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Topic Newsletter

TOPIC FOLK CLUB, BRADFORD

At Glyde House, Glydegate, Bradford BD5 0BQ

Newsletter No 203  - May 2019 

Hello and a happy May Day to one and all.

We had the most unusual occurrence of two consecutive cancellations last month, both due to unavoidable medical factors. Thank you for bearing with us. Hopefully back to normal for May....let's see now:

2nd   May:   Singers and musicians.  Free entry

9th    May:   Greg Russell.  

Possessed of an extraordinary voice that’s ‘full of character’ (The Telegraph), over the last 5 years Greg Russell has established himself as one of the most significant players on the U.K. folk scene. Playing guitar, bouzouki and singing, in 2013 he won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award and in 2014 won the Horizon Award from the same source alongside Ciaran Algar.

Since 2016, Greg has also been involved in two critically acclaimed projects; The Transports (5 stars The Guardian) and Shake the Chains (4 stars The Guardian), the latter a project put together by Greg which included Peggy Seeger, Martin Simpson and many more.

Singing a mixture of original and traditional songs in 2017, Greg released his debut solo album  Inclined to be Red, declared ‘a powerful statement’ (Acoustic), ‘excellent’ (RnR Magazine), ‘a splendid thing’ (Maverick) and ‘convincingly individual’ (fRoots).

Greg Russell plays and sings with a maturity and emotion that belies his tender years. It is so rare to find new performers who have the confidence to play with this delicacy of touch and yet to sing in such a heartfelt way -  BBC Radio 2's Mark Radcliffe

http://www.gregrussellfolk.co.uk

16th    May: The Dovetail Trio.

Presenting England's traditional songs with a bold and fresh approach, The Dovetail Trio explores familiar narratives and modern themes with infectious energy and a passion for musical heritage.

Barnsley's Jamie Roberts is renowned for his narrative singing and driving guitar rhythms. In 2007 he joined folk quartet Kerfuffle with Hannah James and Sam Sweeney, and in 2013 was a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee with duo Gilmore & Roberts. 

Rosie Hood's pure voice and engaging performances are garnering widespread acclaim. With a keen eye on the history of the songs she sings, particularly those of her native Wiltshire, she has performed at a number of the country's leading festivals and folk clubs, and opened for the Cecil Sharp Project. 

Multi-instrumentalist Matt Quinn has been playing the melodeon, mandolin and fiddle, and singing his way around the English folk scene for the last few years in various bands including Dogan & the Boombox Karavan, The Mighty Quinns and the Eliza Carthy Ceilidh Band. 

Richly rounded accented vocals, skin-tight harmonies and sparse yet polished instrumentation - FolkWords

http://dovetailtrio.com

23rd    May: Becky Mills.

Highly talented in every department, her singing, guitar playing and delivery, Becky’s overriding strength is in the quality of her songwriting. Some of her songs are about the small, things to which we can all relate: the promise of an early spring day, a family trip to the seaside, a lullaby, others about major life changing events such as Pretty Young Things, a song about an unwanted teenage pregnancy, but it encompasses so much more: a real gem, one of those powerful haunting songs which stays with us. Lovely imagery in some, the hard cruelty of life in others. All superbly crafted. Her excellent CD Dandelion which deservedly received rave reviews from all sides is one of those “must-haves”.

Becky Mills deserves far wider recognition for the unique talent she clearly is – Nick Dent-Robinson

http://www.beckymills.co.uk

30th     May:  Jack Rutter

Still in his mid 20s, Jack Rutter (Moore Moss Rutter, Seth Lakeman band, Jackie Oates band) is a highly respected singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist making music within the British folk tradition. The recent release of his debut solo album, which is a collection of eleven traditional folk songs, produced by Joe Rusby and recorded completely solo and live in the studio with no overdubs, has been received with across the board acclaim and recognition. Critics are praising his traditional style of singing ‘beautifully sincere, timeless and beguiling’ (Songlines), and playing ‘guitar, bouzouki or concertina accompaniments are beautifully constructed and played – never getting in the way of the song, but supporting and building it’ (The Living Tradition Magazine) that have come together to create Hills, an album which ‘takes him to a whole new level, quite simply outstanding.’ (★★★★ RnR Magazine). 

Jack grew up in the Holme Valley area of West Yorkshire, a place steeped in a wealth of traditional song and since graduating from Newcastle University with a BSc degree in Countryside Management in 2014, he’s gone on to forge a hugely successful career playing music professionally in various guises across Britain and Europe. In this new solo outing, the BBC award winning musician delivers folk songs with a rich, unassuming Yorkshire charm and an easy going stage presence that gives a live performance which is ‘wonderful, pure and simple. The audience just falls head over heels for this man, and rightly so.’ (English Folk Expo) 

A truly captivating singer of traditional songs, Jack Rutter’s new record feels like one of the classic folk albums of the 70s - Jon Boden

There's a refreshing integrity about its stripped-down values. What comes to the fore is the durable strength and beauty of the songs. - ★★★★★ Colin Irwin, fRoots

An astonishingly mature debut from this young folksinger; there is a heartfelt purity to his stripped-back approach.- ★★★★ Songlines

https://www.jackruttermusic.com

TOPIC STUFF 

IMPORTANT: We are considering sending out newsletters via  MailChimp. It's free and would make the job of sending so many emails at once much easier, especially when we have to send out urgent messages as we did last week when we had a very last-minute cancellation.

It would of course mean giving all the email addresses to the organisation, and some of you may not be happy about that. To help us judge the feeling would you please let me know if you have any objection and we'll give the matter our close attention. Nothing will be done without informing you, and no-one will miss out on the newsletters, even if it means that some end up being sent via MailChimp and some in the normal way.

MEMBERSHIP

If you would like to become a member of the Topic Folk club it still only costs only £5.00 for the year. 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. 

 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".

Tony Charnock

Topic Newsletter Editor TOPIC STUFF