Chris Cleverley was born under a solstice moon, in an aura of honeysuckle mysticism. Described as ‘impressive’ (The Telegraph), and ‘haunting’ (The Sunday Times) his collection of award-winning independent releases have earned him a robust and loyal, grassroots following on the New British Folk Scene.
With a visceral lyrical style, inspired by the American-Indie greats Elliott Smith & Sufjan Stevens, his ambient Dream-Folk songwriting explores the place of acoustic-driven music within the 21st Century emotional landscape. Shining an honest light on diverse, arresting themes from pervasive artificial intelligence to disquieting climate emergency, it is no wonder Folk Radio UK have called him "One of the most vital voices of his generation."
As a student of Nic Jones and Joni Mitchell records, his blistering guitar technique is infused with the hazy, dreamlike essence of the 60s Folk Revival, while his ambient synth-laden production reflects his well-earned position as a true innovator within the world of UK acoustic music. Cleverley is a performer whose presence occupies the room effortlessly - taking his audiences on a journey deep into the self and unpicking our place within this increasingly head-spinning modern age.
Chris’ critically acclaimed 2019 album We Sat Back and Watched it Unfoldreleased to rave reviews, with RnR Magazine describing it as “One of those rare albums that can genuinely be called important”, while earning him the position of FATEA Magazine’s “Male Artist of 2019”. Cleverley’s highly anticipated 4th album, Broadcast The Secret Verse was released in November 2022. Produced by the visionary John Patrick Elliott (The Little Unsaid) the project takes his vision of contemporary acoustic music to enthralling and uncharted places.
One of the most vital voices of today’s folk generation – Folk Radio UK
As loaded as Ballard – Time Past and Time Passing
Sheer Stylishness – fRoots
With artists like Chris Cleverley writing and performing like this, the new British folk scene is in incredibly rude health – Rock Society
It’s so refreshing to hear someone who doesn’t obey the rules – Folking.com
You can see see The Topic's Safeguarding Policy (March 2024) here
NEW: Mic Darling on the early days of The Topic
Mic Darling is a singer-songwriter banjo player and half of the GIPSY/TRAVELLERS musical duo Mic and Susie Darling. They have busked on back streets, performed in pubs, folk clubs and at the House of Lords, including headlining at The Topic in 2022. He used to go to The Topic in its earliest days in the 1950s and 60s, and recalls that time in an interview here. (Note:it is a pdf file.)
A collection of folk songs about people, groups and special places in Bradford District.
To mark Bradford City of Culture in 2025 the Topic Folk Club is gathering together folk songs about the story of the people and/or groups who work to make Bradford District a welcoming and supportive place.
See the 40 songs uploaded so far at Topic SWABA - a few more have been added in February.
THE TOPIC'S HOME is at Hullabaloo, a couple of minutes walk from Groove Pad, nearer the station. There is parking on Crowgill Street. See MAP for venue location. Hullabaloo site: hullabalooshipley.org.uk/ Hullabaloo's Facebook page: facebook.com/PuttingTheHipInShipley/
PLEASE NOTE: The club room is downstairs and the only toilets are upstairs. (There is a plan for construction of downstairs toilets but that will take some weeks yet before completion)
Coming Soon
Bradford is City of Culture this year - Bradford Booking in the listing below indicates when a guest artist from Bradford has been booked to appear.
01 May
Singers and Musicians
A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
£1 Entry
Doors open 7pm
08 May
Double Header: Gerry Cooper andMockingbirds Bradford Booking
Gerry Cooper
Gerry Cooper is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from Bradford specialising in acoustic blues, ragtime and other Americana. Gerry also plays a mean harmonica.
Gerry grew up in Newcastle-upon-Tyne where he was drawn into the folk club scene in the North East during the 1960s. He was inspired by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, but soon discovered acoustic blues - Big Bill Broonzy, and Brownie McGhee – mainly through artists like Bert Jansch, Wizz Jones and Ralph McTell.
Gerry moved to Yorkshire in 1972 as a teacher, playing folk clubs and joining a variety of bands. Once retired, he started writing songs and playing solo acoustic blues gig in pubs, clubs and festivals in the UK.
Mockingbirds
Mockingbirds are acoustic harmonies duo Cath Harney and Pam Johnson. Cath and Pam both live in Keighley, West Yorkshire and are well known in local music circles for their lovely harmonies and original songs. Mockingbirds have been singing and writing together for around 8 years now and loving every minute of it.
They cover a wide range of styles and eras from folk to country, to bluegrass and pop and have recorded two CDs, one of which was Christmas fundraiser for the Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank. Both CDs are available on Bandcamp.
Cath and Pam have been busy over the last year writing new songs about people from their local area and about places in Yorkshire and are planning to record them later this year. Songwriting remotely has been a novel and rewarding challenge for them and they are looking forward to playing this new set of original songs for the first time as a full set at The Topic Folk Club.
A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
£1 Entry
Doors open 7pm
22 May
Poetry Evening Double Header: Emma Conally-Barklem and Charlie Parker with musical interludes by Les Gillon and Julia Farrants.
Emma Conally-Barklem is a Bradford-born author, poet and yoga teacher based in North Yorkshire. In 2023, she was New Northern Poet for Ilkley Literature Festival. Her collection The Ridings was curated into an exhibition in her hometown, Bradford. Hymns from the Sisters was written after a residency at the Brontė Parsonage Museum.
Emma won the Black in White Poetry Prize 2024. Her first novel, Yoga Homicide was shortlisted for the 2024 Book Edit Writers’ Prize. Her first full collection, Emily Brontė’s Hawk will be published by The Black Cat Poetry Press in 2026. She is a core poet for the BBC’s Contains Strong Language Poetry Festival for Bradford 2025.
Skilfully crafted, poignant and memorable, this is an impressive debut which I am sure will be of great comfort and inspiration to anyone experiencing loss - Natalie Scott, review of The Ridings
Charlie Parker is a published poet, writer, and editorial assistant. In 2023 his debut poetry collection, which was nominated for two awards, was published by Written Off Publishing. He has published a short story and a creative non-fiction essay, and volunteers as a features writer for Exposed Magazine. He has a particular interest in UK social class, current affairs, English football, and politics.
Heartfelt, witty and subtly political anthems of everyday life - Lee Pollard, Sheffield Hallam University Department of Social Work and Social Care
Musical interludes from Les Gillon on guitar and Julia Farrants on cello.
Les Gillon is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who as well as being a longstanding member of the folk trio Ghost School, leads his own five piece acoustic band The Agents of Karma, of which Julia Farrants is a member. Julia also plays in a wide range of contexts from classical orchestral to klezmer and gypsy jazz.
A duo project between two finger style guitarists, coming together to blend influences and different styles of playing to create a unique sound for guitar based folk music. Jim Ghedi and Toby Hay are both prolific, praised and established artists in their own right.
Hailing from South Yorkshire, Ghedi’s previous work has often been instrumental, exploring the natural world and his relationship to it, as seen on 2018’s A Hymn For Ancient Land but also developing into using his voice, songwriting and traditional material on his more recent album, In The Furrows Of Common Place. He draws from social observations, contemporary songwriting, historical & traditional material.
Over the years he has performed headline tours and festivals across the UK & Ireland as well as supporting & touring with bands such as Lankum, Stick in the Wheel, Richard Dawson, Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins.
Toby Hay is a guitar player and composer, interested in the connection between improvisation and composition and fascinated by the connection between landscape and music - his work is inspired by the landscapes of the Cambrian mountains, where he has lived all his life.
He has toured all over the UK & Ireland performing solo, or collaborating with other musicians. He is the founder of Cambrian Records, a label which he runs to release his own music and that of a select few artists.
Together they have released two albums, The Hawksworth Grove Sessions (2018) and the self-titled Jim Ghedi and Toby Hay (2023).
What’s absolutely certain is that these two British musicians are both currently on a creative roll that show no sign of slowing down, both are possessed of a special talent that manifests spectacularly whenever they pick up a guitar - FROOTS
Melodically sublime... although Ghedi's music is infused with tradition, it's very much experiencing the present - MOJO
Entry £9 (£6 members)
Doors open 7pm
5 June
Singers and Musicians
A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
