VENUE: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road, Bradford BD1 2LU
Singers' and Musicians' Night with Roger Sutcliffe
A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
Veteran blues guitarist and singer Roger Sutcliffe, who has played at the Topic more times than anyone else - over 65 times - will be visiting the club and will be doing a showcase spot of about 25 minutes.
He first played at the Topic in 1963 and has appeared more or less annually ever since. This evening's appearance is in celebration of his 80th birthday, which was on 7th March, also in recognition of his contributions to our club over so many years.
Many Bradfordians know Roger (now based in Whitby) not only as a performer, but also as a guitar teacher; he had many pupils in the area.
Hoping for plenty of support to help Roger celebrate!
Entry £1
Doors open 7pm
ACCESS and PARKING for The Castle, 20, Grattan Road, Bradford BD1 2LU.
There are two entrances to the pub, the lower one with steps, the top one at ground floor level.
Parking: there's on-street parking on Barry St, which is the road along the side of The Castle pub on a hill, and a couple of spots on Grattan Road outside the top door (check signs for parking charges). Also on Fulton St, which is a nearby turning off Grattan Road.
Songs With A Bradford Accent: To mark Bradford City of Culture in 2025 The Topic gathered a collection of folk songs about Bradford District. See the 62 songs uploaded at SWABA-LYRICS-FINAL.pdf .
Coming Soon
26 Mar
Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
Lonan + support Leo Brazil
Lonan
Yorkshire-based folk trio Lonan weave together compelling narrative tales and driving instrumental tunes. Often drawing upon contemporary issues as well as traditional song, the band explores the eclectic musical palettes of Evan Davies (mandolin, fiddle, guitar, vocals), Katy Ryder (flute, whistles, guitar, vocals) and Robin Timmis (guitar, fiddle, vocals). Their other projects include award-winning bluegrass outfit, The Often Herd, Lisbon-based Casa De Klezmer and the British Library-backed project Living with Machines.
Having met through the lively Leeds music scene, the trio’s strong friendship and musical foundations were solidified when, after hearing the likelihood of an upcoming lockdown in late March 2020, they quickly moved in together and decided to use the time to do some recording in Timmis’ basement studio. This resulted in their first single, 'Following Orders’, released in April 2021 (which, in keeping with the story of the song, raised money for the Leeds homeless charity St George's Crypt) and their debut album Forever Has Flown, released in August 2021 to a sold-out show at Seven Arts in Leeds and followed by a UK tour.
Lonan have since performed at festivals including Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Hebden Bridge Folk Festival and Northern Green Gathering, and their music has been played on shows such as Mark Radcliffe’s Radio 2 Folk Show, Mike Norris’ Classic Folk and Ian Anderson’s Podwireless, as well as a living room concert live on Chapel FM.
They have three releases, most recent being Oddy Locks in October 2025.
"True folk music by three young and talented artists" - Bright Young Folk.
Support: Leo Brazil
Before you ask, it's not a stage name! Leo Brazil has been writing and recording his own music since he was a child singing into a tape machine. As well as drawing on his love for classic pop, rock and roll and soul, Leo draws inspiration from animals with songs that connect personal emotions and experiences with stories from the natural world.
Establishing his own label as an umbrella for diverse projects, Leo works out of his home studio and is developing a unique and colourful evolution of sound that mixes acoustic, folk, rock and psychedelia. After well-received first releases in 2024 - collaborations and previews from his acoustic-based solo record Alone - 2025 started with the debut single from his dinosaur-themed psych-rock quartet Bone Wars, described as "Forward-thinking, fresh and familiar" by The Big Takeover.
Leo is a multi-instrumentalist and in the studio plays keyboards, drums and violin. Live he mostly sticks to guitars and banjo where he draws on his big repertoire of self-penned songs, equally comfortable with low key acoustic ballads or foot stomping energetic numbers.
Leo has supported The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Son of Dave, Floral Image, Trip Westerns, The Blow Monkeys, Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly, Chris Helme, Space, Miles Hunt, Romeo and Michele Stodart, Water Tower Band, Jake Vaadeland, The Blues Band, Seamus Fogerty, Liela Moss, The Rails.
A chance to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
Entry £1
Doors open 7pm
09 Apr
Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
The Heathen Kings
The Heathen Kings are a three-piece band from Yorkshire with their feet firmly rooted in British folk and traditional music scene. Performing traditional, borrowed and self-penned songs, their music ranges from intimate unaccompanied singing to high energy celebrations of this dynamic art form, with three voices, guitars, bouzouki and electric bass.
Now in their fifteenth year together, Mark, Rachael and Steve have performed nationally, playing headlining and support slots at some of the most regarded folk clubs and festivals up-and-down the country, plus a handful of live radio and television performances. They have recorded three albums and EPs - Good at the Bad Things, Not in Service and Bedlam to Babylon available on all streaming services - and are working on their fourth.
A chance to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
Entry £1
Doors open 7pm
23 Apr
Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
Painted Sky
Painted Sky have only recently emerged onto the UK folk scene, but they have already made a lasting impression with their progressive acoustic sound.
Siblings George Brandon (guitar/vocal) and Holly Brandon (fiddle/vocal) have been making music together for as long as they can remember. Both have worked on independent projects, with George performing solo and Holly perhaps best known as part of transatlantic folk band, The Magpies. But the siblings have always been drawn back to each other’s playing, and tight-knit instrumentals and harmonies reflect the bedrock of their lifelong musical history.
Original material thoughtfully balances the duo’s roots in traditional English music. Their songs are characterised by honest vocals and timeless storytelling, underpinned by driving rhythms. Whilst their exquisite instrumentals weave delicate finger-picking guitar and soaring fiddle with a dynamic energy.
After making waves with their EP – Dawn – in 2020, Painted Sky released their debut album From The Blue in May 2024. Produced by award-winning singer-songwriter Blair Dunlop, the record stands as a testimony to the siblings’ 20 years of music making. It feeds on a rich pool of English songwriting, traditional songs and ideas to deliver an album with a refreshing mindset, where waves of contemporary textures and arrangements make it feel like an album truly from the blue.
‘Terribly splendid’ - RnR Magazine
‘A quality act in our midst’ - Northern Sky
‘International folk sound, lovely harmonies … really like that!’ - BBC Radio York
Hailing from the wild moorlands of North Yorkshire, singer-songwriter Becky Mills brings a uniquely personal and touching slant to the modern folk genre.
With a foot in both contemporary & classic traditions, her evocative songs take the listener through topics encompassing love, loss, motherhood, emigration, the regrets of old age, the nature of heroism, grief during wartime - even the joy of running away to the circus! - a kaleidoscope of subjects, but always with wit, humour, charm and feeling.
Described by listeners as "moving", "witty", sometimes "heart-rending", but always "uplifting", her acclaimed 2013 mainstream debut "Dandelion" led to comparisons with Sandy Denny - but this was no bolt from the blue. Becky spent the early 2000's recording solo albums locally, whilst gigging far and wide and supporting the likes of Pentangle, Fairport Convention and Barbara Dickson. She then joined Waking the Witch and co-wrote two successful albums. A unique all-girl modern folk ensemble, WtW acquired a loyal fanbase who followed them to major festivals such as Trowbridge, Cambridge and Glastonbury.
In 2018 Becky signed with Talking Elephant records for the release of "Tall Tales and Home Truths", the long awaited follow-up to Dandelion, released in April 2019. In 2020 Becky released "A Midwinter Miscellany" as one third of a trio with Ashley Hutchings and Blair Dunlop.
"Mills is a master storyteller. Shot through with wisdom, her bewitching songs imagine the mysterious lives of others with enormous sympathy" - The Musician magazine
"A collection of warm humanity and emotional truth" - RnR magazine
"A delightful album from start to finish, full of passion, life, great songs and stories” - House of Prog magazine (9/10)
"Superb musicianship and a voice that will give you shivers" -FATEA magazine
Support: Anna Howells
anna’s Irish roots and time in Yorkshire orchestras and ensembles bring a unique quality to her work. Her songs are otherworldly and her clarinet brings a chamberesque flavour to her enchanting sense of melody.
Most recently, anna was named one of the "Highly Recommended Artists" after being selected to perform on the Danny Kyle Open Stage at Celtic Connections in Glasgow.
Since its release on 15th November 2024, anna’s debut EP Fall of a Leaf has been played on BBC Radio 2 The Folk Show, Iain Anderson BBC Radio Scotland and Celtic Heartbeat BBC Radio Wales among others. The EP, produced by Boo Hewerdine and Chris Pepper at Saltwell Studio, was featured as EP of the Year (Best of 2024) by the David Dee Moore Radio Show.
In 2023, anna was selected for STAGES at Moniack Mhor (Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre) - an immersive songwriting development programme for emerging artists. Stages, the resulting 12-track collaborative album included anna's "Hope Flies With Swallow's Wings" which led to her being asked to record a Balcony Session for BBC Introducing.
Entry £9 (£6 members)
Doors open 7pm
07 May
Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
Singers and Musicians
A chance to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
Entry £1
Doors open 7pm
14 May
Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
Becky Taylor and Sam Lawrence
Becky Taylor is a highly talented player (and teacher) of the Uilleann and Northumbrian pipes and many other instruments, and Sam Lawrence is a wizard on stringed instruments and brings a varied selection of songs to the table. He is also a pipemaker.
At their first gig they deployed three sets of Uilleann pipes, four chanters, hurdy-gurdy, accordion, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin and four whistles
Expect jigs, reels, songs and plenty of good natured chat.
“Two of the finest musicians on the planet – seriously they don’t come any better… both are class performers individually, and together they make more than the sum of their parts - strings and pipes of all kinds…don’t miss it” – Mike Harding
Entry £9 (£6 members)
Doors open 7pm
21 May
Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
Singers and Musicians
A chance to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.
Entry £1
Doors open 7pm
28th May: Tom Bliss with Den Miller and Slide Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
4th June: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
11th June: Damien Barber + support Pen and Stu Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
18th June: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
25th June: Double header: Paula Ryan and Roberta Smith Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
2nd July: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
9th July: The Hunch Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
16th July: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
23rd July: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
30th July: Johnny Dyer and Vicki Swan Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
August 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
10th September: Cohen Braithwaite Kilcoyne Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
17th September: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
24th September: Emily Slade Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
1st October: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
8th October: Mossy Christian Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
15th October: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
22nd October: Steve Jinski Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
29th October: Mick Ryan and Paul Downes Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
5th November: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
12th November: Dana Robinson Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
19th November: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
26th November: The Hooliemen Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
3rd December: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
10th December: Bryony Griffith and Alice Jones Venue: The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex
17th December: Singers and Musicians Venue: The Castle, 20, Grattan Road BD1 2LU
24th December: Christmas Eve
31st December: New Year's Eve
PARKING for The Wallers Bar, Sunbridge Wells Complex, Upper Millergate BD1 1SX
There are some parking spaces on Sunbridge Road, cost: £1 from 6pm to midnight.
Parking is free after 6 pm on Thornton Road, a few minutes walk from the venue. There are small side roads off Thornton Road with no parking restrictions. Jacob's Well car park charges £1.50 per hour. There's also the car park behind the Media museum (Sharpe Street), but that's also £1.50 an hour and it's a bit further to walk than Jacob's Well.
Bradford Interchange is about six minutes walk from the venue, Forster Square about 10 minutes.
ACCESS and PARKING for The Castle, 20, Grattan Road, Bradford BD1 2LU.
There are two entrances to the pub, the lower one with steps, the top one at ground floor level.
Parking: there's on-street parking on Barry St, which is the road along the side of The Castle pub on a hill, and a couple of spots on Grattan Road outside the top door (check signs for parking charges). Also on Fulton St, which is a nearby turning off Grattan Road.
