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

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

Newsletter No 245  - November 2022
Scroll down to end for Addendum, 17th November

Hello again all, it's that time again: here are the details of our programme for the coming month: 

3rd  November:      Singers and musicians. (£1 entry)

10th November    :  Jon Palmer Acoustic Band.

The Jon Palmer Acoustic Band is a high energy 6-piece folk, roots and rock-n-roll combo (based in and around the musically vibrant West Yorkshire market town of Otley) and best described as a cross between The Pogues and The Oyster Band, with a bit of The Waterboys, The Saw Doctors and the Bruce Springsteen Seeger Sessions Band thrown in.

Jon is a former winner of the Grolsch UK Songwriter of the Year, and a published songwriter with Sony.

The band's latest album One Fine Day has received great reviews - folk-rock at its finest, with insightful song-writing and top-class musicianship - and live, the band have been described as one of Yorkshire's great live acts.  £7/£6

The best upbeat folk band around - Yorkshire Gig Guide.

a blur of hedonistic delight - Fatea Showcases

http://www.jonpalmeracousticband.com/
 

17th  November    :    Singers and musicians.  (£1 entry)

24th  November    :    Honey & The Bear.

British folk and roots duo Honey & the Bear combine delicately interweaving vocal harmonies with emotive and evocative songwriting. With a diverse range of sounds and textures, and rhythms that flow from the fast and furious to gentle ballads, their live performances are spirited and dynamic. Conjuring stories in song, they tell tales of Suffolk folklore, courageous people they admire, their passion for nature and the odd heartbreak or two.

The multi instrumentalist pair, comprised of songwriters Jon Hart (guitar, bass, bazouki) and Lucy Hart (guitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, mandolin & percussion), have been writing and performing together since early 2014, having met at a songwriting event two years previous. Since then, they have played at many revered venues and festivals across the UK as well as travelled across the channel for their first European tour. They supported Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys on two UK tours and opened for The Shires at world renowned Snape Maltings Concert Hall.   £7/£6

Beautiful harmonies and charisma from both aside, they were very obviously enjoying each other’s company which enhanced the atmosphere of the evening … Jon and Lucy spoke, played and sang with ease making it all look effortless …Their lyrics were significant without being contrived, and were enhanced by their storytelling and communication with the audience in between numbers - Ellie-Jane Arden – John Peel Centre

This is the duo’s second visit to our club, having kindly stood in at extremely short notice in early 2020 to fill a last-minute cancellation.

https://honeyandthebear.co.uk/

TOPIC ZOOM SESSIONS

Joy Leach has submitted the following:

"Interested in joining the monthly Topic Zoom sessions? Not able to attend the Topic Live at present either as audience or performer? Join the Topic without geographical borders, the Topic minus the travelling, the Topic where you can fix any beverage to suit. The next session will be on Monday November 21st  from 8 -10pm or so (log on any time after 7.30).

"For two years, the Topic has been running on-line Zoom sessions. Jim Saville kindly allows us the use of his Zoom Pro which means that we are able to run them monthly from 8pm on a Monday (We usually stop at 10.00 but people are welcome to continue on if they wish).

"At the easing of COVID restrictions, it was decided to continue as Zooms are useful to a number of people for a variety of reasons. A regular core group has developed, made up of current and former Topic members and others. Newcomers are welcome.

"If you’d like to check us out, with your permission, we’ll add your name & details to an email circulation list and you’ll be notified each month, a week or so in advance of the session. You will be asked to let us know if you plan to join that month, so that we can draw up a programme for the evening. If your preference is to drop-in and take potluck, that is also worth a try. The MC for the evening will try to accommodate, depending on the numbers expected.

"Anyone wishing to take part, either as a performer or as an audience member, please email Joy Leach using joy.utistugu.49.5.8@gmail.com "

NON-TOPIC STUFF (quite a bit this time: I hope you find something that interests you)

Louise Jordan (who has performed at the club on a number of occasions) has made a name for herself by producing original, interesting and informative "shows" -  true stories intertwined with her own songs - on various subjects or historical figures (eg Florence Nightingale). You may remember her performance of "No Petticoats Here" at the Topic which detailed hitherto little-known exploits of  women activists in WW1.

Louise has an event coming up that will I'm sure be of interest, I'll quote her here:

"I will be leading an online sharing of work with the Pop-Up Pedestal which I’ve undertaken with support from the Brigstow Institute at the University of Bristol. The event takes place on Thursday 3rd November 1-2pm and will cover audience engagement with heritage through street performance and performances more generally. The sharing will focus in on 3 community workshops delivered with Seed Funding from the Brigstow Institute.

"To sign up to the event, please follow this link to Eventbrite where there is further information about the content: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/popup-pedestal-engaging-audiences-with-heritage-through-street-performance-tickets-439520416397  "

Stuff going on in the Dales: the next Buck Inn Session organised by Muppett (see last month's newsletter) in Buckden, Upper Wharfedale BD23 5JA is on Sunday 13th November, 1 pm till 4 pm. Entry is free.

Whilst in The Dales, so to speak, there is a Dales Traditional Music and Dance Event at Kettlewell Village Hall on Sunday afternoon November 20th, 2 pm - 5.30 pm. Sue and Pete Coe will be calling the dances. Flyer attached.

Songs For Peace will take place at the Bradford Cenotaph BD5 0AA on Sunday 13th November at 1 pm. Choirs from Silsden and Settle, led by Janet Russell, and Commoners Choir will be in attendance. There will be soup at Unitarian Church BD5 0JB following the event. Another flyer attached.

Finally - and it's a long way off at the moment but worth knowing about now - Cleckheaton Folk Festival have organised a concert at Cleckheaton Town Hall on Saturday March 25th 2023 featuring none other than Dougie McLean. Yet another flyer attached!

MEMBERSHIP

A reminder that the previous year's membership, which was on hold since 2020, expired on 31st August, so we are now collecting subscriptions at club nights.

Membership - still only £5 - 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. Good news is that subs paid this year will last until the end of December 2023, so it's even more of a bargain!

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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 if 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. 

Although covid appears to be on the retreat just now (or is it??), please continue to take precautions when visiting the club.

Best wishes,

Tony Charnock