Topic Folk Club Bradford- Gigs April

Floor singers  please sign in by 8.30 on guest nights. 

 Mar 24Lucy Ward

Lucy Ward, a proud Derbyshire lass, plays guitar and has recently taken up the concertina; however she considers her voice to be her first instrument. She has the ability to still an audience with the strength and purity of her voice, which she uses to great effect on the unaccompanied songs that sprinkle her set. Lucy also has a talent for taking songs and investing them with passion and feeling in order to bring about refreshed appreciation from her audiences. Perhaps more important than any of this, though, is that she strikes up an immediate rapport with the audience who remain in the palm of her hand for the whole of her performance. Little wonder then that she was a finalist in the BBC Young Folk Award 2009 – prepare to be entranced!

 

Mar 31 Darren Poyzer & Friends

A Singer and songwriter who combines loving emotion with socio-politics, humour and charisma, Darren Poyzer has starred alongside many great contemporaries to wide and outstanding acclaim. Raised on comedy, performance poetry and an understanding family, he turns the angst of a Thatcher-era teenager into a burst of musical theatre, using little more than voice and acoustic guitar. Working as a special needs music teacher by day has given his songs, stories and performance a new edge and vitality.

Darren works with a wide variety of excellent musicians and some of them will be with him at the Topic tonight to reinforce the message and beauty in his songs.
 

April 2011

Apr 07 Singers & Musicians
  Our ever popular 'first Thursday' Singers & Musicians night for those who like to perform or just listen

Apr 14 Tom Bliss and Phil Wilcox Tom Bliss and Phil Wilcox

Thankfully emerging from a short disappearance from the live music scene, superb songwriter Tom Bliss has teamed up with young accordionist Phil Wilcox to bring a new dimension to his stories in song.

Tom has been compared as a writer with Steve Knightly, Steve Tilston, Jez Lowe, and even Bruce Springsteen(!) with many songs already being mistakenly credited as Trad Arr. His sympathy and enthusiasm for ancient musical forms and language, and his understanding of the craft of songwriting, from show tunes to hymns to pop, coupled with diligent research and attention to detail, made him one of the handful of performers on the folk circuit today whose work is admired by modernist and traditionalist alike.

His live performance has been described as "Astonishingly moving and inspirational..." (Tykes News) so we are delighted to see Tom's return to the Topic and look forward to a very special night.

Apr 21 Jinski Jinski

Based in Newcastle Upon Tyne Jinski are Steve Jinski and Dave Kennedy, two highly individual guitarists/musicians with strong distinctive voices. They have a wealth of great original songs that draw upon acoustic roots and country music whilst remaining resolutely modern. Jinski play songs written by Steve that tell stories of love, joy, loneliness and longing. Intricate, soulful, beautiful songs, foot stomping, sing-a-long, raucous songs; music for the head and the heart, full of passion and originality.

Most importantly they are also consummate entertainers and leave their audiences feeling that the world is a better place!

 

Apr 28 Jason McNiff Jason McNiff

Jason McNiff is an enigmatic character. He is a troubadour and a renowned singer-songwriter. His vocal delivery, guitar playing and lyrical content invite comparisons with Dylan at his mystic best. Those familiar with his three albums tend to club him in with Americana, but there is also a underlying English sensibility - not surprising as he is returning to his home town tonight for an all too rare visit.

Jason is currently preparing a new album for release and will no doubt be previewing material from it

'One of the UK's best kept secrets ' **** MOJO

'Grossly overlooked' TIME OUT

Visit Jason's website www.jasonmcniff.com and come down to the Topic to see what the fuss is all about!

May 2011 
May 05 Singers & Musicians
  Our ever popular 'first Thursday' Singers & Musicians night for those who like to perform or just listen  

May 12 Brother Crow Brother Crow   

Brother Crow are an acoustic duo from Weardale, in the heart of rural North East England, who perform original narrative songs about the people, places and historical events of their local area and beyond. Andrew Davison, who plays six and seven string guitars and ten-string bouzouki, is the duo’s lyricist and main songwriter. He combines powerful rhythm and delicate finger-style to dramatic effect and uses his evocative lyrics and strong sense of narrative to paint imaginative pictures for the audience. Graeme Carroll is an accomplished mandolin player and accompanist. His playing has a complexity which combines affection for traditional tunes/playing with a modern melodic style.

Brother Crow’s live performances have been described as intense, captivating, haunting and passionate. The dark nature of some of their songs being counter-balanced by a strong stage presence, a natural sense of humour and fun and a deep knowledge of their subject matter.

Really nice guys too!

May 19 Hut People Hut People

The Hut People are Sam Pirt (accordion) and Gary Hammond (percussion). They started playing together in 2008 and perform tunes from around the world to the delight and astonishment of their audiences (they received standing ovations and were voted Best Band two years running at the major Musicport world music festival). Sam has been involved in folk music since childhood and is currently also a member of 422. Gary was a member of The Beautiful South and also features as a percussionist in a number of world music and jazz line ups.

Together they are unique and wonderful and we feel very privileged to be welcoming them to the Topic. Don't miss them!

May 26 Rodney Branigan Rodney Branigan 

Rodney calls his music ”progressive folk fusion,” but that doesn’t do it justice. Clearly, he’s invented a new genre –– one that blends rock, folk, flamenco, madrigal, classical, bluegrass and jazz –– and, it all works. Most of his performance features instrumentals that are driving, thumping monsters. Often playing three instruments at once –– two guitars (a 12-string and 6-string) and a tambourine –– his musical facility is so awe-inspiring it will leave you breathless. The vocal pieces are just as strong, but more reflective. Rodney plays music so compelling that you have to listen to it. It stuns the audience and hushes the room.

Witness a very rare talent indeed on his first visit to the Topic.