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 176- February 2017 

Hello all,

Glyde House continues to lift the winter gloom on Thursday nights with the usual array of excellent performers interspersed with the usual monthly singers/musicians nights. As follows:-

2nd February:  Singers and musicians night. 8.15pm. Free entry

9th February:      Soundsphere
Soundsphere formed in York in 2000 - originally a four piece vocal singing group until the sad passing of Angela Michel in November 2013.  With Angela's blessing Judith, Sarah and Paula felt that there was no other path to take, but to carry on...as three...”it's what Angela wished for us and so we will carry on and think of her with joy, every time we sing”.

The Soundsphere style specialises in singing 'a cappella'.  This tradition of singing means, basically, without accompaniment: textured harmonies which give the arrangements a rich and vibrant sound.  Most of the songs in the group’s repertoire are sung without accompaniment but percussion and drums are sometimes used to great effect - if the song calls for it!  Some are old and some are new and some are self-penned pieces but all are sung because they are special. 

All over the world songs are sung and passed from generation to generation in the a cappella  style - harmonies come and go but the basic style of creating an illusion of depth and feeling by using purely the voice and layering harmonies with each other creates a stunningly rich sound that has character and depth.

Soundsphere take their songs from many countries and from across many centuries, rarely taking a set arrangement but preferring to create a unique sound, this quite often evolves and develops as it gets sung!   £6/£5

16th February: Pete Morton
It’s high time we had another visit from this superb performer: songwriter, singer and “folk rapper” with his wealth of great songs and stage presence. A veritable troubadour, Pete tours constantly either solo or in various collaborations, sometimes in musical theatre shows. He has entertained all over the world with his unique style, songs telling stories and speaking of the human condition from his own unique perspective, songs of humour, politics, love and social comment delivered in the folk tradition. Pete has many solo albums of original material as well as others in collaboration with other luminaries such as Roger Wilson, Simon Edwards and Jo Freya.  £6/£5

...not only impressive but a revelation....totally original   -  The Guardian

23rd February:  Jon Palmer Acoustic Band. 
The Jon Palmer Acoustic Band is a 6-piece folk, roots and rock & roll combo based in and around the musically vibrant West Yorkshire market town of Otley. The line-up includes guitars, mandolin, whistle, double bass, violin, and drums. Everyone sings!

Describing the band as “a cross between The Pogues and Bruce Springsteen’s Seeger Session Band – with a bit of Waterboys and Saw Doctors thrown in for good measure”, Leeds Music Scene said the Jon Palmer Acoustic Band left them “spellbound and desperate for more!” Jon is a former winner of the Grolsch UK Songwriter of the Year, and a published songwriter with Sony. £6/£5

A blur of hedonistic delight – Fatea Showcases

Jon Palmer is a very fine songwriter… if the band were a heavy electric group they’d be The Levellers, but that would lose the subtlety of the acoustic performance - R2 Magazine (Rock n Reel)

OTHER STUFF

Reminder

Tom Bliss's final gig to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society,as his daughter has sadly been diagnosed with this debilitating condition, will be on February 11th at 8.30 The New Headingley Club 56 St Michael's Road, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3BG - 0113 275 7712 bennygdog@hotmail.com - http://www.newheadingleyclub.co.uk/. Entry is pay-as-you-feel for the Multiple Sclerosis Society: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/

Topic friend Muppett (isn't he everyone's friend?) is organising a couple of charity folky events in the near future. Here are the details:

Friday March 3rd is Big Yellow Friday, the Children Liver Disease Foundation’s National Fundraising day (http://www.bigyellowfriday.org/ ).

The Castle (20 Grattan Road, BD1 2LU) is holding a fundraising concert for this worthwhile cause which is close to Muppett's heart - he walks hundreds of miles every year raising money for it -  with The Wild Geese starting at 8.30 pm. Entry is free but there will be an Auction and Raffle: if you would like to donate a prize it will be much appreciated. Please come dressed in some yellow and please note just for this night there will be no International Cabaret (only Castle regulars will know what that means). Contact Muppett on muppett@cnet.org.uk if you would like any further details or if you have a raffle prize to donate.

also:

The Friends of Dales Bus (http://www.friendsofdalesbus.org.uk/ )  are running a charity fundraising concert on Saturday 4th March at 8 p.m. at Korks Wine Bar, 40 Bondgate, Otley (home of Otley Folk Club, situated 3 minutes from Otley Bus Station) to raise money to help keep the network of Dales buses running that connect the towns of West Yorkshire with the villages of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The concert will include performances by Rum Doodle, 6 Days, the Hall Brothers with John Carey and will be Hosted by Muppett himself. Admission is £5 , if you want to donate a prize for a raffle or the auction or to reserve a ticket contact Muppett on muppett@cnet.org.uk

TOPIC STUFF

A sad reminder that Philomena Hingston's funeral will take place on Thursday 2nd February at 10.10 am at Scholemoor Crematorium, Necropolis Road, Bradford BD7 2PS 

As many of you will be aware, Howard Sharpe has left Glyde House: he has been of invaluable help to the club, often going more than the extra mile on our behalf. We wish him well in his new post.

A reminder to anyone who wrote a "Topic anniversary" song to send me the lyrics if you would like it put up on the website.

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