Whitby FF seems very quiet this year

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Ann N
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 03:35 AM

Whoops ... that should have been Wednesday .... Friday it hoyed it down, water wings optional :)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Ann N
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 03:05 AM

"Oddly, I didn't spot any blind people at Whitby all week - an extraordinary number of people with motor disabilities that you'd think Whitby was far less accommodating for, but nobody with a guide dog or white stick"

:) There were at least 2, both with the very long white canes :) One gentleman with the Scratch Morris and a superb whistle player who briefly joined the Scratch Band both outside and inside the Shambles on Friday when we were playing/singing/dancing :D
Once the long canes were folded and tucked away no-one could tell who was blind :)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 08:40 PM

The fringe campsite by which I presume you mean the Community College never was dog friendly.

If it has been so in recent years it will only have been by omission.

Dog shit and children are not a good mix.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: stallion
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 05:57 PM

yea, possibly reflects the folk demographic, I couldn't find my nitrate spray and had to leave without one, Rob said bloody hell it's a folk festival there is bound to be someone there you can get a squirt from if you nneed it!

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 02:22 PM

Big thanks (NOT) to the dog owners on last years Fringe site for it now to be non dog friendly.

Except for guide dogs, why on earth would you bring a dog to the festival? What would you do with it while you were at an event?

(Oddly, I didn't spot any blind people at Whitby all week - an extraordinary number of people with motor disabilities that you'd think Whitby was far less accommodating for, but nobody with a guide dog or white stick).

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 12:44 PM

If everyone does not buy a ticket there will be no festival to have a fringe at!

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: squeezeboxhp
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 12:36 PM

back in cookie land.
had a great Whitby as i have had most years since it started as a weekender.
the idea of a Wetherspoons sounds great it may encourage the landlords of Whitby pubs to charge a realistic price for the beer and in the case of the Elsinor an attempt at keeping John Smiths in drinkable condition at £3.15 a pint and in poor order.
the sessions i was involved in were tea time at the Station with impromptu get together with whoever was about.
Middle Earth 5.00 - 7.00 , Conservative afternoon session.(good ale @ right price)
regarding same old tunes, they are still good to be inclusive when folk from all over the country meet to play standard tunes eg Fiddlers Tune Book, Community Dance Manuals etc.or any of the popular session tune books.
I do not buy a ticket these days as the days of sessioning all day and dancing all night are not an option.
Big thanks (NOT) to the dog owners on last years Fringe site for it now to be non dog friendly.
Overall enjoyed it very much and will see all who i met again next year

Ken C

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 31 Aug 11 - 08:29 AM

Must put in a good word for May Cheadle who did the "Not yet ready for a full session" slots each lunchtime. The Spa foyer is a great space and May leads the session with enthusiasm and wit. Very helpful for the less confident player who wants to try to play by ear. May is also an excellent tutor for tin whistles!

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Frank Lee
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 07:54 PM

Date beer? Must try it before they sell-out again!

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: stallion
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 05:52 PM

mmmmmmm interesting, i never said they sold out of date beer, their business model is based on buying beer that has only a short shelf life left, like buying up overproduction and, turning it over quickly by selling it cheap and they are very good at it

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Diva
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 10:01 AM

Had a braw time, loads of highlights. Great to catch up with friends who I only see at Whitby

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 09:48 AM

The Fleece was full in the daytime sessions from Tuesday onwards also.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Folkiedave
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 08:53 AM

I would say that a Wetherspoon pub (N.B. spelling) would be infinitely preferable to the Angel as I saw last week.

Every time I have been in one of their pubs the beer has been cracking and well-priced. The food likewise. Not haute cuisine but perfectly fine to fill a hole.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Lowden Jameswright
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 08:45 AM

The Fleece was rammed every night from Sunday through to Friday, and was (as usual) rocking. Some afternoon sessions were not as busy as in previous years; maybe there weren't as many people there this year. As for being "exceptionally quiet" Nick then I'd suggest maybe Sunday afternoon is not the best time.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Ann N
Date: 30 Aug 11 - 06:25 AM

Jack, there's an e-mail on the way with some pdf's and a link to a Finnish tune site :)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 07:31 PM

Ann N: swap you. Can you give me any pointers to the Finnish tunes you played?

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 04:51 PM

I guess that the answer is to never assume that something is quiet based on 3 hours experience.

Timing - essence of good comedy and at the heart of conflict

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 03:50 PM

the out of date beer is pure bollocks

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 12:16 PM

Without wishing to divert this thread from its main thrust ie. music and song, Wetherspoon's CEO Tim Martin has always come across to me as being open to ideas, as opposed to Sam Smiths' inflexibility so to my mind there are positives here for the Angel, going forward.   
However the 'almost out of date beer' concept as policy, is frankly risible. I guess it all depends on which of their houses at any particular given time you've had the misfortune to experience it! Beer is only as good as the person looking after it, and if a "best before" sticker has ever appeared on a pump clip, that one has eluded me!

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 11:33 AM

Have to say that Whittlesey with Weatherspoons is infinitely preferrable to Whittlesey without them. (The George must have paid for its refurbishment in that one weekend)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: stallion
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 11:21 AM

that was not intended as a jibe but a comment on the weatherspoons "ethic", which i think it is eminantly better than pouring it down the drain, some of my friends wouldn't have a drink out if weatherspoons were not selling cheap beer.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 09:59 AM

Surely they are easier to deal with than Sam Smiths re The Plough a few years ago -

thread.cfm?threadid=86510#1610098

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: treewind
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 09:30 AM

"buy in almost out of date beer and sell it cheap"

They are religious about pumping water through the pipes between barrels and their turnover must be fast enough that the beer's never actually out of date. I've never had a bad pint at a Wetherspoons.

Their "no music" policy might be a cause for concern, but the new Wetherspons at Whittlesey got a temporary music licence for the Straw Bear weekend, so the company is not completely inflexible about that.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: stallion
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 08:58 AM

buy in almost out of date beer and sell it cheap

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 08:16 AM

I have it on the best of authority that Wetherspoons has an application in for the Angel on the quayside and that it's more or less certain to be granted. I don't know how you all feel about the Wetherspoons ethic - personally I think the buildings, (and they're not always pubs) that have been taken over by them are far preferable being licensed rather than posh apartments conversions. Some Wetherspoons are even residential - I've stayed in their establishments in Bewdley and Tewkesbury - very reasonably priced and well-apointed - this would undoubedly help the on-going Whitby accommodation shortfall. In addition, I've never seen any trouble kick off in a J D Wetherspoons house.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Surreysinger
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 08:09 AM

Thanks for the clarification there Raggytash. I hadn't appreciated from Anne N's posting that there had been a Regatta the week before we turned up. Shame that it will coincide for two further years :-(

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Ann N
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 07:51 AM

Hello Jack,   I've just downloaded the dots for Lamma Bada Yatathanna and am looking for videos of it on youtube to listen to :) Hopefully next year it'll be up to speed to play at the Euro session :D

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: stallion
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 07:43 AM

Yes the "packed out" bit was certainly true of the station when i was in there, indeed the singaround session in the front room was rammed, I couldn't get in! I did stand outside in the rain and listened through the windows which was enjoyable

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: r.padgett
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 07:04 AM

I was busy in the Conservative club and did a quite a bit of walking as recuperation

of course official venues now tend to be t'other side from the Harbour and good to see so many old friends

Back next year, God willing

Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Ann N
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 06:35 AM

I did put in the post that it would coincide NEXT year :) the list of events was a brief rundown of the highlights of this year's Regatta ( omitting the lowlights of the holidaying drunks) :-)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,surreysinger sans cookie
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 05:40 AM

This year? No Regatta in evidence this year that I noticed - and last year the Red Arrows didn't make it because of the ghastly weather (although not as bad as this year). I have to agree with Paul's last sentence - I received warnings from more than one local not to walk alone at night last year ... and comments from various local traders who were less than happy with the rowdy element that the Regatta drags in.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,whitby virgin
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 05:38 AM

i had a great time in the not advertised sessions in Friendship rowing club

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 05:37 AM

There was no clash with the Regatta this year, Regatta occurred the weekend prior to WFW, however in 2012 and 2013 the two events will coincide.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 05:33 AM

Or look on it as a major problem with less accomodation available and a domination of the main dance spots (of which there are very few now) Add to that running a gauntlet of drunken youths on the way back from the pavilion at night and it hardly seems an asset to the Folk Week.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Ann N
Date: 29 Aug 11 - 02:40 AM

The Resolution might not have been on the 'official' list of venues but it was a great unofficial on for the daily Euro music sessions :)

Regatta will coincide with the first 3 days of Folk Week next year, this year as well as all the rowing races there were the Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a 4K fun run, under 11 beach football festival, Vintage and Classic car rally, Birds of prey and all the usual stalls and fairground rides on the Monday topped off by the fireworks :D Look on it as a bonus for keeping family who may not want to go to workshops and concerts amused :)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 06:53 PM

Regatta is three days Dave, Sat though to Monday.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Folkiedave
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 06:50 PM

Last two years Regatta Week has also been the same time as folk week.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 06:39 PM

It was easier to get over the bridge because the pavement has been widened by a foot either side. Nothing to do with numbers of people. :-)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 06:19 PM

Is the Resolution undergoing terminal disintegration or what?

Astonishing to see the Angel gone. Last year it was packed all the time (nothing to do with Folk Week but it looked like that location was a licence to print money).

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Surreysinger
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 06:13 PM

Two venues lost? Were these the two locations in the Resolution? If so, there is the matter of the addition of the Brunswick Rooms to the list of venues to consider - vastly better than the concert room in the Resolution - much better acoustic, and better sight lines.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: vectis
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 04:28 PM

It was much easier to get over the bridge than usual so I think there may have been fewer people in town than usual. The loss of two concert venues meant that the remaining venues were packed and some people were muttering about not buying a season in future because they couldn't get into places because non-ticket holders had filled the venues. Some venues seemed to be short of stewards, or were they just short of experienced stewards who could control the venues properly? I dunno.

I had a lovely week and the Endeavour Maratime sessions raised over £1600 for the lifeboats. FANTASTIC!

I'll be back next year for sure.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Jack's Rake
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 01:55 PM

Regarding exclusive sessions, I guess, like anywhere else, it depends where you go. We tend to frequent the "ad hoc" sessions in the Fleece, Golden Lion, Station and, occasionally, the Middle Earth. While there are sometimes periods in some of them when a small group of people (often, I'm sad to say, people whose names are in the programme) seem to want to take over, the sessions in these venues always appear to welcome all comers. Likewise the Ship and the Board whe we tend to go to listen rather than join in.



Regarding the OP, the places mentioned above seemed as busy as any other year in the evenings but less so in the afternoons. I suspect the good weather may have had some influence.

Cheers.

Mark & Catherine.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 01:53 PM

This was my first full body immersion - spending a whole week at Whitby, and I found it a marvellous experience. It was a real festival for joining in among friends, everyone seemed to have something to contribute which made it such a huge pleasure to be part of.

The Crystal Spirit event to commemorate the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War was one personal highlight, and I also greatly enjoyed the concert celebrating Peter Bellamy. The lunchtime ballad sessions at the Conservative Club were excellent, and so were the Traditional Nights at the Football Club although I had to miss out on some of these due to problems with the Law of Bilocation. I'm still laughing at some of Jack Lynch's stories. Hissyfit were great to see in action; Linda's songs are so powerful. Ray Hearne's song for adults with learning disabilities 'Things To Say' is a song I am definitely going to use.

It felt a huge privilege to listen to Sheila Stewart talk about her life, and also to hear Thomas MacCarthy and Simon Doyle share their songs and tunes.

Congratulations to Jerry Simons for winning the songwriting competition with 'Living Momently'; when he sang it at the Rifle Club on Friday night it was thrilling to have Chris Miles's voice join in from behind me. It is a lovely song which I think stands well in the tradition of Harry Clifton's motto songs.

On a personal note thanks to Rob, the room steward in the Conservative Club, for reuniting me with my wallet!

Matthew

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Ann N
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 12:36 PM

A great week, just waved my friends off, they've bagged my spare room for next year already :)

Really enjoyed the Early Music workshops and Concert, hope 'The Night Watch' are booked again next year.

Seemed to spend most of the free 'non-workshop' time either with the 'Infamous Scratch Morris Band' or in the Resolution at the Euro sessions.

...... and .... possibly a 1st for the Scratch Morris archives... on the way back home on Friday I detoured into St. Ninians for a cuppa and about 5mins later the church was filled with the sounds of Ode to Joy followed by Cwm Rhondda for church organ with all the stops out and concertina :D

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: dozy rozy
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 11:25 AM

I had a fab time and it was anything but quiet.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 11:25 AM

Acorn4 writes 'have now decided to ditch Shrewsbury in favour of Whitby as its' actually very much more of a "Folk" Festival.'
This is so good to hear. There's a lot of criticism about the festival which all too frequently revolves around the issue of who's booked and who isn't. The fact is that the management, love 'em or hate 'em, have never lost sight of the fact that it's a 'folk' week! Mind you, Liz and I got an actual soundcheck at the Metropole thanks to two very professional young chaps. Now that shows WFW can change! :-)

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 11:13 AM

We found ourselves in the Friendship singing session in the evening which had the advantage of allowing us to take the children. Many of the pubs ask them to leave just as the music is getting going so it was nice to be able to go somewhere as a family. When they weren't with us we went to Les and Maggies singarounds at the Endeavour which were brilliant with a real mix of songs and some stories. We also got into every room in the Station and the Elsinore and the Resolution after hours one night. Whitby Scratch danced in and out and we had after dance sings in the Golden Lion. We saw other sides dancing as we went round too. We didn't have season tickets (eldest daughter did) but found plenty to do and also paid to go to a few events during the week. Cottage booked for next year!

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Les from Hull
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 10:51 AM

The Mudgather was mentioned on the Whitby Singarounds thread some time before the week, as it was a singaround first and a Mudgather second. We mainly have singing in the Endeavour evening sessions. I'm sorry that some people missed out. Must try harder.

Although Maggie and I don't have season tickets because of running the Endeavour evenings, during the day we're at workshops, concerts etc, or out with Whitby Scratch Morris.

The point about the many free events in pubs (including the half a day at the Bay) organised by the Festival Committee and the many fringe events is well made and gives Whitby Folk Week it's unique flavour and for us will always be our favourite festival.

Les and Maggie

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Rozza
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 08:47 AM

Fishermen's Rowing Club was my favourite venue this time. Great workshops on Playing for Dancing with English Rebellion, including some cracking new tunes from the William Clarke MS and excellent tea-time sessions especially with Workshy Profits, Vic Gammon and Sussex friends and Peeping Tom. Couldn't even get into the 422 one - so many really good young musicians.

Subject: RE: Whitby FF seems very quiet this year
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 28 Aug 11 - 08:32 AM

I think you must have been at the wrong place terrier. The parade was cancelled sadly due to weather, but other times the teams were definitely out and about.it was a very good point made by JohnCharles. Whitby is one of the few festivals where you feel that there is never any competition between the festival and the fringe and that they compliment and benefit each other wholly. It is really a unique thing when you feel the town understands the festival and realises it benefits from it. I love the place.