Topic folk club to move

After many years as an important music venue in Bradford, The Melborn is to close in January.
Home of the Topic folk club for over 11 years, and a vital part of the Bradford music scene for longer than some care to remember, the pub and landlord 'Brother Eamon' will be missed. The Topic will of course continue. There is a full programme still to be run at the Melborn up to and including the Topic's Christmas / Farewell party on 22 December 2005. Artists still to appear at the Melborn include Steve Tilston, Alan Reid and Rob van Sante (from the Battlefield Band), the Duncan McFarlane Acoustic Band, Gerry Cooper, Kevin Loughran and the Holbeck Mummers.

As of January 2005, the club will be based at:

The Cock and Bottle,
93 Barkerend Road,
Bradford BD3 9AA
Tel: 01274 738446

The first formal gig at the Cock and Bottle will be Barry Smith and WestPort on 12th January 2006.

One of the most historic pubs in central Bradford, dating from 1820, the Cock and Bottle has now been taken over by a micro-brewery and boasts 13 real ales at a time! It has a superb stained glass, etched mirrors and wood-panelled interior, with several different rooms and a number of snugs, as well as the room the club will be using. It is close to the city centre, on several bus routes and quite close to Forster Square train station. The club has an excellent series of concerts lined up well into 2006 (including old favourites Tom Napper, Tom Bliss, Roy Bailey, Julie Ellison, Vin Garbutt, John Conolly) so there's a lot worth getting a good venue for.

Some information on the pub, its attributes and location, can be found via the club's website:
http://www.topic-folk-club.org.uk/

November 2005  

Harrogate: new women's goth morris side recruiting!

Geraldine Legard writes:

'Medusa', a new women's Goth Morris side, has started in the Harrogate/Knaresborough area. We are looking for more members - tallish, slimmish and with a good sense of rhythm. You will find it hard to believe, but it is proving difficult to find women who like hanging about the streets dressed in black, or have even heard of a melodeon (I know...!) We are doing some French dances as well (schottische, an dro, bourée etc) so, if you fancy trying it, you can ring me on 01423-563649. Give it a go - you can buy your pointy boots and bustle later...

Geraldine Legard
Email: galegard@btinternet.com

November 2005  

Update: Medusa is now 'up and running', and has performed at a number of events during 2006 . New members (especially dancers) are still welcome; and you don't need to any particular size or shape. A good sense of rhythm and a taste for black would help, though.

news item

July 2006  

Harrogate folk club to close

The Friday the 13th Folk Club at Harrogate, North Yorkshire will close after Christmas. Organiser Ray Black has decided to call it a day; although the club does very well with well-known guests, he has always felt that clubs should also offer opportunities for grass-roots participation, and provide a platform for less well known performers. These latter aspects are not attracting audiences, and he doesn't want to compromise and just run a concert venue putting on nothing but "names".
It's sad to see the club closing after forty-odd years, but we must respect Ray's decision and the integrity on which it is based. Perhaps in the future, someone else will take up the reins. Meanwhile, the Tuesday session at the Tap and Spile will continue.
Ray's comments

Website: http://www.harrogate.co.uk/friday13/

Update: Ray writes:

'The dust is already swirling as the phoenix prepares to rise - Friday 13th Folk Club will transmutate as it rises from the ashes. Three members of the club -Edna Barker, Richard Sykes and Roy Hardacre- have decided to continue the singers' nights on a monthly basis under a new name. For my part I have found a way to address the problem of giving a platform to lesser-known talent: I aim to put on an occasional concert with a "big-name" headline act, but will feature a paid support by performers of the type I would have liked to give gigs to in the past. To pay the support will bung an extra pound or two onto the ticket price but we have never been expensive enough for this to be so much of a problem anyway.'

November 2005  

Huddersfield Examiner drops folk and jazz feature

Cath Ingham writes:

The Huddersfield Examiner has decided, in its wisdom and for financial reasons (!!) to axe its fortnightly Folk and Jazz columns which have been a regular and valued feature for more than 20 years.
We are told that the staff reporters will cover these areas so let's hope they have the time and interest to trawl through all the publications to find out where the gigs are and don't rely on the few press releases that are sent.

Cath Ingham, former Folk correspondent

Website: http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/ournewspapers/examiner/

November 2005  

Otley festival seeks stewards

Jim Lawton writes:

Would you like to do some stewarding at Otley Folk Festival (September 16-18)?
It's a very sociable and well organised festival, and when you're not working, you can get in to whatever events you want.
If you've done it before, or feel like having a go, phone Janet Neve on 01943 465342 for more details.
Website: http://otleyfolkfestival.com/

August 2005  

Morris dancers wanted: York

Local mixed Morris team The Minster Strays are recruiting once again, keen to find new dancers and also any willing musicians. The team meets for practice on Monday evenings at a venue on the outskirts of York, and the first three sessions in September (5, 12, 19) will be aimed specially at beginners. There are no age limits - present members’ ages range from 16 to 61 - and no previous experience is required.
Ring Wendy on 01904 414157 or Gez on 01904 415443 to find out more.
Email: wendy_thurs@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://www.minsterstrays.org.uk/

August 2005  

Folk Arts at the Great Yorkshire Show

While you're at the Great Yorkshire Show next week, come and enjoy a display of Yorkshire's traditional folk arts. Yorkshire Folk Arts and The Music Room are sharing a stand to promote our traditional song, music and dance. People can try an instrument, talk to expert musicians, and see live performances of song, music and dance on all three days of the show.

For details, contact

Paul Hudson
Chairman, Yorkshire Folk Arts
01282 868040
Email: paul@yorkshire-folk-arts.com

John Turner
The Music Room
Email: info@the-music-room.com
Website: http://www.the-music-room.com/
01274 879768

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Ethno England: last minute discounts

Geraldine Stephenson writes:

Ethno England has some remaining places left at this year's camp (2 - 10 July) because of last minute visa restrictions in African countries. We're offering a special rate for English and European applicants - £20 per place instead of £150.

Ethno England is an international youth folk music residential camp where young musicians, singers and dancers from across the world gather together in Riccall, North Yorkshire, to share their music and cultural traditions with each other through a series of workshops and informal sessions.

A team of Artistic Leaders will be on hand throughout the week, helping with the workshop programme. At last year's camp we had participants from Belgium, England, Germany, Scotland, Serbia & Montenegro, Sweden and Zimbabwe. Our Artistic Leaders this year are Tim Van Eyken (England), Jo Freya (England), Erik Rydvall (Sweden) and Pieter Lanearts (Belgium).

Activities throughout the week camp include: International Dance Evening; Community BBQ at which Ethno participants give an informal performance of the music they have shared with one another during the week; visit to the BBC Open Centre in Hull, and feature at Ethno in the Park - Ethno's own international community music festival in Goole.

Please visit our website for more information: http://www.ethnoengland.co.uk/

Apply online now!

Phone: 01430 449668 or 01482 867972
Email: ethnoengland@aol.com

28 June 2005