Whitby FF to move to Bridlington

Subject: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 12:19 PM

Last year at Whitby FF there was talk that if the Regatta clashed again with the FF that the organiser would move it to Bridlington, next year the Reggatta once again clashes do any Mudcatters know if the move will go ahead?

Subject: RE: Resetting cookie
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 12:26 PM

Are you serious?

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Chris Partington
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 02:33 PM

What is your motive for asking this just as we are about to set off for our annual holidays? To give us something to talk about in between tunes?
The Regatta next year may or may not be an issue but your timing is crap.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: nutty
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 02:39 PM

I understood that the two events could have clashed this year but the Regatta Committee gracefully moved their event. Ensuring that the businesses in Whitby benefited from two busy weekends.
Hopefully the same thing will apply next year.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Ann N
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 02:50 PM

Regatta dates ......

2012 18th,19th and 20th of August

2013 10th,11th and 12th of August

2014 9th, 10th and 11th of August

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 03:00 PM

It's Whitby Folk Week, not Folk Festival.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: foggers
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 06:03 PM

Whitby has already graciously sent its "Musicport" festival down the coast to Bridlington when it outgrew the Pavilion.... Surely they can't do the same with folk week!!??!!

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 09:18 PM

Heard that Glastonbury is moving to Doncaster. Don't know if it's true.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 10:49 PM

I heard that Doncaster is moving to Goole, to be closer to the water. Don't know if it's true. ;-)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 03:18 AM

Curiously Otley is staying in Otley, but this is just a rumour.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: theleveller
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 04:00 AM

"I heard that Doncaster is moving to Goole, to be closer to the water. Don't know if it's true. ;-)"

Bloody hell, it's bad enough living near Goole, let alone Doncaster as well. If that happens, I'll be moving.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 05:07 AM

Sorry folks,having read the original posting on this thread carefully I think what Tatterfoal is asking is, the organiser of the Regatta is thinking of moving it to Bridlington. Now this could work quite well as Brid is very short of rowers and so would benefit from the move. The Folk Week however, has to stay in Whitby because its 'Whitby' folk week and if it moved to Brid it would, by definition, be 'Bridlington' folk week. So its Whitby Folk Week at Whitby I'm afraid Tatterfoal. Hope you manage to find something else to talk about at Whitby next week, or you could just enjoy the music and dancing?

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: brid widder
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 05:35 AM

I heard that Goole is moving to Glastonbury... I think it's just a rumour

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 07:00 AM

This was mooted as a serious alternative, as a regular Whitby attendee I book next years accomocation this year and do not want to be caught out in a change of venue if anyone knows for certain it would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 07:43 AM

The dates for next years Whitby Folk Week are printed in this years programme and we have heard nothing of a move. There is indeed another clash next year although in past years I do not feel this has disruped the Folk Week - the main day of regatta is just the Monday and mainly takes place on West Cliff and the West Pier.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 08:31 AM

As the person who put next years dates in the programme I can safely reiterate that Whitby Folk Week is at Whitby next year. It was never mooted as a serious alternative in fact it was never, as far as I know, even mooted as an amusing distraction. So…book your next years accomodation, get your season tickets at the early-bird discount, then get down there for tomorrows start and have a great week.
cheers
Paul

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 09:10 AM

Rest assured, Glastonbury is not moving to Goole - there is too much mud in Goole.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 09:13 AM

Thanks for that will book with confidence.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Susan of DT
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 09:38 AM

So when is Whitby Folk Week next year? We need to make arrangements soon. (We come over in alternate years.)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 10:34 AM

Whitby Folk Week 2012 is 18th to 24th August. Its at Whitby, North Yorkshire, UK.
Do not book accomodation elsewhere! :-)
Look forward to seeing you there.
Paul

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 10:36 AM

Whitby, Ontario not doing much that week then?

Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 10:37 AM

Just to save you having to send for a 2011 programme Susan, I can tell you it will be on 18th to 24th August 2012.

Don't let t'management know that I have given away this information for free - it could get you into trouble!!

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 10:40 AM

Don't forget the Whitby near Liverpool Geoff.

I suppose WFW could always move there - or maybe the regatta could?

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: r.padgett
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 11:37 AM

I'm stressed out enough already, stop frightening me!

Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 12:55 PM

Chorlton is staying in Chorlton, as is The Beech Inn (M21 9EG) but now the Metro has reached Chorlton - Manchester may well come to Chorlton.

Wednesday Nights

L still in C#

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 01:54 PM

Precisely my point Geoff. What Guest guest hasn't pointed out Susan, is that the programme from last year doesn't work anymore. The new programme is well worth ordering if only to gasp in amazement at the fact that Whitby FW can Change! :-)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Susan of DT
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 03:29 PM

As long as there is still a two hour ballad session every day! Buying and sending even little things across the pond gets to be a nuisance, so I had not considered ordering a program. Aug 24 is early enough not to conflict with my teaching fall semester - just cuts very badly into my time to tailor the online class before the students see it.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 09:28 PM

Looking at the 2011 programme with its lack of dates and days it would appear that the intention is that this is now THE programme and all that will alter will be the artistes.

For those new to Whitby it might help with the map if you equate west to north and east to south.

Just trying to help!

Finally - why fix something that wasn't broken?

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Surreysinger
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 12:28 PM

I must admit that the glossy programmes were interesting, and at least achieved the split between programme and information about artists. I must admit that the map was one thing that I did find rather awkward and a tad illogical in layout, split as it was between two pages. Difficult to marry the two pages up together if you were going from one side of town to the other, even if you know the town reasonably well - and that is said as someone who is an adept map reader normally. (Sorry Paul, we'll probably have to disagree on that one.)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 01:13 PM

Here's a reply to several of the notes above

Guest writes; 'it would appear that the intention is that this is now THE programme and all that will alter will be the artistes'

Sorry Guest, but I was getting a bit fed up of the jibes like, 'don't buy a WFW programme, just photocopy last years!' The current format is in response to demands for a more portable document. It does not require that the document is dismantled in order to seperate the events from the artists. This is done so often that the portrait format had outlived its usefulness. The current format can easily be folded to A6 size and slotted into a pocket. The format may well be used again next year but, since it has taken years to get this much change I was still unable to make the changes I wanted. This has resulted in some things not being as I wished them to be but I don't make the financial decisions. The Whitby Folk Week is, in my opinion, the most important folk festival in the UK and it deserves all the support it can get, it also deserves something more than a formulaic programme which is too thick to close and poorly executed in black and white. It was, for the 21st century, undoubtedly broken! It will, if I have anything to do with it, be different next year and an improvement on this years effort.

We had loads of positive comments on the inclusion of events numbers next to artists names. The problems with legibility in the events section arose because at the 11th hour the printing was taken out of my hands and the person who went to the printer allowed themself to be given blue paper. The events should have been on the 'traditional' yellow which has a higher reflectivity and therefore legibility.Because of concerns over costs, I was not allowed to include the single additional sheet of paper which would have permitted a significant increase in font size. (Lets make it clear, I'm just a soldier here, I have no say at all in the running of the festival)

Irene, map reading is, as you say, a skill. When looking at a map many people orientate it according to what they can see such as the river and the sea. It's different but its not 'illogical'. That of course is the nub of things. Tradition is a process of continuity and change. The changes are small but for some a bridge too far. Would you prefer the old orientation but half the size it was?

Susan, there's a two hour 'Ballad Concert' every day where you can hear some really great singers singing ballads. If you want to participate forget it. The huge numbers of excellent ballad singers we had in the past have no forum for their talents and are now, after two years disappointment, voting with their feet. One artist told me proudly that she had managed to get songs from six floorsingers. We had twenty or so as you know. As one who runs ballad 'sessions' at other UK festivals I can tell you that Whitby has some catching up to do.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Raggytash
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 02:36 PM

I feel a great deal of empathy with the organisers and stewards of the festival, they do a fantastic job year in year out. Many people I spoke to thought the new format of the progamme was a vast improvement on the previous layout, yes it wasn't perfect, yes the colour of the events section wasn't as user friendly as it might have been, yes the map may have been a tad confusing to a first time visitor. However overall, given the massive constraints that Paul and his colleagues work under, it was a damned good effort. I do not know Paul and have no need to back him other that an ackowledgement of the huge amount of effort that is put into the festival, a good deal by unpaid volunteers. If anyone has to put forward a criticism I would suggest that it should be done in a constructive manner. I applaud the work done by the team involved in the running of the festival, long may they, and the festival, prosper.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 02:48 PM

Much appreciated Raggytash. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Jack's Rake
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 03:04 PM

We'd like to "hear hear" the above.

In recent years there have been clamourings for the events section to be a seperate entity; this year it was and it made the whole thing much more "user friendly" - in our opinion, of course.

I agree with the comments regarding the colour of the events pages - I found some of it difficult to read and I'm "only" mid forties.

Regarding the map, I didn't notice any change from previous years. I assume that that's because the area is familiar to me... or vice versa.

Cheers.

Mark & Catherine

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 03:47 PM

Well done with the new programme Paul. Just a minor comment - Bryony's Yoof Club was not listed as a children's event with the triangle symbol which may have led some to overlook it and did cause a little confusion when a few folk turned up thinking it was a performance by the younger artists.
We have booked a cottage for next year and have no intention of going to Brid :)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Tig
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 06:12 PM

Apart from the blue paper (I didn't think that would be your idea Paul)
the only addition I would like would be a list of the artistes names and where they were going to be, when.

I spent ages trying to hunt for a couple of the guests and this would have made finding them so much easier. Even a list of names with the event numbers would work.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 06:16 PM

Interesting suggestion Tig - noted

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 06:25 PM

Is it possible to include what type of dance the workshops are in the prog.   I.E. Conta,Playford,English Folk etc. other than that I was o.k. with the new format the performers event was an improvement keep it up.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 07:25 AM

Paul

What about having the programme bit in reporters notebook format with the fold at the top?

This would acheive your desire to be able to fold it to A6 and slip in the pocket whilst at the same time saving at least 2 pages (this year) which would have accommodated your other idea.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: nutty
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 08:24 AM

I only made it for a few days this year and it's likely that the next two festivals will be the same. I would appreciate some flexibility on ticket prices. as well as the season ticket could we also have 6, 5 ,4, 3 day tickets offered on a sliding scale when bought at Festival Office, this would alleviate the scramble to pay at the door.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:05 AM

Some interesting suggestions re programme. I shall investigate. Thanks

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:44 AM

Picking up on Pauls comment above, I much preferred the Ballad sessions a couple of years ago, where I got to hear a range of singers, not just festival artists,( especially as some of these start by saying they don't really sing ballads) If this is going to be a concert where we just listen, why is it listed as a session? As is often the case when one of the festival artists takes responsibility for running the 2 hours and gives someone from the floor a chance to sing, they tend to pick singers they know, or those suggested to them, leaving little chance for most of us. These are not songs that are welcome in most sing arounds - I think Whitby should look at what is being done at other festivals, for example Warwick, and give those who have paid and come to share what they enjoy with others a chance to sing. One day this year there were only 4 songs not from festival artists, this has just become another concert, some interesting conversations this year about looking at other festivals next year.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:52 AM

Sorry that 10.05 posting was me…cookie seems to have timed out.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:58 AM

Guest…(not me by the way) I tend to agree. Liz and I ran the Ballads session at Warwick this year and the interactive session was very clearly what was expected. Similarly at Holmfirth, also this year. This is the common practice at other festivals as well as at the Sheffield Ballads club and at the Lewes Ballads forums. The Whitby organisers, despite one of the most successful ballad sessions I've ever been in during 2009 decided to revert to the rather ponderous concert format for the last two years. I do not know why this is. However, Whitby tends to place too many artists in the session for them to get more than a couple of ballads in. Thanks for your comments though and hopefully you will reconsider and come back to Whitby next year.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 11:15 AM

I liked the new format for the programme, but all the other people I went with complained about the blue paper (I am so shortsighted I can read it from four inches away, so that didn't bother me).

Again, this year the more serious problem was the absence of any advance info that gives a newcomer a realistic idea of what they'll find. We brought two friends who had never been before - they were willing to trust my word for it that it was worth getting a season ticket and sharing half the rent on a house, but not many people will take a gamble like that on something where they have NO idea of the scope of the programme. I would have liked to show them last year's programme, but I couldn't find our paper copies and there was no copy of it on the web. Why on earth couldn't that be made available?

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 05:00 PM

I would have liked there to be more floor spots at the Con club folk club. Five festival guests was too much I think and should have had more from the audience.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: skipy
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 05:29 PM

Glatonbury has moved to google, I've pictures of it there on Google images!
Skipy

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Susan of DT
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 08:56 PM

Paul - concerning ballad singing by nonprofessionals at festivals: the Old Songs Festival in Altamont NY each June usually has at least one ballad workshop where we all sit and listen to the performers on stage, which is, of course, very enjoyable. But in addition, for the last 5 years or so, there has been an additional, unofficial "guerrilla ballad workshop" which does not appear on the schedule (signs are posted in the bathrooms about it) and is held early in the morning (8:30 am) before the official events claim the workshop venues. We sit around in a circle or at a picnic table and sing ballads to each other. It is wonderful. Remember that American festivals are usually outside at large isolated areas like fairgrounds or schools.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,Pedant
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 09:07 PM

The word is sepArate - just in the interest of accuracy!

In my experience it is one of the most misspelt words in the English language.

There is not a word in English taht begins sepe....

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: GUEST,Pedant with dyxlexic fingers
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 09:09 PM

It's that

Subject: RE: Whitby FF to move to Bridlington
From: Howard Kaplan
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:01 PM

Concerning the format of the printed schedule, I'd find it very helpful if each page (or just each left-hand page) had a heading showing the day. In approximately half of the two-facing-page spreads, neither page has a day name on it, making it hard to know where one is in the week without turning the page.