Whitby Folk Festival

Subject: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 12:29 PM

The festival this year was great.   Reading some of the comments from fellow mudcatters you would get the impression it was held for singarounds and sessions.   Whilst these are very good they are not the bulk of the festival although they are well supported, the dance scene has well over 300 people regularly attending paying full festival price for the tickets plus all the other concerts and perfomers, this is what Whitby manages to do so well plus great traditions also that go on. Long may it remain the best complete traditional festival in the country satisfying all traditional folky needs whatever your discipline.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 12:59 PM

Hear hear!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 06:50 PM

Thanks Tatterfoal. Curiously, its the biggest storytelling festival in Europe, it is, as you say the biggest complete traditional festival in the UK. It caters more thoroughly for social dance than comparable festivals too. Actually, its Whitby Folk Week, a collection of festivals rather than one festival.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 12:47 AM

"....a collection of festivals rather than one festival. "

That's just it. And I go to a different Whitby each year.
This year was the year of the accordion, including the extra workshop thoughtfully arranged but not listed in the programme "running from the Fisherman's to the Spa in 10minutes carrying an accordion".

We started going for the dance (social and ceilidh), each time we go we explore another strand in the rich fabric of 'folk'.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 05:41 AM

I find that whatever I want to "have a go at" there is a welcome for it , this is epitomised in the Spa "not ready for a full session yet" where all ages and abilities are catered for in the most encouraging way.   I even managed to practice my bones without any looks or glares.   How good is that!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 06:18 AM

My bones could do with some exercise too. Whitby's certainly a good place for that.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,oggy man
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 12:17 PM

Good job the festival was good the weather was very very wet.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 12:29 PM

Four fine days out of seven do not make for a wet festival surely

Joe N

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Surreysinger
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 12:33 PM

I certainly didn't notice a problem of any great proportions until Thursday - in fact it was incredibly warm and sunny at the start of the week!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Jack's Rake
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 03:05 PM

Blimey!

Our perception was that it was the warmest and dryest week (as opposed to festival) in the last eight years.

Funny old world.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: greg stephens
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 05:59 PM

I thought the weather was fine

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: cooperman
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:14 AM

I always wonder if Whitby will live up to previous years. Amazingly it does. Brilliant this year, thanks to all the organisers for a great job.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:28 AM

ditto to most of the above. A great week!
geoff t

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: skipy
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 05:32 PM

This festival has moved! It was lower down the thread list when I first saw it!
Skipy

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Rich A
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 09:12 PM

Great weather this year, only a few patches of refreshing rain.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 02:05 AM

"a few patches of refreshing rain" what about Friday morning!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Folkiedave
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 03:05 AM

Look on the bright side. It saved building an outdoor swimming pool!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GloriaJ
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 04:32 AM

I went swimming in the sea most days - but on friday the sea came to me!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 04:56 AM

Well I enjoyed my annual stint, stewarding at the Festival Folk Club, in the Conservative Club.
It's agreat venue to be at, as you get a good selection of the bigger guests, all coming to do a short spot.
Almost every year I meet up with an old friend I haven't seen for yonks, and/or failing that I discover a new (to me) artiste that knocks my socks off. This year it was Ray Hearne, what a wonderfully assured performer of his own moving songs. His guitar work is a perfect accompaniment to his telling lyrics.
The old friend this year was a lovely lady called Kathy whom I first met at the Fighting Cocks in Kingston over 20 years ago, and hadn't seen for about 26 years. Unfortunately I was up to my eyes in my duties at the door, and didn't have enough time to catch up with her news. Maybe another time.
Anyway, I shall be back again next year, all things being equal.
Well done to all those involved in running this wonderful festival.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Marilyn
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 06:19 AM

My first time at Whitby and I now understand why my daughter raves about it so much. Absolutely brilliant festival - I didn't know they could be this good. Will be there every year from now on even if it means we have to miss Sidmouth, which I love - but not as much as Whitby!

Weather? I thought we had only one bad day and the rest was dry and even hot and sunny at the beginning of the week; I can't understand anyone complaining about the weather.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 11:49 AM

Sidmouth and Whitby I love em both for differing reasons would not want to miss either.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 12:29 PM

I have to agree with all positive comments what an excellent week.

But can you help, on the Wednesday evening session in one of the locations on Church Street someone left an item on a table,if you are that person or know the person, then if you can let me know the details of what it is, colour and content etc, then I will get it back to you.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 03:09 PM

And they contact you ; how?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 08:48 PM

I always endeavoured to run Whitby as one festival encompassing all aspects of folk.

I'm really pleased the it has now become - according to one Paul Davenport - the biggest storytelling festival in Europe. I was the one who introduced the storytelling element - and one or two other bits.

I would have suggestions for t'committee but from past experience they will not listen - pity really.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Soldier boy
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 10:21 AM

A brilliant festival that just gets better and better. It always amazes me that so much choice is on offer every minute of every day of the festival.

There really is something for everyone so I don't understand it when some folk find something to have a moan about.

And as for the weather being a bit damp on the odd occasion so what. We are used to it aren't we and we are always moaning on and on about it. It's the English way! And if we didn't complain about the weather we'd have a lot less conversation and small talk to talk to strangers and make new friends.

AND the very fact that so many comments on this thread have been about the weather says an awful lot about just how brilliant this festival really is.

Because if the only thing to complain about was the weather then all the organisers should get one huge pat on the back and a big hug of warm grateful thanks (preferably under a big blooming umberella if it's raining!!)

Chris

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: dozy rozy
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 01:49 PM

Well said, soldier boy.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 03:49 PM

Bad innit Dick, they didn;t book me either. Maybe I should take up singing American Blues?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 04:48 PM

It's completely out of order. Malcolm is as entitled to an opinion as any of you. In fact more so in some respects. The biggest storytelling festival in Europe quote, although I stated it, was on advice taken from those who know. Malcolm also has some justification for his assertions regarding the festival organisers who work very hard but who also have a need to listen to what the punters are saying.
Regarding the blues aspect Dick, I have to say I sat in a wonderful concert where the audience patiently sat through Liz and I, Martin and Iris, Pete Cooper and Peta Webb and then … two thirds of the audience left when the astonishingly competent and virtuosic artists at the top of the bill began singing blues. Whitby is not a popular music festival and, putting on my academic hat, I will tell you, blues is a popular music form which only the folk revival would consider to be a tradition. I'm not saying it's not important, significant etc. but it ain't 'folk' in the sense that Whitby 'Folk' Week seeks to embrace folk. Malcolm's statement stands.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,SteveG
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 04:52 PM

Dick,
Whitby is the wonderful festival it is because it has evolved over a long period and has always been open to new ideas. It has always leaned quite heavily towards 'traditional' and that has been part of its success. Many people have contributed to this over the years and Malcolm was a major cog in all of this. A festival of this size needs a strong single-minded director, and whether you agree with his choices or not he made a lot of people very happy.

Malcolm,
I really must take you to task for not including Mongolian throat music, Faeroese dancing and story-telling in Japanese!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 05:00 PM

Wait for next year's improved model ... . . .

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Cookieless Chris P.
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 05:28 PM

"I am not being rude just telling him to fuck off, in yorkshire thats known as being blunt or to the point. "
Well, in my part of Yorkshire it's very offensive. Try it one Saturday night.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 09:28 PM

I didn't see anybody walking out of anything, not even in the music hall concert (surely music hall is as much popular music as blues is - I'm quite happy to listen to either, at Whitby or elsewhere). I've no idea what the headline act being complained about was (I didn't think there *were* any headline acts in the Whitby concerts - no one act hogged the show in anything I went to).

I don't understand all this aggro and I don't particularly WANT to understand it. Just give it up, please. The organizers deserve a holiday.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Ann N
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 02:34 AM

The only times I saw anyone leaving venues early was when they were attempting the 'across Whitby sprint' to get to other concerts/workshops in time for the start :)

Ann

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 07:19 AM

Are we going to thread-drift into the Duckworth-Lewis method?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Ann N
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 07:59 AM

..... anyway, back to the subject :)

It was a great Folk Week, everyone involved, artists, morris sides, organisers and stewards worked their socks off, the sessions were superb and I'm looking forward to next year's event :D

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Alf
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 08:47 AM

We had a lovely week listening to singers and musicians :-)         After reading Good Soldier Schweik's vulgar tirade we'll be avoiding his performances and heading for anywhere we can hear Ann N who plays cracking tunes, doesn't swear and is better than some performers we've paid to see   Alf & Mrs Alf   (recovering from a busy Whitby Folk week)

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 09:28 AM

Agreed. The only problem I had with the Euro session was that Ann was only there for half of it.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Ann N
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 10:06 AM

* I blush * :)                                                            

Thanks Alf, Gwen and Jack for the compliments ..... my next 'official performance' will be down 'the Bay' for Victorian weekend where in exchange for the exorbitant fee of a steaming hot mug of tea I will happily play for as long as you care to listen :D

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Sapper on TIC
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 10:08 AM

Well, for my 1st time at Whitby I really enjoyed myself, desite the rain on Friday. Will be back next year.

Photos I took of sessions at the Board, Black Horse & Elsinore ought to find their way onto my Flickr pages eventually.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 11:29 AM

One of my highlights was seeing Earlsdon Morris dance all the way from the beach up the steps and slope to the whalebones at Cooks monument.    Admittedly they couldn't talk after this but they managed to recoup and perform their spot.   They deserve a medal of some sorts for carrying on the barmy aspect of morris well done Earlsdon!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: JP2
Date: 02 Sep 11 - 07:26 PM

Thanks for that Tatterfoal.
I think you'll find we had processed from the Scoresby Monument and my reason for being unable to talk is that I'm sixty four and was knackered!!!!!!!!
I am really glad you enjoyed the spectacle 'cos the one thing Earlsdon enjoy is processing.
It was Earlsdon's first appearance at Folk Week and speaking as one who used to attend in the Graham Binless days I certainly hope it won't be our last.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Sep 11 - 08:23 AM

Malcolm Storey decided to quit as Festival director.
A new committee are running the festival now, they should be allowed to get on with their own decision making.
If they want to ask Malcolms or any other previous festival directors advice on any matter, they know where to ask.
But it should be up to the present committee to decide that one for themselves.
What is not needed is any undermining of the present committee by any previous organisers, I am not saying that has happened as yet, but it is something that should not be allowed to happen.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Graham
Date: 03 Sep 11 - 06:44 PM

I thought this was amazing in The Elsimor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRIMgLtLKSM

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 04 Sep 11 - 05:24 AM

I agree always good to see rapper in it's truest setting.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Willa
Date: 04 Sep 11 - 08:45 AM

Saw them in the Football Club at Peta's 'birthday bash'; her little dog even joined in. Great stuff!!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler
Date: 04 Sep 11 - 01:07 PM

I must admit to walking out of the Music Hall night, but it was either that or stop breathing - the concert was great, especially with the Celebrated Mr Handle.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: sapper82
Date: 05 Sep 11 - 01:36 PM

I've finally got round to putting my Whitby piccies on Flickr.
For convenience, I've got them in 4 sets;

session in the Board Inn


Session in the Elsinore

Black Horse Sessions

Black Horse Sessions Part 2

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: JHW
Date: 05 Sep 11 - 02:57 PM

Thoroughly enjoyed the two sessions I made it to at the Station.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: mikesamwild
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 07:41 AM

Great as ever. Thanks to all the organisers and performers and audiences. I know it gained some new followers from comments in pub sessions and on the streets, which is where most holidaymakers and locals come across it. There were some locals looking forward to reclaimingtheir local pubs but thety were ostly very tolerant and welcoming.

Interesting in The Ship on Friday night how the Lifeboat lads reclaimed the pub 'OK Folk Week over , back on your heads ' moment, and quite rightly!

Whitby welcomes all sorts thank goodness.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival
From: Raggytash
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 09:04 AM

There is a small minority of locals who do not welcome folkies, nor do they welcome anyone who is not born and bred "Whitby" and some of them they don't like very much either, I think even JC would get a hard time from some if he decided to put in an appearance