Review: The Topic Folk club has moved

Subject: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: GUEST,Sid
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 10:51 AM

The Topic Folk Club has moved to a new venue, it now meets (still on Thursdays) at the Hullabloo, which can be found at 41 Westgate, Shipley BD183QX

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 11:21 AM

Web Site for further details.

Says it starts at 7 - What time does it finish, Sid?

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: GUEST,Sid
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 11:40 AM

Yep kicks off at 7pm and finishes for 10pm in time for folk to get their last bus

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 01:53 PM

Thank you.

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 07:57 AM

I might try to make it along this Thursday - it'll be Yorkshire day, so a good opportunity to bust out regional repertoire!


Further to the link above, and for those who haven't been - the Topic, founded in 1956, lays claim to being the oldest extant weekly folk-club in the world;

Usually, it alternates - every other Thursday is a 'Singers & Musicians Night', in a compered, 'singaround' format; depending on attendance it normally gets 2-3 times around the room, with a break for a raffle in the middle. There's a nominal £1 entry fee.

In the alternate weeks, there's usually a booked performer (sometimes 2) in a trad or roots vein. There are normally 1-2 floor spots also available on these nights.There's usually a £6-7 entry fee.

However, the next 4 weeks are all 'Singers & Musicians Nights' - there's no booked performer until 29th Aug, with Caffrey McGurk Madge
+ support Pete Dunne

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 08:50 AM

snip - Further to the link above, and for those who haven't been - the Topic, founded in 1956, lays claim to being the oldest extant weekly folk-club in the world - snip

Australia's Bush Music Club was founded on 14th October 1954 & we say we're the second oldest folk club in the English-speaking world. I'm currently transcribing the 1955, 1956 & 1958 diaries of a member who wasn't at the first meeting, but joined late 1954. BMCs first meeting in 1955 was Fri 14 Jan, & we still meet weekly, & still take a Christmas break!

Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs? I really must ask Joe to add 70 years to the title

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 10:39 AM

Very interesting, thanks Sandra! Is the Bush weekly? Has it always been so?

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 11:21 AM

BMC was founded as part of the post-war search for traditional songs & tunes to counter the increasing Americanisation of our culture. People across Australia searched for the songs & tunes their parents & earlier generations knew before radio, movies & American film culture took over. Their finds are in the National Library Oral History & Folklore collection & State & other Libraries

BMC has always met weekly & has a number of different activities - some weekly, others monthly & some quarterly or annual. Today, post COVID we only have one quarterly bush dance but in past decades have had weekly or monthly dances in various locations. We've also ran an annual Bush Music Festival.

activities tho some entries are out of date. Our website is being updated.

Weekly - Slow (tunes) Session, Song & Tune session (aka Concert Party which plays for our dance & other dance events), Dance workshop, Irish slow session, several music sessions

Monthly - Playford Dance

Quarterly - Bush dance

Annual - Colonial Ball which stopped with COVID but will be back

The blog is a rabbit warren with a lot of archival & current info about us, if you have time, check out the Guide to the Blog& dive in!

sandra
Archivist, Librarian & Blogger

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 06:20 PM

And we are looking forward to our gig there!

Robin.

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 02 Aug 24 - 11:51 AM

Hi. Just unearthed from a US Uni archive the following tracks from the Topic Club, in probably late 60s?
Join the British Army (Big Bow-Wow); Renardine; Dido Bendigo; Lovely Joan; Butter, Cheese, and All; German Musician; The Fox; Higher Germany; Bogie's Bonny Belle; Grey Funnel Line, Wild Mountain Thyme.
Any thoughts?

Subject: RE: Review: The Topic Folk club has moved
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 02 Aug 24 - 05:25 PM

I just unearthed from a US Uni archive a recording made at the Topic Club, 50+ plus ago. Song listing below.
Any comments?

Join the British Army (Big Bow-Wow); Renardine; Dido Bendigo; Lovely Joan; Butter, Cheese, and All; German Musician; The Fox; Higher Germany; Bogie's Bonny Belle; Grey Funnel Line, Wild Mountain Thyme