Alternatives to Whitby?

Subject: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Johnjo
Date: 11 Aug 13 - 03:43 PM

After 5 years as a regular attendee, I want to look at alternatives to Whitby Folk Week for next year.

Can anyone recommend other festivals for me to look at, preferably in the UK's North and Midlands? Doesn't have to be in August, but summer preferred.

What I'm mainly interested in is a well-organised series of workshops for instrumentalists, particularly for (any of) tenor banjo, mandolin, Anglo concertina, and melodeon.

I'm not overly bothered about sessions, concerts or ceilidhs. I appreciate this makes me pretty much a minority interest, but asking here is probably a pretty good place to start.

So.....where do all the Northern tenor/Irish banjo-thrashers go? Where's a good place for next summer's hols?

Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 11 Aug 13 - 06:35 PM

The only alternative to Heaven is H...!

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Aug 13 - 07:22 PM

Fylde in some ways is a lot like Whitby ironed. Lots a great little venues scattered around the place. One thing it's got over Whitby is it's got trams...

And like Whitby it's got Kippers by Post, or at least it did last time I was there.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 13 - 01:43 AM

Moira festival in charnwood, leica. Small but beautifully formed.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Johnjo
Date: 12 Aug 13 - 04:44 AM

Thanks. Are Fylde and Moira good for workhops? I couldn't find any info on workshops on either website.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 12 Aug 13 - 05:07 AM

According to the downloadable programme Fylde has around a dozen or so assorted workshops on the Saturday and a smaller selection on the Sunday.

I couldn't see anything for Moira either, I suspect that the unnamed guest hadn't actually bothered to read your post. Apart from Sidmouth and Whitby festivals with a decent programme of workshops are few and far between.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST,keith price
Date: 12 Aug 13 - 05:09 AM

Johnjo the place for you is the Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay County Clare as I'm sure you already know,a lot further but a must at least once in your life,Good luck with the Banjo.

Keith

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST,muppett
Date: 12 Aug 13 - 05:10 AM

Johnjo it seems that you are not happy with Whitby, reading some of the comments you've posted in the past, so why not organise one yer sen and you can have all the workshops that suit your requirements. I'm sure there's folk out there in Mudcat world that could give you tips on festival organistion and suitable venues.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Johnjo
Date: 12 Aug 13 - 07:08 AM

Thanks again, I finally found the downloadable programme for Fylde.

A trip to Ireland would be grand, maybe one year....

Organising a folk festival catering solely to tenor banjo thrashers? What a lovely idea, but not really practical, I'd have thought.

Whitby is a smashing place. I've very much enjoyed my previous visits, but the simple fact is that the thing I've most enjoyed at previous Whitby festivals, the banjo workshops, aren't on this year.

Hence the need to look for alternatives.

Any more suggestions?

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 12 Aug 13 - 08:23 AM

I am amazed there are no banjo workshops at Whitby.

There are at least six exponents of the art (far too many in some people's opinion) on the bill.

There are some empty slots so maybe you could take the festival at its word and request an addition to the official programme.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 02:48 AM

Furthe to what guest said I have a programme for Whitby and it shows a few workshop spots which are not filled in It's realy up to you Jonjo to find some Like-minde people ask at the office and fill some of those spots. But you have left it a bit late for this year. But can I respectfully sugest that if you want things to be different then get of your backside don't relly on others and do it yourself.

Joe N.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 03:31 AM

Taking up an available workshop spot would, surely, have to involve those who are already competent in the particular discipline. If you are looking to attend a workshop as a beginner or an improver, you need one that is run by someone else better than you. A mutual self-help group won't work if you only have an hour.

DC

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 03:32 AM

In some ways the Willie Clancy and Whitby couldn't be further apart.
Whitby is an hour and a half of something, then wander off and do something else. Dip in and out as you please. Loads of beginners or near beginners and chances to try something new.

The Summerschool is for the enthusiast - you commit to spending every morning for a week doing the same thing with the same teacher. I think the music classes are graded by audition first. Nothing programmed for the afternoon (sessions or singing in all the pubs to listen to). The evening concerts are very single minded too. You need to be keen to go to a whole concert of (say) flutes.

We've been twice, for the Set Dancing. Enjoyed it very much (since we were keen on Set Dancing). And it's a beautiful place - enjoyed a glimpse of dolphins both times. But driving across Wales, a long ferry crossing, then across Ireland means we probably won't go again.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 05:08 AM

Tom Napper will be at Whitby for the first weekend. Speak to him ,ask if he will be back for workshops next year.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 06:36 AM

What about the national fleadh?- it's in Sligo next year about the same time as Whitby

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST,ossonflags - passing through
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 07:08 AM

John made a perfectly reasonable request about an alternative venue to Whitby.

People attending festivals do it for many reasons, I dont go to many anymore, but it is true I have took more away from a festival than I ever took.That is not only in musical terms.

In my humble opinion John is a very good musician and is a useful addition to whatever session he goes to.It has been my pleasure to have been in many a session with him.

Wanting to improve his skills attending workshops is not sitting on his backside, it is a positive move for any musician or singer.

Some are quite happy doing the same stuff and not wanting to progress and that is fine if they are happy with that.

Doug Chadwick made the very positive comment about the option of running your own session/workshop, although useful is, I suspect, not an option for some one who wants to crank up their musical skills.

More power to you John!!! keep doing it and LETS KEEP MUSIC LIVE

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST,muppett
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 07:17 AM

Eh up Ossonflags,
            Hope you pass through this thread again and see this, Happy new year, ow yer didling?

:D)

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 08:33 AM

He does pass through but not as ossenflags

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: OlgaJ
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 08:49 AM

As regards workshops at Moira:

Workshop programme just about sorted. We've got Sacred Harp and West Gallery (4 part harmony), Songwriting and Basic Voice for the singers, Nyckelharpa,Ukulele, Melodeon, Basic Guitar and Spoons for Musicians, and a big skiffle session on Sunday for everyone who wants to let off a bit of steam. In addition we've got Tai-Chi on both mornings and a story telling session at the new Storytellers Chair in the Wood on Saturday. Children will be catered for in the Hollybush Tent with a variety of crafts. Workshops depend mainly on booked artists being prepared to chip in, plus one or two regulars so we can't guarantee what is going to happen from year to year.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 02:23 PM

Plenty of great festivals around. The reason I suggested Fylde is that It always seems to have very much the same feeling as Whitby. In fact when thinking back about people I've listened to or met or played with, I find it hard to untangle the two.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Johnjo
Date: 13 Aug 13 - 03:56 PM

Thanks for the many positive suggestions. I've had a look at the websites for Fylde, Moira and the Willie Clancy summer school so far, and will certainly keep looking. It may be an idea to start asking on banjo forums as well.

The suggestion that a paying punter who finds a festival's 'offer' lacking should take it upon himself to arrange an alternative programme would be laughable in any other setting. ("Not happy with the restaurant menu? Never mind, you can always barge into the kitchen and start cooking yourself" - I wonder what Gordon Ramsay would make of that?)

In any case, if I've left it too late to "get off my backside" this year, that may be because I've only had the Whitby programme for a week.

If I see Tom Napper, I'll certainly ask if he's likely to be running workshops at Whitby next year. If anyone else with an interest sees him, please ask, and post the answer on here.

For those who think I'm just an annoying twat who should stop rocking the boat, let me explain why this matters to me.

For most of the instruments I try to play, I'm largely self-taught. Not from choice, but because I haven't been able to find anyone locally to teach me.

In previous years, the Whitby banjo sessions, run by Tom Napper, have been like an oasis of light in my personal musical desert. The book of dots recommended by Tom is in almost daily use, and is now falling apart. Yes, I can blunder on, trying to improve by myself, without the boost you get from a series of informative workshops, and will do, as far as I can.

Finally, a big 'thank you' to Comrade Ossonflags for the kind and supportive words, and the many happy afternoons of musically 'sailing down the Humber'.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: GUEST,Lowdenjim
Date: 14 Aug 13 - 01:12 PM

I'm sure you have already checked out Youtube banjo tutorials Johnjo, but in case you haven't come across this guy - take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/user/robbourassaguitarist

He teaches guitar, mandolin and banjo; he's well worth a visit.

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 10:22 AM

I would concur on Fylde. Cracking festival with far more going on than anyone could ever hope to see! Not sure about the specific instruments you mention but their range or workshops are usually good and I am sure you will find some like minded people to get together if nothing else.

Good luck and cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Alternatives to Whitby?
From: Johnjo
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 01:55 PM

And the moral of the story is, if you want to find an alternative to Whitby, ask in Whitby. Many thanks to the kind lady from Worcester, who heard me thrashing the banjo on the campsite, and recommended the Pat Molloy Summer School in Birmingham. Sorted.