03-07-2025
John Hegley writes special poem to celebrate Bradford City of Culture
TOPIC Folk Club is celebrating Bradford's year as UK City of Culture by featuring a monthly guest with a connection to the district.
One July 11 John Hegley, University of Bradford alumnus, will take to the stage. Says Tony Charnock at the club: "John's first visit to the Topic Folk Club was in 1976 as a student, to see Nic Jones. Since then he's performed at Cambridge and many other folk festivals with his animal songs, love poems and tales of his half French father (the bottom half). He sang on two John Peel sessions with The Popticians and was poet in residence at London's Keats House. He has produced 12 books and has written a poem to celebrate Bradford 2025: A Celebration of a Nation's City of Culture.
Before his performance, at Shipley's Hullabaloo bar, John will perform a free short set, Keats with Seats, with priority for those unable to attend the main event or who have access difficulties." Visit