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

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

Newsletter No 268 - October 2024

Hello everyone,  hope all is well with all of you: here we are already with mists and mellow fruitfulness....

And here's the programme for the coming month....

3rd   October:  Singers & Musicians  (£1 entry)

10th  October: Brothers Gillespie

Described by Folk Radio UK as ‘weaving an especially compelling magic’, and 'showing British acoustic music in its best possible light’, the music of Northumbrian duo The Brothers Gillespie is animated by lyrical songwriting, fine fingerstyle guitar playing, multi-instrumental musicianship and ‘the glorious tones of their blood harmony’ (Sam Lee). 

Brothers James and Sam Gillespie found their sound growing up in the fells and valleys of Northumberland, their songs often describing relationships with wild places and the experience of finding oneself in a world alive with soul. The music comes to them most strongly when walking in the borderlands with their packs and instruments which remains a regular practice for them. This spirit is channeled into their live performances which have a rare and intimate energy, both ethereal and earthy, romantic and radical. The brothers have travelled far and wide with their music and have played at Cambridge and Sidmouth Folk Festivals and opened for Lankum and Sam Lee. In 2021 they featured in the English Heritage Songs of England recording series that appeared on BBC Radio 4. The release of their new album The Merciful Road (‘pure magic’ - Living Tradition) in Spring 2022 saw them embark on their most extensive national tour to date.  

The Merciful Road was recorded in a cottage by the banks of the river Tweed and like their previous album The Fell, it blends rootsy, acoustic elements to create a rich warm sound with a touch of vintage magic. In some ways it is an album about finding the thread of love and belonging in a world that seems to be nonetheless unravelling.  

The brothers emerged from the time of lockdowns with a yet greater reverence for the joy and privilege of being with an audience in real time and space.  

‘Our music is inspired by the still wild soul of the land in which we live, a land alive with presences, not owned by anyone. It is about seeing with the eye of the heart and recovering our imaginations. It is about finding home, belonging and each other in a world which is singing to us as we sing to it’.

Anyone who has seen the brothers live will surely attest that it is an experience that will stay with you. There is a feeling of warmth that exudes from them and affects everyone in the room - Folk London

Not since the minimal chamber folk of Simon And Garfunkel has two voices and an acoustic guitar sounded so absolutely perfect. FATEA

Stunning songs beautifully sung and played. Without doubt a classic in the making from a duo potent with potential. - Northern Sky 

Uncluttered, simply but intoxicatingly arranged and adorned by their magical harmonies, musically steeped in the earth, grass and leaves that mark the pathways, this is a road you really need to travel. - Bright Young Folk

https://thebrothersgillespie.com/

Support tonight from Jesse Thom, a multi talented songwriter who is touring with Brothers Gillespie. Jesse is a  new name to us, but very welcome, as are all new names. 

https://jessethom.com/

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/599735

17th  October:  Singers & Musicians    (£1 entry)

24th  October:  Stuart Douglas

A fifth visit to the Topic for this unpretentious local favourite with his remarkable talent for heartfelt delivery of thoughtful songs. With his vast repertoire of classic, contemporary and occasionally comical material he is well-received wherever he performs.  

Stuart's early influences included Irish Prog/Folk duo Tir Na Nog. Stuart took his music to the States in 1984 and played in Folk Rock bands on the east coast of America for 15 years.

Returning to Blighty in the spring of 2000 he struck up an old collaboration with Pat Sherry and played the folk clubs of the North of England both as a duo and with Pat's Irish Rock band Scarlet Heights. With a wealth of unworked material Stuart began a solo career introducing more, somewhat obscure, songs from his American repertoire with great effect. Stuart's songs can have you laughing and crying in the same set.

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/610022

31st October:  Double Header: Hebble and John Bromley

Hebble (Sam Hodgson - singer-songwriter, guitarist, & bouzouki player; Aidan Kilroy - bodhran player & singer; Helena Drumm - cellist & singer) are an eclectic world folk band with an unusual set of instruments that play lively, international traditional music in multiple languages with Greek Bouzouki, Bodhran, and Cello and 3 vocals. They play English, Czech, Polish, Irish, Scottish, and Appalachian folk music. and also have a handful of original songs inspired by Yorkshire myth and landscape. Upbeat and alternative with twists of jazz, and plenty of three-part harmonies, folk standards, catchy choruses, belting rhythms, and tunes to make the heart sing.

https://www.hebbleband.co.uk/

John Bromley is probably the finest bass singer on the British folk scene today. John has been singing folk songs since he was sixteen and has sung in several folk bands and is a solo artist. John plays guitar, whistle and bodhran.

John also performs with a folk group called Hebric. As well as Kimbers Men, well known to Topic audiences.

https://seashanties4all.com/groups-artists/john-bromley/

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/610025

TOPIC ZOOM  – OCTOBER 21st 2024

Joy Leach has submitted the following:

This is an invitation to join the Topic Zoom on Monday October 21st. Our Zooms are open to everyone, anywhere in the UK and beyond. To date, we have contributors from North Surrey, South Wales and Derby as well as those local to Yorkshire. Both performers and audience members are welcome.

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

Once again we are grateful to Jim Saville who hosts the sessions, allowing us the use of his  Zoom facility.

 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

On 6th October Wovenchord will be performing at Costa Coffee, 11 Market Street Shipley BD18 3QD 6pm to 8pm as one of a series of intimate monthly gigs with a folky flavour. 

Wovenchord are a Yorkshire-based folk trio combining fingerstyle acoustic sound with haunting whistles and 3 part harmonies. Their songs have a close link with nature and Celtic spirituality.

 This will be a pay as you feel event.  

On Monday 7th October 2024 Liz Narey's First Monday Folk welcomes Christopher Crompton - with a Special Guest.

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

Topic member Chris Grayston has been entertaining us with his poems, sometimes witty, sometimes perceptive, often both, especially at singers & musicians nights for many years. His new volume of poems, Seize the Fish is to be launched at a fundraising event to be held  on Sunday 27th October from 2 - 4pm at the The Ryshworth Club, Keighley Road,Crossflatts, BD16 2HB. The afternoon will consist of Chris and friends doing readings of some of his poems and there will be musical entertainment from Hazjak. There will be signed copies for sale for £8, with all proceeds going to Parkinsons UK. If you wish to pre-order a copy and pay by bank transfer, please contact Chris on 07753228355

Looking a bit ahead, a "Concert in Five Parts" featuring "The Melsons and All Its Parts"  at Batley Town hall has been organised by Cleckheaton Folk Festival Organisation on Saturday 2nd November. 

The concert will feature Jess & Richard Arrowsmith; Nancy Kerr & James Fagan; The Wilsons and The Melrose Quartet. 

Visit www.cleckheatonfolkfestival.org for details,or you can phone the booking office 01484 225755, alternatively the organiser Dave on 07929 134556

NEWS FROM THE DALES

For those of you who like dancing in the Dales, there is a dance on Saturday 12th October at Grassington Village Hall, 7 pm - 10 pm. Flyer attached.

Buck Inn Sessions. The scheduled start to the new season of sessions at the Buck Inn in Buckden has been changed to Sunday 20th October, from 2pm to 5pm. Numbers attending the session have been declining and there is some uncertainty about the future. It's hoped that a decision will be made on the 20th as to whether they continue and in what form.

Tribute to Muppett

For the benefit of those who weren't able to attend  Remembering Muppett, attached is a poignant  tribute to Muppett written and delivered by Colin Speakman at the event.

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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  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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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 now runs on Thursdays at Hullabaloo, 41 Westgate, Shipley, BD18 3QX. 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.

Best wishes

Tony Charnock

Topic Folk Club