Whitby Folk Week 2016

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 03 Sep 16 - 04:51 AM

It could be Jack, as I suggested earlier, it was any excuse for a week at the seaside. Nowt wrong with that.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Bloke in .. Musketish
Date: 03 Sep 16 - 04:31 AM

I must admit, each to their own. Not sure about the comments over how things are "becoming" though.

Back in the day, Whitby week was one of the few places where I used to experience "singarounds" and I reckon it was there circa 1982 where I saw for the first time someone using a book to sing from rather than actually learning the words and trying to do the song "their" way.

Hitherto, my folk club world had been concert style upstairs rooms in pubs. Nowadays it's all singaround. Our local club was too till recently when we decided to make it more of "stage" and audience. The result? Standing room only and lots of people just coming to sit and listen.

Not that a Whitby thread is the place to reignite that old chestnut of crib sheets and laziness...😎

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 04:20 PM

The sort of people over here, who go to Whitby once a year, won't pay to see a guest, won't buy a ticket won't support local clubs unless they get to sing on the night, they won't learn new songs or in some cases even the words and read them of a typed script.

The only people I saw reading from a sheet of paper at Whitby this year were some of the singers at the Songs of Child Migration concert. None of the session players did. Not memorizing your material seemed to be exclusively a professional thing.

And if the people Katy was writing about were willing to travel from Burnley to Whitby to find the music they wanted, it looks like the clubs in Burnley weren't meeting their needs. Is there a problem with that?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 11:07 AM

What's great about Whitby, Alex, is there are so many singarounds and sessions that you can always up sticks and move on if you come across these sort of people.

When I went to Whitby for the full week, quite a while ago now, one of the things I used to run was a 'squeezaround', sort of a cross between a singaround and a session. We went round the room just like a singaround and each person in turn who could, played their party piece on their squeezebox and then led a general set for all to join in with. It seemed to work well.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,alex s no cookie
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 08:20 AM

"The sort of people over here, who go to Whitby once a year, won't pay to see a guest, won't buy a ticket won't support local clubs unless they get to sing on the night, they won't learn new songs or in some cases even the words and read them of a typed script. They won't even listen to each other properly, they just want to sing their song and play their guitar and get applause."

Bang on, Katy from Burnley.
This is exactly why the standard of performance in clubs has deteriorated, audience numbers are declining and fewer well-known guests are being booked.
We also have the new(ish) phenomenon of people reading from books! Recently we were "treated" to a bit from The Wind in the Willows...
Oh dear.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 08:02 AM

"Every pub in town". Or any other of my comments. I suppose this is why some of us prefer to stay anonymous. It gets rather infuriating when general chat comments are taken literally. Not everybody can have social skills I suppose.

Every pub except those that didn't, which were rather few and far between but did exist. Not everybody in Whitby that week had beards or ethnic skirts. 🙄

Anyway, everyone I met seemed to be enjoying themselves. Can't wait till next year really. (The bacon & egg butties served at The Rugby Club in the mornings deserve as much a special mention as some of the pubs.) 🐷🐔🍞

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Sep 16 - 09:10 PM

Only my second Whitby, so not yet au fait with the various fringe pub sessions, or even where they are! (Official venues are on the maps in the programme.)
Didn't find the timing of official sessions awfully good: most days I was in a workshop for most of the 1.00. - 3.00. sessions. Then we never got to do a whole 5.00. - 7.00. one as we had to break off to eat before 7.30.pm concerts. Something between 3.00. - 5.00.might have been better.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 04:07 PM

The session leaders both booked and fringe are generally happy for anyone to start up a tune when there is a lull. You go to a session where the expected norm is wall-to-wall Irish reels but there are plenty of opportunities to start up slower tunes and tunes from other places as often happens. As already stated the main problem is getting a seat or even getting in. Here the main remedy is get there early or wait around till someone leaves.

Personally I prefer music sessions as you can join in with most tunes, but when I went to the Station one evening to meet up with old friends all 3 singing sessions were full up, well established and not looking like anyone would be leaving. If you are new to Whitby I recommend you leave your instrument at home for the first couple of days and go on a pub crawl to see what happens in all of the pubs. Someone posted a list of all the pubs where it happens not so long back.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 03:32 PM

The Fishermen's Football Club is a new venue
The numbers are often down, in years where the Regatta, and Folk Week clash.
The previous location of the office in the Leisure Centre, was no further away from the town centre than the Spa.
As someone who stewards every year, let me tell you that the new ticketing system is far better than that which preceded it.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 10:10 AM

Interesting news from the unnamed guest that every single pub in the town had sessions. I thought that Sam Smiths still banned music throughout their estate including their pubs in Whitby.

Howard has a point about the official sessions although, given their free form nature I don't know how much influence the session leader will have.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: slaggyislander
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 07:58 AM

I followed the simple logic that the guest above advises and popped in (and stayed for the night) to the first hostelry that was displaying a Tetley sign outside - the Golden Lion. For non-specialists such as I it provided the perfect mix of contemporary (all sorts) in the front room and traditional in the back. The atmosphere and craic were good, the beer went down well and it was a good night. Hadn't been in that pub for about 40 years and felt strangely at home. I, for one, will be back.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 16 - 03:09 AM

Simple. Look for a building calling itself a pub (Wikipedia has photos of typical pubs to assist you) and walk in any time after lunch till around 1.00am.

If it is in Whitby, during the folk week, you will find a session or singaround. Double so if the official programme doesn't mention it.

Our problems were more of finding one not too crowded so we could get a few instruments sat with us.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Howard Jones
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 04:51 AM

Jack, I was only there for two days. I arrived mid-afternoon on Wednesday, too late for Ollie King's session, and had a sound-check at 4:30 so not much time to go looking for something else. After sound-checking and getting something to eat I went looking but all I found was an Irish session, and I don't play Irish. I took your advice to check the Elsinore but only found a rock-and-roll band in there. I went home late Thursday afternoon.

I don't find the programme very helpful as it only says "Music Session" without indicating what flavour of music to expect. I was able to work out from the session leaders that one of the Thursday sessions was going to be Irish. I couldn't find the leaders of the other session in the programme (I only realised afterwards that the guest list in the programme is broken down into sections rather than being in alphabetical order) so I had no idea what that would be like.

I had absolutely no luck finding any spontaneous sessions, other than than the aforementioned Irish one, but as I've said before I don't really know where to look.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 Aug 16 - 03:51 AM

I saw you in a couple of sessions.
Someone was saying there aren't as many dancers.I think those there are pace themselves - either dance workshops then an evening concert or what I did - other events e.g. story telling, singing, session, half a concert, session, then dance at night.
But in the 80s when we started coming there were enough dancers to fill at least 2 dances in Whitby plus an out-of-town dance at Ruswarp, Sleights or Robin Hoods Bay.
Was saying to my daughter, there are so many Whitbys going on, almost independent of each other.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 06:28 PM

And I didn't see you at all this year.

It seems like Folk Week is fracturing into two festivals, dance stuff round the Spa and everything else in or near the town. The Whitby Gazette had an article on Saturday saying the the whole of the Spa had been allocated to Folk Week, whereas the Regatta would ordinarily have used it at the weekend. I went to two events at the Spa but as we always stay in the town centre it's usually too far to go. Wasn't too pleased that the festival office had been moved out there - I only went to it once, to drop off some flyers for the flat key session.

There's not much wrong with the Spa as a venue apart from its bar prices, but it's inconvenient unless you're staying at the West Cliff campsite.

BTW the Fishermen's Football Club (which I hadn't been into until this year) is a rather good venue.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 04:35 PM

There was a 5.30 session in the Spa upstairs bar this year - much easier for dancers than walking across to the Middle Earth or Fisherman's and then back to the Spa. (Limited time to eat - but there was the Spa cafe)

Other than one afternoon when I stayed in the middle Earth all afternoon (very pleasant - I had intented to go to the Euro, but it was pelting down) I stuck to the programmed sessions, quite a variety of types of tune and styles of leading.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Jack Campin
Date: 27 Aug 16 - 05:39 AM

1pm and 5pm sessions are listed in the FF events Schedule. There are at least three of each simultaneously. Night fringe sessions at the Elsinore, Board, Ship, Station, Golden Lion, Fleece and Middle Earth. Sporadic afternoon sessions at some of those and also at the Black Horse. Singing at night in the Station front room and singing and shanty-bellowing at the Endeavour afternoon and evening. How did you miss all that?

You will have seen me at the Eurosession - the one with all the wind instruments.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Howard Jones
Date: 26 Aug 16 - 07:42 AM

I had a good couple of days at Whitby and really enjoyed playing with Albireo at the late night ceilidh on Wednesday. I went to a couple of good concerts. However (as usual) I failed utterly to find any sessions, with the exceptions of the Melnet gathering and the Euro session, both of which had been publicised in advance on Melnet.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Aug 16 - 05:00 AM

And I have a new un-favourite tune: The Battle of the Somme, done the English way - blasted into G by melodeon fire and left to die of gangrene in a foxhole. It isn't a lament, folks.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,In good company
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 09:07 AM

Change hands!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 06:36 AM

The flat key session that I publicized really took off (largely thanks to Pikey from Melnet who led off a great choice of tunes).

The Eurosession was enormous - 60 people on Monday. That's too many but I'm not sure what we can do about it.

Numbers for the programmed events are WAY down.

The new ticketing system is horrible, introduces preposterous delays and is far too much work for the stewards. The old one worked, why the change?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,In good company
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 06:23 AM

Spent an excellent 2.5 days there and I can certainly pick the weather :-) Visited a couple of Black Horse sessions, one in the Golden Lion and one in the Elsinore. Nice to see lots of familiar faces and equally good to see new ones at the new venue, The Waiting Room. Only problem there is that the beer is too good. And, yes, I did try all of them. Including the one that ran out and the new one that replaced it :-)

The campsite is excellent but, as I said, I did pick the sunny days! Outside folky stuff I also enjoyed the fireworks on Monday evening and I can heartily recommend the 'Diner's breakfast' at the American style diner near the Elsinore - £6.95 and you will not need to eat anything the rest of the day :-)

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Bloke in Gr.. Bugger it, Musket
Date: 22 Aug 16 - 09:19 AM

Crackin' session this afternoon in The Fleece.

First time for everything, including going to a festival sans guitar... Our sponsors would like to thank Mr Windle for supplying same whilst he is on stewarding duties.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: John J
Date: 22 Aug 16 - 07:44 AM

I was hoping to roll up for a couple of days, camping on the Moor & Coast site, but it's now looking unlikely I'll get there.

:-(

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 21 Aug 16 - 04:43 PM

Enjoyed the Glaisdale Train session (though I drove) Thanks Nick for info.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 21 Aug 16 - 05:37 AM

'The festive atmosphere in Whitby comes from the Folk Week itself. But people who enjoy the street and fringe events can take advantage of the Folk Week without contributing towards any of the costs.'

I went once to Skagen Festival. (and had a ticket)
Nobody there does anything unless they're paid to. Big audiences listen only to booked turns on stages.
I sat on a bollard on a quay near the fish and spuds cafe and sang for hours; every song I knew even a verse of to a constant though changing semicircular audience gathered around.

I dare to suggest my sung contribution was worth far more than my ticket money.
I saw nobody else doing anything for free.

No Fringe does not make for a good festival.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe is several hundred fold bigger than Edinburgh International Festival.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 21 Aug 16 - 04:26 AM

Glaisdale train is today !!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 16 - 04:13 AM

Thanks for Regatta info.
I've been to Glaisdale Train Sunday before but can't remember whether its today, 21st or Sunday after the festival.
I've a flyer for Saltburn FC Garden Party at Skinningrove today 1-5pm. Surely they wouldn't put it on to clash?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Aug 16 - 06:49 PM

The Regatta is on. But it's much quieter than any previous year I've been here.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Aug 16 - 06:21 PM

"When you walk along the street
How often times you'll meet
Some poor old man who's getting old and grey
His age is feeble spent
In his pockets not a cent
And for shelter he has nowhere to go
His relations by the score
They'll turn him from the door
They'll meet him on a street, they'll pass him by
If you ask them why they do
They'll answer you and say,
"He is poor, he's old, he's only in the way"
Now let us cheer them all
For they won't be with us long
Don't point at them because they're old and grey
For remember while you're young
Old age to you will come
And you'll be old and grey and only in the way
There was a time, I hear
When young was not so queer
But since that time there's been an awful change
Young men with strength and might
To the parents they would strike
Yes, it happens every day, that's nothing strange
They strike for fear of toil
Whose children they would spoil
And sure for death ofttimes they do pray
For himself and faithful wife been toiling all their lives
To find they're old and only in the way."Charlie Poole

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,JHW
Date: 20 Aug 16 - 04:26 PM

Someone has told me the Regatta is on this year or is it just a ruse to keep me away?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Bloke in Grouch mask
Date: 20 Aug 16 - 02:44 PM

There's a rumour that original Musket will get there by Monday lunchtime. Been a while since I got up to Whitby and a bed has been secured till Wednesday.

I'll miss not hearing me old mate Jack's melodeon in the yard of The Plough and I'll be boring all and sundry with tales of when we used to go straight from Whitby to the "old" Stainsby festival back in the day.

Anyroad, see you there.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: sapper82
Date: 20 Aug 16 - 01:32 PM

Got here after a surprisingly easy drive up the M1/M18/A1 and across via Thirsk and Rosedale Agricultural Show.
Trying to persuade the Dearly Tolerant to work up the energy for a walk into town now.
Looking forward to the Glaisdale session tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Ebor Fiddler
Date: 17 Aug 16 - 05:13 PM

Glenn Miller music? Try the melnet meet at The Elsinore on Thursday afternoon. We play anything!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Children in Performance
Date: 17 Aug 16 - 10:38 AM

Hello all, I hope you don't mind me posting.

My name is Grace and I am part of the team that runs the Children in Performance workshop at the festival, along with Lizzie, Liz, Ellie, Lesley and Kerry.

You may remember last year that, along with the show involving all the children's workshops, our children were asked by Chrissie and Taffy Thomas to sing during the Salty Sea Tales 2 concert, along with The Wilsons, The Keelers and John Conolly, to name but a few, to raise money for the Lifeboat.

The CD of the concert is going to be released, with all profits going to the lifeboat, with the launch of the CD during the Taffy's Tunes and Tales session on the Saturday, which is 19:00-22:00 at the Brunswick Centre.

Chrissie has emailed Lizzie today asking if any children involved in the concert last year wouldn't mind singing at the launch. So I am putting a message out in case any of the parents of the children read the forum and would like their children to be involved. We are planning on having a rehearsal of the song after the 'Introduction to the week's Children's activites' (formerly known as Wot about the Kids?) event, which is at West Cliff School Hall on Saturday between 3-4:30pm, so will be finished at the very latest by 5. We hope that some of the children can make it!

You will also be able to find out what all the children's events have planned for the week. I know we have some very exciting things planned (involving pirates!) and having spoken to some of the leaders of the other children's workshops it sounds like there are lots of fun things planned for children and young people of all ages and abilities.

As ever our workshop is in West Cliff school Hall 3-5pm (though some days it starts at 3.15).

So this message ended up much longer than expected...it is safe to say I am excited for the week!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 15 Aug 16 - 03:42 AM

Just back from Broadstairs and attended a few of the woodshed sessions. The stated rules

Please buy a drink from the bar
Please contribute to the tin ( passed round once)
Please play or sing something that encourages others to join in with

just about everybody I saw or heard seemed to follow these rules as did the nominated guests.

Do a few overt rules help?
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Acorn4
Date: 14 Aug 16 - 06:38 PM

Went into a cafe a couple of years ago in Whitby on the Thursday and they were playing Glen Miller type music. Commented to the staff how it made a nice change and he said:-

"We've been trying to drown out that pub opposite - they've been playing the same six bloody songs all week!"

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: sapper82
Date: 14 Aug 16 - 03:16 PM

I'll be there with the two lads and the Dearly Tolerant with eldest lad turning up some time or another on one of his motorbikes.
Sadly, daughter will not as she's just started as a (VERY) Junior Doctor in Harlow.
At least her initial 6y of studying are over now and she's finally getting paid!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Jack Campin
Date: 13 Aug 16 - 05:43 AM

The most you can say against the travelling-singaround types is that they're making their chosen pub rather unattractive for any other musician to be in. But there are plenty of alternative places to sing or play. They're spending money in the town so the locals can't complain.

All over the UK you get the same subculture of ageing people doing the same ever-decreasing repertoire of stereotyped songs year in year out with ever less conviction around a circuit of venues. We have the same thing in southern Scotland. It's not a phenomenon created by Whitby.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,LesB
Date: 13 Aug 16 - 05:09 AM

Katy (from Burnley), you have just described what I think of as a typical singaround. Which is why I am not fond of them.
I totally agree with HenryP about the general reluctance among some folkies to dip their hands in their pockets, but the good thing about Whitby is it's ability to cater for everyone.
By the way, I will be going for 3 days this year, I haven't managed to get for several years.
Cheers Les

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 16 - 04:49 AM

In any gathering of people there are inevitably those that don't quite fit in. In spite of this the folk world,I find,is a fun and easy going place to be. Especially when I manage to accept the inevitable fact that,sometimes, there will be individuals and even whole sessions that aren't quite as perfect as me!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Raggytash
Date: 13 Aug 16 - 03:26 AM

Don't worry about it Katy, it's almost inevitable that someone will take the wrong meaning from the things they read here. By and large the folk world is brilliant, great people, great musicians and singers.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Katy from Burnley
Date: 12 Aug 16 - 08:40 PM

I suppose my original comment was a bit like a cry of frustration. The sort of people over here, who go to Whitby once a year, won't pay to see a guest, won't buy a ticket won't support local clubs unless they get to sing on the night, they won't learn new songs or in some cases even the words and read them of a typed script. They won't even listen to each other properly, they just want to sing their song and play their guitar and get applause. Some of them even violently object to anybody better than they are daring to sing at their sing around. I remember a really good singer and musician who was treated despicably at one singers night, because he threatened their little bit of kudos, and several of the regulars stared at him as if he had torn the head of their favourite teddy bear. I and my husband have stopped going to the local clubs for this reason. I would rather travel a bit further and get a decent night in a club. I was sort of getting it off my chest, and probably this thread was not the right place to do it. I will still come to Whitby though if I can, and buy a ticket or pay on the door. Sorry if I've started a row.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST,Guest - just curious
Date: 12 Aug 16 - 08:08 PM

Guest on the glorious 12th.

Where was this long running accordion and fiddle festival and what has it, or more relevantly its successor, to do with Whitby?

Or are you inferring that if Whitby Folk Week were to fold that a bigger and better free festival would appear as if by magic?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Mo the caller
Date: 12 Aug 16 - 04:19 PM

Raggy, I agree about Malcolm did in making the festival such a great participative event. Lots of people sharing their expertise.
But I share Steve's views too.

This time next week my car will be packed & I'll be 50 miles nearer Whitby than I am now.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 16 - 10:18 AM

Re--official v fringe
A very long running accordian and fiddle festival for some reason folded at least 10 years ago. The people who attended this official festival continued to turn up each year thereafter with the addition of newcomers each succeeding year. So much so that when one year the council banned the overnight parking of motorhomes the local traders spoke to a high council official and a police inspector then visited the various sites and advised the owners of the said vehicles to ignore the large 6ft. x 4ft. council notice.
This past year one had to turn up on a Thursday in order to secure a place to park a motorhome, such being the success of this unofficial festival.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Aug 16 - 10:05 AM

Hi Malcolm,
As you couldn't be bothered to read the thread I'll help you out.
There are actually no posts on this thread either criticising the festival, its organisers or the fringe either past present or future.

Current debate? Have you got this mixed up with another thread. Don't worry, we're all getting a little older.

Thank-you for your interest.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Raggytash
Date: 12 Aug 16 - 07:41 AM

A few people go there to play on a Monday (I think) so they will in all likelihood be receptive to the idea.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Jack Campin
Date: 12 Aug 16 - 07:17 AM

So the Dolphin will be open and receptive to musicians doing stuff in there, despite the change?

If so it would presumably be a good idea for people to take advantage of that (though maybe not while the Regatta is still going on). The new owners might need to be shown that musicians can get the till ringing.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Week 2016
From: Raggytash
Date: 12 Aug 16 - 05:35 AM

Malcolm did a great job as Director for 25 years and fully deserves to be thanked for the massive amount of work he did to nurse, cajole, build the festival to what is became and hopefully will remain.

I suspect it is, for the most part, a thankless task with people more than willing to complain but seldom taking the time to praise.

I, for one, salute him and the work he did.