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Topic Newsletter

TOPIC FOLK CLUB, BRADFORD

At Glyde House, Glydegate, Bradford BD5 0BQ

Newsletter No 200 - February 2019

Hello all,

"February made me shiver" said Don McLean in his iconic farewell to American Pie. Well, it's certainly doing that as we speak.

Don may not be coming to the Topic this month, but plenty of good people are. Read on.....(For the, er, younger ones amongst us, if you don't understand the above reference, ask your Mams and Dads)

Apologies for this being a tad late - also the format may not be quite the same as usual: I've had major computer problems, not yet fully resolved.

7th February: Singers and musicians. Free entry

14th February: Alice Jones
Alice Jones is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and dancer from Ripponden in WestYorkshire. Her background is deeply rooted in the English folk tradition and the music that she makes instantly reflects this strong influence.

Alice sings mostly traditional songs accompanying herself on the piano or harmonium and sometimes only with foot percussion. The sensitive and intuitive arrangements of each song allow the stories to take centre stage and, inspired by her beginnings as a percussive dancer, they are loaded with arhythm and energy that portrays her dancer’s heartbeat.

Her distinctive voice and innovative style lends a fresh, modern perspective to traditional material and brings new life to old songs. Although Alice is immersed in the English folk tradition she also draws heavily from her roots as an Appalachian dancer with a keen interest in American folk song and music that frequently leads to her raiding the collections of Frank and Anne Warner, Cecil Sharpe and the Smithsonian Institution etc. for new material. Her love of European dancing, dance music and song also inspires her music and sees her performing regularly at French Bals and Breton Fez-Noz as well as participating and sometimes leading the dancing.

All of these influences combine and intertwine to inform her interpretation of songs and tunes, creating a uniquely characteristic yet seamless style. Her deliberate yet expressive tone and heartfelt precision portrays a true and genuine connection with her material. She performs with a captivating sincerity that conveys the innate sentiment of the lyrics interwoven with an implicit energy and wit that enchants, beguiles and enthrals those listening.

Every performance highlights her eagerness to include and engage with an audience and her concert sets are brimming with refrains and choruses specifically intended to invite as much audience participation as possible! £6/£5

Alice Jones is a seriously impressive singer of traditional songs. - fRoots

Superb, sincere vocals – meltingly fine music. - Verity Sharpe, BBC Radio

http://alicejonesmusic.com

21st February: Daria Kulesh.
With her striking voice and strong Russian and Ingush heritage, "bold, exotic, impressive" Daria Kulesh is a rising star and a unique character on the UK folk scene.

Her debut album Eternal Child was described as "phenomenal" and named runner-up in "Best Album of 2015 from a Female Artist" by Folk Words, among numerous other accolades. Her 2017 album Long Lost Home has won awards in the UK and in Russia, including Laurel Canyon Music's Album of the Year. It has enjoyed national radio play and incredible reviews calling it a "triumph", a "masterpiece" and "a definite contender for thebest album of 2017".

Mike Harding praised the The Moon and the Pilot as "one of the most beautiful new songs of the last ten years". A hardworking and in-demand live performer, Daria offers her audiences a thoroughly engaging, entertaining and enchanting experience – with 80+ concert appearances in the UK and abroad last year alone, 6 UK tours under her belt so far and a growing number of venue and festival bookings.

Tonight Daria will be accompanied by Jonny Dyer. £6/£5

A great voice and a great songwriter - Doug Welch, BBC Radio Kent.

Exceptional, crystal-clear vocals - Andy McMillan, Bright Young Folk.

With her enigmatic vocals and alluring accent, Daria Kulesh engages completely - Tim Carroll, FolkWords.

http://www.daria-kulesh.co.uk

28th February: Nick Dow
Nick Dow has been singing traditional folk songs for over forty years. He has had a big influence on the folk scene and most recently award winning English folk musician Jim Moray has quoted Nick as an influence, singing two songs from his repertoire andi ncluding one (Seven Long Years) on his latest album Skulk.

Nick is an acknowledged expert on west country folk songs and together with his wife Mally has collected over 300 songs in Dorset, and also found singers in Lancashire and Essex. He has also made recordings of gypsy singers some of which have been included on Topic Records series The Voice of the People.

Nick has returned to the folk scene after a long absence, having spent several years building up his business of signwriting and building and restoring gypsy wagons. He has lived an amazing life: from a rough childhood in South London, he has lived on his wits since he left home at eighteen, travelling halfway round the world, living on the road with the travelling folk and learning their songs, working as a TV and film extra, broadcaster, narrowboat painter, writer, folklorist, guitar teacher and general dealer. Every song Nick sings has a story attached to it, and his gigs are as informative as they are entertaining.

Nick and Mally now live happily in East Lancashire surrounded by moorland and fells. £6/£5

TOPIC STUFF

MEMBERSHIP

If you would like to become a member of the Topic Folk club it still only costs only £5.00 for the year, an absolute bargain, better than anything you'll find in the January sales. Membership 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. Now is the time to do it for maximum benefit...

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 Glyde House, Glydegate, Little Horton Lane  BD5 0BQ, 8.00 pm start. 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 thank you for your continued support.

Floor singers are always welcome, especially in the first half, though may be limited when we have a booked support act - please check. Please try to get there by 7.45 pm if you’d like a slot – it helps the MC to plan the evening.

To find the Topic on Facebook search for "Topic Fc".

With best wishes to all for the coming year.

Tony Charnock

Topic Newsletter Editor