Whitby Sessions 2011

Subject: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: JollieOllie
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 03:26 AM

Myself and my wife are off to Whitby for the first time and would really appreciate some guidance. She plays the fiddle and I play the Mandolin, both with a preference for English but not overly fussy. Which pubs/venues are the ones to head to for sessions good sessions?

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 03:28 AM

Depends very much on whether you just want music sessions or sessions where you can accompany singers

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: JollieOllie
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 03:30 AM

Sorry Raggytash, I should have been more specific. We're looking for music sessions.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 03:35 AM

The Elsinore is a very mixed bag of music from the same hard core of regulars. Middle Earth can be different stuff depending on who gets in.
The Ship tends to be mainly Irish.
Quack!

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 05:05 AM

The Station might also be worth a try.

They're all helluva crowded - problem for me as I need table space for my assortment of fragile tubular thingies.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 06:02 AM

If you are buying tickets the festival itself has numerous organised sessions in a wide variety of venues, some of which then revert to "the fringe free for all". Some of the "fringe free for all" are almost exclusively music, notably "The Ship" and the main room of the Station but there are others, they can vary from year to year, other sessions are a mixed bag of songs and tunes, and a few are almost exclusively song.

Official venues include The Middle Earth, The Fleece, The Endeavour, Fishermens Rowing Club, Friendship Rowing Club, The Ship, The Yacht Club, The Rifle Club, The Conservative Club, The Rugby Club, The Football Club and numerous other venues, cafe's, the Bnadstand, Scoreby Memorial, Pavilion etc.

Fringe venues include The Middle Earth, The Fleece, The Endeavour, The Black Horse, The Board, The Duke of York, The Black Swan, the Wellington, The Station, The Ship, The Elsinore, The Little Angel ......... I could go on.

You will see from the above list that some venues are both official and fringe, I'd recommend buying a programme as soon as possibleand starting from there, basically it's wall to wall music throughout much of the town.

However some pubs do not welcome the music, primarily the Plough and the Jolly Sailor (see threads on Sam Smiths) and one or two others are reluctant.

Cheers

Raggytash

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 07:38 AM

Elsinore in the evenings is mostly English tunes(no songs)

Gerry

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Mo the caller
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 09:09 AM

You don't need a season ticket for the 'official' pub music sessions. They are in pubs so couldn't stop anyone wandering in. Someone might come round with a collecting bucket (and a lot of season ticket holders do come). In the programme they will be marked with price code A (donations encouraged). All events are free if you have a season ticket, most also have a price code for casual attenders A-N, last year N was £14, workshops were £5. Cheaper to buy a season if you want to go to a lot, or pop in and out of different events, but not if you want sessions mostly.
Yes, buy a programme as soon as they come out and for the official sessions do a bit of research in the programme on the session leaders. They all have different ways of running sessions (round the room / jump in / leaders start all the tunes and everyone joins in). And different bias in tunes. E.g. if led by someone who plays Irish music expect a lot of Irish tunes (and other tunes because not everyone who comes will know that), if from Sussex you might get Scan Tester tunes.
May Cheadle runs a "Not quite good enough for a session" where tunes are played at a crawl for people new to sessions or struggling with a new instrument. (I went back last year with new accordian, very helpful)
George Garside runs some excellent sessions for those starting sessioning. He invites suggestions for tunes and if enough people know the tune we play it (led by the suggester, if they want, or someone else). He doesn't let tunes get too fast, just a nice steady pace.
Other sessions may go faster or play less well known tunes.
It would be nice to know who else is running sessions this year and what their specialities are, there is always so much at Whitby that you only find out after you've missed it (or missed something else to go to something which isn't what you expected). Perhaps this thread could be used as a Mudcat joint research project.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: JollieOllie
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 12:20 PM

Thank you everyone for the wealth of information that is being posted here. What more could a newbie to Whitby ask for? Please keep it coming, not only for my sake but everyone else's too.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 12:24 PM

Programmes are likely to be available in shops in Whitby next week. But…be prepared for a surprise!

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Les from Hull
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 12:58 PM

Maggie and I will be running the evening sessions in the Endeavour again. That's   usually singing of all sorts, but we like a tune or two as well for them people what does both (increasingly rare these days, more's the pity).

We would be happy to have one of these evenings as a Mudgather, shall we provisionally say Tuesday?

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Jul 11 - 01:42 PM

There was also an interesting "continental" (mostly French) session in the Resolution in the early afternoons last year - I've never seen so many hurdy-gurdies in one place. Count me in if that's going to happen again. The room was quiet enough that we could actually hear each other properly.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: JHW
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 06:10 AM

JC thanks for the tip about the Resolution - no I mean I'm a fan of them

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 05:39 PM

PROGRAMMES ARE OUT!!!! I got mine today from the Tourist Information Centre opposite The Station. Hooray!

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Jul 11 - 06:18 PM

There are odd spots all over town where sessions can be made to happen.

I had an idea for a session for limited-range instruments:

Tunes spanning a ninth

Up to 270-something tunes now.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Chris Partington
Date: 21 Jul 11 - 05:08 AM

The Board on the East Side (Eat Sideboard?) is mainly English tunes, depending who turns up. They also did good cheap meals last year.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 11 - 06:30 AM

season ticket holders usually receive a request to send off for their programmes, but I havent received one yet .. anyone else received theirs yet???

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Mo the caller
Date: 21 Jul 11 - 10:41 AM

Jack,
your "idea for a session for limited-range instruments" is OK as long as all the insruments have the SAME limited range.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 07:54 AM

First sessions of the festival on the Saturday are:-

1-3 Fishermans Rowing Club led by Tom Napper and Ciaran Boyle
1-3 Conservative Club led by 422
5-7 Middle Earth led by Workshy Profits
5-7 Fishermans Rowing Club led by English Rebellion
8-10 Fishermans Rowing Club led by Dyson Bloomer Hunt

Sunday

1-3 Fishermans Rowing Club led by Peeping Tom
1-3 Conservative Club led by Dan Quin
5-7 Fishermans Rowing Club led by John Kirkpatrick
5-7 Conservative Club led by Moor Music


I hope by Monday you'll have had the chance to peruse the programme for yourself !

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Mo the caller
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 12:02 PM

That's useful.
Am I right in thinking Dan Quin plays the Scan Tester tunes, so we can expect more Southern tunes than at the 422 session who are from the NE

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 01:10 PM

Please, what is a Scan Tester Tune?

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 01:26 PM

A Scan Tester is rather like a melodeon that originated in Suffolk UK

Sez Gerry who would n't dream of pulling the wool over anyones eyes

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 01:36 PM

And to answer your question properly Scan Tester was a Melodeon player from Suffolk/Sussex who along with Walter Bulwer and others was a big influence on people with an interest in English tunes

Gerry

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Ann N
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 02:37 PM

Got a programme on Thursday and ended up digging out Stuart's old magnifying aids to read the miniscule print in the events listing :)

That said it looks a good week and the highlighter pen's been busy marking away, oh for a Tardis to get to everything.

Scan Tester was also a famous Anglo concertina player :D

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Spectacled Warbler
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 06:03 AM

Anybody know if anything's happening the Friday evening before the official start?   Music or singing, either is good. A day off work means I'm going across early.

Joy

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 07:01 AM

There's normally a session or two around the town, try the Station, Endeavour and Black Horse for starters

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: stallion
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 07:21 AM

some stop off at york for the friday night session now at the shoulder of mutton, heworth.....it is on the malton road out of york

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 08:02 PM

Anything going on late on the final Friday? Last year everything seemed to go phut before midnight.

Or the Saturday morning at the end?

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Spectacled Warbler
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 10:15 PM

Thanks all.   My b'n'b's in Whitby Friday, so I won't make it to Heworth, but looks as though there'll be a good night to be had in Whitby anyhow. Can't wait!

Thanks again,

Joy

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 03:20 AM

ah! memories, havent been there since the early 1970s, but still remember the good times camping up by the abbey, singing in most of the pubs, sleeping on fish crates on the quay, wondering how i survived, fueled only by beer and fish and chips( no coelacanth!) hope you all have a ball this year, i am 12,000 miles away in the antipodes, more of our lost colonies across the sea, jock.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Guest Andy
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 04:54 AM

Tip for newbies to whitby
                         Photocopy the map from a Whitby program showing where all the different venues are on the street plan and put it in a plastic sleeve or encapsulate it.It could save you a lot of walking time in the rain (or taxi fares)

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: gnomad
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 05:45 AM

On the subject of that map, this year's programme has it in two bits marked "West Side" and "East Side". Strangers should read with care, as although all the places on the WS map are on the West side, so are 11 out of the 16 which appear on the ES map. Don't just assume you need to cross the bridge. Incidentally, North is (somewhat unconventionally) to the right on these maps

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Ann N
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 03:27 PM

Just 2 more days to go :D

The events listings got enlarged on the photocopier for ease of reading, everything's (nearly) ready for friends arriving sometime on Saturday and there's (hopefully) enough in the melodeon repair fund to get it seen to ...... then all that remains is to learn to play it :)

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Willa
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 03:52 PM

Hi Ann N
Will not get my prog till I arrive; can you tell me which events are in the Brunswick Rooms on Sun/Mon 11 till 2.30?

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Rozza
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 03:58 PM

Sunday & Monday: 11.30am -12.50pm Singing in Harmony

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Ann N
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 05:06 PM

and ......
Sunday 1pm to 2.20pm Johnny Handle's Recitation Workshop
Monday 1pm to 2.20pm Ceilidh Band Workshop with David Oliver

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 17 Aug 11 - 05:15 PM

Come along to the English Rebellion session on Saturday at 5pm. It will be English tunes led by Nick & Mary Barber, Anahata and myself.
Also come along to the workshops from Sunday - Tuesday at 10am (at the Fisherman's Rowing Club) where you can enjoy learning to play for dancing, using some good English tunes.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: John J
Date: 17 Aug 11 - 05:25 PM

We'll just be visiting this year, arriving on Monday, staying until Tuesday afternoon :-(

Hope to meet up with Les & Maggie again!

John

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Jack Campin
Date: 17 Aug 11 - 06:32 PM

The programme is a bit short of information about the leaders of some of the workshops - e.g. there's nothing to explain who English Rebellion and the Barbers are. It's good to know it's Mary and Anahata and their collaborators.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: Willa
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 05:08 AM

Rozza and Ann N
Thanks. I'm stewarding those. Great!
Might get to FRC too, Anahata.

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Steve Lane
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 05:36 AM

There will be Eurosessions in the Resolution daily from 3-5pm. Last year's format worked well and there is room in the main bar for both musicians and dancing.
Steve

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: tijuanatime
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 07:12 AM

I notice that the Resolution isn't being used for any official festival events: anybody know why that is?

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Aj
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 02:43 AM

Great sessions @ Station last night. Singing in one room & music in both bars. Brill group in small room flute, whistle, guitars & concertina. Going in today to try to hear them again

Subject: RE: Whitby Sessions 2011
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 05:36 AM

I think there was some doubt as to whether the Resolution would still be open, rumours abounded at one time it was about to close.