Anything going on in Torquay?

Subject: Anything going on in Torquay?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 05:12 PM

We have been all over the country. From Yarmouth down to Scarborough, to quote a song title, and beyond. But never been further south west than Weymouth.

I intend putting this right and have heard that Torquay is a good place to visit in the south west. Is it? Looks a bit touristy to me but is it any more so than St Isaac and it's Fishermans Friends or Rick Steins Padstow?

Advice of any sort and, in particular, on the folk scene there. Beraing in mind it may only be a short vist (and a long drive!)

Cheers

MP

Subject: RE: Anything going on in Torquay?
From: GUEST,SteveT
Date: 16 Apr 11 - 05:24 AM

I don't really get that far south but I suggest you check out Devon Folk at http://www.2leftfeet.co.uk/ or Flaxey Green at http://www.flaxey-green.co.uk/Pages/Welcome.html . These give a good round-up of folk clubs/sessions etc throughout Devon.

Clubs I do know about are:

Brixham Folk Club, first Friday
Totnes Folk club, second Thursday
Teignmouth Folk Club, last Thursday

Of course there's the Brixham Pirate and Shanty Festival at the end of April and the Teignmouth Folk Festival 17th – 19th June as well.

As far as my own view: I'd hate to undermine the tourist industry but there are reasons I don't go to Torquay itself, with much quieter seaside villages and Dartmoor on the doorstep I tend to avoid the ice cream and candyfloss, but it certainly attracts plenty of people so it is to the taste of some.

If you're just looking for the Southwest and folk, what about the Sidmouth festival (seaside and a full week of sessions/singarounds and/or concerts), or the Dartmoor Folk Festival (a proper "local-feeling" festival with a great line up on the edge of Dartmoor)?