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 177- March 2017 

Hello all,

With Spring around the corner things are looking up - but they always are at Glyde House on a Thursday night. Read on:

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

9th March:      Stanley Accrington.
Stanley emerged from the dark days of the late 1970's and has been terrorising the cultural world ever since, having written hundreds of songs in a range of styles on a vast rake of subjects. There are old-style songs on current happenings and modern style songs on ancient events. There are poems, pastiches, parodies, and possibly anything.

Apart from the silly and very silly material, Stanley has always been writing serious songs to confuse the situation further. He has been performing all over UK and occasionally beyond at a wide variety of locations and events. The pigeon-hole to put this stuff in is "miscellaneous-ish"

Stanley's CV is impresssive, nay unique, having done over 1500 gigs including over 200 Folk Festivals, and many radio appearances. He has performed at weddings, a black-pudding cookery demonstration, an anti-motorway demonstration, a theme night on “bees”, and a moorland restaurant’s Septic Tank Opening Night, to name but a few of the odd places he has ended up in.

He continues to write material in a range of styles. Some of his songs have been picked up and sung, and recorded, by other artists. What keeps him going is the compulsive urge to write songs, to incorporate new styles and, mainly, to have fun.

He also does anagrams... big time.   £6/£5
 

16th March: Ribbon Road.
RIBBON ROAD are : Brenda Heslop - Vocals, guitar / Jill Heslop - Vocals, Keyboards / Geoff Heslop - Vocals, guitar.

Ribbon Road sing beautifully crafted songs drawing from folk music's long tradition yet relevant to our ever-changing modern times. Based on tight harmonies and simple instrumental arrangements which accentuate the words, their sound has a powerful directness often missing in contemporary song. £6/£5

 'No Redemption Songs' is absolutely beautiful..a really, really moving album - Brenda has a way of spinning a song out of the truth'  - Mike Harding- Folk Show - September 2014.

... a rare and relatively unknown giant of songwriting and Ribbon Road’s album “Roadside Dreams” is an absolute gem – Mike Harding.

They sing in perfect balance and gentle close harmony on Brenda’s acutely personal songs. - froots
 

23rd March:  Roy Bailey. 
For more than 50 years, Roy Bailey has been one of the UK Folk & Acoustic scene’s most loved and admired performers. From his early days performing skiffle in student union bars, to his love of traditional songs and the stories they tell, onto developing a unique repertoire of songs of dissent and hope, he has performed on stages, TV and radio all over the world. In 2000 he was awarded an MBE for Services to Folk Music – an Award he later returned in protest at the Government’s Foreign Policy.   In 1990 Roy and Tony Benn first presented their show 'The Writing on the Wall' for which the duo won Best Live Act at BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2003. The show has been performed to enthusiastic audiences the length and breadth of the UK, from 300 people in Working Men's Clubs, to an estimated 9000 people at Cambridge Folk Festival in 2000. Roy's association with Tony began in 1976 and they worked together on various programmes up to Tony's sad death in 2014.

Now after more than 50 years as a performer, Roy is as compelling, entertaining, thought provoking and moving as ever before.  Approaching 80 years of age, Roy remains committed to his life-long principles of Equality, Liberty, Justice and Internationalism. He is a member of the current Anti-Capitalist Roadshow along with many of this country's leading and respected socialist folk singers and song writers.

Roy has also pursued a distinguished academic career. He has lectured in Universities and Colleges in Britain, Germany, Belgium, the USA, Canada and Australia. N retired from academic life he is an Emeritus Professor of Sheffield Hallam University. In 1989 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).   £6/£5

Roy represents “the very soul of folk’s working class ideals… a triumphal homage to the grass roots folk scene as a radical alternative to the mainstream music industry  - MOJO

Roy Bailey is one of the great folksingers of the world -  Bill Hauritz, Director, Woodford Folk Festival, Queensland, Australia.
 

30th March: Phil Cockerham Trio.
Philip Cockerham is a singer, performer and songwriter based in West Yorkshire, but plays nationally on the folk and acoustic music scene.

His songs contain a range of sometimes humorous but always thought-provoking themes, with memorable hooks and irresistible choruses. There are also some familiar traditional songs, but delivered in a refreshingly different way. It's not surprising then, that Phil has been gaining a deserved reputation with his original material and his entertaining performances. 

Supported with his collection of acoustic instruments, Phil Cockerham captivates audiences with his music in a range of styles. His relaxed and confident personality instantly engages and puts people at their ease. Whether he is performing solo, or as most often is the case when he is accompanied by ace double bass player, Dave Bowie and percussionist/harmonist Dickie Dixon, an enjoyable night is promised.

Since his emergence in recent years, many people have discovered Phil and his songs, and other musicians are now covering songs he has written and recorded. £6/£5

His music is charismatic and powerful...totally traverses the old and new, yet Philip has his own style and take on things too... Jumbo Records

...he is an impressive performer and songwriter... with engaging songs ranging from topical and catchy tunes to thoughtful ballads  -Craven Herald and Pioneer

Amazing voice, tells it like it is, one not to miss....  -  Cleethorpes Folk and Cider Festival
 

OTHER STUFF

Reminder

As mentioned in the last newsletter Muppett is organising a couple of charity gigs this weekend, both for very good causes:

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.

This 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

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN 2017

Well, this is a new one: are you adventurous, intrepid, play a lightweight musical instrument (uke, fiddle, mandolin), like hiking in mountains?? Do you want to be a "Mountain Minstrel"? Then this is for you:

A 10-day trek through the mountains of western Kosovo, southern Montenegro and northern Albania, carrying instruments (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

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

TOPIC STUFF

Parking: it seems that the increases in parking charges that I warned about have met some resistance and are yet to come into force. Notices of the proposed changes have been put up, but for now the best thing to do is to read the main signs and act accordingly. Be aware however that there are likely to be changes in the near future: apparently details will be finalised next week.

The collection at Philomena Hingston's funeral raised £350, which the family have kindly split 50/50 between MacMillan Cancer Care and the Topic Folk Club, a generous gesture which reflects Philomena's commitment to the club over the years.

The committee will be looking at ideas for a permanent reminder of her place in the club's history.

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