Nick and Bella - a folk tour de force

The Bradford-born musicians have learned their art in the city’s legendary Topic Folk Club – albeit years apart from each other!

“It’s so gratifying to see that the unswerving support that the Topic offered my brother and me when we were starting out 25 years ago is still going strong,” said Nick. “Bella has really learned her craft at the club – as I did all those years ago. She is such a powerful force – a pure energy musician who combines great skill with real passion for the music…”

Bella – who has recently won awards, huge acclaim, high-profile festival slots and heart-felt accolades after her appearances at Celtic Connections and Calmac Culture in Glasgow – is well-known for her emotive voice, dazzling guitar technique in a variety of styles, self-penned songs that touch the heart and a real knowledge and affinity with the tradition.

She also displays impeccable taste and real interpretive skills in her choices of songs from the repertoire of her favourite musicians.

Nick – as one half of both the critically-acclaimed Plumhall and the legendary folk-rockers The Hall Brothers – is an award-winning singer songwriter, who is well-known for an enviable vocal range, literate, emotional and sophisticated songs and a unique guitar-style that owes as much to his rock influences as his folk heroes.

The Plumhall song ‘Never Forget My Name’ has just been covered by Radio Two Folk Award nominee Dan Walsh, which has further cemented Nick’s reputation as a songwriter.

His long experience on the international stage, as well as his appearances as an actor on stage and TV, have turned him into an extremely charismatic performer.

On the night, Bella and Nick will each play a solo set, and then join forces in a first ever set as a duo. With such busy diaries between them – who knows when this will happen again?

Doors 8pm. Tickets £5 members, £7 non-members, available from the venue.