You will need to excuse me as I am a Mudcat virgin.
Been skipping through the bits about Whitby and most of the stuff seems to be about the fringe. Most of the places mentioned are not, so I am RELIABLY informed, part of the OFFICIAL festival although they are mostly supportive.

I am also RELIABLY informed that Pete Morton is in America at the moment and busy putting together a list of people he might like to ask to the 2005 event.