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 192  - June 2018

Hello all, 

Nearly halfway through the year already: it's slipping away. Don't miss what's on offer at Glyde House on Thursday evenings all year round. For example:

7th June : Singers and Musicians. 8.15 pm start. Free entry.

14th June  : Red Hippo

Red Hippo - Peadar Long, Daz Jones and Simon Chantler, a stunning mix of sousaphone, Irish whistles, saxophones and strings - are a truly unique trio. They combine music from different genres to create compositions which take the listener on instrumental journeys with a respectful nod towards The Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Bellowhead, Filafolket and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and yet don’t sound like any of them.The differing styles are truly inter-woven into a fascinating musical form: Red Hippo’s music is deceptively intelligent, yet utterly accessible.

Red Hippo have appeared at many music and folk festivals, including Sidmouth and have also supported The Oysterband, Lau, Andy Irvine, O’Hooley and Tidow, and Kan.

Support tonight from local singer/songwriter Pete Ivatts with his sensitive, often poignant, original compositions, sometimes laced with gentle humour.   £6/£5

21st June: Bob Wood

Bob hails originally from the west coast of Scotland but has long been based in London. An engaging solo singer and performer with an easy going sense of humour, he’s known also as an accomplished finger-style guitarist. Exploring a range of open tunings, his playing and song interpretations have been described as displaying rare sensitivity, lightness of touch and great technique.

Bob's repertoire nowadays retains firm links with the tradition, but includes an array of contemporary songs as well as a smattering of pipe, harp and other tunes on guitar.

An artiste with an eclectic and entertaining repertoire of song which he accompanies with an innovative and always sympathetic guitar style - Archie Fisher

Bob Wood is one of the deftest pickers and tastiest arrangers of songs it has been my pleasure to hear...a real delight - Steve Tilston           £6/£5

28th June: Miriam Erasmus (formerly Miriam Backhouse)

Born in Lewes, U.K., traditional folksinger Miriam Backhouse made her professional start on the British folk club circuit in the mid-'70s, and released a solo LP,  A Gypsy Without a Road in 1977, which has become an underground British folk classic over the decades since. Miriam moved to South Africa in 1979 with her husband, keyboard player John Erasmus, and made her home in the Valley of a Thousand Hills region there. She released a series of recordings in South Africa which earned her the title there of "the African Rose". A clear, expressive singer, Miriam also plays several instruments, including guitar, viola, autoharp, and recorder, and has written hundreds of children's songs, but her forte remains the traditional British, American, and African material that forms the center of her live shows. She tours Britain annually while continuing to make her home in South Africa.

Miriam is celebrating her 70th birthday by making this a special tour of places that have meant a great deal to her over her lifetime.. She was involved in the folk revival of the 60’s, eventually being dubbed “First Lady of Folk”, and gained a reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of British folk songs. Miriam started her folk career at Bradford University Folk Club, so this visit to the Topic is a fitting and no doubt for her an emotional return to her roots. £6/£5.

NON-TOPIC EVENTS

THE BRIAN LAWTON LEGACY PROJECT.

As mentioned in recent newsletters, this is an ongoing project during the next 12 months concerning photographs taken by Brian Lawton which cover much of the history of folk music and folk festivals in West Yorkshire. It’swell worth visiting the website http://www.brianlawtonproject.org.uk, to which new material is being added on a regular basis.

IMPORTANT: THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGING  - RELENTLESS MONTHLY REMINDER

Having considered the response to the proposal for earlier start/finish times, the committee has decided to implement a starting time for guest nights of 8 pm to finish at 10.30 pm, starting in September 2018.

The Topic and GDPR - oh no, I hear you groan. Further to my earlier missive on the subject, it appears (not unsurprisingly) that some of the requirements are open to interpretation. A Topic Policy Statement, worded as simply as possible will be forthcoming and will be accessible to all.  In the meantime I reiterate that the only personal information we hold online is your name and email address and we only ever use your contact details to send you the monthly newsletter or other information regarding the  Topic Folk Club. We will never share your details with any other organisation or individual, nor will we ever forward third party mailings to you.

Hopefully we have done enough to avoid fines of up to 4% of our global annual turnover.

Forward reminder: the July singers and musicians night will in July be held on the 2nd Thursday, ie 12th July, as Roger Sutcliffe's  visit traditionally takes place on the first Thursday in July.

USUAL STUFF

MEMBERSHIP: If you would like to become a member of the Topic Folk club it still only costs only £5.00 for the year. Membership runs from 1st January and entitles you 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. You can join or renew your membership on any club night.

For performers who may be thinking of approaching the club for a booking, please email: info4topic@gmail.com

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, 8.30 pm start. (Singers & Musicians nights normally start at 8.15 pm). 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