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Topic Newsletter Archive

Newsletter No 231 - September 2021    

Hello all, I hope you're keeping well, as always. 

The Topic is still not yet able to give any firm news or promises about when we can start having real live music again: the committee is working on all the aspects that need to be addressed before we can start booking or re-booking guests. Be sure that we will let you know as soon as we are able.

As before, I'm going to make a separate attachment for the usual streaming stuff that I always include, it'll free up a bit of space for other news, I hope that's convenient for everyone. Bear in mind that as performers hopefully start to get back to live bookings, that may well affect what's available online.
 

Nick Dow - new book: "A Secret Stream" 

Nick has asked me to pass on details of his new book, soon to be published. You have the chance to order it in advance for £15.

Flyer with details attached. If you wish to purchase the book using PayPal the address is info@francisboutle.co.uk or you can contact Nick direct or through me.

Here is more information about the book from Nick:

"‘A Secret Stream’ brings together over a hundred mostly unpublished folk songs and tunes, carols, including songs  in the Anglo-Romany tongue ,collected from English Gypsies by Victorian and Edwardian collectors such as Cecil Sharp, Ella Leather, Lucy Broadwood, George Borrow and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Selected by Nick Dow, the musical notation has been transcribed by Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and there are authoritative historical notes to each song supplied by Steve Gardham, along with detailed biographical material for many of the singers.

ISBN9781838092894
Price£15

The book will be available in September but you can order now at our secure website  or by using the QR code in the attached flyer.

Cheques can be made payable to Francis Boutle Publishers,

272, Alexandra Park Road, London, N227BG

www.francisboutle.co.uk

info@francisboutle.co.uk      

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FOLKY STUFF ON LOCAL RADIO

Tim Moon is running the following folk programmes:

Folk Us on Mondays 9 – 10 pm 106.6 FM and net etc

Coast and County Radio on Tuesdays 8pm – 10 pm 96.7FM and net etc

Ken Hudson's Roving Folk programme on Phoenix Radio (based in Halifax)  is broadcast on the fourth Sunday of the month from 10.00am to 12.00 noon on 96.7 FM, and is then available via the station's podcasts and via Mixcloud.

From Robbie Martin:

"Into the Buttercup"  BCB 106.6fm Listen again bcbradio.co.uk on Monday 13th September . No further details as we speak.

OTHER STUFF 

Eddie Lawler  is busy with an event at Saltaire Festival and has asked me to pass on details, poster attached.

He says " The play is not a musical but has original songs in it.  And it's fun (I hope!)"

The local music scene is beginning to come to life again: Bacca Pipes are restarting “Live” with a Singers Night on Friday September 10th 7.30 for an 8pm start finishing at 10.30. The venue is Riddlesden Institute 3 Scott Lane Riddlesden Bd20 5BU. (Take the road by The Marquis of Granby (over the road from East Riddlesden Hall and turn left into the aptly-named Scott Lane). They have taken over the whole Hall and have two inner halls at their disposal one 29ft x 23 ft and the other 23ft x 15ft and will use which is best suitable on the night. They have booked a guest night for Friday September 24th: Bryony Griffith and Alice Jones who have started doing gigs together. 

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THE TOPIC IN CYBERSPACE  

There is one Topic Facebook concert this month:

Tim Moon      Thursday 9th September 8 pm

See the attachments for details. 

Just to clear up any misunderstandings: all the donations to the tip jar at these concerts go to the performer, not the club.

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TOPIC YOUTUBE CHANNEL 

Here is the link if you wish to access the channel, which now includes the Topic performers session for July.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1S_4ASeMXzo2RnYqGn4jw

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Check out The Live Room Saltaire - https://theliveroom.info/  who are starting to present socially distanced live concerts (some of which will also be streamed) again, after a mammoth effort streaming regular high-quality shows throughout the whole time of the pandemic.Lots of great acts coming up this month. Unfortunately the Magpies show (5th) is sold out. 

Also we've just heard that The Live Room has gone the extra mile and have installed a Virus Killer, a highly regarded and widely used air purification unit, in the club concert room.

As well as the purification unit they are still taking all the usual covid safety measures.

HEART (Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre) in Leeds are back with a full programme of music events. See their website https://www.heartcentre.org.uk/ for details.

Other Items of Interest

The Folk Forecast  advertises all sorts of folky stuff going on (with some big names) which you might find very useful, self explanatory of you follow this link:

https://thefolkforecast.substack.com/people/17173534-the-folk-forecast. Thanks to Graham Smout for the info.

It covers the current week, if you subscribe they will send you details each Monday.

TykesStirrings

As mentioned previously TykesStirrings have been finding the going tough during the pandemic. With virtually none of the normal outlets to take copies they have been relying more and more on readers taking out subscriptions. If anyone could see their way to placing a regular order even for 12 months or so it would be very helpful. The cost to receive the magazine by post is £16 for 4 issues. Cheques should be sent to:

TykesStirrings Subscriptions, c/o Aireview Cottage, Grange Road, Kildwick, N.Yorks BD20 9AE

There is also the facility to pay online using Paypal at www.tykesstirrings.org.uk.

Stay safe and well. Best wishes to all.

Tony Charnock

Topic Folk Club

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Interim Newsletter 231a - 28 September 2021

Live Music at The Topic

Hello all,

I'm sending this item separately from the general newsletter (due soon) so that it will gain your specific attention.

Several clubs are starting to offer live music again; and the Topic Committee is also discussing when, and crucially where, we might re-start our own live programme.     It would be very helpful if you could give us some idea of your own views on this; and particularly whether you personally would be willing to attend.

If you attended the club on a fairly regular basis prior to the pandemic, do you:

a) Think you would be likely to resume regular attendance

b) Think you would probably not want to continue attending as you did before

If your answer is b), then it would help if you could let us know why; and also under what circumstances you might be willing to resume attendance.

This information will give us a much clearer picture of how we should proceed.   

Thank you – the Topic Committee

Thanks,

Tony

Anthony Charnock <tocharn@gmail.com>

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Streamers for newsletter (ongoing)

OTHER ONLINE STUFF

A reminder about Roger Sutcliffe's Zoom singers and Musicians Nights from his

part of the world for anyone who would like to join in. They take place on a Tuesday: Here is the link: info@cuttywrenfolkclub.com. and the website

is https://www.cuttywrenfolkclub.com/.

Dougie McLean does a series of online concerts, some free, some longer ones for which you have to book and pay to watch. He has lots of website/contact pages which you can find by googling him, but this one seems to give most of the info about these concerts: https://www.facebook.com/ButterstoneTV

Pete Coe's club - Ryburn Folk Club, https://www.ryburn3step.org.uk/. Not sure what's coming up, but bound to be something good. To find out

email ryburn3step@gmail.com. or phone 01422 823099.

There's the usual regular stuff going on online: NB some artists may be taking a rest from regular streaming, but by following the links you can usually watch past sessions.

Kath Reade, singer songwriter, has been using lockdown as an opportunity to broadcast her songs live on Facebook and they have been getting thousands of views. Kath has a facebook page, Kath Reade's Songs, so all her songs can be found in one place.

Skinner & T'witch, a Leeds-based duo who have been to the Topic on a singers and musicians night, have a facebook page which is well worth visiting. They have different stuff going on regularly, eg "Pick & Mix" sessions with some well-known performers, and what they call "Garden Sessions", plus lots of other stuff.

The Grove Folk Club is running sessions every Friday on their group Facebook page at folkatthegrove. The club has contacted me to say anybody is welcome to send in a video to take part, see the fb page for details.

Karen Pfeiffer & Paul Walker continue to do a regular afternoon spot on Fridays at 4pm.

https://www.paulwalkermusic.co.uk/

Honey & The Bear bring their excellent music every Sunday evening at 7.30 pm https://honeyandthebear.co.uk/

Winter Wilson's "Live from the Lounge" every Thursday, 8.15 pm, see their facebook page.

Phil Snell, a frequent visitor to the Topic over past years, has made a selection of lockdown videos: tunes and songs "in an attempt to cheer folk up". You can check them out on: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcNdcfcxVq8-9b6aF0aAYsG8KmBqBeBbn