Topic Records in the pleasant month of May

'twas in the pleasant month of May In the Springtime of the year, Topic Records congratulates the wonderful Norma Waterson on her recent Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and has news of Record Store Day releases available now, along with special offers and details of SimpsonŸCuttingŸKerr tour dates. On April 27th at the Royal Albert Hall, Norma Waterson was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Given a rapturous reception, her stirring speech and spirited performance with The Gift Band stole the show. You can watch her perform ‘Bunch of Thyme’ by clicking on this link  to the BBC iPlayer: Bunch of Thyme Record Store Day 2016 On Saturday 16th April, Topic released an exclusive 7” vinyl single by Martin Simpson and some of his musical friends. Available only in independent record shops on the day, we can now offer this fantastic limited edition record by mail order. A double A-side, the single features Martin with Andy Cutting and Tom A. Wright on a brilliant version of Booker T. and the MGs’ Green Onions, and, on the other side, with Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr on the classic ballad Willie Taylor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   Also available now is Fledg’ling Records’ exclusive reissue of a rare Shirley Collins 7” EP that originally came out on the Collector label in 1964; English Songs volume 2 comes in a replica flipback sleeve plus a new inner sleeve with rare photographs. Our current vinyl catalogue can be found here: VINYL May 2016 special offers This month we have four titles from Topic’s acclaimed World Series, at the very special mail order price of only £6 each:     TSCD 908  FOLK MUSIC OF TURKEY TSCD 912  MUSIC OF THE TATAR PEOPLE TSCD 919  THE MOKEN – SEA GYPSIES OF THE ANDAMAN SEA TSCD 920  THE YEMEN THIAMA   To celebrate upcoming tour dates by SIMPSON∙CUTTING∙KERR and Andy Cutting's remarkable achievement in winning Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio Folk Awards for the third time, we are offering the superb deluxe edition of their wonderful album Murmurs at the very special price of only £10.00   Reg Hall 'A Few Tunes of Good Music' To coincide with the latest two volumes in the Voice of the People series - "It was mighty!" and "It was great altogether!" - we have published Reg Hall's monumental history of Irish music in London. The result of over twenty years research and a lifetime of playing Irish music, A Few Tunes of Good Music is a comprehensive history of Irish music and dance in London from 1800 - 1980 and beyond. Much of the material is based upon original interviews and historical research. The book runs to over 1000 pages including many illustrations and an extensive discography. A Few Tunes of Good Music may be downloaded for free or viewed online here: Reg Hall 'A Few Tunes of Good Music' May and June sees Martin and Eliza Carthy on the road, beginning at the Cornerstone, Didcot on May 13th. Tour dates are available by clicking the following link: Elephant tour Martin Simpson continues his busy schedule of touring, with solo gigs and then, in June, SimpsonŸ∙CuttingŸ∙Kerr undertake an extensive tour: Simpson tour

Shirley Collins' 80th birthday

Shirley Collins' 80th birthday will be celebrated with a special event. On Sunday 5th July Shirley Collins' 80th birthday will be celebrated by a day-long event - All in the Downs - at the Southbank Centre, London. Free foyer entertainment will be provided by Brighton Morris, the Belles of Londonand Rattle on the Stovepipe. During the afternoon Shirley will be 'in conversation'with Stewart Lee looking back over her life and music, alongside readings from her writings and footage from the Alan Lomax archive. Under the musical directorship of John Kirkpatrick the evening concert will feature an array of the folk scene’s brightest stars performing songs from Shirley’s repertoire and recreating her No Roses album. Guest performers will include – Olivia Chaney, Graham Coxon, Lisa Knapp, Sam Lee, Alasdair Roberts and Trembling Bells. Further details and tickets from : SouthbankCentre photograph courtesy of Stephen Hopper