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

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

Newsletter No 256 - October 2023

_{Hello again all, mists and mellow fruitfulness are almost upon us. Let's see what's happening at the Topic as autumn begins.}

_{But first of all the details of Ronnie Wharton's funeral. This will take place on Friday 13th October at 2.30 pm at Scholemoor Cemetery and later at The Bridge pub, off Manchester Road.}

_{Our programme for the coming month is as follows:}

_{5th October:   Singers & Musicians  (£1 entry)}

_{12th  October:  Jon Wilks}

_{Jon Wilks is a prominent fingerpicking guitarist and singer who performs traditional English folk songs and broadside ballads. He often specialises in songs from Birmingham and the wider Midlands, of which he has recorded two albums, Midlife (2018) and Up the Cut (2021).}

_{With his background as a former editor of Time Out magazine and contributor to Dazed & Confused, The Guardian and other publications, Jon has a keen eye and ear for storytelling. During his live shows, he mixes entertaining folk song performances with fascinating tidbits about the original singers and collectors that he has unearthed during his extensive research on traditional folk music in the UK.}

_{Aside from being a talented musician and performer, Jon is also the founder and editor of Tradfolk.co, a website dedicated to the traditional music and ritualistic culture of England. He has released three solo albums, three albums and two EPs with The Grizzly Folk, and an album and EP with Japan-based indie band, Cut Flowers. He co-arranged and performed tracks on Jackie Oates’s Gracious Wings album and was a part of Slow Jane, the quartet that created videos of Nick Drake songs during lockdown.}

_{In addition to his music career, Jon is the presenter of The Old Songs Podcast and gigs whenever he can. His talent has been recognized by Guitarist, one of the world’s biggest guitar magazines, which featured him as one-to-watch in July 2022. £7 (£6 members)}

_{Get tickets in advance: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/585179}

_{19th October  : Singers & musicians    (£1 entry)}

_{26th October  : Double Header: Chris Brain and Johnny Campbell}

_{Chris Brain renders songs embedded in folk tradition with a contemporary resonance. Hailing from Yorkshire, Brain finds inspiration from pastoral landscape and soaring figures from the natural world.}

_{He released his debut critically-acclaimed and widely-distributed album, Bound to Rise, in 2022. Capturing 10 live performances of enthralling meditations on nature with glimpses of the confessional, Bound to Rise was driven by his distinctive fingerpicked guitar and warm vocals. He is now working on a second album to be released at the start of October 2023.} 

_{Brain is deeply rooted in the UK folk scene, running two folk clubs in Leeds where he resides, which attract a wide range of audiences and musicians alike.}

_{Johnny Campbell emerged onto the UK folk scene writing self-penned material and delving deep into Northern English folk song and story.}

_{The album From Hull & Halifax & Hell (2020) took him to the Faroe Islands where he recorded a live album on the island of Nolsoy. Since musical instruments hadn't arrived on the islands until the 19th century, this is perhaps the first time Northern English traditional song has been recorded there. £7 (£6 members).}

_{This album earned him album of the week with Blues and Roots radio and reviews with British folk press:}

_{A modern-day Billy Bragg - Tradfolk}

_{Nobody else seems to be doing what Campbell is doing right now, and his passion and determination deserve recognition - Jon Wilks}

_{The spirit of the folk clubs in their heyday runs in his veins - Folking.com}

_{I defy anyone not to be galvanised by the total integrity of his exceptional rendition of [Ewan MacColl's] Moving On Song - The Living Tradition}

_{A truly entertaining work. Lose yourself in the true folk experience - Fatea Magazine}

_{Get tickets in advance: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/585180}

_{Topic ZOOMS}

_{Joy Leach has submitted the following:}

_{Monday, October 16th will be the next Topic Zoom, in the comfort of your own home. Performers and audience members from far and near are welcome to join. As previously, doors will open at 7.30 for an 8pm start and the programme will run till 10pm.}

_{For future planning, we are continuing with the 3rd Monday in the month for the sessions. Singers, musicians and poets can all take part. For further enquiries about participating, pass codes for each evening etc, please email joy.utistugu.49.5.8@gmail.com or text 07947 747998.}

_{NON-TOPIC STUFF}

_{On Monday October 2nd at 8 pm (that's tomorrow!), Liz Narey's Bingley First Monday Folk has Joe Drury. Venue: The Ryshworth Club, Keighley Road,Crossflatts, BD16 2HB. Doors 7 pm. (Joe was due to play alongside Martin Heaton last month but was unable to make the gig)}

_{Entry by donation to the hat/raffle.}

_{OTHER NEWS FROM ROUND AND ABOUT:} 

_{Buck Inn: Muppett's Buck Inn sessions resume this month. here's what he has to say about them:}

_{The Buck Inn sessions are due to start up again in October.  It’s an informal session run in a friendly atmosphere, in the Heart of the Yorkshire Dales and timed so that session can be accessed by the Dales Bus; DalesBus Timetable Booklet.}

_{During  the 50, 60’s & 70’s  there were music & song sessions at the Buck, led by members of the Beresford families from Langstrothdale.}

 _{In June 2022 Bob Ellis, Colin Speakman  and Muppett  met with the landlord of the Buck to run a trial pub session for Dales singers and musicians on a Sunday afternoon,  between 2pm to 5pm, to coincide with the Dalesbus Sunday service from Leeds to Buckden and (Summer timetable) to Hawes. About 25 people came to sing or play and a similar number came to listen and so the sessions continued every second Sunday in the month from October to March, Sunday afternoons, to perform Dales (but not exclusively so) music and song.So if you can, come and join us.}

_{See the attached flyer and the link to this website for further details; Home | Dales Music (dales-music-and-dance-collective.org.uk)}

_{Still in the Dales, another event worth noting:}

_{Sunday 22 Oct 2023 2pm to 5pm}

_{An Autumn Sunday afternoon in Amerdale Hall in lovely Littondale. 2pm to 5pm, doors open 1.30pm. Traditional Dales village dances and others from elsewhere with Buttered Peas Ceilidh Band and caller Terry Evans. Family-friendly event. Entry FREE for YOUNG PEOPLE 18 and under and REFUGEES.}

_{Licensed Bar and Refreshments - Tea and Cake (Cash only, please, no cards).}

_{Tickets £10 cash on the door OR £8.50 in advance from Grassington Hub 01756 752222 www.grassingtonhub.com}

_{Contact for more information - Richard Hargreaves -strand@hawkswick.net 01756 770346}

_{Possible car shuttle service from and to Kilnsey for non-drivers using Dalesbus 875 at 1108 and 1740 but tell Richard well in advance.}

_{Another flyer attached....}

_{TOPIC STUFF}

_{A reminder that guest nights as well as singers and musicians nights are now held in the downstairs room at Groove Pad.}

_{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, 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.} 

_{Covid is still very much around, in fact it seems to be on the increase again with the new variant: please continue to take precautions when visiting the club.}

_{Best wishes}

_{Tony Charnock}

_{Topic Folk Club}