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

Est: 1956

Map

Topic Newsletter

Newsletter No 270 - December 2024

Hello everyone, hope all is well with all of you as the festive season approaches

A slightly shorter newsletter this time: thank goodness, I hear you say, but PLEASE read the item towards the end regarding membership etc.

Firstly the programme for December: only one guest night this month.
 

5th    December     Singers & Musicians - preceded by the club's AGM - see below

12th  December  Jim Causley

Jim Causley is a folk-singer, award winning songwriter, musician, proud Devonian and all-round entertainer. He grew up in a wassailing village not far from Sidmouth Folk Festival and sang with Wren Music before heading to Newcastle University to study on their brand new degree course in Folk & Traditional Music. He rose to prominence singing with The Devil’s Interval and Mawkin:Causley as well as touring with Waterson:Carthy and David Rotheray. In recent years his work has focused on his musical settings of poems by his relative Charles Causley, penning his own songs and reviving lost gems from his home county.

Jim will tonight be presenting a festive programme, regaling us with West Country carols, medieval carols and secular carols from around the British Isles. Join Jim for a journey through Christmas past that will be guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit.

A voice in a million - Geoff Lakeman.

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/610047

19th  December   Singers & Musicians

With the annual festive visit from The Holbeck Moor Mummers! Bring plenty of cash to throw into their charity tin - they probably don't take cards!
 

26th  December   Club closed for Boxing Day

TOPIC MIDWINTER ZOOM  – MONDAY  DECEMBER 16TH 2024

Joy Leach has submitted the following:

This is an invitation to join the Topic Zoom on Monday December 16th with virtual gifts,mince pies and seasonal cheer! You are invited to provide the music and songs. If it's not a trifle early, here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, whether or not you can join us this month. As you know, our Zoom sessions are open to everyone, anywhere in the UK and beyond. 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. I'll continue to put the reminder on the newsletters, more people may yet be inspired to submit a song for the project....

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.

------------------------------------------

IMPORTANT STUFF - THE TOPIC AGM!

Yep, it's that time again: the AGM will be held on 5th December at 7.30 pm at Hullabaloo 41 Westgate Shipley BD18 3QX, preceding the scheduled singers and musicians night. Further details have been and are being formally circulated in accordance with the requirements of the constitution. A reminder that the AGM business will be for Topic members only: non-members coming to the singers night will be welcome to observe, but will not be able to vote on any matters, as is normal.

Forms for the election of committee members have been available on the club night prior to the date of the AGM. Nomination forms must include a proposer, seconder and the nominee's agreement to stand for election. Although the time for submitting nominations has passed, club members may be co-opted onto the committee at any time.

Please consider putting your name forward for the committee: it's not too onerous a task, 4 meetings a year and it's always helpful to have new people being involved, new ideas and so forth, it keeps the club moving forward.

AGM's and matters of constitution are tedious but necessary: they give members a chance to let the committee know what they want, and the committee members to explain the whys and wherefores of their running of the club if necessary. Above all they make for transparency in terms of financial matters, providing a proper record of the accounts of the club. Hopefully we will get enough people along and deal with the business quickly and efficiently so we can get on with the main business of the evening, the music.
 

NON-TOPIC STUFF

On Monday 2nd December 2024 Liz Narey's First Monday Folk welcomes Johnny Campbell. Venue:The Ryshworth Club, Keighley Road,Crossflatts, BD16 2EZ. Doors 7 pm. No entry fee. Raffle and donation. Music from 7.30pm

NEWS FROM THE DALES

The next Buck Inn session is on Sunday 8th December, 1 - 4pm

HULLABALOO NEWS

I'm sure you will be pleased to know that the crowdfunding project launched by Friends of Hullabaloo Ltd (see the November newsletter) was successful. However they are still accepting donations if you think you missed the deadline. For some interesting information about the pub and its aims, also details of the crowdfunding project (including rewards) visit  https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hullabaloo-2

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

------------------------------

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.

TOPIC MEMBERSHIP  -  IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU: CHANGES IN PRICING POLICY FOR 2025

For various reasons, the Topic Committee has decided to review its membership and entry charges. The changes are set out below, together with an explanation of the main reasons for the changes.  The changes will take effect from January 2025.

The cost of entry on Guests Nights for Members will remain at £6.00

However, the cost of entry for Non-members will rise to £9.00

The cost of annual membership will rise to £10.00

The discussion was triggered when a number of Guests we’ve booked in the past have declined our offer of a booking for 2025 as our entry prices are now well below those charged by other clubs.  They didn’t mind what we charged Topic members, but needed the prices quoted on their own publicity, and sites like We Got Tickets, to be similar for all the venues they were playing.

The number of tickets we sell via We Got Tickets now far exceeds those non- members who just turn up at the door; and on-line purchasers expect to pay the higher prices.  Even at £9, we are cheaper than most other venues.

These changes also bring the Topic’s pricing structure into line with previous practice.  In the 70s and 80s membership cost about the same as a non-member entry ticket: and the difference between members and non-member prices was much greater than it has been recently.  The cost of membership has not changed for 30 years; and members still only need to attend four guest nights to recoup the cost.

No-one likes to see prices rising: but without the reasonable increases the committee has approved, we would no longer be able to attract the top level guests our membership expects and deserves.

Membership of the club runs from 1st January and will entitle you to the lower ticket prices shown in future newsletters 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 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: we hope you have a very enjoyable Christmas and every good wish for the New Year.

Tony Charnock

Topic Folk Club