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

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

Newsletter No 265 - July 2024

_{Hello everyone,  hope all is well with all of you, the better weather seemed to have arrived but as I write.....}

_{Here's what we have for you in the coming month....}

_{4th July: Singers & Musicians   (£1 entry)}
 

_{11th July: Roger Sutcliffe and Friends}

_{An evening with a difference: veteran Blues Guitarist and singer Roger Sutcliffe first played at the Topic in the mid-60s.  He has continued to appear every July since.   This year, we are inviting a group of local singers who have played with Roger over the years, to join him in a special reunion session.  Planned to appear so far include Pat Sherry and Nigel Broadbent (founders of Scarlet Heights), songwriter Jim Jarrett, and Blues Guitarist Gerry Cooper, all  well used to playing with each other as well as with Roger.  It promises to be a great evening of music and reminiscing. £7/£6}   

_{Attached is the potted history of Roger and his associates.}

_{https://www.wegottickets.com/event/609649}

_{18th July: Singers & Musicians  (£1 entry)}

_{25th July:Daria Kulesh}

_{Daria Kulesh has been described by Mike Harding as “one of the finest voices and one of the most intriguing and interesting songwriters on the present folk scene”  Her debut release Eternal Child was described as “phenomenal”, her second album Long Lost Home has enjoyed rave reviews and multiple awards, including LCM Album of the Year, the third album Earthly Delights was named “one of the year’s finest albums” by Folk Radio UK, and her latest studio release  EVE is “a terrific collection from the heart that reminds what a singular talent she is”, according to FATEA Magazine. Daria has toured extensively in the UK and Europe, sharing stories and songs that are deeply personal but feel universal and timeless. Every performance is an “emotional, compelling and uplifting experience”, leaving the audiences “completely spellbound”. Born in Russia but based in the UK for the last 15 years, she fearlessly explores her heritage and turbulent family history in Ingushetia (North Caucasus) with songs that “aren’t just sung, but lived” £7/£6}

_{"Daria Kulesh entertained us with wonderful, charming stories and songs, one of the best voices around" (Robin Mansfield, Cambridge Folk Club)}

_{An entrancing performance, such interesting songs and accompaniment, and charming delivery! (Mary Blake, Bowes Park Folk Club)}

_{Kulesh glided through her set and transported the audience to a mystical zone of mesmerising lyrics and far-away lands (Katy Davis, BSN Magazine)}

_{http://www.daria-kulesh.co.uk/}

_{https://www.wegottickets.com/event/609652}

_{Topic ZOOMS}

_{Joy Leach has submitted the following:}

                  _{TOPIC ZOOM SESSION}

_{This is an invitation to join the Topic Zoom on Monday July15th. We will then have  a break until September. I'd like to thank Jim Saville for letting us use his Zoom system and also the other regular MC's, John Waller and Guy and Steve (in South Wales) for helping run the sessions over the past 12 months.}

_{New and regular performers and audience members are welcome from anywhere. As previously, the digital doors will open at 7.30 for an 8pm start & the programme will run till 10.00. Singers, musicians and poets can all take part.} 

_{For further enquiries about participating, pass codes for the evening etc., please email:   joy.utistugu.49.5.8@gmail.com.}
 

_{THE TOPIC AND BRADFORD CITY OF CULTURE 2025}

_{The now usual reminder that we are involved in one of the cultural events in the run up to Bradford City of Culture 2025.}

_{Please see the attached updated flyer Songs with a Bradford Accent (which replaces Folk Songs for Bradford District - Person and Place: Creating Songs about People and Places of Bradford District.)}

_{This ambitious 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 about it, nay, encourage them.}

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_{NON-TOPIC STUFF}

_{The final Cleckheaton Folk Festival takes place next weekend (5th -7th July) so come along and soak up the atmosphere There will be the usual star-studded line-up, visit:  www.cleckheatonfolkfestival.org for details and updates.}  

_{The festival will be greatly missed. The organisers have done a fantastic job over the years to make it always such an enjoyable event year after year.}

_{On Monday 8th July 2024 Liz Narey's First Monday Folk (though please note this month it will be the 2nd Monday !) welcomes Vince Cayo with support from Robert Whitaker.} 

_{Venue:The Ryshworth Club, Keighley Road,Crossflatts, BD16 2HB. Doors 7 pm. No entry fee. Raffle and donation. Music from 7.30pm} 

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_{TOPIC STUFF}   

_{Long-standing Topic member John Waller, now one of the mainstays of the club administration team and frequent floor-spotter on guest nights, has just released his sixth (and final) CD. It includes his 13-minute epic on three political events in Autumn 1956 (the Hungarian uprising, invasion of Suez and desegregation of buses in the US), written to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Topic around that time. It also includes three songs in the now-completed trilogy about the famous Norwegian cow on the roof. If you are interested in the CD, ask him about it.}

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_{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.} 

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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, 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.} 

_{Please continue to take Covid precautions when visiting the club.}

_{Tony Charnock}

_{Topic Folk Club}