01/09/2026
Tony's newsletter
Newsletter No. 291 - September 2026.
Hello again everyone,
Well, well, September already, autumn on the horizon after what has been an amazing summer....
Here's what's what the Topic has in store for the coming month:
3rd September Singers & musicians £1 entry
10th September Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne Support: Lilian
Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne is at the forefront of his generation of English folk musicians as both a powerful and commanding singer and a masterful player of the Anglo concertina and melodeon. Since bursting onto the scene in his teens, Cohen has amassed a string of awards and nominations, including a nomination for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Horizon Award in 2018, and has toured extensively across the UK and abroad, both as a soloist and with the much-loved energetic trio Granny’s Attic. Expect traditional songs and tunes along with some self-penned material and a few surprises along the way.
cohenbk.com
Lilian is a singer and storyteller of traditional folk and fairytales. Through song Lilian explores real world issues that we face today, and combines this with encounters of the supernatural world, drawing inspiration from the folk tradition to create a sound that is dark and at times ethereal. Lilian released her debut album Pareidolia in 2023, a collection of traditional and contemporary songs and tunes, and has performed up and down the country to attentive audiences who describe her voice as haunting. Lilian is a graduate of Leeds Conservatoire, specialising in traditional English folk song. £9/£6
At times ethereal, at times vivid. A triumph in the use of acoustic light and shade - Tykes Stirrings
https://wegottickets.com/f/24741
17th September Singers & musicians £1 entry
24th September Emily Slade
Emily took up the acoustic guitar at the age of nine, making her stage debut that same year. At 19, Emily studied English and Education at Cambridge University. During her final year she launched her record label ‘Rustic Thorn Records’ to release a five track EP, ‘Small Talk’, and took to the road. Touring internationally, Emily has carved out a staggering reputation amongst audiences and fellow musicians alike.
Emily is widely hailed as an intelligent contemporary British songwriter. Her songs approach modern day issues, relating to real people. She is a woman quite clearly at ease with her audience. Her winning personality and presence have endeared her to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. In an age where everyone seems intent on copying everyone else, it’s gratifying to find an individual who sounds solely like herself. £9/£6
https://www.emilyslademusic.co.uk/
https://wegottickets.com/f/24743
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TOPIC ZOOM IS BACK! - MONDAY 21st September 2026
You are invited to join the next Topic Zoom session on Monday 21st September. The digital doors will open at 7.30pm 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 [email protected]
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.
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NEWS FROM THE DALES
There is no Buck Inn session in September: they restart in October, details next time.
NON TOPIC STUFF
On Monday 7th September Bingley First Monday Folk welcomes Ash Mandrake and Buck Curran.
Venue: Bingley Arts Centre (upstairs theatre), Main St, Bingley BD16 2LZ .
The venue is 100% accessible via staircase and lift.
Doors 7 pm, music 7.30 pm. Pay as you feel, donation and raffle.
PLEASE NOTE: this month, on 14th September there will be an extra - and amazing - gig featuring Henry Parker and Serious Sam Barrett.
Same venue,same details. Don't miss....
On Saturday afternoon, 12th September at 3 pm, Geoff and Mary Twentyman, along with other local folkies, are involved in a show called "Low Moor 1916". It's a folk-type presentation in words, images, music and songs commemorating the people involved in, and the events surrounding, the Low Moor mu*****ns explosion in 1916 in which 40 people lost their lives. (It was originally presented in 2016/2017 in Low Moor and Bradford Cathedral).
There will be a short interval and the event will finish around 5.15 pm.
The venue this time is the Aldersgate Methodist Church, Cleckheaton Road, Low Moor. There is no admission charge as it is a Heritage Open Day event, but pre-booking is required (Tel 01274 673274 or email [email protected]
Full details are on the Bradford Heritage Open Days events page.
Gerry Cooper is appearing at the Avondale Club, 19 Bradford Road, Shipley BD18 3PJ on Sunday 27th September at 7.30 pm. Gerry is of course well-known to Topic audiences, as well as the local (and not so local) music scene generally.
This will be a Pay As You Feel event.
As mentioned in the last newsletter, at Saltaire Festival on Saturday 12 September, Eddie Lawler, erstwhile popular performer on the Bradford acoustic music scene, including the Topic, now relocated to Scarborough, will be performing his presentation "What D'You MEAN, Yorkshire?" at 2pm at St Peter's Church Hall, Moorhead Lane. An one-hour exploration in words and mainly original songs, of past, present, and possible future of the county. High-quality content with some low-quality chocolate. £5 on the door, or preferably via the Saltaire Festival website.
ADVANCE NOTICE OF AN INTERESTING SOUNDING EVENT COMING UP IN OCTOBER
Local cellist, singer and poet Sarah Smout is involved with the Green Folkways Exchange,an Ecological Folklore Research project which is holding a session in Skipton at Craven Arts on 15th October at 7 pm. The attached flyer will give all the information currently available about the project and details of how those wishing to attend/perform can apply. Any updates will be given in the October newsletter.
Those interested are invited to apply via this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwvDllGushmK7TR2MLcxOj0npbtdo8ivKKll9AkYI3yaaB1w/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104697762670943297564
For more information about Sarah and what she does visit http://www.sarahsmoutmusic.co.uk/
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TOPIC STUFF (a repeat of information from previous newsletters - as it's so important, NB also contains a few changes !)
You probably know by now that the Topic was founded in 1956 and every week since then (apart from in very adverse weather conditions) Bradford citizens and visitors have been treated to the best in folk music, from local singers and musicians to international performers of high renown. (We started a Zoom session during Covid which still meets regularly on the third Monday of every month and involves people from all over the country - see above))
So 2026 is the Topic's 70th anniversary year and we are planning to celebrate this amazing achievement.
To do this we have been linking up with some of the events going on in Bradford, including some special singers/musicians nights which have already taken place.
On Saturday 3RD October the Topic's major anniversary event will take place in the outdoor performance space of The Darley Street Market Courtyard from 12 noon to 5 pm.
(PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE FROM 10th to 3rd October, to avoid a clash with a Bradford City home game, when City fans always meet at Darley Street Market prior to going to the match, probably in high spirits!!).
We now have details of the line up of Guest Singers, all of whom have connections with the Topic, who will be performing. More details nearer the time.
12.00-12.55 Plumhall
12.55-1.30 Hokum - skiffle set
1.30-2.10 Bella Gaffney
2.10-2.45 Henry Parker
2.45-3.00 Mike the Busker
3.00 -3.30 Paul Chand/ Anjaana
3.30 - 4.00 Jenny Silurian
4.00-4.30 Top Whack
4.30-5.00 Lewis Pugh
See the attached flyer for such details of the performers as we have received to date.
External periphery events such as Morris Dancers might also be involved.
(Timings are provisional and may be subject to change.)
This event will inevitably involve some cost to the club. We may be able to get some kind of funding, but almost certainly not sufficient to cover our outlay. We are asking that club regulars (and even not so regulars) might consider making a donation to the club to cover these additional costs. There are two ways in which you can donate:
For those who still use cash, there will be a collecting box at guest nights and singers and musician evenings; or payment can be made to the club's bank account:
Topic Folk Club; 05-04-49 Account no 17703951.
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY to help pay performers fees and help to raise the Topic’s profile so it can carry on for another 70 years.
Put the date in your diary and spread the word to friends and family.
If you have any suggestions for any other ways we can celebrate our 70th birthday then please let us know.
Additional Event to Celebrate our 70th year: another date for your diary!
Bradford Libraries have invited The Topic to present an evening of history and song to celebrate our 70th anniversary .
This will be held on Friday 9th October, in Shipley Library, from 7-9 pm. The evening will consist of a brief history of the Topic’s foundation in 1956, and its subsequent development. This will be interspersed by songs sung by Topic members and friends. (If you are interested in performing, let us know!) There will be no specific charge for entry: just pay what you feel – all proceeds will be going to the Topic.
The Library hopes to combine this with a display of photographs of past and current musicians, plus ones of the various venues the Topic has used over the years. Anyone with anything interesting to offer is asked to contact Chris Gaffney on [email protected].
More specific details in our next newsletter.
We are hoping that by organising or taking part in these events will help to raise the profile of the club, maybe encourage some more people to come along to our club nights.
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As many of you know by now, we now accept (indeed prefer) payment for entry to the club by card, but you can of course pay by cash if that suits you better.
Membership of the club runs from 1st January and will entitle you to the lower ticket prices on guest nights 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.
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For performers who may be thinking of approaching the club for a booking, please email: [email protected]
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.
As previously advised ALL Topic Folk Club nights, guest nights and singers/musicians nights, now take place at The Castle 20, Grattan Road Bradford BD1 2 LU.
Street parking for the Castle is available on Barry Street and Grattan Road (£1) just outside the pub, and there is a disabled parking slot. (However, it seems that the Council is planning to scrap street parking charges, but we don't yet know when this welcome change is likely to be taking effect, so be aware).
It has been suggested that we could introduce themes for the singers/musicians nights. We would welcome any thoughts on this, or ideas for themes.
For all events doors will open at 7 pm with a 7.30 pm start and a target time of 9.45 to finish. (Please note the slightly earlier target time to finish: we have changed this for the convenience of the increasing number of people who need to leave a bit earlier to fit in with local public transport services.)
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. It's still around.....
Tony Charnock
Topic Folk Club
