02/06/2026
Tony's Newsletter No. 288 - June 2026.
Hello again everybody: phew, it's been so hot....
Here's our programme for the month of flaming June:
4th June Singers & musicians £1 entry
11th June Damien Barber. Support: Pen & Stu
Raised in Norfolk and heavily influenced by earlier Norfolk singers such as Walter Pardon, and Peter Bellamy, Damien is a stylish and distinctive singer, either a capella or accompanied on guitar or concertina.
Best known in recent years for his critically acclaimed stage shows ‘The Demon Barbers XL’ and ‘The Lock In’, He is the epitome of a traditional folk singer, having learnt his trade directly from some most respected singers in the UK, and brings real authenticity to his performances. A proud Norfolk man and heavily influenced by such earlier Norfolk singers as Walter Pardon and Peter Bellamy, Damien is a stylish and distinctive singer, be it unaccompanied or alongside his guitar or concertina. Though he has now resided for some time in West Yorkshire, his roots remain firmly planted in his beloved East Anglia.
He was 5 years old when he was taken to the Orchard Gardens Folk Club in North Walsham, Norfolk, where his family lived and where many of the great English revival singers like Nic Jones, Dick Gaughan and Martin Carthy performed along with a few from further afield, including the legendary Uilleann piper Liam O’Flynn. He also began to absorb the styles and sounds of local singers such as Tony Hall, Peter Bellamy and most notable of all Walter Pardon. Walter was one of the last great Traditional singers of the region and, along with his weekly visits to the folk club, Damien was fortunate to listen to, and play with, Walter at his home before his passing in 1996.
Damien Barber’s career in folk music started 30 years ago when he became a finalist in BBC Radio 2’s ‘Young Tradition Award’ in 1989, an award he was invited back to take part in another four times over the next seven years.
In 2000 he formed The Demon Barbers, along with creating the ground-breaking Folk and Hip Hop dance company ‘Breaking Tradition’ in 2005 and forming his duo with long-time friend Mike Wilson in 2007.
2025 saw Damien front the 25th anniversary nationwide tour of the Demon Barbers known for blending traditional British folk music with high-energy dance.
One of the finest exponents of Traditional Song in the United Kingdom. He plays a hell of a concertina and he’s got all the signs of being a strong, strong
singer. - Peter Bellamy
Damien Barber’s sound, style and presence combines the best of Peter Bellamy and Nic Jones -- Dirty Linen
Support: Pen and Stu
Pen and Stu play original contemporary folk - with BIG whistles and tenor guitars. Their songs, written by Pen, tell stories about famous characters from history and folklore.
Pen and Stu blend the resonant charm of tenor guitars with the sonorous melodies of BIG whistles, crafting an original contemporary folk sound that resonates with both purists and modern listeners. Their music is a journey through time, encapsulating tales of historical figures, folklore legends, and seafaring tales of pirate queens, all delivered with a heartfelt authenticity and nuanced artistry."- Folkscape
£9/£6
https://wegottickets.com/event/696780
18th June Singers & musicians £1 entry
25th June Double Header: Paula Ryan and Roberta Smith
Paula Ryan - an award-winning singer/songwriter from Tipperary, Ireland is "a unique voice in the contemporary folk world"(Classic Rock Society Magazine). Paula's music is infused with the Celtic lyricism and passion of her Irish Gaelic roots and she uses a range of instruments, some standard (Guitar, Bouzouki) and some a bit more unusual (Bodhran, Marimba), to accompany original songs which are “really powerful....what song-writing is all about, making you think” (Fatea Magazine).
Paula's “story-telling” intros and her sometimes serious, sometimes amusing, sometimes reflective, sometimes lively, but always sensitive to the song and
the music, presentation of her own original material alongside folk favourites represent performance, originality, creativity, and entertainment at their best!
Paula's latest studio album is “Turas Cumadoir (Songwriter's Journey)”. According to Irish Music Magazine Annual 2022 "Albums like this are a rarityand a breath of fresh air when they come along - this one is a gem which anyone will enjoy". The album has earned airplay on RTE Radio 1, Tipp FM and other radio stations throughout Ireland as well as in France, Germany and across the BBC including, BBC TV, BBC and BBC Radio Ulster and received highly favourable reviews from leading folk/acoustic publications such as fRoots, Acoustic Magazine, FATEA.
Paula performs at venues and festivals nationally and internationally and whatever the stage or the size of the audience, her performances, laced with the warmth, wit, uniqueness and musicality of her Irish roots, are "well worth seeking out" (Irish Music Magazine). £9/£6
www.paularyanmusic.com
Roberta Smith, an original flower child singer-songwriter, started to write songs when she was 15 and was quickly taken up by management. She opened for Ralph McTell at Charles Morris Hall, played on Radio Leeds, at Leeds University Union and on the university TV network and on Yorkshire Television.
Her new single “Shade and Shelter” deftly plays on the difficulties encountered in all loving relationships and her new EP: “Airs on a Sixstring” deals with climate change, loneliness, humour, and love. She has performed many times on the UK’s acoustic scene, at one stage even playing Queen Anne Boleyn in a medieval theatre-restaurant in London’s St Martin’s Lane, but all the while, Roberta has been quietly honing her craft to carve out her identity as the accomplished musician we hear today.
She has recently performed live at The Harrison in London and at Ace Space in Newbury, to open for Saskia Griffiths-Moore, at the Bedford, Balham, London as part of a ‘Talent Is Timeless’ showcase founded by London based artist Saskia Griffiths-Moore and at the Union Chapel, Cambridge to open for John Jenkins.
https://www.robertasmithsongs.com
https://www.facebook.com/robertasmithsongs
instagram.com/roberta.smith.songs
email: [email protected]
https://wegottickets.com/event/696784
TOPIC ZOOM - MONDAY 15th June 2026
You are invited to join the next Topic Zoom session on Monday 15th June. The digital doors will open at 7.30 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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NON TOPIC STUFF
On Monday 1st June - crikey, that's tonight!!! - Bingley First Monday Folk welcomes Chris Manners, a resident at Ryburn 3Step Folk Club.
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.
On Sunday 14th June, 7pm until 10pm, Ryburn 3 Step Folk Club, Hollins Mill, Hollins Mill Lane, Sowerby Bridge HX6 2QG welcomes Mossy Christian and Megan Wilson, who bring songs and tunes from Lancashire and East Anglia.
[email protected] or phone 01422 822569
www.ryburn3step.org.uk
Please note this club can only accept cash.
Sweet Sorrows are appearing at the Avondale Club, 19 Bradford Road, Shipley BD18 3PJ on Sunday 28th June, 7.30 pm. The duo are from Ireland, and are quoted as being "the very best in acoustic Celtic Roots music"
This is a Pay As You Feel event.
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TOPIC STUFF (a repeat of information from the previous newsletter - as it's so important, NB also contains a few changes !)
You may know 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.)
So 2026 is the Topic's 70th anniversary year and we are planning to celebrate this amazing achievement.
To do this we are seeking to link up with some of the events going on in Bradford. Please make a note of the following dates: more information will of course be given in the relevant month's newsletter;
On Thursday 2nd July, the eve of the Bradford Literature Festival, the Topic Folk Club will be running a fringe event, hosting an evening of poetry, music & storytelling at The Castle in Grattan Rd, Bradford BD1 2LU. The informal event will start at 7.30. and will cost one UK pound. Colin Speakman may scare the audience with a story from his new book, The Nut Brown Maid. Others attending will be invited to take part.
If you wish to perform, kindly arrive at the venue by 7.20.
Thanks to Bruce Barnes for the above information about this event.
NB: The Bradford Literature Festival runs from 3rd to 12th July- see https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/)
On Thursday 16th July the scheduled singers and musicians night would be advertised as a celebration of Bradford’s heritage, to coincide with the Bradford Heritage Festival week which runs from 13th to 19th July). This will encourage songs and poems relevant to Bradford’s, and even the Topic’s, heritage - see https://bradfordheritageconnection.co.uk/.
On Saturday 10th October the Topic's major anniversary event will take place in the outside area of Darley Street Market from 1pm to 5 pm. The plan is to involve booking about 10 outside Guest Singers, all of whom have had connections with the Topic.
External periphery events such as Morris Dancers might also be involved.
We are hoping that involvement in these events will help to raise the profile of the club, maybe encourage some more people to come along to our club nights, as well as supporting these worthy events taking place in our city.
The 10th October 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 those dates in your diary and spread the word to friends and family. We will update you with confirmation and details of the programmes as we get them.
If you have any suggestions for any other ways we can celebrate our 70th birthday then please let us know.
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As many of you know by now, we now accept (indeed prefer) payment 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 shown in this newsletter 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, will from now on 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.
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.
Tony Charnock
Topic Folk Club
Ryburn 3 Step is a folk song, music and dance development group in the Ryburn Valley, West Yorkshire
