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

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

Newsletter No 258 - December 2023

_{Hello again all, nearly Christmas already!! Well, not quite, plenty happening at the Topic before the day....}

_{For example:}

_{7th December:   Singers & Musicians  (£1 entry). Preceded by the club's AGM - see below}
 

_{14th  December:  Kimbers Men}

_{Kimbers Men have appeared at festivals in Ostende, Appingedam, Portmagee, Portsoy, Fano in Denmark, and all over the UK. Featured twice on Sunday brunch for Channel 4, they also starred in the BBC2 and BBC4 production of Sea Songs, with Gareth Malone, which was the most viewed programme of the year on BBC 4.}

_{Kimber’s Men possess probably the finest bass singer on the British folk scene today in John Bromley. John has been singing folk songs since he was 16 and has sung in several folk bands and is a solo artist. John plays guitar, whistle and bodhran.}

_{Neil Kimber has been performing and singing since the late sixties and has a massive repertoire of songs at his disposal. He plays guitar and is the only real sailor in the group. Neil and Ros Kimber composed the wonderful song ‘Don’t Take The Heroes’, which is now being sung by many shanty bands all over the world, and describes the aftermath of the Penlee lifeboat disaster.}

_{Kimber’s men are lucky to have long standing member Gareth Scott. He has a powerful and bluesy voice and is an accomplished guitarist, bringing another dimension to the sound they produce. Steve Smith, sound engineer and multi-instrumentalist, completes the group with his high harmonies.}

_{https://www.kimbersmen.com/}
 

_{21st   December:    Singers & musicians    (£1 entry)}
 

_{28th   December:    Singers & musicians    (£1 entry). Well, it is Christmas....}

_{Topic ZOOMS}

_{Joy Leach has submitted the following:}

_{This is an invitation to join the Midwinter Topic Zoom on Monday December 18th in the comfort of your own home. Performers and audience members from far and near are welcome. As previously, doors will open at 7.30 for an 8pm start, the programme will run till 10pm. Singers, musicians and poets can all take part. Any further enquiries about participating, pass codes for each evening etc, please email: joy.utistugu.49.5.8@gmail.com or text 07947 747998}

_{THE TOPIC AND BRADFORD CITY OF CULTURE 2025}

_{We are delighted to be involved in one of the cultural events in the run up to Bradford City of Culture 2025 as per the following:}

_{Folk Songs for Bradford District - Person and Place: Creating Songs about People and Places of Bradford District.}

_{See the attached flyer for full details of this ambitious project [Text of flyer at end of newsletter]}

_{(If anyone has difficulty in opening this or any other attachments, please let me know and I'll send the information in a different way).}

_{This project is by no means limited to the usual participants in the acoustic music scene: if you know of anyone outside our orbit who might be interested in being involved, please let them know, nay, encourage them, about it.}

_{NON-TOPIC STUFF}

_{On Monday December 4th 2023, Liz Narey's First Monday Folk welcomes Barry Smith & The Cadence Band. There will also be a Surprise Guest!}

_{Venue: The Ryshworth Club, Keighley Road,Crossflatts, BD16 2HB.}

_{Free entry. Doors 7 pm Raffle/donation appreciated.}

_{OTHER NEWS FROM ROUND AND ABOUT:} 

_{Buck Inn: Muppett's Buck Inn session is on 10th December, 1 pm- 4pm. It's timed so that the session can be accessed by the Dales Bus; DalesBus Timetable Booklet. See the previous newsletter or visit https://dales-music-and-dance-collective.org.uk/}

_{On Saturday 9th December  at 8 pm at Batley Town Hall, Market Square Batley WF17 5DA Cleckheaton Folk Festival with Kirklees Year of Music present The Lock In Christmas Carol featuring The Demon Barbers. See the attached flyer.}

_{TOPIC STUFF}

_{THE AGM: FINAL REMINDER!}

_{As mentioned in the last newsletter the club's AGM will be held on 7th December at 7.30 pm sharp at Groove Pad, preceding the scheduled singers and musicians night.  A reminder that the AGM business will be for Topic members only: non-members coming to the singers night will be welcome to observe, but will not be able to vote on any matters, as is normal.}

_{A sheet with nominations for membership of the committee, which need a proposer and seconder, will be available on the night.}

_{Please consider putting your name forward for the committee: it's not too onerous a task, 4 meetings a year and it's always helpful to have new people being involved, new ideas and so forth, it keeps the club moving forward.}

_{A reminder to club members that the annual accounts as approved by the committee are available for perusal beforehand. Please email me if you would like me to send you a copy.}

_{AGM's and matters of constitution are tedious but necessary: they give members a chance to let the committee know what they want, and the committee members to explain the whys and wherefores of their running of the club if necessary. Above all they make for transparency in terms of financial matters, providing a proper record of the accounts of the club. Hopefully we will get enough people along and deal with the business quickly and efficiently so we can get on with the main business of the evening, the music.}

                                                                      _{----------------------------------------------------}

_{As I'm sure you're now aware, guest nights as well as singers & musicians  nights are now held in the downstairs bar. Please note that doors will now open at 7 pm to enable the seating arrangements to be completed for the evening.}

_{For those of you wishing to partake of drinks that are only available from the upstairs bar, would you please go upstairs to purchase them, as the bar staff are not able to leave their bar area. When doing so, it would be much appreciated if you would try to leave and come back between songs, as is normal folk club etiquette.}

_{Remember that we now accept (indeed prefer) payment by card, but you can of course pay by cash if that suits you better.}
 

_MEMBERSHIP 

_{Membership of the Topic Folk Club - still only £5 - 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 Groove Pad, 48 Saltaire Road, Shipley BD18 3HN, doors will open at 7 pm with a 7.30 pm start and 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.} 

_{Covid is still very much around: please continue to take precautions when visiting the club.}

_{With best wishes to everyone for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy the festive season!}

_{Tony Charnock}

_{Topic Folk Club}

_----

_{The Topic - Established in Bradford in 1956: The Oldest Folk Club in the World.}

_{Folk Songs for Bradford District - Person and Place}

_{Creating Songs about People and Places of Bradford District}

_{To mark Bradford City of Culture in 2025 the Topic Folk Club is gathering together new folk songs about the story of people and/or groups who work to make Bradford District a welcoming and supportive place. Songs about historical figures that have lived in Bradford District and helped to make it great are also welcomed.}

_{The aim is to celebrate live original folk music and encourage people from all parts of the district to share what they find special. There are no age restrictions. Songs that have already been written that fit the criteria are also welcome.}

_{Ø We invite songwriters to write a song about a person, group or special place in the Bradford District. The songs would be in the British folk idiom and involve an acoustic performance by solo /duet.}

_{Ø To enable the Topic to keep a record of the song you are asked to send the Lyrics and a MP3 (if available) to topic2025@gmail.com}

_{Ø The singer /writer of the song is invited to perform it at the Topic folk club singers and musicians nights or as floor singers on Topic guest nights*starting in January 2024. . The person who wrote the song can arrange for someone else to sing it.}

_{Ø The songs will be collected throughout 2024 and up to July 2025.}

_{Ø By agreement the songwriter the songs may be broadcast on Bradford Community Broadcasting 106.6fm; possibly including an interview with the writer/performer.}

_{Ø Further opportunities to promote the songs, for example with recording and live performance throughout the district will be pursued as the project progresses.}

_{* The Topic meets on Thursday evenings at Groove Pad, Saltaire Road, Shipley. Please check on Topic Folk Club, Bradford, West Yorkshire (nawaller.com) for details of the guest artist and directions to Groove Pad.}

_{Contacts:: topic2025@gmail.com}

_{Robbie Martin 01274 593585 Sue Gaffney 07720918947 Tony Charnock email tocharn@gmail.com}