Whitby 2012

Subject: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 09:03 AM

Back from a great week at Whitby...songs,beer and friends old and new...priceless! Thanks to everybody who gave "Icebound" such a great reception and sorry to all those who couldn't get in!
I also enjoyed the rest of the week ,whether performing, MCing , running singarounds or just joining in impromptu sessions. Where did the week go? Here's to next year!
Oh..and congrats to Jim and Graeme's maritime sessions for raising such a large amount for the Whitby Lifeboat. £3113!!!
geoff t

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 09:17 AM

Totally agree, it was a brilliant week, aided and abetted by good weather too! Miss your sets unfortunately but bought one of your CDs in compensation.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 10:22 AM

My first Whitby, hopefully they'll want me back next year. I only saw the acts I was working with, but honestly never saw anything bad all week, and met some really lovely people too. :)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: BobKnight
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 10:42 AM

Sorry - that was me - message number three.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 11:18 AM

Yes I thoroughly enjoyed Icebound as I did the rest of Whitby everything went so well and it was all over too soon

Joe Nicholson

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Northerner
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 12:35 PM

There were some very good events. My favourite was Bob Pegg's presentation on "The Last Wolf" with its blend of storytelling, poetry, song and music.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 01:22 PM

Nice to meet you at last Old Git, and Bob Knight...... You were great!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Michael
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 02:24 PM

Thanks to everyone who made Whitby 2012 so special for the Cryan family. All those hugs really help!
Mike

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Diva
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 02:57 PM

Whitby was just great. Lots of old pals to meet up with. Loads of ballads. We were not quite as riotous as in previous years but maybe we are getting sensible? The Hoolie was superb, loved Bagpuss and Elizabeth Stewart is a marvel. There was loads I missed but it was still great. Still trying to work out how to contact the guy I met on train to Whitby on Monday when I was travelling down. I think I sent him off to the Glaisdale train telling him there would be music on Monday night - whoops. What was worse was he said he'd see me there....

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 26 Aug 12 - 06:41 PM

...maybe next year (hopefully)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 27 Aug 12 - 02:17 AM

Was the guy on the train not my buddy Tom Crean?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: BobKnight
Date: 27 Aug 12 - 04:47 AM

John MacKenzie: Thanks a lot John - glad you enjoyed it.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Diva
Date: 27 Aug 12 - 09:00 AM

Ahhh Jerry, he was a wee bit cuter than Tom......but only just!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 27 Aug 12 - 09:33 AM

Had great time too. Sorry I missed Icebound this time round. Sure the 40's brought the house down though.
Echo the sentiments of meeting up with friends old and new and looking forward to 2013.
Thanks to the folk club out at Stainsacre for putting up with and feeding us all on Friday night too

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST,Wombat
Date: 27 Aug 12 - 11:47 AM

Which is the folk club at Stainsacre please, never heard of it! Thanks

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 27 Aug 12 - 12:38 PM

Hi -it was a great Whitby and nice to see Bob Knight on this thread because it was great to hear him for the first time. we shared a gig at the Con club when we stepped in at the Folk Club and although it was a small audience it was a really great night. Loved your singing Bob. Very busy Hissyfit week but well worth it . Roll on next year!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: banjoman
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 05:20 AM

Thoroughly enjoyed the week as we had gone to Whitby to celebrate our Ruby Wedding anniversary. First there on honeymoon in 1972. Amazing that there are still some of the same faces about.
Thanks to all and especially the kind folk who helped me with my mobility scooter up the hill to the Elsinore.
Great to see that Southport Swords are still going strong - but no wallpaper rolls in evidence?
Thanks again for a great week

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: BobKnight
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 06:18 AM

Hi Linda, and thanks for your kind words about my singing. Especially welcome from two great singers like yourself and Hazel aka Hissyfit. :)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST,Bri
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 06:24 AM

Another very enjoyable Whitby, Ken & Peta's traditional nights at the football club and the late night concerts at the Met were my highlights. Great to meet up with some old mates.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 08:21 AM

It was great to see and hear Siobhan Miller at Whitby. A lass I have long admired as a singer. Long may she continue to grace the place.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 11:54 AM

Here's my highlight, young Cuthbert Noble performing solo unaccompanied at the Yorkshire concert on Thursday.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 12:22 PM

Congrats to all involved in producing a great Whitby. We were fortunate to have a cottage in RHB so close to the Dolphin I could see performers from our kitchen!, and enjoyed the two sessions we attended there.

Good concerts at Rugby club especially fri, good to see Steve Turner and final offering from Ryan, Doyle and Downes just superb - Paul Downes is a tasteful guitarist one of the best and coupled with Mick Ryans songs/singing - just outstanding.

Best for me though (just) - Martyn Wyndan Reed and Iris Bishop - pure class.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Willa
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 02:39 PM

I agree with you, John; hadn't heard Siobhan before but loved her performances - heard her three times!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST,Les
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 05:16 PM

Yes MWR & IB were great as was Steve Turner, but highlight for me was the Wilsons, Whitby would not be the same without them.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 05:40 PM

I enjoyed Bob Knight the lovely Siobhan Steve Turner Wilsons Craig Morgan Robson and the wonderful ~Grace Notes.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 05:46 PM

There were far, far too many highlights so that to single out any one seems totally unfair, and besides for every event I attended there were another ten or so I had to miss.

I loved the Traditional Nights Out at the Football Club most of all; Ken Hall just appears so happy to be surrounded by so many great performers - he looked like a schoolboy who has found the key to the tuck shop! Sid Calderbank who stewards at the Football Club is one of my heroes - he said that he was getting worried that after all these years people are beginning to understand him - so he sang 'Warrikin Fair' in a 16th century Lancashire dialect!

It was lovely to meet Racker Donnelly whose linguistic convolutions had me howling with laughter; I suspect that some of the tortures he inflicts on the English language may actually be banned under the Geneva Convention.

The Traveller's concert was absolutely brilliant with the wonderful Doyle family, along with Thomas MacCarthy's gorgeous voice, Bob Knight's fine songs and Elizabeth Stewart bringing her amazing store of ballads on her first visit to Whitby. The Yorkshire singers were fantastic too - John Greaves could sing his song about the Tailor of Whitby a hundred times and I would still find it fresh each time!

The lunchtime ballads sessions at the Conservative Club were a daily treat, and the quality of the singers among the audience was almost without exception as good as that of the artists themselves.

There were some excellent talks and presentations by Peter Shepheard and Arthur Watson, Steve Gardham, Martin Graebe, Grace Toland and the inimitable Doc Rowe at the Coliseum - all of which were very passionate, stimulating, and engaging.

On a personal note I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the John Birmingham Cup competition for songwriting where I was very impressed by the quality of craftsmanship all round, and I'd like to congratulate Ruairidh Greig for his winning song drawing on his knowledge and love of Grimsby. As Paul Davenport has said elsewhere this competition has the potential to stimulate - so I hope there'll be lots more entries next year!

I learned a lot about dry stone walling from the Noble family! Great to see Scott Gardiner and Siobhan Miller making an impact too, and lovely to see the Davenports in various combinations, while those Hissyfits are lovelier than ever.

Somebody told me that Sisters Unlimited had reformed but I don't believe it! They are totally unreformed characters, and better now than they were nearly a quarter of a century ago.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 06:45 PM

Excellent summary, Matthew. Arriving late, I obviously missed a lot of great stuff and I'm now envious. Yes Ruairidh's song was great. I'm really glad Ray Padgett asked him to sing it at the Yorkshire concert.
It might well find its way onto our CD of fishing songs for Hull Museums.

Well done to all of the organisers and the backroom boys and girls.

I heard a whisper that one of the old fringe events, dwyle flonking, might be making a return next year.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: mally
Date: 29 Aug 12 - 04:27 PM

Too old for dwyle flonking now.

   Mally

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 12 - 04:28 PM

Seems the scheduled events were mostly filled, though there weren't the queues of disappointed people I saw the two previous years. Numbers in fringe events were WAY down, and some accommodation wasn't let. I estimate that the Folk Week only drew half the number of visitors to the town that it did last year, and on average they were quite a bit older. Not good. Folk Week might count that as a success, but the businesses in the town that count on it will have seen it as a flop.

This requires a response. I've said this before and I'll say it agin: if you expect to draw new people in to the festival (and after this year's performance it's clear that Whitby has to) you MUST provide them with adequate advance information. There were people I wanted to recommend the festival to this year, but I couldn't: last year's programme was not available for download so I couldn't point them to it and say "this year's will be much the same". (I had a paper copy of the programme but didn't know where I'd put it until it was too late). People will NOT go a week-long festival that requires booking accommodation months in advance on sheer blind faith. I know I'd have gone to Whitby ten years before I actually did for the first time if I'd had access to a past programme.

The really successful festivals give full descriptions of all their events in advance. The Edinburgh Fringe is the most successful of all, and they've always provided paper copies of the full programme free. It's nuts to pinch pennies by insisting that every piece of programme information must be paid for - the important revenue comes from selling tickets. And the more people know about the festival, the more tickets will be sold.

Some terrific stuff though. (I would go some way to avoid seeing the Doyle Family again, but they were the only real duds). And I've booked accommodation for next year.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 29 Aug 12 - 05:38 PM

Hi Jack,

It would be far nicer if you told us what all the terrific stuff was that you liked than to single out the one you didn't like. You're quite entitled to express an opinion, but to call the Doyle Family "duds" is totally out of order. They are the real thing - you might not like their music - but they are genuine musicians from a long tradition of traveller players.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 Aug 12 - 06:00 PM

I liked most of the same things other people here have mentioned (except I don't think anybody has mentioned Johnny Handle yet; one of the most versatile performers I've ever seen, brilliant at whatever he does and with a wonderfully warm and positive attitude).

It wasn't Simon Doyle's music I disliked so much as the posing and the patriarchal control-freakery.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Betsy
Date: 29 Aug 12 - 06:44 PM

I think another off-putting problem this year for people trying to book accomodation from (say) a Saturday to a Saturday (which would appear make most sense) was that the Regattta and the associated Quay Side celebrations were still being held on the same Monday that the Festival started. The Regatta dates can't change because of the Tide tables. I understand (whether correctly or not) that Whitby Fest can't change dates to suit, at the risk of overlapping with other Festivals, but having said THAT there's not an awful lot of Monday > Friday Festivals to overlap.
As a person who didn't have a ticket....a mate and I who work during the week took a trip to Whitby on the Thursday looking to play some tunes.
At 2pm-ish we went in FILO - no one in, Elsinore which was mostly melodians and not really our cup of tea which is fair enough!, Middle Earth where there was a singaround which seemed to be well-organised ,but so well-attended that it would have taken a long time to get a spot.(I was driving around the venues by the way).We arrived at the Fleece where we started playing tunes and occasional song in the middle room getting the craic going. We and others who tried to sing eventually drowned-out from the front room who ere singing assorted Rugby songs,Delilah etc. The Middle room quickly became Country and Western oriented and song content a bit morose for us. Offski !!
We ended up at the Station,(in the room on the right),where there was a gathering of youngsters who as far as we could understand were from the Cotswolds (Morris Team?).They took their time to have a good look at us two oldies - I think they were wondering if we were going introduce some unrequited music. Anyway we must have done something right,and we proceeded to have a great session with them. They and several friends were most polite , and exceptional fiddlers both lads and lasses , a concertina player and the occasional song. We were later joined by a foursome of players two of which were clog dancers and being a wooden floor they proceeded to give it "rock all". As a couple of hours or more had now elapsed, and getting-on for 7.00 pm, the call of Cod and Chips tea bread and butter was irresistible.
All this time I understand we should have been in the Black Horse where there was a good craic but couldn't get parked.
Anyway to paraphrase, " Didn't we have a lovely time - the time we went.........

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: r.padgett
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 05:18 AM

Hi Betsy
1 Regatta no clash until 2016 should help folky people get   
accommodation now

2 Morris teams can be salt of the earth or a total pain

3 Whitby ff have rarely advertised events, may need a little rethink (adverts cost money)

4 Venues for official events ~ a lot out of town e.g Rifle club, Con Club, Whitby Football club, Whitby Rugby club

5 Pubs in centre charging "a lot" for a pint £3.15 for a pint is a lot.

6 Usual gripe cost of 1pint of Cola £3 is a a rip off! Time after time I mention this and I think its time for a petition to regulate the cost of ALL SOFT drinks ~ I am not angry I am b****y furious and of course would always stand up for the right for free water in pubs, particularly when pints of beer have been consumed already.

NIce to see you Betsy

Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Diva
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 05:29 AM

Many highlights of the week and I'll second what Matthew said! Sid is a gem. Loved the Doyle family, lovely, talented and genuine folk.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Betsy
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 06:49 AM

The opinion of Jack Crampin, as opposed to Diva's and Matthews view of a particular Performer(s) above , is a great example of our the rich tapestry of divisions in Folk music, and, well done all, for expressing yourselves in a civilised and dedicated manner.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 06:57 AM

Re charging for water, I'll admit that £1 is a lot for a glass of water but consider that the licensee has to pay for rent, rates, electricity, gas, the glass, the staff, the washing up, and the bloody water itself (business premises tend to be metered) I suppose a charge has to be levied. That is not even taking into account various other factors in a busy pub like the space the person drinking water is taking up and a profit that a pub has to make to pay the licensee a wage.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 08:38 AM

I thought it was illegal under the licensing laws to charge for tap water

"quote"



Alcohol licensing conditions

If your premises sells or supplies alcohol, you must now hold an age verification policy and ensure you offer smaller serving measures to your customers.

In April this year we announced the first three conditions of the Licensing Act 2003 (mandatory licensing conditions) order 2010. They apply to all licensed premises and those with a club premises certificate in England and Wales. They were:

    a ban on irresponsible promotions
    a ban on dispensing alcohol directly into customers' mouths
    mandatory provision of free tap water

Gerry

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Betsy
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 08:54 AM

Nice one Gerry.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 10:26 AM

How the world is changing is this the Ray Padget I used to know complaining about the price of Coke and Water

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 11:47 AM

Betsy, I cant believe you and Lenny did'nt try the ship, it's wall to wall Irish music virtually all day

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 12:16 PM

The regulations should be fairly easy to circumvent, for example :-

"I personally cannot guarantee the quality of the water supplied to my premises and taking due precaution for your health and safety Sir/Madam I will boil the kettle to ensure the water is drinkable. If you would like to take a seat whilst the boiled water reduces to drinking temperature..........."

Although I am a personal license holder I have not had the need to keep up to current regulation but I can detect bullshit at several paces.

It is interesting to note however that the Dept of Health which introduced this notion back in April 2010 was opposed by both the Dept for Culture, Media and Sport and the Dept for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

A regular can of worms.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Jack Campin
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 12:18 PM

One more plug - Peta Webb's presentation on the music relating to the Titanic. If you get a chance to hear that somewhere else, go!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: r.padgett
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 01:16 PM

No can of worms it is the Law Raggy that water be provided FREE, no £1 or 50p and cannot be circumvented

Appications can be made to oppose on H & S grounds the continued license

Pubs make more than enough profit! for their Landords

Joe ~ I have many times complained about costs of Soft drinks and provision of water and may have had some bearing on this being adopted by Statutory Instrument into the licensing laws in UK

I pointed out that Scottish Club law specifically included the point re Water being FREE, quite rightly!!

Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: GUEST,Diva
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 01:50 PM

Peta's presentation on the songs of the Titanic was superb

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 02:41 PM

You had to be in the Ship early. Every time I went in both front and back sessions were packed like sardines. Luckily there was a craic in between.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Lynn W
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 04:51 PM

"a craic in between"... groan.. gave me a smile anyway! Both my favourite session pubs, the Ship and the Board, were so crammed full that you had to be in early doors to get a seat, so the fringe numbers were definitely not "way down" there, don't know about elsewhere.
I have seen the Doyle family several times including informal sessions and think they're great.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 08:02 PM

Ray it just came to me that coke and water were not within your sphere of interest.

Regards Joe

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: r.padgett
Date: 31 Aug 12 - 02:46 AM

Hi Joe, well maybe in the bad old days with Booker, but I drink mainly diet coke nowadays, I am getting old (have been for a bit) and poor old John Booker on still orange at £1 saved a fortune at Whitby

Old age infirmity etc, but I never was big drinker! (too little lol)
Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 31 Aug 12 - 05:11 AM

So it's down to me to keep the poor old landlords solvent then. Going of to do my bit at nt Fleetwood now.

Joe

Subject: RE: Whitby 2012
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 Aug 12 - 10:11 AM

Something I would like to see at Whitby: two years I've been there there has been a sizable old sailing boat moored at the quay which you can visit.

I've never seen a sailor's hornpipe performed on a ship.

Is there anybody around who could do it?