Whitby 2013

Subject: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Jun 13 - 09:00 PM

About time we had a Whitby festival thread for this year.

I'll be there.

Anybody coming who hasn't been before?

Anybody visiting from across the pond or even further?

Any new acts to watch out for?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Uncle Tone
Date: 23 Jun 13 - 09:04 PM

Just too big for me.

Tone

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Jun 13 - 09:11 PM

I just noticed an update here:

http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=15135

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Jun 13 - 09:20 PM

And another one:

http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,11496

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Susan of DT
Date: 23 Jun 13 - 09:43 PM

maybe next year. We are in the middle of moving.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 01:50 AM

Going back this year for the first time this century! Looking foreard to it.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 04:22 AM

Booked on autopilot and didn't notice that the campsite has changed.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: BobKnight
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 04:43 AM

I'm glad to say I've been booked for this year again - looking forward to it too. :)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 05:01 AM

Myself, wombat, Mandomad, Jingle, Gnomad, Commander Crabbe, Charliestu, Ann, Aelfleda ...............

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 05:04 AM

me and the Roaring Forties
Geoff t

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 06:16 AM

Unfortunately I fear I shall miss it again this year. We fly back from California ,where my son's wedding takes place, on Wed 23rd Aug. There's a slight chance I could get there on Friday but it's only a slight chance. Normal service will be resumed in 2015

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Cats
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 06:22 PM

I'll be there

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Acorn4
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 04:36 AM

Hoping to get there on Tuesday - first weekend clashes with Moira Furnace.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 07:34 AM

We're coming via Wantage (the White Horse folk festival) again, arriving in Whitby on Sunday.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 08:17 AM

We wil be hissyfitting despite not being on the web page and we will be in the office for the daylight hours so come and see us.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 09:18 AM

clash with moira furnace - bad timetabling there. Anybody been a steward at whitby festival?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Les from Hull
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 11:26 AM

Maggie and I will be running the evening sessions in the Endeavour as usual. We usually declare Tuesday as a Mudgather so if any 'catters want to put a face to a name and hear what others sing/play like the opportunity is there.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 11:45 AM

I'll be stewarding in the Brunswick rooms, afaik.
Looking forward to it!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 12:03 PM

I'll be stewarding in the Spa pavilion or is that the Spar Pavilion?
Pretty difficult to get a handle on the programme from the website - sort of loads of people singing everywhere, often at the same time? Is there a users guide for this festival?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 12:10 PM

We are looking forward to meeting up with the infamous Whitby Scratchers again.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 12:35 PM

Guest 12.03, The festival programme is usually available from mid July in the local Whitby shops. I am assuming you will have a ticket for the week so you should get one from the organisers somewhere along the line.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 28 Jun 13 - 05:30 PM

Just seen on the website that they are putting on something for young performers. Applications have closed for this year, but it sounds interesting.
If you know any promising younsters tell them to watch out for next year if they do it again.

And they are having noisy Midnight dances in the Spa with a warning to old fogies to go home to bed.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: r.padgett
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 04:14 AM

I'm there somewhere!! with Booker and Nigel of the Barnsley Lads

Will be a good contingent from West and Sth Yorks no doubt!

I need a good session to try to learn some tunes on the concertina, which is taking a long time, it's a G/D and can play some song tunes and NO chords!!

Help!

Ray

I can sing though, well I think I can!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Saro
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 04:35 AM

CMR will be there and running harmony workshops all week. Please come and see our new show, At War's Command, which will be on Monday at 1.45 till about 3 in the Coliseum. We think works well.....

Saro

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Nick
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 05:09 AM

I'll be there.

Hopefully meet some of the people I have interacted with here but haven't met in real life.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 05:21 AM

I can identify some of the people who've posted in this thread, but "Cats", "Mo the caller" and "Nick" don't give me a lot to go on. It'd be nice to finally put a face to Steve Mansfield after all these years.

I'll be in the Endeavour and the Eurosessions a lot of the time. I look like the picture on my webpage and will have an improbably huge assortment of wind instruments.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Nick
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 05:52 AM

I'll come and introduce myself if I see you

Me - from the Middle Earth last year. The attempt at facial hair has gone.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 06:43 AM

I'm the one who plays a recorder badly and am at the '3 blind mice with one finger' stage on an accordion. Sometimes seen in sessions, Jim goes to the Euro and I sometimes go with him. But we spend a lot of our time dancing.
Must practice a couple of tunes on the purple beast (Weltmeister) for May Cheadles easy session. And maybe even the Euro.
Can't find any good pictures of me on my blog.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Willa
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 10:33 AM

here's a handy check list which should help with forward planning!

http://www.whitbyfolk.co.uk/GuestList

(Blue clicky doesn't seem to be working!)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Willa
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 10:35 AM

OK now.
Scroll down
http://www.whitbyfolk.co.uk/GuestList

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,concerened
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 11:10 AM

pleased to say i will not be attending
.ale far to expensive..pubs full of sqawking lefties moaning abd groaning about their rights and far
.to many self opiniated posers pour moi

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 02:02 PM

not to mention a lot of English 'folk' playing Irish tunes far too fast

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 03:09 PM

Well you've been to a different Whitby to me.
But there are several depending if you sing, play, dance, listen (or drink).
For me Whitby offers loads of opportunity for people who want to DO things, either to learn something new or to polish an existing skill in the company of others who are interested.
So we can dance with more expert dancers than the average club member. Then go to a beginners tune session. And rest for a while in a concert listening to an established artist or one of the up-and-coming Newcastle undergrads.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: selby
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 03:16 PM

Or one of the many talented youngsters that HAVE NOT been on the Newcastle course or has Whitby become a show case just for Newcastle students.
Keith

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 04:37 PM

They always put on a Newcastle concert during the week which we enjoy. But see also my post of 28th June 5.30 pm. I'll be intersted to see some of that.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Jun 13 - 05:23 PM

Is the fish smokery still functioning? It was threatened by the landslip a while ago.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Ann N
Date: 30 Jun 13 - 05:02 AM

Fortune's is still in business on Henrietta Street, had bacon sandwiches yesterday with some streaky off a side Eddie the butcher had smoked in their shed :)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 30 Jun 13 - 09:22 AM

There are enough different sessions going on all the time in Whitby week to avoid the fast Irish sessions if you wish. Personally I like them all.
Fortunately there will be enough people there for 'concerened' not to be missed. He or she can go and play his/her concerena somewhere else.

Go it, Mo! You tell 'em.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Vic Smith
Date: 30 Jun 13 - 09:33 AM

We have just received our busy schedule from Sue - and we have some really super events. Getting quite excited.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 30 Jun 13 - 03:22 PM

Sorry been away with Powderkegs for the weekend - likewise would be good to say hell in the real world to Jack Campin! Certainly aiming to get to at least some of the Eurosessions ....

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Tim
Date: 30 Jun 13 - 03:58 PM

I went a few years ago, was made to feel very unwelcome by the regulars, never again.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Les from Hull
Date: 30 Jun 13 - 05:46 PM

What, all the regulars! What a remarkably broad brush you have!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 30 Jun 13 - 05:54 PM

Spare Parts will be running concertina part-playing sessions again, and we'll put the music up on the band website as usual for people to have a crack at it in advance if they wish.

Valmai (Lewes)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Barb'ry
Date: 30 Jun 13 - 05:55 PM

We'll be there. I love Whitby and have found it to be really friendly - sorry you had a bad experience, Tim.

See you and Maggi at the Endeavour, Les

Barbara

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 11:20 AM

Only two "midnight events"? the Spa ceilidhs ran after midnight Monday through Friday in previous years.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Saro
Date: 01 Jul 13 - 06:56 PM

Tim, I had a spell of being made unwelcome at Whitby by a particular bunch of people. It was a bit of an "anti-English and anti-Southern" thing, and very unpleasant at the time, but then one person stepped out of line and was pleasant and i realised that that some of what was going on was just insecurity! Nothing like making someone else "the outsider' to make oneself feel a little more of an insider. Why not give Whitby another go, there are lots of lovely friendly people there.....

Saro

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 04:24 AM

In any event as big as Whitby you're going to encounter a few obnoxious people.

I found it a bit harder to deal with when they were acting as event hosts, but there are so many events that even that doesn't matter a lot.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 04:39 AM

There is a lot of information that you can't get from reading the programme, but the people who have been to that 'strand' of Whitby know from previous years. This may lead to an impression of 'insiders'
E.g. If you go to a Ceilidh in the Spa (OK they call it the Pavillion now) You will have a caller and the dances will be accessible to all (though parents with young children may need to be alert). If you go to an American Ceilidh there will still be a caller, most of the dancers there may have knowledge of more 'technical terms'. If you go to the Irish Ceilidh in the Metropole it won't be all dancing. There will be singers between each 'set'. The dances will be announced but not 'called', so that even if you have done Irish Set-dancing before you will struggle unless you know that particular dance. The Northumbrian Ceilidh in the Metropole is also a mix of singing and dancing, but the dances are mostly the easy sort that everyone can enjoy at a PTA fundraiser - not much room to dance though.
The thing that struck us about Whitby when we first went 30 years ago was the friendliness of the dancers. No time to chat when you're dancing but lots of friendly smiles and eyecontact. Particularly at the Out-of-Town dances - shame they've gone.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 06:55 AM

Hi Mo,
That reminds me of an experience at a ceili last Whitby in the Spa. We are both experienced, adult, regular ceili dancers, but were made to feel stupid by the caller because we didn't pick up immediately on a term the caller used for a move in the dance. A few terms he used we hadn't heard before, but we were trying!
We coped- largely because the other dancers were supportive- but we had the feeling that they all felt intimidated by the manner of the caller.

It certainly put us off going to any more dances run by that particular caller- how does he get away with it?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 07:34 AM

I wonder which one? Did he more often call downstairs in the 'dancers dance' section. In which case it's of love him (for his erudition) or loathe him (for rudeness). We avoid him mostly. But all the other 'downstairs' callers have the amazing ability of coping with varying levels of dancer knowledge and keeping everyone happy.
I really envy that, I find it easy enough to call a beginners programme, or a club programme for experienced dancers - both at once is a challenge.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Brimbacombe
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 07:42 AM

I love Whitby and find it very friendly as a rule. However, I've also had trouble with the callers. On the Friday last year, despite being a pretty experienced dancer, I had to give up on one dance before the music started, as the caller just wanted to rush through the whole walk-through and just assumed everyone would be OK. I don't expect them to treat everyone as beginners, but treating everyone as experts/mind-readers isn't really very good either.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 08:22 AM

Apologies to the 'downstairs' callers of 2012. The caller I was thinking about wasn't on the programme last year (it was a previous year that he shouted at our daughter for not moving when he said something incomprehsible), but I think I went to one of the 'upstairs' dances with the caller who was on on the Friday and thought that his choice of programme wasn't quite right for the occassion.
I also heard a comment from someone who had his granddaughter (a fairly experienced ceilidh dancer) with him - he thought that the early evening 'upstairs' dances were aimed at a very experienced crowd, the late ones were too late, noisy, crowded. So there wasn't the sort of ceilidh that we used to enjoy at Whitby in the 80s.

Some of the 'downstairs dances have got very complex/serious too. But the Playford for Fun is just dancing. And fun. Though not all would enjoy it.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Michael
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 10:39 AM

Playford For Fun? An oxymoron?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Les from Hull
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 11:55 AM

I know what you mean, Michael, but peoples' definitions of fun differ. It's the great variety of events at WFW that make it so wonderful. Even if there are some things happening that others might not wish to be associated with. I like it all, me.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 03:41 PM

There's a new movement Zesty Playford.
Some of the dances in the English Dancing Master 1651 are simple and lively.I love the wariety of the dances, yes it is Fun, as long as no-one starts looking down their noses when anyone goes wrong, and most don't.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,giovanni
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 05:16 PM

Guest Noreen, and other sympathisers, I feel your pain.

Surely the point of folkie stuff is that it is as inclusive as possible, especially ceilidh dancing, which is about as "come all ye" as it comes.

I'm not very impressed with the subsequent explanations, incidentally.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 05:30 PM

Different but closely related kinds of dance (Playford, Scottish ceilidh, Scottish country dance, contra) have different names for the same moves. They all have a long history and we're stuck with the inconsistency. If you try one of those after doing one of the others you can expect to get confused, but not for long. There's always someone around to explain.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 08:17 PM

Yes Jack, I understand that- I was brought up on Irish ceili and set dancing, graduated to English barn dances and ceilis at Uni (Sheffield Uni had freshers ceilis in every Hall- wonderful!)and subsequently played for them, then excellent ceilis at Towersey, Warwick and previously at Whitby- and a bit of Contra dancing in America.

Perhaps the caller wasn't aware that the terms he was calling were not a universal language? That was certainly the impression he gave- that anyone not understanding was stupid. Definitely NOT fun.

Sorry to be negative though- everything else about Whitby festival is thoroughly enjoyable: singing, playing, dancing, fish and chips, concerts, pie and mash, clifftop walks, trying out and nearly buying new instruments, afternoon tea at Elizabeth Bothams, manic morning workshops, meeting up with friends old and new...

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Guest Betsy
Date: 02 Jul 13 - 08:30 PM

Has that new Wetherspoons opened yet ??
I hope so - although there maybe no music - I hope it has a great levelling effect on the price of ale - which has got out of hand in Whitby.
The price of beer for us Northern Folk is making a good session in Whitby too expensive and how the locals afford it is beyond me.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: gnomad
Date: 03 Jul 13 - 03:26 AM

Yes, Pete, Wetherspoons is now open. It doesn't yet seem to have made a big impact on local beer prices, though the amount of business it is doing must be affecting the local licenced trade.

Don't expect prices there to reflect W's prices elsewhere. We are told that their method is to survey local prices, then adjust downwards a bit, and that the resulting price here is their second highest in the country. Course that may just be a folk tale, but they are certainly not cheap, just cheaper than most local prices.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 03 Jul 13 - 06:19 AM

I don't know anything about Wetherspoons beer prices, but we had meals in both the Lichfield Ws during the dance weekend, and the same offers were different prices in them.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Spectacled Warbler
Date: 07 Jul 13 - 05:13 AM

Ray P, I agree with you , you can most definitely sing very well.

Geoff T, glad you're back again , I see that Icebound is to be repeated, I keep telling people to go and see it!   Superb production.

Joy

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 07 Jul 13 - 07:14 AM

Thanks for that accolade, Joy. We're rather proud of it!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 07 Jul 13 - 06:59 PM

Am planning to go (and steward again -- I recommend it!), but it's been a crazy year and I've not yet organised myself any accommodation.

So... if there's anyone out there looking for a room/house-mate to help bring costs down, please PM me!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 09 Jul 13 - 06:36 PM

Aw, heck! I haven't killed the thread, have I?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 06:22 AM

Well not long now, just booked my accomodation, looking forward to seeing all the friendly faces and wonderfull music.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,muppett
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 06:41 AM

I'm planning on coming over on the Monday (19TH) and staying till Thursday (22ND), does anyone know if I can just turn up at the festival campsite (won't have a car) and pay for a pitch then and there or will I have to book in advance.

Cheers

Muppett

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 06:41 AM

I'll be there a bit in advance - going first to HISS in Scarborough:

http://www.hiss.org.uk/

and then seeing round East Yorkshire by public transport for a week, based in Whitby.

So, are there events accessible without a car from Whitby the week before Folk Week that I should know about? Regular sessions in Whitby itself that will still be happening then?

BTW a friend from Edinburgh may be interested in going but this very last-minute. She probably can't camp. What accommodation options are there?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 07:15 AM

Freinds have been contacting the tourist board and were told that everything is booked within about 10 miles. (you can sometimes get odd days B&B at the last minute)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Michael
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 09:44 AM

Muppett: From the festival website:-
"The Festival sets up a temporary campsite each year for festival season ticket holders. It is a basic site on a school playing field, but water, showers and toilet facilities are available."

Mike

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 10:34 AM

That doesn't answer Muppett's question, does it?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 10:51 AM

Jack,
There's always something going in the B&B range but they tend to be topend of the market this late on. You can usually get in at the Bagdale for instance which isn't far from the station and is very civilised. I'll be there from Wednesday onwards and we only recently booked.

Muppett,
I can't see them turning anybody away. I'm sure you know John G and he's usually in charge of the site. Try the website for a phone number.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Michael
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 12:33 PM

Jack Campin: the bit that says "...for festival season ticket holders."
rather suggests it's not for anybody else.

Mike

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: selby
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 12:48 PM

Jack Campin:"...for festival season ticket holders."means just that,and are usually full up, pretty straight forward.
If you wish to do camping without a season ticket, you can try the Moor and Coasts site at the community college.
Keith

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 03:35 PM

Muppet
There are other camp sites on the outskirts and you can catch a bus in in the morning and back at night.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 03:55 PM

I booked myself and Andrew into the youth hostel this morning Muppett, we stayed there last year and it was fine (appart from one bloke who complained about me snoring one night - i'll play me bagpipes next time hehheh). Anyway according to their website there are still beds available from Sunday 18th to Friday 23rd. phone no is 0800 0191 7000 or 01629 592700.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Dicky boy
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 03:55 PM

Muppet get in touch with moor and coast temporary camp site, im sure you will get on there dont think you need a season ticket not got one myself and im booked on there.....

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,muppett
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 09:48 AM

Sorted, got a pitch on the Moor and Coast site.

C U You all on the 19th

Cheers

Muppett

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: vectis
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 04:55 PM

This is the first year I will miss since I discovered Whitby many years ago. I hope some of you will enjoy things on my behalf. And Oh! How I miss Whitby bacon...

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Johnjo
Date: 16 Jul 13 - 06:55 PM

It seems that this year's Whitby Folk Week has nothing specifically aimed at tenor banjo/mandolin players. No Tom Napper, as in previous years, and when I asked on their twitter feed, the best they could suggest was a 5-stringed banjo workshop. I so wish I'd waited for the programme before booking accommodation.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 04:39 AM

Mo - can you recommend a good caller to observe. I'd like to pick up a few more intermediate dances.
FloraG

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,muppett
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 04:41 AM

Nay Johnjo,
            Don't be like that, there's nowt at this year's specifically aimed at unaccompanied singers that sing in a different key from everyone else whilst doing parodies of well known folk and pop songs at the top of their voice ( my Style of music), but that's not stopping from coming along. Come along and Don't be like a sheep and wait to follow, get that banjo out where ever you can and play it for what it's worth, there bound to be other 5 string banjo players around, you don't need workshops. Enjoy !!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 08:29 AM

Has anyone received their advance copy of the printed programme yet?

One of the great joys of any major festival is getting the advance programme, circling everything that you might fancy, and then ending up going to entirely different events to the ones you circled in advance and still having a great time ...

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jul 13 - 05:40 PM

Okay Johnjo
When you get there ask at the office if there's a venue that would welcome impromptu music workshops. Then put an advert in the Wailer for later in the week for all tenor banjo and mandolin players of all levels to meet up. You run the workshop. You don't have to be a big star to run a workshop. Call it a 'session' rather than a workshop. If you're wanting to learn there's a good chance you can learn from the others who'll turn up. I've run 'Squeezarounds' for mainly Anglos at Whitby and these are usually well attended.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 05:07 AM


When you get there ask at the office if there's a venue that would welcome impromptu music workshops. Then put an advert in the Wailer for later in the week for all tenor banjo and mandolin players of all levels to meet up. You run the workshop. You don't have to be a big star to run a workshop. Call it a 'session' rather than a workshop. If you're wanting to learn there's a good chance you can learn from the others who'll turn up. I've run 'Squeezarounds' for mainly Anglos at Whitby and these are usually well attended.

There's usually some vacant slots in the programme for that very purpose - venues that haven't got anything pre-booked into the schedule, but are available on a first-come first-served basis for people to set up just that sort of event and advertise it through the Wailer.

I had vague thoughts of doing just that very thing for a non-beginners whistle & flute session, offering the opportunity to spend a couple of hours learning about and playing some of the brilliant multi-part music of the Basel Fasnacht and other fife/flute band traditions, but I've done precisely naff all about getting it organised - maybe another year ...

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 11:28 AM

Flora, the callers this year are
Colin Hume, Dave Turner, Geoff Cubitt, Hilary Herbert, (Janice Kilroy & Pete Jones), Jerry O'Reilly, (King Kontra), (Les Barclay), Martyn Harvey, (Pete & Marj Hendy), (Will Hall).
Some will be calling Downstairs, aimed at experts and serious dancers Playford and American squares and contras.
Upstairs in the Pavillion the early evening Ceilidhs attract a lot of people who know what they are doing, but the callers should (and often do) explain things so that those who are alert but less expert can enjoy it. They call them 'ceilidhs' but can include a mix of styles, like a dance club.
Later in the evening it may be more Ceilidh.

Colin is an expert caller, always clear - Playford, American squares, traditional dances (if he does a mixed programme he always includes one of the old dances). When he's downstairs and doing a programme billed as "Squares (or whatever) to make you think" he means it.

Geoff Cubbitt specialises in American, particularly Contra. Another excellent caller. His upstairs Contra Ceilidh is well explained.

Hilary likes hard dances, she writes them too. She's well known for it so the people who go to her events tend to also like hard dances. She likes to interact with the audience. Very clear and seems to know what is going on in all parts of the room.

Martyn Harvey is the expert Ceilidh caller. Really good at that side of things.

All of those 4 can adapt to their audience and are worth learning from

Jerry o'Reilly teaches (not 'calls') Irish Set dance. If you go to his Irish Ceilidh you need to know the dances - or listen to the songs and watch the dance spots. Also a good singer.

The names in brackets I don't know enough about to comment - some I can picture, some might be musicians for all I know.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 05:14 PM

If they have the Playford for Fun sessions this year (usually in the Metropole in the afternoon, these may be what you are looking for.
Playford dances, not overcomplicated. Just like we used to dance 30 years ago before so many new, difficult dances were written.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 03:31 AM

Thanks.
I have a couple of playford tunes and dances in my head. I think the tunes work really well on my hardanger - not so well on the melodeon. I like to learn the tune first - then the dance. Another few would be good. I will probably bring the hardanger along.

Because we are a group of 6 I have to play it by ear what I can do as we like to do some things together, and I'm the only one with the interest in dance.   We are camping outside of Whitby so my bus pass might come in handy, as parking is a problem.

Does anyone do sung American squares. I've always thought I'd like to learn one of 2 of those.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 05:34 AM

Those folk who don't like the beer prices and the fairly crowded pubs might note that there is a LIDL on the northern outskirts of the town!
Last week in Durham City I paid £1.80 for a pint of Sam Smith's excellent OBB real ale- a point of comparison for Whitby maybe- the downside (or maybe real UPSIDE to some! is that Sam Smith's do not allow any kind of music in their pubs. Their former TV stands in the pubs often have snakes & ladders & scrabble available....

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Willa
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 06:10 AM

Steve

Just got my copy of the programme; that'll keep me busy for a while!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 06:32 AM

Not many sung American squares. You'd have to look at the programme, but I very much doubt that there would be a workshop. Various callers might put one in their evening ceilidh, but you'd not know when they were coming.
Shame, because we like them too.
Your best bet might be Youtube.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 06:53 AM

The beer prices p a lot of people off inc myself, I avoid the Fleece completely for this reason. However there is normally a lot going on at the Friendship Rowing Club inc singarounds and beer prices are more reasonable in there, so most years there is a nice friendly crowd in there.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,local (sort of)
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 07:13 AM

I will be spending my money and my time in The Jolly sailors and The Plough, nice and quiet now they have driven all them whining self rightouse hairy folkies out of it.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,also sort of local
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 10:40 AM

Nay lad nice and quite, those 2 pubs are full of self rightouse bald locals who are some of the bigest bigots alive !

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Johnjo
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 05:53 PM

Thanks for the suggestion 'Guest', but a tenor banjo 'session' where most people will be trying to play their particular party piece as fast as possible, regardless of those who can't keep up, is my idea of musical hell, and a poor substitute for the sort of series of organised workshops that Whitby has offered in previous years.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 04:43 PM

how many melodeons playing Pat a Cake polka and other nursery rhymes
all together? this is crucial to my decision- 2/3 is bearable for short periods but the standard 20 or so at southern festivals would keep me away...

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 05:11 PM

I think there is a meet-up, one afternoon in a pub, that I stumbled into with my not-melodeon. Arranged by some secret grapevine known only to session players.
But there are some Northern type sessions too where they play tunes like Morpeth Rant and Soldiers Joy, and if you try to play Adam Bachan someone else has heard of it (unlike Chippenham).
Get a programme even if you don't get a season ticket. If you know who the leader of the official sessions are you will know a little about what their character might be (but it depends who's there as well, obviously).
There has been a daily unofficial French session the past few years.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 06:30 PM

I hadn't heard of Adam Bachan. Neither has the abc tune search engine. And Google tells me it's either a rather well-connected web-2 user in Slovakia or a 104-year-old man in Buffalo, NY who I can request criminal background checks on.

Explain?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,The Station Inn, Whitby
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 07:19 AM

It's that time of year again, and we can't wait to get cracking! This year are opening hours are the same as every year, but here's a little reminder:

Friday 16th August to Friday 23rd August 10.00am - 2.00am daily.

We also have a lovely new beer from the Whitby Brewing Co exclusive to us - Platform 3, give it a whirl.

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon.

Cheers,
Col

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: selby
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 10:27 AM

100

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 10:47 AM

Its probably 'Adam Buchan O' - strathspey?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 10:50 AM

Sorry - I can't spell. I mean't Adam Bu.... Now I'm not sure. Buckan, Buchan????

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 10:52 AM

How ever you spell him, the song says he's got bow legs.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 11:27 AM

Nope, can't trace any tune or song matching that. Maybe you mean a version of Lord Bateman?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Lynn W
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 11:39 AM

Its doon the Lang Stairs, And strite alang the Close,
All in Baker's Entry, Adam Buckham knows.
O Adam Buckham, O, O Adam Buckham, O;
O Adam Buckham, O, Wiv his bow legs.

Above lyrics from Fiddler's Companion which has it as Adam Buckhan, but I never saw that spelling before, always knew it as Adam Buckham.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 01:07 PM

I had that on my website all along - it's in the Northumbrian Minstrelsy:

http://www.campin.me.uk/Music/BruceStokoe.abc

Rather similar to "Willie's Gane to Melville Castle".

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 01:20 PM

Whitby wetherspoons is more expensive than Wetherspoons elsewhere but its okay and on the harbour front.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 02:35 PM

The received "knowledge" in town is that Wetherspoons has to turn over £62,000 per week every week. If the bedrooms it has available were booked 7 nights a week, every week that would produce an income of £28,000 per week which leaves a shortfall to be made up by wet sales and food of £34,000 per week to be attracted from customers of other venues. There are approximately 30 venues in Whitby which means that in order for Wetherspoons to achieve their target each of the other venues must forego approximately £1130 per week in takings (

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 02:38 PM

Oops ............that means each of the other venues should lose almost £59,000 in revenue. If these figures are remotely accurate it is inevitable that pubs/cafes will close.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Dicky boy
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 05:24 PM

No sessions in weatherspoons pubs i dont think ,bit cheaper beer but never had a great pint in a weatherspoons...

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 07:50 PM

There was a pub there before (the Angel?), and it was the busiest in town during Folk Week at least, so won't the situation go back to mostly as it was then, rather than this being something totally new?

The Resolution looks like a sitting duck as it is in its "gastropub" incarnation after throwing us out, though. They aren't doing anything Wetherspoons can't do cheaper. It is not easy to feel sorry for them.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 04:02 AM

The angel was never busy on folk week, I think you mean the plough

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 08:26 AM

Ive seen sometimes seen sessions going on in there over the last few years.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 09:09 AM

Got my frestival programme yesterday morning and I'm all of a fidgety fidge on account of it's the first time I've been able to make Whitby in donkey's years. Two questions though.

1.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 09:10 AM

The New Angel does not allow music, so there won't be any sessions there this year. Upstairs of the Angel is not too bad, downstairs tends to be very noisy and there are frequently numerous children about both up and down. Food is decent enough and for Whitby very reasonably priced and a decent collection of beers for those who drink it.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 09:19 AM

Sorry folks. The goddamn GO button got in the way. Here's the entire message complete and unadulterated.

Got my festival programme yesterday morning and I'm all of a fidgety fidge, on account of it's the first time I've been able to make Whitby in donkey's years. Two questions though.

1. I'm arriving Friday night before the festival officially starts. Are there likely to be any sessions - music and/or song - breaking out anywhere?

2. Somebody called Joanie Green is running a session on the songs of Almeda Riddle. (I'm assuming the impression, given in the programme, that Almeda Riddle came from The Southern Appalachians, is purely a typo.) Unfortunately I can't find a mention of Joanie Green in the artist listings or on the Internet. Anybody know who she is?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 09:26 AM

According to my information the Angel at Whitby is owned by Wetherspoons and therefore won't be licensed for music. Wetherspoons' are usually good places for cheap good grub though.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Rhubarb
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 09:39 AM

Yes the plough was busy a few years ago but last year when I enquired as to the paucity of song I was told that the brewery had banned singing. The problem was laid at the door of the PRS!

The resolution "Do" music but perhaps they don't like the folky sort? I'm sure the little downstairs bar would not mind the odd mad mandolin, melodeon or mouth organ wielding minstrel?

Surely not?

I think sometimes it has lot to do with how many people turn up, what they are playing if the rest of the cats in the pub at that time are digging the groove AND most importantly from a Landlords point of view "Ow much ale is tha suppin"

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 09:48 AM

The resolution "Do" music but perhaps they don't like the folky sort? I'm sure the little downstairs bar would not mind the odd mad mandolin, melodeon or mouth organ wielding minstrel?

Surely not?

Yes they would mind. Last year they were happy to be the emptiest pub in town if that was what it took to keep the folkies out.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 10:05 AM

Whitby Folk Week is NOT enjoyed by the residents of Whitby. A good number would be glad to see the back of it, There are a good number of pubs who do not want folkies in or take the view of allowing them and then overcharge them. You pay's your money you take your chance. But do not carried away with the fact that you are doing the town a favour the majority would rather not have you!!!!!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,The Station Inn, Whitby
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 10:11 AM

I just thought I better say that in all the years we have been here, we have never heard anyone in town say they wanted rid of Whitby Folk Week, many of the locals look forward to it and come in for the music during, and I have never heard any of the other Landlords in town say they were going to charge more over Folk Week. We enjoy Folk Week - it is a break from the norm and obviously a very busy week, this is appreciated by everyone I know in town. Long may it last. I don't usually say much on here but thought I needed to interject at that point.

Colin

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 11:27 AM

Most Whitby regulars will know that The Plough was probably the most used pub in Whitby during Folk Week. Thyere was singing and music in every room and down the garden. Maureen and I used to run the official Singaround upstairs, but it is a Sam Smiths pup and the Brewers decided some years ago not to allow music , television or any other kind of enertainment in any of there esatablishments. If you go there now during Folk Week it's like a Ghost Pup it even closes during the afternoon. M and I vacated to The Rifle Club were we have been made very welcome as will anyone else who likes to come.

Joe Nicholson

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 11:32 AM

I would that that Sam Smiths decision had nothing to do with the people of Whitby it applied to all there pubs all over quite a lot were folk venues including the famous White Horse (Nellies) at Beverly

Joe Nicholson

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,iain glover
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 11:44 AM

Myself and Mark Longster ran a session during Folk Week in the Jolly Sailors for 10 years until the brewery pulled the plug on music.

Great shame but I cant see them reversing their decision even if the PRS rules change

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 12:19 PM

To the guest who posted without giving a name. I fail to understand the nature of your post? Does Whitby welcome us? Yes, why wouldn't it? The Whitby Folk Week is now an important and vital source of income for a town that has, like so many, lost its primary reason for existing - in Whitby's case, fishing. The town's income now depends on the leisure industry of which WFW is a major part. As a visitor to the town over the week I spend around £500 in the town. Multiply that by the number of folkies that attend and you have maybe a couple of thousand people additional to the normal holiday makers, spending around £1,000, 000 in a week on drinks, food entertainment etc. That's a lot of money from outside the town, coming in and staying in to the benefit of the local economy. When Sam Smiths stopped the Plough having music the pub effectively lost something in the region of £40, 000 over the week. If the other pubs in Whitby are benefitting from the folk week by even a half of this figure then your posting is nothing more that bitter nonsense.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Vic Smith
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 12:30 PM

Could someone tell me - do guests still pick up their tickets/accom details from West Cliff Primary School? We haven't been told yet and we are out of the country for most of the time between now and the start of the Whitby week.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 12:37 PM

The Festival Office this year is at the Leisure Centre so if you go there Vic, you should be sorted fairly quickly. See you there.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 12:37 PM

If you check FW web site you will see that this year tickets info etc can be collected from The Leisure Centre on the West Cliff.

Joe Nicholson

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 04:56 PM

Paul
That GUEST was probably just a Troll.

If the townspeople didn't want us it would be all over the local papers. The only discord I've ever seen is the barking mad situation when the festival coincides with Regatta.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Spectacled Warbler
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 05:11 PM

To Fred McCormick,

The Dolphin has a regular Friday night session, the pre-festival Friday night session there last year was purely music, mostly English if I remember rightly, and was a really good do.   Not sure what it'll be like this year.

There's also likely to be music in the Station on the Friday, I know a couple of the melodeon.net members are planning to be there.   

If you're looking for singing, I'm not sure about that.

Hope you find something you enjoy,

Joy

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 05:35 AM

re 'couple' of melodeon players- that means TWO only I hope?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 05:57 AM

Joy. Thanks. I know the Dolphin. In fact I once had a meal in there, walked out without paying, and got over the bridge before I realised what I'd done. Naturally I hared back full of grovelling apologies, thinking half the coppers in Yorkshire would be out looking for me. The two staff I spoke to took the money, but disinterested was hardly the word.

Regarding attitudes of Whitby folk to the festival. I go back far enough to remember when the festival weekend, as it was then, was the signal for every yob in Northern England to ride into town, get drunk, start fights and the devil knows what else. Not unnaturally, the locals blamed the festival goers and there was a lot of bad feeling towards them. Fortunately, the yobs eventually moved somewhere else and, as far as I know, there's never been any serious trouble since.

As I said in an earlier posting, this year will be my first for quite a number of years. However, in the days when I could attend regularly, and subsequent to the disappearance of the louts, I cannot remember seeing anything remotely resembling ill feeling towards the festival or towards festival goers, by the locals.

And why not? The festival brings a lot of cash into the town and local people must surely enjoy the dance displays and any other free outdoor events which the festival lays on.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 06:56 AM

The Angel was Lout Central the first year I went to Whitby - no Folk Week punters that I saw. So having it become a Wetherspoons after a transitional period as a burnt-out shell doesn't make any difference to venue space.

I just don't get the Resolution's attitude, unless they're now part of some large and clueless corporation.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 10:24 AM

Ftom the Resolution's website, under the section "Live Music":

To make the Resolution one of the most outstanding Nights out in Yorkshire we've gone to great lengths to find great bands to make your weekend nights a party to remember. With the purpose built stage and sound system its upto you whether to relax and chat in the leather booths or get your groove on in the middle of the dance floor

There are a few specialist events like 'The Goth Weekend Takeover' where the theme changes totally. The first Goth Weekend is April 19th - 21st (2012) and see all three major areas dedicated to the differing styles of Goth Music.



Obviously, folk music does not enter into their conciousness as being music - and Folk Week doen't exist!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 10:25 AM

Oops sorry- GUEST above was me, on work computer.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: selby
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 12:15 PM

Interesting post from the guest about Whitby not wanting folk week. I would have thought that any town would be grateful for a week long world class festival to be in their town. Having just returned from Warwick it is good to see how the whole town embraces the festival. I worked in a seaside town for a short while and the residents spent all winter moaning about their loss of income as there was nobody from the West Riding visiting and all summer moaning about them being there.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Kate
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 05:01 PM

The Village Green People
and
La Rosa Hotel
present:

FOLK WEEK 2013

An Alternative Future

THE VILLAGE GREEN PEOPLE take over La Rosa Hotel's basement club for their alternative vision of Whitby Folk Week.

Taking place over five nights of folk week from Sunday the 18th of August to Thursday the 22nd, The Village Green People will present contemporary, inclusive, exciting, vibrant folk and acoustic music in intimate, informal and inviting surroundings.

The Village Green People are aiming their events at residents of the Whitby area as well as visitors to folk week and also wish to offer a platform for young performers -particularly those from the local area who may struggle to find their place in the more established events. This is also a chance for established performers to try out more experimental approaches to the traditions in front of a welcoming and curious audience.

Yorkshire Band Maia, fresh from their Glastonbury appearance will be in residence for The Village Green People all week and Radio 2 Folk Award Winner Bella Hardy has confirmed that she will be appearing on Tuesday the 20th.

La Rosa Hotel and The Village Green People would love to hear from established artists and upcoming young performers who would be interested in performing. If this is you, you can contact The Village Green People through La Rosa or find them on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thevillagegreenpeople or twitter @VGPeople

The concerts which will be strictly acoustic will commence at 8pm each night with doors at 7.30. Tickets for each night are £10 and can be booked by contacting reception at La Rosa Hotel on 01947 606981 or by emailing [e-mail]

"...It was like being welcomed back into the pages of a great big storybook, full of surprises and delight..." The Observer on La Rosa Hotel.

"Maia have undeniable chemistry on stage, they are mesmerising to watch both visually and musically" – HopFarm Festival

"Bella Hardy is a fine, no-nonsense interpreter of traditional music and an excellent songwriter... a powerful set" - The Guardian, Robin Denselow

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Aug 13 - 04:41 AM

That looks like a good idea, something significantly different from other Folk Week events and which should complement what's already on.

But it also looks a bit expensive. Good luck with it, but I wouldn't have thought a licenced venue would need to set such a high ticket price.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Tootler
Date: 03 Aug 13 - 06:20 PM

I was in Whitby today. Went past the Angel (Wetherspons) about 1.00 pm, it looked packed. Went past again about 4.30; still packed. Reckon they're doing OK (like them or not). I don't see it as a potential session/singing venue, though. I reckon they're pitching at a different clientele.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: vectis
Date: 04 Aug 13 - 05:26 AM

I have moved dahn under so won't be there for many years to come. I'm gonna miss it soooo much. Have fun everyone. Mary

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Aug 13 - 05:43 AM

Spare Parts Concertina Band is running sessions for all concertina systems in the Conservative Club bar every morning from 11.30 a.m. – 12.50 p.m. from Monday until Friday. We'll be taking two sets of the arranged tunes (three-part harmony) we've worked on to the final workshop concert from 1.30 - 4.30 on Friday in the Spa Pavilion Hall. We will also record the end results in the calmer atmosphere of the workshops so that we can send you a memento of what we have done together.

You can download the tunes in midis and pdfs from here : The midis include the parts separately played at slow and normal speeds. Feel free to try them even if you can't come to the workshops. They will suit any melody instrument.

On Monday and Wednesday we'll work on South Downs (Jim Harding) / Mrs Casey (Set A). On Tuesday and Thursday we'll do the same for Scottish Gabriele Chaffiotte / Quare Fellow Shot-ese (Set B). On Friday we'll polish up both sets ready for the showcase in the afternoon.

To provide variety we'll also play an extra, easier arrangement each day but we're not aiming to get those ready for performance unless people particularly want to do them. The other tunes are French Minuet, Jemmy Twinkles Wish, Jack Come Kiss Me Now and Harliquin Air.

Monday 19th. August 11.30 a.m. – 12.50 p.m.
Set A - South Downs (Jim Harding) / Mrs Casey
Bonus Tune - French Minuet

Tuesday 20th. August 11.30 a.m. – 12.50 p.m.
Set B - ScottishGabriele Chaffiotte / Quare Fellow Shot-ese
Bonus Tune - Jemmy Twinkles Wish

Wednesday 21st. August 11.30 a.m. – 12.50 p.m.
Set A - South Downs (Jim Harding) / Mrs Casey
Bonus Tune - Jack Come Kiss Me Now

Thursday 22nd. August 11.30 a.m. – 12.50 p.m.
Set B - Gabriele Chaffiotte / Quare Fellow Shot-ese
Bonus Tune - Harliquin Air

Friday 23rd. August 11.30 a.m. – 12.50 p.m.
Polish up both sets of tunes for the Workshop Showcase in the Spa Pavilion Hall 1.30 - 4.30.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,John Routledge
Date: 05 Aug 13 - 08:50 AM

Wetherspoons could do us a favour by taking a large number of beer drinkers out of circulation from other pubs being used for tunes and songs.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 04:54 AM

Got my programme - looks busy. My initial reaction is there are not many minority instrument workshops. I expect this depends upon the volunteeers ( or lack of) who run them. Also, where are the best places to go if you want to do singing with music rather than one or the other?
FloraG

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 05:11 AM

Minority instruments? If you want additional workshops then, go to the office and ask for a space. Then advertise it in the Whaler. It may even be that some of the booked acts will join in, some of us play minority instruments after all!.
Liz and I are running a 'singaround' (Event 223) 5.00 to 7.00 in the Endeavour. We'd be ceratinly likely to do some accompanied stuff and would welcome people to make it a mixed session with both tunes and songs.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 05:39 AM

It does tend to separate out. Tunes or songs.
Though Johnny Handel sometimes asks a singer he knows for a song in his session. He takes a relaxed jokey approach to things which you either love or find irritating.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 06 Aug 13 - 06:12 AM

Can anyone give us some pointers to the other (tunes) session leaders. E.g. what kind of tunes those 'in the know' will go along expecting.How they run the sessions.
We started going to Whitby again after a long gap because of a thread here about George Garside's steady pace sessions.
So I can kick off

George Garside
(Tues 298,Wed 397,Thur 498 1-3 Middle earth)- asks for names of tunes, if they are generally know they are played (led by the person who suggested them, or George if nec.) Steady pace. A lot of the tunes tend to be from David Olivers books

Mat Cheadle and friends (1 - 2 Spa)
'Not Quite Ready for a Session' Again, well know tunes and played slowly. Hints given to help us all start on the right note, in the right key. More David Oliver tunes and he is often there plugging his books and keeping us right, along with May's loud sax.

Spare Parts (Wed 422)
A lot of concertinas at their sessions. They play a lot of Southern tunes (might sell you the Lewes Tunebooks if you ask) - but make they sure everyone has a chance to play either whatever they want, a 'party piece' or an 'all join in' sort of tune.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 07 Aug 13 - 04:20 AM

Thanks Paul. I'm in a group of 6 so we tend to negotiate one day at a time - doing some things together and others seperately, minimising the use of cars in and out, so I can't promise anything. However, if I do make it I'm thinking of bringing my 8 stringed fiddle.
I think what I'm really looking for is something like the woodshed session at Broadstairs. Tunes that everybody knows and can join in, songs with easy tunes or mostly chorus are the approved ones - although you always get a few who wish to show off their voice or playing ability rather than contribute to the ethos of the event. Each person is asked to do/lead something but its not compulsory. Its a bit like the shanty session but with more variety.
FloraG

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 13 - 10:11 AM

Appearing for The Village Green People at La Rosa: http://youtu.be/vieVXcUDe80

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Ken Hall
Date: 10 Aug 13 - 03:04 PM

Will once again be hosting the football club session all week. A great line up
Hope to see some of you there

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Charliestu
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 12:32 PM

First In Last Out (FILO Folk) are about.
Commencing Saturday night 17 Aug thro' to the following Saturday 24th inc. Each day from 13.00 hrs to 0001 hrs (the next day.) Come one, come all, let's have a ball. The venue's up hill (back of the hospital)and so is the music..........everyone welcome!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 03:02 PM

Continuing Mo's "what to expect" theme - the Eurosessions are mostly French tunes from the "Bal Folk" book, but rarely announced in advance. Though anything from Scandinavia to the Ottoman Empire and Lisbon to Leningrad can happen.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Vic Smith
Date: 14 Aug 13 - 09:09 AM

I would like to expand on and explain one of this year's events:-

Event 228 Monday Evening 7.30 – 11.00pm Metropole Ballroom SUSSEX EVENING.

•        This will be a dance with floor spots
•        The dances chosen will all have a strong Sussex connection – either re-worked from manuscript sources going back to the 18th century or modern dances made by callers with Sussex connections.
•        The band will consist of Will Duke (concertina), Gareth Kiddier (piano), Ben Paley (fiddle), Dan Quinn (melodeon), Matt Quinn (fiddle), Tina Smith (concertina), Vic Smith (caller, mandolo, guitar)
•        There will be five floor spots by the following performed acoustically in front of the stage:-
       > Spare Parts
       > Annie Winter
       > Rosie Davis Sussex step dancing to Will Duke plus songs from Will
       > Martyn Wyndham-Read, Iris Bishop, Joy Lewis, Derrick Hughes
       > Rattle On The Stovepipe.
•        A mighty grand finale is planned…. But you will have to be there to know what it is!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Kate
Date: 14 Aug 13 - 06:32 PM

The Village Green People and La Rosa Hotel present A Week of Folk in Whitby. Full Line up Confirmed.

Sunday 18th August: Maia; The Pier; Sarah Crossan; Jig Doll

Monday 19th August: Maia; Molly Jones and Lee Southall (The Coral); George Husband; Jig Doll

Tuesday 20th August: Bella Hardy; Maia; George Husband

Wednesday 21st August: Maia; Plumhall; Beccy Owen

Thursday 22nd August: Blue Rose Code; James Auger and the Natives; The Pier

Friday 23rd August: Cabinet of Curiosities puppet cabaret; Shona Mairi; Sarah Crossan

All nights will feature original vinyl sounds and filmic treats plus visual installations. Doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 can be reserved in advance by contacting La Rosa on 01947 606981 or emailing [e-mail]

"...It was like being welcomed back into the pages of a great big storybook, full of surprises and delight..." The Observer on La Rosa Hotel.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: JHW
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 05:22 AM

I like this idea of mudplugging Whitby events. If you click Programme on the Whitby site you just get a page saying 'buy one'!
So - Tuesday afternoon in the Spa Theatre - 3 to 5pm
A Concert to celebrate the songs of Graeme Miles and to remember the man himself.
Many, many singers

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 05:38 AM

Any Friday night sessions for those of us who've got here early?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 06:26 AM

I've already asked that question. According to Spectacled Warbler, there will be a session in the Dolphin and possibly another one in the Station.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 07:37 AM

Maureen and I will be running our ussual Singaround in the Rifle Club we will be there every night at eight. Anything goes Singers, Musicians,Poets everyone is welcome including children (with a consenting adult present). Give it a go it's well worth the trip up the hill.

Joe N.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 08:15 AM

Jack, there will be the normal Friday night in the Dolphin, the Station as already stated may have early arrivals in there. You could also try the Endeavour and Black Horse, again they are often used by early arrivals. There is a folk club at the Dolphin in Robin Hoods Bay as well.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 11:51 AM

The Roaring Forties will again be performing "Icebound" 4:30 Thursday in Bruhswick Centre (Bring your own alcoholic drinks, though coffee/tea are on sale)
Geoff t

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: treewind
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 12:38 PM

Mary and I will be hosting an English music session at the Con club on Tuesday afternoon, where we'll be promoting the Out Of Reach CD sold to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.

We're also performing at:
Rifle Club Saturday 8pm
Rugby Club Sunday 7:30pm
Ceilidh Monday night at the Spa with English Rebellion and Will Hall
Football Club Trad Night Out Tuesday 8pm
Rowing Club Wed 2:30pm
Festival Folk Club at the Con Club Wednesday 8pm

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Linda Kelly
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 06:41 PM

John Conolly has a CD launch on Thursday afternoon.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 06:45 AM

There is a folk club at the Dolphin in Robin Hoods Bay as well.

But no bus to Whitby after it.

I'm just reading Peter Robinson's "Caedmon's Song" (set in Whitby in 1987 or thereabouts) and he assures me there's a bus back at 11.19pm. Sheesh. It's enough to make you want to bash somebody's head in with a paperweight.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: nutty
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 07:06 AM

Don't forget the concert of Graeme Miles songs in the Spa Theatre - Tuesday 3-5pm.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Caedmon
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 09:48 AM

The Kings of Esk

A heartfelt tribute to the homing seagulls of Whitby
(With sincere apologies to Dave Sudbury)

In the West End of Whitby, lives a working chap;
He says, "I can't stand all this bloody seagull crap,
And when I eat my tea,
They steal it all from me
And lift it up with screeching squawks."

Charlie's chip shop stood down a yard,
The queues grew long and the waiting time was hard;
But the seagulls were plain mean,
And in twenty thirteen,
They stole the cod'n'chips of every tripper in the town.

Charlie went to the council with a plan,
"With a pair of peregrine falcon, I'm your man,
I'll drive away those birds,
All for a just reward"
The mayor agreed that it would save the tourist trade.

Charlie unleashed his birds of prey
They soared, then swooped, down on the bay;
Two gull chicks on the mud
Were reduced to feathers and blood
And ten thousand herring gull flew off to Staithes.

The silence in the town was strange and eerie.
People could stand outdoors and talk quite freely;
Charlie sent in his bill
But council just stood still
And said it hadn't been approved by Eric Pickles.

Charlie went to the Endeavour for a pint or five,
When he saw a huge cloud gathering up high;
"Charlie, it's the Kings of Esk,
Come back to wreak revenge,
Come inside quick, they're heading right this way."

The flock swept down in majesty
The crowd all fled in terror from the scene,
Charlie had no chance,
The seagulls deadly dance
Left him quivering beneath a heap of fresh guano.

In the West End of Whitby, lives a working chap;
He says, "I can't stand all this bloody seagull crap,
And when I eat my tea,
They steal it all from me
And lift it up with screeching squawks."

Caedmon

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 05:29 AM

My daughter is in Whitby NOW (Sat 17 Aug) and complaining she cannot get a programme. Where is she most likely to find one?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 05:33 AM

Should be able to get one at Station News just opposite the railway station.

CC

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: nutty
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 05:40 AM

Or Festival Office in the Leisure Centre

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: nutty
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 05:41 AM

The Station and the Endeavour sometimes have programmes as well

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 05:58 AM

She says she got one ta!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Les from Hull
Date: 17 Aug 13 - 11:28 AM

Maggie and I have our usual evenings in the Endeavour. All styles of singing and playing welcome. We would be delighted to see any of our friends as we can't come and see you!

As usual Tuesday night is Mudgather night for those who want to meet fellow 'catters.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Charliestu
Date: 18 Aug 13 - 05:28 AM

Ref FILO Folk - First night slow off the ground but wow did it take off! Absolutely stunning music, harmonies, singing and musical, a truly entertaining international evening. New decor makes a big change, light n' bright with a selection of Real ales (Whitby Whaler, Doombar etc!). Food available too!

Music and song every day from 13.00 - 16.00 hrs and 19.00 - 2359 hrs

Both Cmdr Crabbe and moi will be happy to see you - Perish the Thought!

Folk for pleasure!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: JHW
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 05:24 AM

I was FILO at the cafe by the Sutcliffe shop. Half an hour locked in the proverbial smallest room on my way to the Graeme Miles show

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 24 Aug 13 - 02:13 PM

Went to some good concerts; saw some interesting young performers (although not many young audience ) and got my legs tangled up in American dance.
The proposed residents parking could be a problem with FILO. We managed to find parking places this year and did a few lunch times. Not clear where you would park if you have passengers or the driver with limited mobility.
The rugby club - where in the past there was parking for disabled - had camper vans on its parking area.
I wonder if the organisers using local knowledge could perhaps make clear where people with disabilities could park.
FloraG

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Vic Smith
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 08:31 AM

An album of over 250 photos of Whitby Folk Week -
Find yourself by clicking here

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 12:39 PM

Thank God the one you took of me didn't turn out.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: nutty
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 02:09 PM

Sadly it is starting to look like a pensioners convention - where are/were all the young ones.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Vic Smith
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 03:36 PM

Fred McCormick wrote:-
"Thank God the one you took of me didn't turn out."

Well, Fred, I would say that you are guilty of not looking properly! There are in fact two photos of you in the album - including that one.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 06:23 PM

I can't figure out how to see Vic Smith's photos (I don't and won't have a Facebook account). Is it possible?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 05:22 AM

Hazel
There were lots of young uns around...probably just not in the areas that Vic photographed
Geoff t

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 05:42 AM

There was some young talent in the Evolving Traditions concert.
It would have been nice if there had been a hand-out sheet, who they were, which region they come from and how you can book them.

And those photos have a performance at the bandstand from a group of young workshop participants.

And no doubt the Spa was packed with youngsters once all us old fogies had gone elsewhere or crept home to bed.
The cream of Cheshire/ Staffordshire youth were there (Greg & Ciaran).

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:06 AM

"Well, Fred, I would say that you are guilty of not looking properly! There are in fact two photos of you in the album - including that one."

In that case I'll have another look.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:27 AM

I deny everything. That's not Whitby Conservative Club. It's the Winter Palace in Moscow just before I led the cheering crowds up the steps to storm the imperial function room. And that's not a photograph of Maggie Thatcher. It's Lenin in drag.

I did prefer the one of me singing in the Dolphin though.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:38 AM

Many thanks to all the organisers, stewards, performers and participants for a superb Folk Week. Whitby is wonderfully democratic. It puts a lot of emphasis on people taking part, joining workshops and making musical experiments which result in some splendid cross-fertilization. For me, playing and singing with other people is as important as sitting listening to performances because making folk music is a social activity. (Sorry if that sounds pretentious.)

Valmai (Spare Parts Concertina Band)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Vic Smith
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:46 AM

Sadly it is starting to look like a pensioners convention - where are/were all the young ones.

* Most of the photos that I took were at the events that I was booked to appear in and they were mostly at the traditional end of the festival where older festival goers are likely to be found - so I could not give a truly balanced picture of the events.

* There were some younger performers that I found really exciting, particularly The Young 'Uns and the Teacups and the youngsters displaying what they have picked up in four days at the youth workshops

* Have another look through the photos and ask yourself if you are being fair about the balance of ages of performers.

* Ask yourself if your comment does not have ageist overtones.

* Ask yourself if the younger performers have a monopoly of all the talent and if the older ones have nothing to offer.

I can't figure out how to see Vic Smith's photos (I don't and won't have a Facebook account). Is it possible?

Apparently not, though the access to this album is set to "Public". I have a relative who does not want to contribute to Facebook, though she does have an account under a false name. She uses it almost exclusively to access photos of her grandchildren who are in a different country.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 07:44 AM

I can't figure out how to see Vic Smith's photos (I don't and won't have a Facebook account). Is it possible?
Apparently not, though the access to this album is set to "Public".

imgur, Photobucket, twitpic, Picasa, Flickr...

It was nice to see people making more of a sartorial effort this year. Hawaiian shirts were the big thing for gentlemen, and Valmai's amazing techni-any-colour-so-long-as-it's-brown dreamcoat of bar towels needs to feature on a magazine cover.

Mudcatters it was good to put a face to: Commander Crabbe, Nick Blair, Mo the caller.

Carol Anderson's Scottish sessions really took off - lots of players who know the idiom and could give it welly.

I didn't get to concerts (being mostly holed up in the Elsinore) but the one group of younger performers that really made an impression were the Newcastle Kingsmen - I think mostly a new lineup? Sheesh they're slick.

The first I knew about the Guggenmusik group was while waiting for the train home - were they around earlier? They need to visit the Eurosession if they come back. I've never heard that stuff before.

Did Steve Mansfield not make it?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 07:52 AM

Congratulations to all concerned. I personally saw little of the festival this year as it was a family holiday with new grandson but I spoke to many punters and organisers and got the impression that whilst many things round the country are folding Whitby is going from strength to strength. Long may this happen.

And regarding the 'pensioners convention' comments, this is bound to be the case with any event in the country largely based around British traditional music as we were all very cliquy in the past. However Whitby saw the writing on the wall early and most of the organisers are from the younger generation and those who are not are definitely very young at heart. I was in the Spa all Friday night and I'd say the youngsters were in the majority.

Long may this continue. 50 years coming up!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 07:53 AM

Valmai, we came to your session in the Middle Earth on Wed, but had to find our own spare spare parts to lead it. Had a nice little session actually, and met and exchanged business cards with a local band so we were glad we went, but were puzzled by the fact that there was no change noted in the Wailer yet the musicians who turned up weren't the usual crowd of concertina players.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 08:42 AM

Mo, we found that our sessions had been changed in the riding orders the Festival gave us and that one got dropped, perhaps because it finished at 7.00 and we were supposed to be in the Brunswick Centre from 7.00 - 10.00. Instead we were detailed to take over an earlier session in the Dolphin with Moor Music who were in the programme but not available at that time. I'm sorry we missed you as it would have been good to exchange some tunes again. Not all changes found their way into the Wailer.

We also did event 195, a tunes session in the Fishermen's Rowing Club from 1.00 - 3.00 on Monday, which was in the programme but not on our riding orders .... arrrgh... We had the pleasure of meeting Jack Campin and his mighty ocarina there.

Valmai (Spare Parts Concertina Band)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 09:35 AM

There was a good range of young performers - just not many young audience.
FloraG

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 10:18 AM

> Did Steve Mansfield not make it?

Made it, but, in the end, very briefly due to family issues, so didn't manage to get to The lsinore (apparently the E is behind the bar for when they can get it fixed back up) or the Eurosessions.

So apologies to all those including Jack that I'd hoped to meet up with.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Ken Hall
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 12:51 PM

Don't know what age you have to be to be rated as young. Highly impressed by Siobhain Miller and Jeana Leslie. When it comes to bands Moor Music still set the standard against which all other English dance bands need to be measured. In a class of their own and you also have the bonus of the step dancing, the dancing dolls and of course the virtuoso banjo playing of Rob Murch

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,darling buds of may
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 02:50 PM

There certainly needs to be more youngsters encouraged to visit Whitby Week ! If not then I can't see the festival Progressing! This does need to be addressed by the organisers! But we did have a great time with some of the musicians that were playing around the town!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Vic Smith
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 02:54 PM

Ken wrote:-
"Highly impressed by Siobhain Miller and Jeana Leslie."

Agreed! Both graduates of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, both second generation folkies; they ought to be good... and they are!

And for once it's not me that is spelling a name wrongly, it's Siobhan.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: r.padgett
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 03:15 PM

Yes of course!

the singarounds (official ones) were well full and well a bit stately ~ lucky some times to get one song in a 2 hr session i.e The Dolphin!

Endeavour sessions after the Shanties tended to be well organised but a bit noisy sometimes

Conservative clubs apart from Friday (usual) in the evenings I mceed were well full and lots of singers doing one song floor spots!

In fact I sang very little apart from starting off the evening, some brill guests and droppers in such as Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner and Ciaran Boyle

Mick Ryan was brill as was Martin Wyndham Read and Iris Bishop, thanks to all who supported!and all the guests ~ and others who did not manage to get a spot!!

I am a learner on the anglo and feel more tune workshops needed had two good ones in the Fisherman's Rowing club in the mornings, yes cater for the good players but some of us are getting on a bit and need confidence! as well as the youngsters

One grouse probably due to historic reasons but the festival has a huge Scottish following, so apsrt from The Young 'Uns I wonder where the new English performers were? probably too expensive?

Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: BobKnight
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 03:33 PM

Young performers I worked with included, Jim Causley, The Foxglove Trio,Siobhan Miller and Jeanna Leslie,The Young 'Uns, The Tea Cups,all in their twenties, and in their thirties, The Hut People Carol Anderson and Martin McDonald.I'm sure there were other young ones too, but those are the ones I worked with this time round.

I think it's a great festival, and I had a great time, meeting so many new friends. Hope I get back next year too. :)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:14 PM

'There certainly needs to be more youngsters encouraged to visit Whitby Week ! If not then I can't see the festival Progressing!'
Wow! Where were you on Friday night - or, for that matter any night? Down at the Spa we had crowds of young people playing and Speed Ploughing and Chain Clogging. As for the Hogwarts Express that toured the streets of Whitby on Thursday, there were no seats for the over thirties! The film of the Star and Shadow performance on Friday, and Chris Sexton's film of the final moments, show a demographic in which one is tempted to ask, 'Where are the adults?" I can also cite Sam and Dylan aka. 'Infinite Cherries' who, with a wide range of friends and others, have driven some beautiful evenings during the week, supplying music that was both refreshing and challenging to re-vitalise the Pavilion bar during the earlier parts of the evenings. Sorry, but the Whitby team have done loads to encourage the younger performers to come, take part and be prominent. The younger generation have embraced this invitation wholeheartedly. To suggest that this is not the case, not only denigrates their massive efforts but also misrepresents the actuality.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Nick
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:20 PM

Good to (briefly) meet you too, Jack - sorry it wasn't in a session. The FILO is a handy venue where you can either be assured of a song at lunchtime as it is quite quiet and the evenings are usually busy and full.

I enjoyed the three days I visited and met up with various people I know and a bunch of new people too. Enjoyable time had.

My personal most enjoyable highlight was singing a favourite song with cello accompaniment and some nice harmonica playing in the Fleece.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,darling buds of may
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 06:59 PM

Thanks for your input paul but I was also at those events you mentioned above and there was only a small increase in the younger genaration and to be honest there hasn't been a large increase in the youth visiting Whitby for many a year now, I agree that the organisers have done well but they still need more younger people attending Whitby Week. As in past years there hasn't been the influx there should be, I am as much entitled to voice my concerns about Whitby Week the same as any one else and would love to see the younger people being involed in all activaties!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 07:30 PM

The FILO is a handy venue where you can either be assured of a song at lunchtime as it is quite quiet and the evenings are usually busy and full.

I ended up doing instrumental stuff almost the whole time - would have liked to both listen to and do a bit of singing but my voice was shot after pollen allergies all summer and staying in a cottage full of mould.

I was unimpressed with the Fleece's attitude. Leaving 20 customers standing on the pavement waiting for them to open up (as they did for Joey Oliver's Will Atkinson workshop) isn't very professional.

A lot of venues had a crap selection of drinks compared with previous years. The Conservative Club being the worst. I'm hardly a beer buff, but even I can tell when the bar management aren't trying.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 09:02 PM

We had a great time in the FILO. We ran sessions every day from Saturday through to the Friday. the sessions were from 1-4 in the afternoon and 7-Midnight each day. This was the first year we had tried afternoon sessions as well as the evening.

Mrs C and I made every evening session and all bar one of the afternoon sessions. The afternoons were generally quiet with just a few attendees which meant everyone got quite a few goes. The evenings were fairly well attended and everyone got maybe three or four goes..

Thanks to Corrie Schrijver and Hubby Frank for the fantastic tunes on box and Northumbrian pipes. (Also for fixing my fiddle bow!)

Big thanks also to all the regulars and newcomers who came in and made it such a good week.

Nice to meet you also Jack.

Chris

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: r.padgett
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 02:58 AM

Well I was spending all my time walking and sleeping when not at venues noted above which took all week

Very few if any youngsters in the Dolphin as they were still asleep I should not wonder!

After the Con club I went to bed ~ early to bed early to rise!

Only once did I get to stay up late and had a boozy sing (had sung only 4 songs in earnest by this time!) in the Station

Never made the Spa at night as too tired and no opportunies to sing!

Interesting to split ages up to 20 and up to 30, the names mentioned above are nigh all part of the wood work already ~ the missing ages are 45 plus from England both as booked guests and part of the official singarounds (yes a generalisation)! maybe doing their own thing
Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Mo the caller
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 04:12 AM

One problem that was noticed last year by someone who brought his grand-daughter (young teen) was the lack of 'ceilidhs like we used to have'. I think they found the Family ceilidhs too full of toddlers, the Spa early evenings too complicated and the late half too noisy (and crowded and late). They would have enjoyed Colin Hume's ceilidh, and the Sussex night (but they didn't come this year).

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: banjoman
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 06:08 AM

Had a great week and thanks to all concerned. Enjoyed the laid back sessions (afternoon)in FILO and good to put some faces to mudcatters.
Wrists and voice had given out by Friday so the banjo will now have to rest for a while. (Thank God saw many)
Thanks to Flora and Andy for great company. Sorry you had to leave early. How is Sugar?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 06:25 AM

Such a host of memorable memories. Of all the things which stood out for me, prime among them was Siobhan Miller's gobsmacking singing of the Four Marys. Not since I heard the Keane Sisters sing Lord Donegal in Stack's pub in Listowel in the early 1970s' have I been so utterly overwhelmed.

Oddly enough, the other memory which has stuck in my mind was Jimmy Crowley singing The Holy Ground on the final night. This wasn't done in the usual rambunctious "FINE GIRL YOU ARE" manner which so many of us have come to know and hate, but quietly and wistfully. Just the way I've always imagined that whoever wrote the song intended it to be sung.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,The Station Inn, Whitby
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 06:49 AM

Just a quickie to say THANK YOU for another successful Folk Week, we thoroughly enjoyed the whole week and hope that you enjoyed it too.

Same time next year,

Col, Andrew, Pat, Fen, Carly, Margaret, Rob & Tom
The Station Inn

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Les from Hull
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 10:01 AM

The evening Endeavour sessions this year were the best ever. Thanks to all who attended and especially to Michael and Barrie and the bar staff. See you all again next year! Sorry to the people who wanted to be in but couldn't find room.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 27 Aug 13 - 02:46 PM

I thoroughly enjoyed this years festival, I enjoyed the singing, music and the craic in The Station, Friendship+football clubs, FILO and Golden Lion. Made new friends with folk from Dorset, Nottinham, Australia, Ireland. There seemed to be loads of younger people in the Station which seemed to have music in the 3 areas most of the time. I thought the Station was especially good this year and deserves praise for their welcomming attitude to folk music, excellent beers and the fact it never took too long to get served even when the pub was heaving.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: r.padgett
Date: 28 Aug 13 - 08:25 AM

Yes Jimmy the fringe is always a good place to be and the Station is a natural environment away from the concerts etc

I have had some great times there and met many people from all over the largely English speaking communities! and countries including Scotland (lol)

They are as much a feature of Whitby ff as the more organised parts, yes no probs getting served in the Station and Endeavour and I have yet to be asked for my birth certificate!

Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 28 Aug 13 - 02:37 PM

Yes Ray and the stools were just the right height for you to stand on so the barstaff could serve you at the bar.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: Noreen
Date: 28 Aug 13 - 04:31 PM

Jack Campin says The Conservative Club being the worst. I'm hardly a beer buff, but even I can tell when the bar management aren't trying.

I enjoyed the Black Sheep in the Con club very much- and at a reasonable price. They got it in specially for us folkies- the rest of the year they only have the fizzy stuff. And the bar staff were very friendly and welcoming.

I don't think that counts as 'not trying'.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Frank Lee
Date: 28 Aug 13 - 05:08 PM

We had an amazing time - Corrie (Schrijver)'s violin stall was far busier than expected, and she appreciated making lots of new northern friends after her move to Cumbria from Bath.

I've just been told my 'sessions' will be programmed again next year, and even given their correct title! - they were actually 'tune-swaps' although they'd cut-and-pasted last years mistake into this year's programme! Can't complain, they got SUCH a lot right!

As stall-holders we didn't get time to see much of the festival , but spent some lovely evenings at the FILO sessions. Thanks for the thanks Commander Crabbe! A pleasant change to be listened-to - we played at Music on the Marr (not booked, but it's on our doorstep) and had an audience of one! BUT it's places like the FILO where the REAL folk music happens - and there were some absolute gems in there!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: treewind
Date: 28 Aug 13 - 05:36 PM

Agreed Black Sheep beer at the Con club was a welcome change.
I enjoyed the festival overall.

Our session at the Con club ran itself. In retrospect I wouldn't have minded throwing a few more obscure tunes in, though it was never going to be like Frank's tune swap (which I'm sorry to have missed)

High point was probably playing the Monday ceilidh with English Rebellion and discovering that a big festival ceilidh is not a scary thing at all - just like any other dance band gig but with better sound, better (and more enthusiastic) dancers and good callers. We'll try for next year with the band we originally intended to bring...

Low point - obviously the shambles at the Rifle club on Sunday night. No stage lights, problems with a broken PA, and nobody in charge to kick butts and sort things out.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 28 Aug 13 - 07:30 PM

It was great once again to MC/perform at concerts which are the ones I would have gone to anyway. "Icebound" was again performed to a large appreciative audience. The Roaring Forties got a real buzz from the late night at the Met on Thursday.   Great also to meet old and new friends.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Charliestu
Date: 29 Aug 13 - 02:01 PM

FILO Folk, what can I say = Wow!, from start to finish quantity and quality; fiddlers, Northumbrian pipers, git-fiddlers, beginners, experts, you name it, we had it. It was a tiring week but an extremely enjoyable 'meet and greet' with old friends along with the new.
My only issue was that my leisure time was interrupted by having to go to work on occasion but Commander Crabbe did a good fill-in. The few 'festival quests' that made an appearance at our spot thoroughly themselves and were surprised at what they found - hospitality and quality.
A big thanks to all who managed to get to us - you know who you are, and we hope to see you next year.
Take care and stay healthy!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2013
From: GUEST,Charliestu
Date: 29 Aug 13 - 02:05 PM

FILO Folk, what can I say = Wow!, from start to finish quantity and quality; fiddlers, Northumbrian pipers, git-fiddlers, beginners, experts, you name it, we had it. It was a tiring week but an extremely enjoyable 'meet and greet' with old friends along with the new.
My only issue was that my leisure time was interrupted by having to go to work on occasion but Commander Crabbe did a good fill-in. The few 'festival quests' that made an appearance at our spot thoroughly themselves and were surprised at what they found - hospitality and quality.
A big thanks to all who managed to get to us - you know who you are, and we hope to see you next year.
Take care and stay healthy until next year!