Est: 1956

Topic Newsletter

Newsletter No 284 - February 2026

_{Hello again all. With the January blues hopefully well and truly behind us, here's our programme for the shortest month of the New Year:}

_{5th        February           Singers & musicians       £1 entry}

_{12th      February           Serious Sam Barrett, David Broad and 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, Ireland and mainland Europe widely. Along the way, Sam has shared stages with the likes of Katherine Tickell, Lucero, The Young Un’s, Frank Fairfield, Deer Tick and Karine Polwart, and received airplay and praise plaudits from the BBC’s Bob Harris, Gideon Co, Marc Riley and Mark Radcliffe.}

_{David Broad’s playing is steeped in the tradition of American folk and blues guitar, from the rags of Blind Blake and Reverend Gary Davis, to the delta blues of Robert Johnson and Charley Patton. He is also an accomplished harmonica player in the country blues tradition of Sonny Boy Williamson I and Sonny Terry. His involvement with the Lindy Hop scene nudged him in the direction of early jazz and swing, but the standards Louis Armstrong may have sung still possess  a rural quality. He cut his teeth playing in country and folk bands and will still play the odd bluegrass number if the feeling takes him.}

_{His reworking of traditional songs breathes new life into well worn standards and his original compositions  give a nod to the rootsy side of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Townes van Zandt.}

_{Lewis 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.}

_{Brought up going to bluegrass and folk festivals with his family who were often performing, such as Cambridge Folk Festival and Edale Bluegrass Festival, Lewis’ appreciation of roots music came at a young age. After playing in countless punk and metal bands from age of 12 until 26, Lewis gradually shifted back to the music of his upbringing. Self-releasing his first solo album in 2017, he has since released Dark Wheels turn Above Our Heads in 2020 and Bullets for Bread in 2024, finding a sound between country, folk and bluegrass with a distinct political slant. In between albums there have been countless singles, EP’s, often raising money for homeless outreaches or food banks.   £9/£6}

_{https://www.serioussambarrett.co.uk/}

_{https://www.davidbroad.co.uk/}

_{https://lewispughmusic.com/}

_{https://wegottickets.com/event/691350}

_{We are very grateful to Serious Sam and his trio for stepping in to replace Pete Coe who was originally booked to appear on this date but is unwell and unable to fulfil the booking. We wish him a speedy recovery.}

_{19th      February          Singers & musicians       £1 entry}

_{26th      February           Dales Traditional Music and Dance Collective.}

 _{NB THIS EVENING'S EVENT WILL BE AT THE CASTLE, 20 GRATTAN ROAD, BD1 2LU}

_{THE DALES TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCE COLLECTIVE PRESENTS:}

_{Muppett’s Part in Reviving the Buck Inn Music Sessions} 

_{Nigel Broadbent and Jim Jarratt will set the scene with songs, tales and tunes from Upper Wharfedale that will cover well over 50 years of music and dancing. They will be joined by Matt Palmer, stepson of Muppett who played a key part in the recent revival of the tradition. Matt will give us a set of Muppett’s utterly unique songs. Colin Speakman, writer and very active promoter of the Yorkshire Dales and of Yorkshire Heritage who has walked the tracks and pathways of Upper Wharfedale for over 60 years, will add his poetic insights. Musicians Richard Hargreaves and Joy Leach will add a note or two to the dance numbers.}

_{Matt Palmer will be performing the songs of the much loved and missed Muppett. As Muppett’s stepson, in the 80s he was dragged kicking and}

_{screaming around the folk clubs of Yorkshire. Something clearly sank in as Matt is now an avid lover of folk music to this day and has been playing in various outfits on the circuit for over 30 years. He'll be performing some of Muppett’s favourite home-grown folk songs as a tribute to this unique character who touched so many lives. £9/£6}

_{https://wegottickets.com/event/689745}

_{TOPIC ZOOM - MONDAY FEBRUARY 16TH}

_{You are invited to join the next Topic Zoom session on Monday February 16th The digital doors will open at 7.30 for an 8pm start, and the programme will run till 10 pm. To participate in this or other of our monthly Zoom evenings, either as a performer or as an audience member, please contact Guy at guy@wutheringbikes.org.uk}

_{We are grateful to Jim Saville who allows us the use of his Zoom Pro so we can run the evening without a break. He also advises on the technical glitches that can occur from time to time.}

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

_{NON TOPIC STUFF}

_{On Monday 2nd February 2026-  -  Liz Narey's First Monday Folk welcomes Gordon Tyrrall.}

_{NOTE NEW VENUE! Bingley Arts Centre (downstairs bar) Main St, Bingley BD16 2LZ} 

_{Doors 7 pm, music 7.30 pm. Pay as you feel, donation and raffle.} 

_{https://gordontyrrall.co.uk/} 

_{On Sunday 8th February 7pm until 10pm, Ryburn 3 Step Folk Club, Hollins Mill, Hollins Mill Lane, Sowerby Bridge HX6 2QG welcomes Damien Barber and Mike Wilson.}

_{http://www.damienandmike.co.uk/}

_{info@ryburn3step.org.uk  or phone 01422 822569}

_{www.ryburn3step.org.uk}

_{Please note this club can only accept cash.}

_{Chris Milner is appearing at the Avondale Club, 19 Bradford Road, Shipley BD18 3PJ on Sunday 22nd February 2026, 7.30 pm. This is a Pay As You Feel event.}

_{NEWS FROM THE DALES}

_{This month's Buck Inn session will take place at The Racehorses Hotel in Kettlewell on Sunday February 8th, 1 pm to 4 pm. Hotel food and drink will be available, there is car parking space behind the hotel or in the nearby YDNP car park. The Dalesbus bus stop is right by the bridge. Free entry. No programme, just impromptu music-making, singing, poems and stories. All welcome, bring an instrument or your voice to join in or just come and listen.} 

_{TOPIC STUFF}  

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

_{Regarding the previously mentioned problem with the card reader at the Waller Bar, we are happy to report that this has now been solved.}

_{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.}                                                                 

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

_{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.}

_{For the time being Topic guest nights will normally take place on Thursdays at Wallers Bar, Millergate BD1 (situated in the underground Sunbridge Wells complex) - with the exception this month of the 26th February (see above).} 

_{Singers and musicians nights will take place at:The Castle 20, Grattan Road  Bradford BD1 2 LU} 

_{Doors will open at 7 pm with a 7.30 pm start and a target time of 10pm to finish.}

_{The committee, having with some difficulty managed to stabilise the situation - at least temporarily - with regard to the separate venues for our two types of club nights, is wondering how the situation is suiting our regulars. It would be helpful to have some sort of idea/feedback from anyone with strong - or indeed not so strong - views on the subject: feel free to email me  tocharn@gmail.com if you have anything you would like to say or ask and I'll pass it on to the committee, particularly if anyone has a reason for not attending one or the other venue.}

_{Recent updates to Waller Bar news.}

_{We apologise for the issues we experienced with the Waller Bar earlier last month but things are much improved with a new manager in post. Representatives from our committee had a meeting with him last week and he is looking for ways to help make our evenings work, for example, having the pool table moved to give more space to performers, and taking steps to minimise noise from the bar. He also said that new tills would be arriving soon which will have facilities for payment by card or cash. So it's all looking a bit more positive.}

_{For your information the bar offers free loyalty cards: after 10 drinks marked off on your card, the next one is free. We will try to obtain a supply of these cards and hand them to anyone who would like one as they come in.}

_{Also a reminder that you can find free parking on the north side of Thornton Road and up the side streets.}

_{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}