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

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter Archive

Newsletter No 276 - June 2025

Hello again, hope you're all well and enjoying the summer.

Here's our middle of the year programme...

(To mark Bradford's year as City of Culture we are ensuring that one of our guests each month will be either from Bradford or have strong links with the city.  These will be marked with *)

5th June      Singers & Musicians   £1 entry
 

12th June  Jason McNiff    Support: Liz Narey *
 

Jason McNiff has been described as A wonderful guitarist with an engaging world-weary voice and simply sublime songs

Born in Bradford, following studying in Nottingham for his first degree, where he developed an interest in the folk and blues guitar playing of the likes of Wizz Jones and Davey Graham; from 1995 Jason lived for some 20-odd years in London, where,as has been well-documented, his finger-picking apprenticeship was honed thanks to regular exposure to Bert Jansch at Soho’s 12 Bar Club, together with also undertaking support slots for the guitar maestro. Since moving to Hastings in 2019, where he has established regular Friday Sundowner Sessions at The Jenny Lind pub, he has continued to play live extensively, including shows with ‘poetry in music’paying homage to another of his significant influences, Leonard Cohen.

Jason is described as Americana/Folk, but he does something with the Americana side a lot of other artists would do well to follow; he doesn’t pretend he’s American.

He’s taken the style but moved it back across the pond.

https://www.jasonmcniff.com/

*Liz Narey 

Local singer Liz Narey started her musical career at Bingley Training College Folk Club as a floor singer aged 14 in the 1960’s. Liz sang in folk clubs with Pete Wordsworth on guitar and Josh Grundy. Liz also sang in folk jazz fusion band Quiet Farm; B vox with Alien Sex Fiend and later with indie band Gordon Bennett and Fairy Dog Mother.

Liz runs Bingley Singing for Fun and promotes folk and acoustic music at Bingley First Monday Folk. She released her album Happens to Be in 2008 and her 2023 album Nerves of Green features local stars on back up Serious Sam Barrett, Dicky
Bain and Bridge Armstrong. Liz features in Noise of the Valleys: A history of Rock & Pop in Bradford.

Entry £9 (£6 members)

https://wegottickets.com/event/640792
 

19th June      Singers & Musicians   £1 entry
 

26th June  Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner

Individually and in combination with a variety of well known singers and bands, Lynne and Pat have both served long apprenticeships on the shop floor of folk music. Between them they play guitar, recorder, English concertina, and they list harmony and spoons workshops in their hall of fame. They are not in the least  averse to dressing up or dancing when a song requires it but they both agree that their voices are their most important instruments. Their style stretches from the tradition through humorous, music hall,   contemporary and self-penned material and their resulting style is a unique blend of stunning song and harmony, and a humour which takes their audience on a roller coaster ride - Everything from high tragedy to ingenious smut in glorious vocal harmony!

Entry £9 (£6 members)

https://lynneandpat.co.uk/

https://wegottickets.com/event/661521

 TOPIC  ZOOM -  JUNE 16th 2025

Welcome to June (already halfway through the year) with an invitation to join our next Topic Zoom on Monday, June 16th.

You are welcome to log on with songs, tunes or poems to share or as a member of the audience.

Our Zooms are open to everyone, anywhere in the UK and beyond.  As previously, the digital doors will open at 7.30 for an 8pm start; the programme will run till 10.00. 

Our thanks to Jim Saville for allowing us the use of his Zoom so we can run the sessions without a break.

For further enquiries about participating, pass codes for the evening etc, please email:

joy.utistugu.49.5.8@gmail.com 

FRIENDS OF HULLABALOO

For anyone who wishes to become a member of Friends of Hullabaloo, there are forms in the bar with all the registration details. Also online registration is quite easy. The link to register is called 'Become a Member' and can be found on the website homepage www.hullabalooshipley.org.uk  Membership Costs £10 per year and will come with some great incentive offers.

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. I'll continue to put the reminder on the newsletters, more people may yet be inspired to submit a song for the project which is now up and running, plenty of songs coming in: the project will be running throughout 2025.

To mark Bradford City of Culture in 2025 the Topic is gathering together folk songs about the story of the people and/or groups who work to make Bradford District a welcome and supportive place.

See the usual attached updated flyer Songs with a Bradford Accent.

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. It's not a competition, by the way, no winners and losers, just a chance to show what local songwriters can do to honour the city's award.

Additionally, to help promote this project we would like to record people saying “Songs with a Bradford accent” in various languages, if the language is spoken in Bradford we want it to be represented.  Could you help?  If possible send a recording to  jem.emmett@bcbradio.co.uk of yourself saying “songs with a Bradford accent” in your language.  If you are not able to record yourself then please get in touch with Jem at BCB and we could arrange for you to record at BCB studios.

For further details of SWABA and to send a song you have written please get in touch with Robbie at bd25topic@gmail.com.                                                             

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Topic-goer Zbig Szafranski  has conducted a very interesting interview with Mic (of Mic and Susie Darling). A little too lengthy for the newsletter,  but you can read it on the Topic Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/647289061950797

NON-TOPIC STUFF

On Monday 2nd June 2025 (that's tomorrow!) Liz Narey's First Monday Folk welcomes local favourites The John Palmer Acoustic Band.  

Venue:The Ryshworth Club, Keighley Road,Crossflatts, BD16 2HB. Doors 7 pm. Pay as you feel, donation and raffle. 

Check out Otley Music Festival (not to be confused with Otley Folk Festival - that comes later in the year) which runs from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th June. Lots of great local acts, including many who have played at the Topic. See https://otley-music-festival.co.uk/

On Sunday 8th June, 7pm prompt the amazingly versatile Rory McLeod comes to Ryburn 3 Step Folk Club,  Hollins Mill, Hollins Mill Lane, Sowerby Bridge HX6 2QG, this being the final guest for the season at their club. Tickets £9. Reservations 01422 822569 or email info@ryburn3step.org.uk. 

https://rorymcleod.com/

Please note this club can only accept cash.

www.ryburn3step.org.uk.

Roger Davies has two interesting concerts coming up this month:

Firstly on Friday June 20th at 7pm till 9pm he will be performing a special solo concert at the Smith Art Gallery, Halifax Road, Brighouse HD6 2AF.

This concert is to bring the exhibition of Roger's paintings at the gallery, entitled Welcome to Calderdale: A Celebration of the Borough to a close. 

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/brighouse/smith-art-gallery-brighouse/roger-davies-live/e-jqxlrk.

http://www.rogerdaviesart.com/

Then on Sunday 22nd June at 2pm till 4 pm Roger and his band are playing at Saltaire Bandstand, Roberts Park. This is a free event.

http://www.rogerdaviesmusic.com/

On Sunday 29th June Joe Topping ( a highly acclaimed singer/songwriter who has appeared several times at the Topic) is playing at Hullabaloo. This concert is presented by Aire Music (sister promoter of The Live Room) . Doors 6pm, show 8 pm. See

https://airemusic.sumupstore.com/product/joe-topping-29-06-25

Any fans of Swallows & Amazons out there???? An interesting new take on this well-loved story in the form of an Actor Musician production entitled Swallows and Armenians  will be at stage@leeds, University of Leeds LS2 9JT on Friday 27th June. Performances at 1.15 pm and 7.00 pm. There will also be some Armenian dancing at this event.

Interested? For details see https://stage.leeds.ac.uk/events/swallows-and-armenians/

TOPIC STUFF                                                    

As most of you will know by now, we now accept (indeed prefer) payment by card, but you can of course pay by cash if that suits you better.

Membership of the club runs from 1st January and will entitle you to 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 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.

A reminder that freshly prepared food is available at Hullabaloo from 5.30 pm.

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