As their last year with member Andy Cutting, we caught up with Euro Folk band Topette!! ahead of their UK tour and their concert in Shrewsbury…
The band Topette © Topette
For people who have not come across Euro Folk tunes and Balfolk, how would you describe this music and the particular way in which you play these tunes?
The music we play is intended for French style country dancing – often called “Balfolk”. We play these tunes – mazurkas, bourrées, schottisches, polkas, waltzes and more – with energy, power and a sense of fun, that goes down very well with dancers, but also has lots of variation to maintain listeners’ interest.
Do Bal dances share similarities with Ceilidh dances or are they a totally different beast?
There is a great similarity, with the various set and couple dances played throughout a long evening event. We usually play for a couple of hours, with an interval. The main difference between a ceilidh and a bal is that the latter has no caller explaining the dances – this gives more time for music, and more of a flow to the evening. The Balfolk dances tend to be relatively simple to pick up by watching and copying.
Why do you think the Anglo-French collaboration has proved so successful?
There’s something special about the cross-pollination of the French and English traditional music and dance styles. There’s also a great bond of friendship between us, that has been strengthened by some of the difficulties presented by our geographical distance from each other. It’s always been complicated and expensive to organise, and we barely ever get to rehearse together, but whenever we do get together to play, it’s a really special occasion, and we are always delighted to get to see each other. It keeps the music very fresh and exciting for us, and for the audiences.
Are you planning any more workshops in the future?
Yes. As it happens we will be back at Halsway Manor Centre for Folk Arts, this time next year. We will be running a workshop weekend there as part of our 2027 summer tour.
Photo description © Photo Credit
The members of Topette (from left: Barn Stradling, James Delarre, Andy Cutting, Julien Cartonnet, Laurence Hunt) © Topette
The cover art for Topette’s latest album Tazon © Topette
This UK tour is a chance for audiences to hear new tracks from Tazon, with new percussionist Laurence Hunt. What dynamic has he brought to your latest album?
The band’s sound and dynamic has changed since Laurence took over percussion duties from our original bodhrán player Tania Buisse. Laurence is a classically trained percussionist, playing a standing kit and incorporating hand percussion into the patterns he creates. As a result the arrangements have become more intricate and multi-layered.
Just a few days ahead of your UK tour, how does it feel for Topette!! to be playing with Andy Cutting for the last time?
We have been very lucky to have Andy in the band since we started in 2014. He’s a musical genius, with a unique style and an unmatched breadth of arrangement and writing chops. This year is Andy’s last with Topette!! simply because he has reached a point in his extremely busy life and career where he wants to “slow down a bit”. This is completely understandable, although there is a sadness for all of us, to this decision. This last UK tour with Andy will be poignant, as well as a lot of fun. Look out for our announcement, later in the year, of Andy’s replacement…
You played in Shrewsbury back in 2024 for your 10th anniversary tour to a packed hall. With your performance later this month at The Cut Conference Centre and later in the summer for the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, how does it feel to be performing in the town again?
We love coming to Shrewsbury. Both for the festival, and for our own promotions in the area, where we have built a lovely, appreciative audience. Tickets have already sold well for the gig on June the 11th. So don’t delay in booking if you want to catch Topette!! next week.
Shrewsbury Folk Festival is going to be great fun for us this year, as both Topette!! and Blowzabella (also featuring Andy Cutting and Barn Stradling) will be playing from Saturday to Monday. We can’t wait!
The band playing Three Time Bourrées © Topette (Videography by Ben Potton)