At: Hullabaloo, 41 Westgate, Shipley, BD18 3QX

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

Newsletter No 239  - May 2022

Hello everyone, hope you're enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend.

Here are details of our programme  for the coming month: 

5th   May:     Singers and musicians.  (£1 entry)

12th  May:    Iona Lane.

Hallival is the long awaited debut album from Leeds-based folk singer and songwriter Iona Lane. Having found herself fascinated by folklore and folk stories from across the UK, Hallival is inspired by natural landscapes, scientific discoveries, equality, human relationships and the supernatural, all tied together by a strong sense of place and a love for being in wild places - creating something truly special.

Having studied under the tuition of Nancy Kerr, Jim Moray and Stuart McCallum, Iona has been praised throughout the scene for her delicate yet powerful vocals, which have captivated audiences up and down the country.

Iona was chosen by Karine Polwart to receive the Taran Guitars Young Players Bursary 2020. Since receiving the bursary luthier Rory Dowling, of Taran Guitars, has designed and built a bespoke instrument for Iona’s music.

An intriguing debut - her sweet voice recalls Emilíana Torrini, while her lyrics and musical arrangements crackle with wide-eyed curiosity. - Jude Rogers, The Guardian (2022)

Spellbinding - Jericho Keys, BBC Introducing (2022)  £7 (£6 members)

19th  May:     Singers and musicians.  (£1 entry)

26th   May:    Atlas Bridge.

Exciting acoustic 3-piece band Atlas Bridge bring together Becky Taylor (Uilleann pipes, Northumbrian smallpipes, whistles and mandolin), Madeline Andrew (vocals, 5-string banjo, guitar, bodhran and whistle) and Steve Lacey (guitar and vocals).

Expect engaging, high energy, lively tune sets interspersed with thought-provoking songs. With a multitude of different instruments between them and a fresh approach to more familiar material as well as vocal variety, there is plenty of interest here!

Atlas Bridge came to life in the Sparrow Café in Bradford, drawing on their shared love of good tunes, good songs and a willingness to keep the show on the road no matter what. Their name, with its roots in Greek mythological references to the Atlantic Ocean or Atlantis Sea, echoes the big musical connection between Irish and other Celtic folk traditions and the Americana/Appalachian music and song reflected in their repertoire. £7 (£6 members)

NON-TOPIC STUFF

As things return to normal I'll be giving general details of some local venues doing folky stuff and their contact details. They have all had a hard time during the pandemic but managed to keep going: the looming cost of living crisis isn't going to help them. Hopefully between us we can give them support while enjoying some of our favourite performers.

Wadsworth Community Centre Old Town Hebden Bridge HX7 8RY has  Ranagri with Plumhall as support on 7th May.

 https://www.facebook.com/BGREvents/

Groove Pad Shipley has Paula Ryan on Friday 13th May at 9 pm. Paula (originally from Tipperary but now living in York) has appeared several times at the Topic.  She will be bringing her heartfelt songs and her Irish charm and wit to the upstairs bar: entry is free!

https://www.facebook.com/groovepadshipley/

Heart (Headingley Enterprise & Arts Centre) has lots going on, check it out:

https://www.heartcentre.org.uk/

And now for something completely different (which I have been asked to tell you about - it'll be easier to quote word for word)......

QUOTE

'PURCELL AND A PINT’ - Saturday 7th May 2022, York Mansion House, York, 7:30pm

Join Eboracum Baroque and York Gin for an evening of rowdy drinking songs, popular fiddle tunes, folk songs and delicious York Gin!

In collaboration with our friends at York Gin, we’re delighted to return to York Mansion House for Purcell and a Pint. The concert will transport you back to the alehouses of 17th century England. Taverns were raucous surroundings and overflowed with music, alcohol, sex, gossip, fights, fumes, shouting, singing, laughing, dancing…. Our performance won’t have all of those! Free drink of York Gin on arrival.

We’ll be performing a mixture of instrumental tunes and songs by Purcell and lots of his contemporaries to create our own 17th century pub gig. Audience participation is a must!

Tickets can be purchased on our website or alternatively contact Chris Parsons via the details at the end of this press release.

Eboracum Pub Band: Baritone - John Holland Avery; Recorder - Miriam Monaghan; Cello - Miri Nohl; Harpsichord - Laurence Lyndon Jones;Trumpet/Percussion - Chris Parsons.

http://www.eboracumbaroque.co.uk/

UNQUOTE

Looking further ahead, for those of you interested in folk dancing, the Yorkshire Folk Dance Weekend is back this year. It will take place on 1st - 3rd July in Drax, North Yorkshire.

For details, visit http://yfdw.org.uk/

TOPIC STUFF

Membership

A reminder that current membership will run until 31st August 2022, so there will be no need to renew until September.

Membership 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.

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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 Groove Pad, 48 Saltaire Road, Shipley BD18 3HN, 7.30 pm start with a target time of 10pm to finish. 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 are hoping we can count on you for your continued support.

Floor singers are always welcome (though may be limited when we have a booked support act - please check). Please arrive by 7.15 pm if you’d like a slot – it helps the MC to plan the evening. Would-be floor singers please note that for the time being we may change the format of the evening slightly and have all the floor singers at the beginning of the first half to start the night.

It's not set in stone, we'll see how things develop as we go along, but it may help the evening run smoothly and ensure that the finish time is strictly adhered to.

Although covid restrictions have now been lifted, the virus is still out there and people are still getting infected, so we respectfully ask you to continue to take sensible precautions when visiting the club.

Best wishes,

Tony Charnock

Topic Folk Club