News From Topic Records June 2019

Celebrating the first 80 years of Topic Records New album announcement Martin Simpson - Rooted out 30 August on 2CD, Vinyl and Digital Singer, songwriter and guitar virtuoso Martin Simpson will release his brand new studio album Rooted on August 30. Produced by Andy Bell and recorded in Sheffield and Oxfordshire, Rooted will be available on CD, LP and digital with the deluxe 2CD and deluxe digital versions including a bonus disc of instrumentals, Seeded. Summing up the themes of his new album, Martin says: “The music and songs embrace nature and travel, mental health, real life stories, loss, politics and history… and the threads that bind all this together can be followed back a long way, to 1965 when I got my first guitar and started to soak up material and ideas at a very rapid rate.” Rooted features an array of stellar guest musicians, including Nancy Kerr (fiddle and viola), Andy Cutting (melodeon and diatonic accordion), Liz Hanks (cello), John Smith (electric guitar and vocals), Ben Nicholls (string bass and electric bass guitar), Julie Matthews (vocals), Alan Barnes (clarinet), Max Simpson (vocals), Amy Smith (vocals), Chris While (vocals) and Tom A Wright (drums and percussion). Richard Hawley and Dom Flemons contribute backing vocals and bones respectively to first single ‘Neo’ (out 21st June). As well as vocals, Martin himself plays banjola, 5-string banjo, 6-string fretless banjo, electric bass guitar and electric and resonator guitars! Martin will tour extensively in support of Rooted. See full dates here. PRE-ORDER Out 5th July John Tams - The Reckoning CD / Digital Deluxe Topic Treasures CD issue of the award-winning Topic album + 3 bonus tracks + 28 page booklet with new sleeve notes by acclaimed journalist/Sandy Denny biographer Mick Houghton + new intro by John Tams Originally released in 2005, John Tams’ third and final album, ‘The Reckoning’ received produced a triple whammy at the following year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, winning Best Album, Best Traditional Track (for Bitter Withy) and Folk Singer of the Year. Re-released in July as part of the popular Topic Treasures series, ‘The Reckoning’ is a masterful collection of traditional and self-composed material including a spell-binding reading of ‘The Bitter Withy,’ a powerful reworking of ‘A Man Of Constant Sorrow’ and a magnificient set of sea songs including ‘Pretty Nancy’ and ‘A Sailor’s Life.’  PRE-ORDER Topic celebrated its 80th birthday with style and aplomb at the Barbican Centre in London last Friday, 7th June. A veritable who’s who of the folk world took to the stage to toast the oldest independent record label in the world, weaving their way through a vast back catalogue whose first seed was planted back in 1939! Performers included Eliza and Martin Carthy, Chris Wood, Marry Waterson, Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver, Olivia Chaney, Alasdair Roberts, Emily Portman, Sam Lee and Bernard Butler, Boss Morris and many more. View the image gallery on Facebook The Topic Records: Folk in Focus exhibition is on now at Cecil Sharp House [Free entry] and runs until 5 January 2020. The exhibition features iconic photographs from the Topic Records archive focusing on the seminal artists who’ve helped shape contemporary folk music as we know it. Featuring photographs by Brian Shuel, John Harrison, Judith Burrows, Dave Peabody, Elly Lucas, Eammon O’Doherty and George Van Win, the exhibition includes era-defining shots of Anne Briggs, Shirley & Dolly Collins, The Watersons, Nic Jones, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, Eliza and Martin Carthy, Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl and many more.  The Copper Family live at Cecil Sharp House Saturday 29th June TICKETS / INFO Copyright © 2019 Topic Records, All rights reserved.  mailing address: Topic Records Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution 1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford Kent, Eng DA1 1JD United Kingdom

News From Topic Records - February 2019.

Celebrating the first 80 years of Topic Records Topic Records are delighted to present the following limited merchandise and concert information to our loyal newsletter subscribers. The Official 2019 Topic Records Tote Bag To start with Topic would like to offer you the new exclusive Topic 80 Tote Bag. Limited to 400 Bags. Natural colour 100% cotton with printed image front and back. Available from the Topic shop.   BUY NOW! Topic Artists In Concert at Cecil Sharp House in February 2019    The Oldham Tinkers  2 February 2019 - Cecil Sharp House, London The Oldham Tinkers will play a selection of classic tracks from their albums released on Topic Records. Buy Tickets    Eliza Carthy  14 February 2019 - Kennedy Hall, Cecil Sharp House, London Eliza Carthy will be playing a special live show on Valentines Day to celebrate the release of her new record ‘Restitute’. Tickets are selling fast. Buy Tickets Last chance to buy The Official 2019 Topic Records Calendar The Topic calendar is almost SOLD OUT, but we have a few copies left. This limited edition A3 size calendar, the first of its kind for the label, includes classic photographs of Anne Briggs, Shirley and Dolly Collins, The Watersons, Eliza Carthy, Martin Simpson, Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, Davy Graham and June Tabor to name a few. Limited to 500 copies only worldwide. Order your copy now Copyright © 2019 Topic Records, All rights reserved. mailing address: Topic Records Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution 1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford Kent, Eng DA1 1JD United Kingdom

Folk Upstairs at the Drill with John Kirkpatrick

Folk Upstairs at the Drill with John Kirkpatrick

Saturday 10 March 7.30pm @ Lincoln Drill Hall UK

Widely regarded as England’s leading exponent of ‘squeezebox’ instruments, 

John is one of the most well-known & popular performers on the British folk scene and has worked with Richard Thompson, Albion Band, Steeleye Span and Martin Carthy.

Tickets: £10.00 from 01522 873894

Full details at...

www.lincolndrillhall.com

Bob Fox at Grimsby Folk Club Sunday 25 February, 2018.

Bob Fox, one of our finest exponents of storytelling through song, is currently playing SONGMAN This being one of them.

for a record third time in the prestigious 10th Anniversary WARHORSE Tour from 2017 - 2019 and is only able to do a very few selected solo performances during this period.
Don’t miss a chance to experience his warm, rich voice, virtuoso guitar style and newly acquired melodeon playing skill as he performs material from War Horse, newly written songs from the New Radio Ballad series along with old favourites from his many recordings.

Tickets available now Members £10.00 Guest £11.00.
Mary 01472 753862
George: 01472 823891

www.grimsbyfolkclub.co.uk

Happy New Year and the Latest News from Topic Records

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TOPIC RECORDS Topic Records would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. 2018 will see further releases from Topic Records …An introduction to series, plus exclusive offers, news on more releases and Topics plans for our 80th year birthday in 2019. This month Topic Records celebrates some very special birthdays Nic Jones (Born 9th January 1947) In 1980 Topic Records released the album ‘Penguin Eggs’ by Nic Jones, widely regarded as one of the best Folk albums of its time and some say Nic Jones finest work. This, however, is only one of a few solo albums Nic Jones recorded prior to a serious car accident that would mean English Folk music would be robbed of one of the finest singer/songwriters this country had seem. Still a timeless classic, Penguin Eggs features such classic tracks as ‘Canddee-i-o’ which was also released as a vinyl 7 inch single and classic cuts like ‘The Humpback Whale’ and ‘Farewell To The Gold’. These essential Nic Jones recordings are all available on Topic. Nic Jones - Penguin Eggs (Topic CD, TSCD411) Nic Jones - Game Set Match (Topic CD, TSCD566) Nic Jones - The Enigma Of Nic Jones (DVD TSDVD590) Nic Jones - Candee-i-o (7inch single, STOP2411) Nic Jones - Penguin Eggs (LP, VINYL 180 VIN180LP123)   Mike Waterson (17th January 1941 - 22nd June 2011) Quite simply one of the leading figureheads of the folk revival of the 1960’s. A member of the highly regarded and influential Watersons vocal group with his sisters Lal and Norma Waterson and John Harrison. Mike Waterson would go on to record with both the Watersons group and as a solo artist, releasing an eponymous classic solo LP on Topic, 'Mike Waterson' which featured the track 'Tamlyn'. Mike also went onto write and record the classic Bright Phoebus album with Elaine (Lal) Waterson. Check out the Watersons/Waterson Carthy An Introduction to release coming in March for great tracks featuring Mike Waterson. Frankie Armstrong (12th January) Frankie Armstrong first recorded for Topic in 1965 after being invited by Bert Lloyd who as director of Topic Records was putting together an album of erotic songs with Anne Briggs, called 'The Bird in the Bush' (12T135, 1966). She went on to record two further two albums for Topic 'Lovely on the Water', (Topic 12TS 216, 1972) and 'Songs and Ballads', (Topic 12TS 273 1975) Coming 9th February 2018 two new Topic Records releases Topic Records are happy to announce the next two NEW releases on 9th February 2018. June Tabor - An introduction to (TICD003) 15 specially selected tracks from one of the greatest voices on Topic Records. Track listing: While Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping, The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, The Devil and Bailiff McGlynn, No Man’s Land / Flowers of The Forest, Unicorns, The Scarecrow, Aqaba, Hedger & Ditcher, Shallow Brown, A Place Called England, Maybe Then I’ll Be A Rose, Oh! Alas, I Am In Love, The Rigs of Rye, Finisterre, The Dark End Of The Street. Available to pre-order now from the Topic Shop, Propermusic.com, Amazon, iTunes and all good music retailers. Anne Briggs - An introduction to (TICD004) 15 specially selected tracks from Anne Briggs, a true original from the modern folk revival the late 1960's, early 1970's. Track listing: The Recruited Collier, The Doffing Mistress, Polly Vaughan, Rosemary Lane, Gathering Rushes In The Month Of May, The Stonecutter Boy, Blackwater Side, Go Your Way (My Love), The Cuckoo, Reynardine, Young Tambling, Maa Bonny Lad, Sing A Song For You, The Bonambuie, Tongue In Cheek Available to pre-order now from the Topic Shop, Propermusic.com, Amazon, iTunes and all good music retailers. Also available the first two releases in this series. Various Artists - Topic Records - The Real Sound Of Folk Music (TICD001) and Shirley Collins - An introduction to (TICD002). Various - Topic Records: The Real Sound of Folk Music Double CD (TICD001), digital (TIDL001)and limited edition 2 LP vinyl set from VINYL180 (VINYL180LP125) Shirley Collins - An introduction to CD (TICD002), digital (TIDL002) and limited edition LP vinyl from VINYL180 (VINYL180LP126)   Topic Artists on tour in January / February 2018 Martin Simpson January Sat 27 - Alfriston (East Sussex) The Old Chapel, Alfriston Seats £18.50 from 01323 841414 February Fri 2 - Marlborough Marlborough Town Hall More info | Tickets Sun 4 - Bournemouth Bournemouth Folk Club, Shelley Theatre Details from ABM: 020 7014 2821 Fri 9 - Chesterfield Chesterfield Folk Club, Chesterfield Library Theatre www.chesterfieldfolkclub.org 01623 429020 Sat 17 - Mottram Music, Mottram Village Hall Tickets Box office number: 07904 072190 For more information and additional dates, please visit www.martinsimpson.com Martin Carthy - Solo date Wed 31 January - John Peel Centre For Creative Arts, Stowmarket Eliza Carthy and Martin Carthy duo / Gift Band Tour Tue 13 Feb - National Centre for Early Music Wed 14 Feb - Square Chapel Centre for the Arts Thur 15 Feb - Settle Victoria Hall Fri 16 Feb - Music At The Hall Sat 18 Feb - Vivacity Key Theatre Sun 19 Feb - Forest Folk - North Boarhunt Social Club Mon 20 Feb - Theatre Mwldan Tue 21 Feb - Wyeside Arts Centre Eliza Carthy & the Wayward Band Sun 11 Feb - Leuven Folk Festival For more information and additional dates, please visit www.eliza-carthy.com  Copyright © 2018 Topic Records, All rights reserved. mailing address  Topic Records The New Powerhouse, Gateway Business Centre Kangley Bridge Road London, Eng SE26 5AN United Kingdom

Topic Records - January 2018 newsletter