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

Est: 1956

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Topic Newsletter

Newsletter No 262 - April 2024

_{Hello all,} 

_{British Summer Time is back, let's hope for some summer weather to go with it. Hope you're enjoying the holiday weekend.}

_{Meanwhile, take a look at our programme for the coming month....}

_{4th April: Singers and musicians   (£1 entry)}

_{11th April    : Louise and Chris Rogan}

_{Louise is a refreshing and talented addition to the UK Folk Scene. In 2023, she won the Great British Folk Festival’s Introducing Stage Audience Vote. It’s the sort of reception she gets wherever she plays.}

_{As a duo with her Dad, his intricate guitar work and smooth vocal blend fluently with her voice and piano. Together they come across as as relaxed, charming duo who enjoy performing and are regularly asked back.}

_{Her arrangements of traditional and original material suit her “pure and soaringvoice” (David Jones, Folk Northwest). John McCusker “loves her singing”. Louise wrote the lyrics to his Jessica’s Tune to write 'Evie's Lullaby’. Her voice has been described as ‘unrivalled on the current folk scene’.}

_{Louise’s mezzo-soprano voice is superb...It must be said, I believe it is unrivalled on thecurrent folk scene - John Owen, Hungry Horse Folk Club, Ellesmere Port.}

_{She has a voice of crystalline purity – Kelly Hensen, Daily Camera.}

_{Louise’s vocals were sublime. We will definitely be having them back again - Corrie Shelley, Over Hulton Folk Club.}

_{...my abiding memory of the night was Louise’s soaring voice, can’t remember hearing better - John Shepherd, Rhyl Folk Club.}

_{www.louiseandchrisrogan.com}

_{https://www.wegottickets.com/event/609427}

_{18th April    : Singers and musicians   (£1 entry)}

_{25th April   :  Serious Sam Barrett   Support  Lewis Pugh}

_{Serious Sam Barrett is a hard touring, folk and country singer/songwriter from Otley, West Yorkshire. Playing honest, heartfelt self penned and traditional songs on 12 string guitar and banjo.}

_{Raised in the Dales village of Addingham, Sam began performing in and around Leeds in 2004, with word spreading further afield with the release of his 2009 debut album Close To Home.}

_{Performing at SXSW in Austin, Texas in 2010, he has toured the US widely, usually in the company of friends and fellow skaters, The Pine Hill Saints. Along the way, Sam has shared stages with the likes of Martin Carthy, Dave Burland, Katherine Tickell, Lucero, The Young Uns, Frank Fairfield, and Karine Polwart, and received airplay and praise plaudits from the BBC’s Bob Harris, Marc Riley and Mark Radcliffe as well as Mike Harding.}

_{The sustained brilliance of this playing is really something to behold - Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2}

_{Songs that rattle with the ghosts of Appalachian folk, and southern blues, yet sounds emphatically English - Uncut Magazine}

_{Old before his years country-folk fellow who mixes intricate John Fahey finger-picking with}

_{confessional tales of dirty old Leeds - The Guardian.}

_{Excellent stripped back folk - Maverick Magazine}

_{His well-crafted original songs are accompanied by his own sparkling clawhammer banjo or dextrous 12 string guitar picking - FRoots magazine}

_{Support from Lewis Pugh}

_{Lewis (Burner) Pugh is an artist from Leeds influenced by everything from bluegrass and country through to skiffle and punk. Brought up on bluegrass and folk music, he plays traditional music and his own songs which are often political. He also plays with The Burner Band.}

_{Bullets For Bread, his third solo album, is due for release in spring 2024 on Shed Load Records}

_{https://www.wegottickets.com/event/609428}

_{Topic ZOOMS}

_{Joy Leach has submitted the following:}

                                                                         _{AVOID APRIL SHOWERS AT OUR TOPIC ZOOM SESSION}

_{This is an invitation to join the Topic Zoom on Monday April 15th. In case we have as many showers in April as in March, there'll be no need to get wet on this 'evening out'. Performers and audience members from far and near are welcome. As previously, the digital doors will open at 7.30 for an 8pm start and the programme will run till 10pm. Singers, musicians and poets can all take part. Any further enquiries about participating, pass codes for each evening etc, please email:}

_{joy.utistugu.49.5.8@gmail.com}

_{For anyone interested in recent history – we are now into the 4th year of Zooming. Many thanks to all those who contribute to make them happen, month by month}

_{THE TOPIC AND BRADFORD CITY OF CULTURE 2025}

_{A reminder (there will be many!!) that we are involved in one of the cultural events in the run up to Bradford City of Culture 2025 as per the following:}

_{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.}

_{NON-TOPIC STUFF}

_{On Monday 1st April 2024 hey, that's tonight! - Liz Narey's First Monday Folk welcomes Serious Sam Barrett, well-established on the acoustic music scene, well-known to Topic-goers (see above for info about Sam).}

_{Venue:The Ryshworth Club, Keighley Road,Crossflatts, BD16 2HD.}

_{Doors 7 pm. No entry fee. Raffle and donation. Music from 7.30pm} 

_{Dougie MacLean is playing at Cullingworth Village Hall on 18th May. A bit far ahead but tickets are going fast. Well, they would, wouldn't they!! More info at  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dougie-maclean-at-cullingworth-village-hall-tickets-716996655297}

_{A reminder that Cleckheaton Folk Festival is back this year,  with the usual star-studded line-up. make a note of the dates, 5th, 6th and 7th July 2024, visit:  www.cleckheatonfolkfestival.org for details and updates.  As things stand, this will sadly be the final one. Don't miss it!!}

_{Bella Gaffney is playing at Black Dyke Mills Heritage Venue in Queensbury on Saturday 27th April at 7.30 pm. https://www.blackdykemills.org/}

_{Gerry Cooper is  "Live at Costa" on Sunday 7th April, 6 pm till 8 pm at Costa Coffee, 11 Market Street, Shipley. If you like blues, Gerry's your man.}

 _{Wanna be a radio presenter?? Daz in the hat has a not-for-profit radio station and is willing to help anyone interested to get involved with presenting a programme - perhaps a Topic programme. He will give training/guidance if required and is prepared to start with co-presenting a show.}

_{For more info/contact details visit https://dazinthehat.com/}

_{TOPIC STUFF}     

_{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.} 

                                                                                   _{---------------------------}

_{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}