Thursday 20th March 2025 at 7:30

_{Singers and Musicians}

_{A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.}

_{£1 Entry}

_{Doors open 7pm}
 

_{facebook.com/TopicFCBradford}

_{You can see see The Topic's Safeguarding Policy (March 2024) here}

<sub>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.</sub>

_{Please send any observations and questions to bd25topic@gmail.com}

_{See the 40 songs uploaded so far at Topic SWABA - a few more have been added in February.}

 

<sub>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)</sub>

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.}

27 Mar

<sub>Crowes Pasture

A roots-infused, internationally touring folk duo, Crowes Pasture performs sometimes joyful, and oftentimes, poignant, songs that reflect a mutual passion, sense of discovery and celebration of the human connection. Monique Byrne’s romantic clawhammer banjo playing and Andy Rogovin’s expressive guitar picking are enlivened by their personal chemistry, intimate harmonies and unique instrumental style that can only be described as a “banjo-guitar romance.”</sub>

_{Crowes Pasture has been a supporting act for The Kennedys and The Small Glories, and has performed at internationally renowned folk venues such as Club Passim in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Rockwood Music Hall, in NYC and Cafe Mariposa in Montreal. Crowes Pasture was chosen to showcase at Folk Alliance Regionals Midwest by DJ Al Kniola, and was nominated for Roots Act of the Year (New England Music Awards 2022 and 2019) and Americana Artist of the Year (Boston Music Awards 2019). The duo was named Finalist for Best Group/Duo in the International Acoustic Music Awards in 2020 and 2021.}

_{Crowes Pasture has had eight singles reach Top 10 Songs on the Folk Alliance International Folk Chart, including their #1 hit, “Slow it Down,” the title track of their 2019 album. Fresh from touring in Southern Ontario and Quebec (Summer 2022), the duo is currently recording their fourth album, with award winning producer Eric Lichter of Connecticut’s Dirt Floor Recording Studios.}

_{An uncanny blend of voices, the duo sound born to mesh their voices, his a handsome sandpapery timbre, hers an angelic firmness [...] with a lovely lilt - Bill Copeland Music News}

_{Entry £9 (£6 members)}

_{Doors open 7pm}

_{https://wegottickets.com/event/640715}
 

03 Apr

_{Hall Brothers
Bradford Booking
Note: rescheduled from January 9th (club night cancellation due to weather)}

_{Duncan and Nick Hall have performed around Europe, sharing bills with the likes of Fairport Convention, Kate Rusby and The Wedding Present. The Hall Brothers are joined by ex-Magna Carta fiddle player John Carey. Expect emotional songs, with sweet sibling harmonies and “seriously nifty guitar-playing”.}

_{Originally, the duo was formed out of the ashes of a teenage rock band, as Duncan and Nick, approaching 20, wandered into a folk club and never looked back. Discovered (literally) bouncing off the furniture at a gig, they were signed up to play the second Otley Folk Festival, quickly building a reputation for their ‘must-see’ live performances. Adding ex-Magna Carta fiddle player John Carey to their line-up broadened their sound and they quickly began to perform concerts and at festivals across Britain, Ireland and the Netherlands.}

_{Nick has also toured as lead guitarist with Ian Prowse & Amsterdam and is also a member of Plumhall - with whom he has played at Costa Festival Ibiza, appeared with Al Stewart at the London Palladium, toured with Fairport Convention and played as part of an extended Fairport line up at their Cropredy Festival with Ralph McTell.}

_{Entry £9 (£6 members)}

<sub>Doors open 7pm

https://wegottickets.com/event/640472</sub>
 

10 Apr

_{Henry Parker
Bradford Booking}

_{Henry Parker's contemporary take on folk, which he explores via thoughtful yet deeply accomplished guitar playing, unfurls and moves much like the landscape itself – mirroring the unpredictable, yet beautifully flowing, rolling hills and valleys of his native county of West Yorkshire.}

_{Parker’s musical roots go back to a self appointed upbringing in prog-rock and metal. However, enthralled at the age of 20 by the ethereal playing of Bert Jansch and Nick Drake, finger-picking and open tunings rapidly became the essence of his sound. The result is a strain of informed, progressive folk music found nowhere else.}

_{Henry has recorded two albums: the eco-conscious Silent Spring (2019) and Lammas Fair (2021), bringing him to the forefront of the progressive folk music world. In 2023 he curated and recorded on behalf of the American label Tompkins Square Records, bringing together a tribute album to Michael Chapman, one of his most important musical influences.}

_{What Parker does so effectively is to blend ancient with early-70’s and modern styles - Mojo}

_{Channelling the ghosts of Jansch and Renbourn through his fingertips, the fluid playing and emotive singing of Yorkshire-born Henry Parker evokes the spirit of the early-60’s folk revival as if it were yesterday”- RnR Magazine}

_{Precision guitar playing...effortless use of loop pedals, nice to see an unsigned folk musician playing to such a high level - FATEA}

_{A really excellent young guitarist/ songwriter - Steve Tilston}
 

_{Support Heslop & Stringer
Bradford Booking}

_{Mark Heslop & Matt Stringer are a Yorkshire based duo performing original songs, based on a mixture of northern history and their own personal experiences.}

_{Now hailing from Liversedge & Fixby, West Yorkshire, live performances feature guitar, mandolin (Stringer), violin (Heslop) and harmony vocals, bringing their stories to life.}

_{Mark Heslop grew up in Bankfoot/Dudley Hill so is a Bradfordian through and through. He’s a big Bradford City fan and played a song that he wrote at Valley Parade and on Look North when City reached Wembley a LONG time ago.}

_{After releasing their first album New Beginnings in November 2022, the pair set out to introduce themselves to the people of Yorkshire and beyond.}

_{The last couple of years have seen them play at Cleckheaton, Filey, Robin Hood’s Bay, Saltaire and Holmfirth folk festivals, the Great North Folk Festival and UK West Coast Folk Festival at Blackpool Winter Gardens and several of the county’s great folk clubs. They previously appeared at the Topic as a support to Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer in April 2023}

_{Matt Stringer works in Bradford at the new city park office near the fountains from August 2024 onwards, which he’s excited about. He also lived in Gomersal/Cleckheaton for many years, which is a BD postcode, and sadly attended Odsal Stadium most weeks to support the Bradford Bulls.}

_{"Seeing the changes in the city centre with Bradford Live, the demolition of the NCP on Hall Ings and the proposed new city park is exciting and we’re looking forward to seeing how the city of culture can be an exciting change for the city. It would be a real pleasure for us to contribute to the Topic’s events".}

_{Entry £9 (£6 members)}

<sub>Doors open 7pm

https://wegottickets.com/event/640721</sub>
 

17 Apr

_{Singers and Musicians}

_{A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.}

_{£1 Entry}

_{Doors open 7pm}
 

24 Apr

<sub>Chris Cleverley

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.</sub>

_{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 Unfold’ released 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’ is scheduled for release in November 2022. Produced by the visionary John Patrick Elliott (The Little Unsaid) the project promises to take 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}

_{Haunting – The Sunday Times}

_{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}

_{Entry £9 (£6 members)}

_{Doors open 7pm}

_{https://wegottickets.com/event/640703}
 

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 and Mockingbirds
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.}

<sub>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</sub>

_{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.}

_{Entry £9 (£6 members)}

<sub>Doors open 7pm

https://wegottickets.com/event/640722</sub>
 

15 May

_{Singers and Musicians}

_{A chance for you to sing a song or play a tune or just listen.}

_{£1 Entry}

_{Doors open 7pm}
 

_{22nd May Double Header: Emma Conally-Barklem and Charlie Parker, with others TBC}

_{29th May Jim Ghedi Duo}

_{5th June Singers and Musicians}

_{12th June Bradford Booking Jason McNiff; support Liz Narey and Stan Greenwood
https://wegottickets.com/event/640792}

_{19th June Singers and Musicians}

_{26th June Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner}

_{3rd July Singers and Musicians}

_{10th July Bradford Booking John Hegley
https://wegottickets.com/event/646752}

_{17th July Singers and Musicians}

_{24th July Enda Kenny}

_{31st July Singers and Musicians}

_{7th August Singers and Musicians}

_{14th August Bradford Booking Otra}

_{21st August Singers and Musicians}

_{28th August Singers and Musicians}

_{4th September Singers and Musicians}

_{11th September Bradford Booking Double Header: Hazjak and Pete Dilley}

_{18th September Singers and Musicians}

_{25th September Becky Mills}

_{2nd October Singers and Musicians}

_{9th October Bradford Booking Den Miller support Ben Ashton}

_{16th October Singers and Musicians}

_{23rd October Sunjay}

_{30th October Union Jill}

_{6th November Singers and Musicians}

_{13th November Bradford Booking Double Header: Reuben and the Bridge and Chris Manners} 

_{20th November Singers and Musicians}

_{27th November Jon Palmer Acoustic Band}

_{4th December Singers and Musicians}

_{11th December Bradford Booking Plumhall}

_{18th December Singers and Musicians}

Clicks since 03-2-2004: