Introducing...Topic Folk Club

YMC chats to Joe and Trevor from Topic Folk Club

YMC: You are the oldest folk club in the world, when did you start?

The generally accepted time of start according to Alex Eaton who with friends formed the club is September 1956. Though some people who were around at the beginning have the idea that the germ of the idea of forming a club could go back to 1953 from a choir in the Bradford Cathedral crypt.

YMC: Why do you think you have managed to last so long?

Probably because the club is run by an elected committee - although members of the committee leave at various times due to changes in circumstances, there have always been people with a love of Folk Music who have filled the vacancies

YMC: What sort of folk music can be heard in your club?

The type of music that can be heard in the club covers a really wide spectrum of folk music. traditional, contemporary, singer - songwriter, blues, Americana. If its good we feature it!

YMC: Has the Topic folk club always been at the same venue?

No. The club's present venue is the 11th it has been at. though it was at Unity Hall and The Market Tavern twice. The longest stay for the club was at upstairs at The Star in Westgate From September 1969 to March 1991. The next longest was the Melborn on White Abbey Road from July 1995 to December 2005. The present venue at The Bradford Irish Club in Rebecca Street is certainly one of the best and we and our audiences have been made very welcome there

YMC: Has there every been a large gap between the weekly performances?

As far as our records can tell there has been no significant gaps in club nights and we are proud to have run weekly (except when our club night Thursday has fallen on Christmes Day, Boxing Day or New Years Day - though many times the club has run on both Boxing Day and New Years Day!) There was a very short period when the club ran on a Friday that the committee at that time used to close the club on a Friday night when the Whitby and Holmfirth Festivals were on due to the majority of the committee at that time wanting to go to the festivals on a Friday!

YMC: What sort of nights do you run (booked acts, open mic, etc.)

Although in the early days of the club there was a focus on singers nights and opportunities to learning new songs, the club mainly runs nights these days with booked guests. But we  also run a singers night once a month, and give the club

nights in August over to Singers Nights. We also have a small number of floor spots on booked guest nights and ask anyone who would like to perform in one of these to turn up by 8.15 so we can book a slot for them during the evening - sometimes we have more singers than floor spots so it is usually a case of first come first served! Guest nights start at 8.30 and singers & musicians nights start at 8.15).

YMC: Have you had people at the club who have later become famous?

There is a well founded rumour about Bob Dylan doing a floor spot at the club in his early days and then being turned down for a booking as the Committee didn't think he was good enough!

Among the people who were booked for the club and have gone on to be major stars are Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, Barbara Dixon, Richard Digance, Tim Hart and Maddy Prior, Mike Hardin, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, The Spinners, Ewan McColl & Peggy Seeger. We also had world famous artist David Hockney as a member of the club at one time!

Anyone who would like to pay us a visit will be given a warm welcome and have a great value night out. Members pay only £5 for entry and non members pay £6. Membership of the club is great value at £10 per year so you only need to attend 10

times in a year to cover the cost of your membership and after that you are in profit!

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/topicfolkclub

Introducing...The Magi

YMC chats to Edd from The Magi

YMC: Who are the band members and how long have you been playing together?

Hello to all YMC readers...
We are 'The Magi'...
hence in the beginning there were 3 band members, 3 kings.
But as time stops for no man, it has weaved its path and added 3 more members to the band.
We now have
John Jenkinson, Vox box.
Des Jenkinson, Drum Machine and melodian.
Robert Jenkinson, Lead Guitar and musical sounds.
Andy Jenkinson, Ryhthm Guitar and good looks.
Edd Watson, Bass guitar and Director of Business Developement.
Mark Johnson, Lyricals...
4 of us lived together for 5 years messing about with music before we turned it into anything. And we've been gigging for nearly 3 years now. Some would say veterans... others wudnt...

YMC: How would you describe your music?

The age old question, and like what is the meaning of life, there is no answer.
We have origins in the Beatles, Oasis, The Coral and lyrical references from jarvis cocker and Morrissey but all sheffield bands sound the same now dont they??

YMC: Who are your main influences?

Sorry, just mentioned them above...

YMC: What venues do you like to play at?

love the Grapes, love the leadmill...
Our 1st gig at o2 academy was fantastic but do prefer smaller venues at the moment.
We played in the cremorne back room the other month and it was rammed and the building was swaying...

YMC: You are runners up in the Yorkshire Cricket soundtrack of 2010, what does this mean for you?

I'm not sure yet.. I still need to email him.. I think we'll get some free tickets throughout the year and our music will be played before during and after the cricket matches. I hope that as a 6 is scored, maybe a 5 seond blast of one of our tracks will blurt out over the tannoy..

YMC: Have you recorded any music?

You mean you havent heard of any of our stuff??

We've been in the studio a few times. Mostly at 2 fly, latestly (if thats a word) with Alan Smithe. Time in the studio is great and we've done about 12 tracks and are looking to go back and do some more this summer, but we own our own digital 16 track recorder and one of the lads is recording everything himself and mixing it.

So I'm waiting anxiously for the results...

I hope you find them on our myspace shortly..

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/wearethemagi

Introducing...Kartica

YMC chats to Matthew Hook of Kartica from Sheffield

YMC: Tell us something about the band, how did you meet, how long have you been playing together?

It was me and Joe who decided to form a band together... Pretty much straight after meeting each other, after hearing on the grapevine that we were both into the same kinda things muscially and in many other ways really. We met Esh (Drums)  while he was working as trolly boy at Somerfields, bumped into Paul (Bass) while he was working for Status Quo as a roadie, and we met Adam (Lead) one night in a glorious pub in Hoyland called The Beggar & Gentlemen. We got it all together and we've been playing live for about a year and half now....It's a long set! 

YMC: How would you describe your music? Who writes the songs?

A vintage english rock n roll sound, loud guitars, sweeping chord structures and big riffs. Big on melody, low on quirkyness!... and absolutely amazing vocals!  Me and Joe write the songs but if one of the other lads comes up with a stormer they're welcome to step upto the mic in the pratice room and sing it acoustically to the rest of us! If a song passes that acid test we work on it.

YMC: Who are your main influences?

90's British guitar bands, Ocean Colour Scene, The Verve, Oasis, Cast etc.  Bands that sing about togetherness and remind us of those Balmy Euro ' 96 evenings!

YMC: What can people expect from a live show?

Depending on Paul's mental state, pretty much anything. However if he behaves himself it's pretty much us giving it some, not dancing round like looneys or owt, but a self assured performance... With some top banter in between songs!

YMC: You seem to have quite a few gigs outside Yorkshire, what's you favourite city to play?

Liverpool's always a great place to play, they seem really into the music and the venues always deal with you really well.

YMC: What do you think of Leeds Festival line-up this year?

It would probably look better if we were on it!... But im sure the tent burners are happy!

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/karticamusic

Introducing...Purple Dot Records

YMC: When did you start your record label?

The idea came about in late 2009, but everything started moving for us right at the start of 2010. Ever since then, the progress we have made has been absolutely crazy. So many different groups and movements similar to yourselves have been getting involved and supporting us. It would have been so difficult, almost impossible to keep spreading the word about Purple Dot Records if it wasn't for all of the help that we are receiving.

YMC: Why did you want to create an independent label?

I want to be able to give great talent the chance to be heard.

Since I started Purple Dot Records, I have came across and connected with some great bands and artists. Watching crowds grow from gig to gig for artists is a great feeling.

Also, creating a record label wasn't a solo mission; I have been given huge amounts of support from many different people including bands and venues.

YMC: Are you in a band yourselves, have you found it hard to get noticed?

No, unfortunately I do not have a musical talent and my vocals should never be heard outside of the shower. But, having worked with newly formed bands and even quite well established bands, I know what it's like to try to get recognition.

YMC: Do you work with any recording studios?

Armati Recording studios have offered us some great prices considering we are a newly formed record label. Also, a number of the people involved have some great quality in-home equipment and a number of people supporting Purple Dot Records are studying at the local universities and so the facilities there can be put to use.

YMC: What can you offer an unsigned band/artist?

We can offer a band the opportunity to become part of musical community in which everybody involved is pulling in the same direction. We can offer a band regular gigs inside and outside of Sheffield, along with practice space, an enthusiastic band manager and the possible opportunity for music printing and distribution. Getting involved with Purple Dot Records means becoming part of a rapidly growing project, which isn't motivated by generating profit. Bands can stamp their music with a brand which is becoming more recognised in and around Yorkshire and which is known for being involved with genuine local talent.

YMC: Is there a good music scene in Sheffield? What venues do you like?

Sheffield has the best music scene! There is not a night in the week where you can't find a band playing live somewhere in Sheffield city centre. It seems that everybody in Sheffield has their own opinion on music. I am definitely situated in the perfect place to start up a record label as I am surrounded by great musical talent. The Stockroom is a great venue for watching bands; the size creates an electric atmosphere and lends itself very well to the acoustics of live bands. I also like SOYO, West Street Live, The Washington, The Frog and Parrot, corporation and the O2; not only because of their music and image, but also because they are all very supportive towards local talent. 

YMC: What are you plans for the near future?

I plan to move onwards and upwards. I plan to keep on spreading the word about Purple Dot Records with the hope that we will become known as a movement that unsigned bands desire to be apart of, in order to be helped to make their mark on the musical map.

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/purpledotrecords

Introducing...Under Arches

YMC chats to Under Arches from Leeds

YMC: How many are in the band, where did you all meet?

There are 5 of us in the band, Si on vocals, Dave on guitar, James on guitar, Gypsy on bass and Laurie on drums. Half of us have been in and out of the same bands for the past five years, we all had a break for about a year with university stuff and that. We then met the remainder of the band at our old place of work....the Cockpit!

YMC: How did the name come about ?

Our name came about as we met and finalised the line up of the band at the Cockpit which is....under the arches in Leeds!

YMC: You've been going for just over a year now, what have been the high and low points of your first year?

To be honest there havn't really been many low points yet (touch wood)!  A year in band terms  isn't very long so we have just basically been working to create a good live act with lots of decent tracks. I would probably say the best bit has been playing live, its great and we all enjoy it!

YMC: Who writes the songs?

Generally the songs are started by our guitarists, they create the frame work then each other member adds their part, we jam the songs, re think parts and converse with every one our opinions on each others parts, work it all out and then presto...we have a new 4 1/2 minutes of PHATNESS

YMC: What venues do you like to play at?

We love to play the Cockpit as it has good sound quality which makes such a difference to playing and watching, but to be honest we love to play any venue that will have us!!

YMC: Do you have any recording plans?

We have just finished a few tracks for an e.p in our guitarists loft, he is a sound tech so he has all the stuff to get a decent record, we are going to keep recording our stuff like that for now until we have a really good amount of tracks and then we will take it to a pro recording studio!

YMC: What do you think of the Leeds Festival line-up this year?

meh....they have a decent handful of bands, as always, Queens of the Stone Age-Weezer-Modest Mouse-Limp Bizkit, will all be great to see. But to be honest Leeds Festival is just a bit to expensive now, we generaly cant justify buying a ticket for a few bands. Back in the day when we all started going tickets were £90 for a weekend! We are looking to broaden our horizons for the festivals!!!

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/underarches

Catching Up with Grand Slam Opera

A while back YMC chatted to Grand Slam Opera, a new band yet to play their first gig, four months later we wondered how things are shaping up for them.

YMC: Last time we spoke you were about to play your first gig, have you managed to get a few since then?

Johnny: Yeah loads.

*Ethan & Thomas mumble incoherent profanities*

Johnny: What did you say?

Matt: Oh Jesus! Yes! We’ve had plenty, we’ve been gigging nearly every weekend I’m knackered.

Thomas/Johnny/Ethan: Whoah!

Johnny: How can you say knackered? That’s like…

Matt: Ok, I’m very tired.

Johnny: Alright.

Ethan: I like getting drunk at gigs. That means I’m drunk every weekend.

*Johnny mumbles incoherently*

Matt: Sssshhhhh! Second Question!

YMC: What do you think have been the best gigs you have played?

Johnny: Balanga Bar!

Ethan: Balanga Bar!

Johnny: I can’t remember any of it though.

Ethan: I can’t.

Matt: Personally, I…

Ethan: Leeds Met!

Matt: Yeah Leeds Met was fun…

Ethan: Yeah it was most fun. Only because you were hammered.

Johnny: Royal Oak, that was well good!

Matt: No that was hell.

Thomas: Ethan caused a riot.

Matt: They had to stop the gig.

Ethan: That was the best one ever!

Matt: Are we actually allowed to play there again?

Ethan: Yeah.

Matt: Oh that’s alright then.

Ethan: We’re banned from Zuu Bar! But we haven’t enjoyed any of them.

Matt: Zuu Bar’s not the best gig in the world. But you know, I don’t want to say anything negative.

Ethan: We’re banned.

YMC: Thomas, do you still have the best ideas for songs, or are the others catching up a bit?

Thomas: No they’re not. Done. Next Question.

*everybody giggles for about fifteen seconds to this response*

YMC: Johnny, has Matt bought you a van yet?

Johnny: No I’ve not passed my test yet, but I expect it in a couple of weeks.

Thomas: He does enjoy stealing his guitarists’ car though.

Matt: Yeah that caused a few problems.

*everybody laughs*

Ethan: Luckily we’re still going strong.

Matt: If you’ve not heard about that, it’s you know, a bit of Grand Slam Opera legacy for you there.

Ethan: It could of caused a few band hiccups but Tom just rose above it. Good lad he is.

Matt: He was surprisingly cool, I mean if Johnny stole my car I’d murder him!

Ethan: Tom’s a good guy.

Matt: And crashed it.

Johnny: I didn’t crash it! Did I crash it?

Ethan: No.

Johnny: Yes!

Matt: He told me he crashed it.

Ethan: He thought he did.

Johnny: Ethan said I had, then I thought I did, but I didn’t. I don’t know.

Thomas: Next question.

YMC: You mentioned last year that you thought you had a strong line-up that could get through the difficult early days, do you still see it that way?

Ethan: No because Johnny keeps stealing cars.

Johnny: I’ve got some other members, like back up. Well not back up but I intend on bringing them in.

Ethan: Do they all look the same as us?

Johnny: No, no.

Ethan: They should do. It’s the only way it’s going to work.

Matt: How strong are they physically?

Johnny: We’re still together so…

Ethan: No physically strong! God.

Johnny: Oh right, I don’t know.

Ethan: You’re a bit weak. You’re a bit slow as well. You don’t function right well.

YMC: Are you going to be recording anything any time soon?

Matt: Yes we’re done. We’re mixing.

Ethan: Yeah we are, we’re currently mixing with the lovely Tom Fox at Moorcroft Studios.

Matt: Yeah we’ve got a new recording it’s coming out soon boys and girls.

Ethan: We’ve got ten songs altogether.

Johnny: Girls can’t listen to it.

Matt: Girls can listen to it, they can shake their bum bum.

Thomas: Boys can listen to it too.

Ethan: Boys can’t listen to it, it’s illegal.

Matt: Have you noticed it’s the boys that like me at the gigs and not the girls?

Ethan: It’s because you give off that gay vibe. You know with your crotch?

Matt: I wouldn’t call it a gay vibe. I mean at the last gig, we were playing and there was some young boy at the front and he just asked for a cuddle.

Thomas: Aw bless.

Matt: And like at the end it was all young guys at the front.

Ethan: Do you know why?

Matt: Why?

Ethan: Because you’re gay.

Matt: Ah well.

YMC: Any big gigs coming up?

Everyone: Cockpit!

Matt: Yeah we’re supporting the wonderful Steven Barlow & friends otherwise known as Fight The Front Line.

Ethan: Hey Matt we’re going to do a video shoot we’ve decided for you.

Matt: We’re doing a video shoot?

Johnny: We’re going to kidnap you.

Ethan: We’re going to play a gig in Manchester and do clips of the day before and in the night.

Matt: Have we got a gig in Manchester?

Ethan: No but we’ll book one.

Matt: That’s what I’ve been trying to do since…

Johnny: Yeah but now we’re making a video it’s going to make it so much easier to book a gig in Manchester. We’ll just do it in two seconds because we’ll say, we’re making a video so book us.

Ethan: It’ll just be us and a guy with a camera so we can all fit in one car.

Matt: Great stuff. Well we answered that question to the point!

Ethan: We’re staying in a Travelodge as well.

Matt: Goodnight Vienna.

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/grandslamopera

Introducing...Martin Wainwright

YMC chats to Martin Wainwright from  York
YMC: You're a solo performer and have also been in a bands. Did you start out in a band or were you a solo performer first?

Bands. I started a band called 3DaysForward when I was about 17 with friends from school. That continued on for about three years or so but eventually split up whilst I was at uni. Once I finished university I was sitting on a whole load of material which I had written, but no band to play it with, so I got myself an acoustic guitar and started playing. That was how the solo project came to be!

YMC: What are the pros and cons of playing solo versus being in a band?

Pros:

I can play whatever I want, and however I want to. I dont have to worry about being in time with anyone else. This means I can make mistakes from time to time and no one will notice, or I can add extra bits in if I feel like it. It basically allows me to be totally flexible

No heavy gear to drag around with me everywhere! When you're in a band you have big heavy amps and pedal boards, drums kits and the like which is all very heavy and can be a pain to transport around. Playing acoustic I just need my guitar and a lead! I can walk to a venue if I want, or get the train!

Cons:

Much harder to have an impact on a crowd as I can't physically create the same amount of noise as a band! Having drums and bass brings a lot of power and pace which is very difficult to replicate on my own.
There is no one else to hide behind. What I play is what everyone is listening to. I can't say 'oh we'll put a lead guitar part there to make it more interesting' or use the usual tricks that you would do in a band to keep peoples attention, so I have to try just write the best songs that I can. I guess this is also a Pro to as hopefully it makes me write better songs!

YMC: You've had some gigs out of York this year, has it been hard to connect with venues?
Yes definitely! The recession and general situation with the economy means a lot of venues are either closing down or are become much more cautious about who they book, so its extremely hard to get shows out of towns at the bigger venues. That basically makes it difficult to get slots with rock bands. I have some great friends though in other bands and who are promoters and they've helped me no end in getting out of town shows. On the flip side however acoustic nights are actually becoming more popular as pubs seem to be putting on more acoustic musicians to try drum up a bit more business which does help.

YMC: Have you had a good reaction away from home?

The gigs I have played so far out of town have been a great success. Fairly regularly people will come up to me after I've played to ask about my CD or how they can find out when I'm playing again, which is extremely encouraging! I think people arn't used to seeing acoustic musicians who are trying to create such a fast paced sound and bring power to the songs. Hopefully its helping me and my music stick in people's mind a little more than other acoustic acts they might have seen.

YMC: Who are you listening to at the moment?
I have a very wide taste in music and I never really go off anything that I've liked before so my listening tends to be fairly broad, however I do love pop punk so I probably end up listen to that more than any other genre. With that in mind, at the moment I'm listening to the new Four Year Strong and Say Anything albums fairly religiously! On the more acoustic front Im a big fan of Dashboard Confessional and Newton Faulkner. I grew up listening to a lot of hair metal though so its never too long before I stick on some Motley Crue or Def Leppard!

YMC: Do you have any recorded material?
I have released two EPs of original material which you can buy for about £1 each at my gigs or at www.martinwainwright.bigcartel.com plus I have a whole host of demo recordings on my laptop which I'll e-mail out to anyone who wants them!

YMC: What are your main plans for this year?

Over this year with my acoustic project I'm just trying to keep playing away from home and branch out to play new places really. I work on new material constantly so the next EP is never too far away, but I dont have plans to do another one in the next few months so we'll see what happens.

Also though I'm starting up a new band which I've started practicing with called Kings of Wishful Thinking. Its in a very similar vein to my solo stuff, but bigger, faster and louder really! I'm hoping to get that off the ground relatively soon and push as hard with that as I am doing with my solo project so keep an eye out for that!

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/martinwainwrightacoustic