At: Groove Pad, 48 Saltaire Road, Shipley BD18 3HN
Venue (not Club) Tel: 01274 586542

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

Newsletter No 247  - January 2023

Hello again all, well it's here at last: 2023. Happy New Year everyone, let's hope it's better than the last one. Which won't be difficult...

Martin, the bookings secretary, has done a sterling job, having sorted the bookings for most of the coming year. For now, though, here is the line-up for the coming month:

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

12th  January:     Alistair Russell 

Alistair’s repertoire consists mainly of songs from his homeland Scotland and neighbour Ireland, self-penned songs inspired by his world-wide travelling with the Battlefield band (13 years and one million miles!), and any other songs that take his fancy. Alistair will always be, first and foremost, a singer who has “a way with a song” and a performer who makes sure his audience comes first.

Alistair grew up in the North-East of England, with Scottish parents who had a rich fund of songs of their own - music hall favourites, Harry Lauder songs, sentimental ballads and stage Irish songs.

Like so many other musicians, Alistair was forced to stop gigging during the Covid crisis. He filled his time writing a humorous autobiography "Can't Do This On My Own" which has been selling well. £7/£6

https://www.alistairrussell.co.uk/

19th    January  :  Singers and musicians  (£1 entry)

26th    January  :  Becky Mills

Hailing from the wild moorlands of north Yorkshire, singer-songwriter Becky Mills brings a uniquely personal and touching slant to the modern folk genre.

With a foot in both contemporary and classical traditions, her evocative songs take the listener through topics encompassing love, loss, motherhood, emigration, the regrets of old age, the nature of heroism, grief during wartime - even the joy of running away to the circus! A kaleidoscope of subjects, but always with wit, humour, charm and feeling.

Becky spent the early 2000's recording solo albums locally, whilst gigging far and wide and supporting the likes of Pentangle, Fairport Convention and Barbara Dickson. She then joined Waking the Witch and co-wrote two successful albums. A unique all-girl modern folk ensemble, WtW acquired a loyal fanbase who followed them to major festivals such as Trowbridge, Cambridge and Glastonbury.

After a short career break to start a family, Dandelion (2013) broke through to mainstream appeal, attracting rave reviews from listeners and journalists alike. Close collaboration with Ashley Hutchings (Fairport, Steeleye Span, The Albion Band) followed, including an important role in Ashley's 2018 double-CD release Paradise and Thorns, contributing a specially commissioned song The Swift.    £7/£6

Mills is a master storyteller.. Shot through with wisdom, her bewitching songs imagine the mysterious lives of others with enormous sympathy - The Musician Magazine

Superb musicianship and a voice that will give you shivers - FATEA magazine

https://www.beckymillsgigs.co.uk/

TOPIC ZOOM SESSIONS

Joy Leach has submitted the following:

NVITATION TO JOIN THE FIRST TOPIC ZOOM OF 2023

Monday January 16th from 8 -10pm or so (log-on any time after 7.30).

Anyone wishing to take part, either as a performer or as audience, please email Joy Leach using joy.utistugu.49.5.8@gmail.com , by Thursday 12th. If you’d like to play, sing or recite a poem, (usually a couple of items), we’ll put your name on the Running Order for the evening. Should your preference be to drop-in and take potluck, it’s worth a try. The MC for the evening will try to accommodate, depending on the numbers expected.

We compile this in advance to create a good programme. You’ll be sent the details, passcodes and a link before the event. Audience members are most welcome. With your permission, we’ll add your name and details to an email circulation list. You’ll then be notified each month, a week or so in advance of the session and will be asked to let us know if you plan to join that month.

This is so we can draw up a programme for the evening.

Jim Saville kindly lets us use his Zoom Pro, so that we can run the evening without a break. 

OTHER TOPIC STUFF

The AGM in December passed off peacefully (well, it would, wouldn't it?)  The main thing to know about it is who's on this year's committee:

Neil Etherington; Martin Richards; John Waller; Sue Gaffney; Liz Narey; Chris Hyland; Rahel Guzelian; Tony Charnock.

NON-TOPIC STUFF                                                                                 

The next Buck Inn Session organised by Muppett (see previous newsletters) in Buckden, Upper Wharfedale BD23 5JA is on Sunday, 8th January, 1 pm till 4 pm. Entry is free.

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 MacLean. 

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, please continue to take precautions when visiting the club.

Best wishes

Tony Charnock

Topic Folk Club