilleann pipes. His distinctive style of playing has kept him in demand as a session musician and a teacher.

Marc has performed and recorded with an eclectic array of artists from many different musical genres including Def Shepherd, Fish, Iain Morrison, Dick Gaughan, Billy Bragg, Wolfstone and as a soloist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performing music for the BBC series A History of Scotland. £6/£5

20th April: Wilcox:Hulse.
Previously two-thirds of established folk act ‘The Queensberry Rules’, Gary Wilcox and Phil Hulse have over 17 years’ experience of playing music together, releasing seven albums - three of these on the legendary Fellside record label.

Laden with strong harmonies and social conscience, the new songs on the First Born and follow-up Second Chance  EP’s have been winning praise on the pairs’ exciting musical journey.

The Queensberry Rules gave us some great evenings in the past, and we welcome Gary and Phil back as the successful duo they are. £6/£5

27th April:  Rubber Wellies.
The Rubber Wellies are a travelling folk band, who over the last seven years have cheered audiences all over from Galway in Ireland to Gisborne in New Zealand. After the success of Long Way to Be Free (2009) and The Bones on Black (2012), their third studio album, Bricks and Feather, was released in May 2015 with the help of the usual crew of far flung welly misfits. 

Drawing on narratives from curious everyday occurances, global politics and folk legends, the Rubber Wellies' multi-lingual performances are a mix of musical story-telling and good-time sing-alongs that flip between poignant introspection and carefree raucousness. Their musical style is an international mash-up of sea shanties, mexican rancheras, bossa nova, reggae, old time and swing. Similarly their approach to writing and performance attempts to build bridges – between their own stories and those of others and between the band and the audience – in a sonic/emotional conversation that creates plenty of opportunities for thoughtfullness and laughter.

As the name might possibly suggest, this will almost certainly be something of a different evening.

One of my favourite bands of recent years - Mike Harding

Try and listen to… the Rubber Wellies and be anything but happy, it’s impossible! – BBC Radio Sheffield

OTHER STUFF

A reminder about the "Mountain Minstrel" project:

A 10-day trek through the mountains of western Kosovo, southern Montenegro and northern Albania, carrying instruments -lightweight, eg  fiddle, uke, mandolin- (luggage is carried for you by jeep or horse), doing informal performances of folk tunes and songs in villages, sessions in guest houses, linking up with local musicians on the way.

Dates: July 3rd to 16th 2017

For all details including costs contact Richard Hargreaves on 01756 770346, or email him at: strand@hawkswick.ne

We receive details of far too many events and festivals, particularly for the summer months, to include on our newsletter but I'll mention two here briefly: if anyone one would like more details you can email me and I'll send you the information you require.

16th - 18th June - Soundpost Singing Weekend, Dungworth, Sheffield (www.soundpost.org.uk)

7th -9th July - Yorkshire Folk Dance weekend - Drax Social Club (http://yfdw.org.uk)

TOPIC STUFF

There's been a suggestion that it might be helpful for everyone to have a copy of our quarterly flyer that you can download, print out and keep in a handy place, so that those of you who don't get a physical copy for any reason can know at a glance who's on at the club. So hopefully there will be a pdf of the current flyer attached to this newsletter. Sounds like a good idea. Hope it works for you.

USUAL STUFF

For performers who may be thinking of approaching the club for a booking, please note that the bookings organiser is 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 normally 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, though may be limited when we have a booked support act - please check. 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