Anglo-French band Topette!! was formed by Barnaby Stradling in 2014. Alongside Stradling on acoustic bass guitar is the peerless diatonic button accordion maestro, (and multiple BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winner), Andy Cutting, alongside the “enfant terrible” French bagpiper and banjo plucker, Julien Cartonnet, with James Delarre on violin, Tania Buisse on Bodhrán.
We ran an introduction to the band in 2015 when we shared their video for the very catchy “Venture”…which I have absolutely no hesitation in sharing again…
This was soon followed by their 7-track EP Chez Michel and then in 2017, they unleashed their debut album C’est Le Pompon into the world.
In his review of the album, Folk Radio’s Richard Hollingham commented that “Given the varied musical lives they all lead and the influences they have grown up with, it is not surprising that listening to Topette!! there is a feeling of universality, of music that is all-embracing and inclusive.” They’ve certainly earned those exclamation marks.
More new music will be on the way soon as following this tour Topette!! return to the studio to record their new album Rhododendron, the album cover of which keeps that vintage look and humour of their debut.
Those that are eager to hear more will be able to do so soon, as during the tour they will be introducing a few new tunes each night and then recording them all at Invada Studios in Bristol during the first week of May.
Before we get into details of their forthcoming Spring Tour they have a new video for a set of French polkas. Polkas De Glux & De Chevroux was filmed at the Southbank Club in Bristol last year where the audience was really getting into the swing of it. They return there again this year where the audience will no doubt be raring to go.
This is raunchy, up-all-night, joyously jugular-grabbing dance music…join the party!
Topette!! Spring Tour Dates
April
Friday 26th – London – Stanley Halls, South Norwood
Saturday 27th – Maidstone – The Bowerhouse
Sunday 28th – Northumberland – Morpeth Town Hall
Monday 29th – West Yorkshire – The Civic, Slaithwaite
Tuesday 30th – South Wales – Pontardawe Arts Centre
May
Wednesday 1st – Oswestry – Rhydycroesau Village Hall
Thursday 2nd – North Wales – Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda
Friday 3rd – Gloucestershire – Prema, Uley
Saturday 4th – Suffolk – Riverside, Stratford St. Andrew
Sunday 5th – Bristol – SouthBank Club