Topic Records, the world’s oldest truly independent record label and one of the UK’s longest-running music festivals are teaming up for a double celebration. As part of the 50th Towersey Festival (21-25 August 2014), there will be a unique concert to also mark the 75 years of Topic Records.
Hosted by Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy and The Gift Band, the performance celebrates Topic’s impressive catalogue with appearances from a diverse range of musicians inspired by this unique record company, as well as those signed to it, including Lau, Fay Hield, Martin Carthy, Saul Rose, Blair Dunlop and Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker. They’ll perform songs previously recorded for the label by Anne Briggs, Louis Killen, Shirley Collins, Nic Jones and others.
[Youtube_Channel_Gallery feed=”playlist” user=”PL4JF84Oj6ZVmFOT0QJ6dZ3PR2QO8ZhJDh” videowidth=”510″ ratio=”16×9″ theme=”light” color=”white” autoplay=”0″ rel=”0″ showinfo=”0″ maxitems=”48″ thumbwidth=”160″ thumbratio=”16×9″ thumbcolumns=”3″ title=”1″ description=”0″ thumbnail_alignment=”top” descriptionwordsnumber=”6″ link=”1″]
Towersey Festival Director Joe Heap said:
“We are thrilled to be able to stage this very special concert as part of Towersey Festival’s Golden Jubilee.
“Topic has been such an incredible influence on generations of people, and this one-off performance is a unique opportunity to see many great contemporary musicians play tribute to the label’s continued legacy.”
Topic Records’ Business Manager David Suff said:
“Towersey is one of the great British summer festivals and we’re honoured to celebrate Topic’s 75th anniversary during Towersey’s 50th celebrations.
“Topic, together with musical director and multi-award winning artist Eliza Carthy, is programming a very special one-off concert at the festival where some of the country’s brightest younger performers – some signed to Topic, some not – will be re-visiting songs from the classic Topic repertoire. It’s going to be a very special double-celebration for festival-goers.”
Musical Director Eliza Carthy, whose family has been connected to Topic since 1960s, said:
“Me and my family have long been associated with Towersey Festival and Topic Records and I have great affection for both. Towersey gave me my first ever solo gig, as Topic gave me my first ever solo record, and one of the most memorable gigs of my life; a Chipolata 5 gig so full and rowdy that they had to take the sides of the marquee down.
“I’m thrilled to have been invited to host an event which celebrates Topic’s wide and wonderful catalogue, in the company of some up and coming artists who have obviously been as inspired and influenced by it as I have.”
Formed in 1939, Topic Records has continued to document and shape musical tastes with seminal releases by such influential artists as Martin Carthy, The Waterson Family, June Tabor, John Tams, Dick Gaughan, Nic Jones, Martin Simpson, Eliza Carthy, The Copper Family, Shirley Collins, Ewan MacColl, A.L. Lloyd, and many more.
Its catalogue of contemporary folk music continues to grow with recent releases including Linda Thompson’s critically acclaimed Won’t Be Long Now and the award-winning Full English. Forthcoming releases include a new duo album, The Moral of the Elephant, from Martin Carthy and Eliza Carthy, as well as further additions to the acclaimed Voice of the People CD series.
MARTIN & ELIZA CARTHY – The Moral of the Elephant
Towersey Festival debuted in the summer of 1965. Now one of the longest running independent music festivals in the UK, its 50th festival runs from Thursday 21 to Monday 25 August 2014 and features performances by Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman, Lau, The Bootleg Beatles and many others. The special 75 Years Of Topic concert takes place on Saturday (23 August 2014).
Ticket Information:
Towersey Early-Bird Weekend Season Tickets (until 31 May 2014) cost from £120 (adult)/ £105 (conc)/ £84 (12-17yrs)/ £55 (5-11yrs) with under-5s free. Camping also available. Day tickets £40-£20 (adult).
All tickets are available from 023 8071 1818 or see www.towerseyfestival.com for further information.
TOPIC RECORDS are also on Facebook, follow them if you’re fan of British Folk Music.
Topic will also be at the Independent Label Market in London at Spitalfields Market on 12th July at 11:00
http://www.topicrecords.co.uk/
Read our interview with David Suff of Topic Records here