Whitby 2015 - best places.

Subject: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 06:53 PM

I think that estimable daughter and fiends are getting a cottage for Whitby 2015 so my whole band (maybe not the drummer) will probably be there. We sing mostly but not all English 1954 definition folk, mostly fairly "arranged", probably more accompanied than unaccompanied. Some of the accompaniments are more "folk and roll" than "folk". We may go to be audience some of the time but will definitely want participative song stuff.

If G/F comes she may have some unaccompanied (unless I have learned guitar parts by then) songs, some Nigerian, some not.

Where should we go (other than "straight back down south")?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 07:47 PM

Have you never been to Whitby for the Festival Richard?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 14 - 09:45 PM

Are YOU ..Nigerian...Richard?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 01:44 AM

Richard - there are sessions all over the place, but the pubs get crowded (no surprise there). I suggest you have a wander round to find one that suits. The good news is that the 2015 festival doesn't coincide with the Regatta, so the crowding should be bearable!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 05:40 AM

Firstly Richard how many of your daughters fiends are in the band. There are not many venues that can accommodate a fully set up band AND the influx of people that folk week brings. I.E If I were a landlord would I want X amount of floor space taken up with equipment or would I want drinkers in that space.
Secondly there are not many venue managers(landlords etc) that would accept that one group of people I.E your band could "hog" the music for an hour, session, day, week (delete as applicable)
Thirdly I have not heard your band and even if they are excellent I, as a punter, would feel disinclined to welcome them in the bar I tend to drink in if they thought they could hold court for an afternoon. The beauty of that bar, and most others, is the variety of performers and styles. Occasionally, over the years, small groups or bands have tried to monopolise certain venues. By and large they are very much frowned upon.
All that being said, Good Luck, I hope you have a great time next year.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 05:47 AM

Richard you are having a laugh Its a folk festival not X factor

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 06:05 AM

I can't comment on places where bands could play. However, for the last two years, we have had a session of political songs in The Dolphin, midday, midweek.

And yes. The vast majority of the songs are left wing proletarian, with a fair few about the environment, women's rights, gay rights etc.

In other words, politically, it's all good stuff, and right up your street.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 06:14 AM

Have they already booked their cottage?

If not they will probably be too late.

If you do manage to find somewhere to stay, the most anything-goes spots are outside the Middle Earth and the front left room in the Station Hotel. But as Kitty says there's stuff going on everywhere, and it's a small place, just wander around till you find something that suits.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 06:37 AM

Richard, do you play a long wooden Australian thing or is that a different Richard Bridge?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 06:37 AM

Jack, the singing outside the Middle Earth has been serious curtailed this year. Whereas at one time sessions outside would spill onto the pavement and go on until the early hours the council have vetoed such usage. Jill, the landlady, only has a comparatively small area outside the pub and much more stringent restrictions on what can and cannot happen outside.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: vectis
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 06:40 AM

Avoid the Plough. It used to really rock there and the beer was very cheap but Sam Smith stopped the music, a sad sight to walk past a silent pub during Folk Week.
As a group you will need to walk around and find a space early in the day, the pubs fill up quickly and stay full before lunchtime. Loads of fast Irish played everywhere. Good luck finding accommodation and a venue or two.

G/F may like to meet fellow unaccompanied in the side room of The Station Inn. Good evening session in The Endeavour every evening run by Maggie and Les very mixed bag there and your sort of stuff would be welcome, don't know about a whole band though.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 07:01 AM

Cheap Samuel Smith's and their barring of music.

Last year, on the night before the festival started, I wandered into a Sam Smith's and found the beer there incredibly cheap and incredibly agreeable.

I got talking to the landlord, who also turned out to be agreeable.

"Will you be calling in again?", he asked as I emptied my glass.

"Regrettably not", I replied. "I'll be that busy chasing pubs where they do allow music, that I just won't have the time."

Sam Smith's sure shot themselves in the foot over that one.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: tijuanatime
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 07:07 AM

I think you would find the Star to your taste: it's fairly similar in ambience to the Good Intent, as I recall it, and the landlord is an enthusiast (and participant).

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 11:08 PM

No, I have not been to Whitby at all before.

No I am not Nigerian.

No we are not looking to fly-pitch as "performers", we much prefer song sessions, where we do some listening, some joining in (I quite like to add some mandolin accompaniment) and we play only the acoustic and unamplified instruments we can carry around for the whole day - Royston's guitar, Sam's dumbec if he cba, daughter's bodhran, and my guitar and mandolin. Sometimes one of us may do a solo turn (but never a drum solo) and sometimes one or more of us may join in with the other(s) of us. Or we may do a band set-piece. As I said "We may go to be audience some of the time but will definitely want participative song stuff".

No, I am not the famous didge player.

Yes, my home session pub is the Good Intent (Rochester, the big sing at Sweeps' Festival). Exactly the sort of thing we enjoy. No I am not running the Lower Stoke Winter Sings this year. Others may enjoy diddly and humpty but I don't. Daughter may well carry her bodhran and want to play it to some of that stuff, but is well behaved with it.

Thanks to the select few who have suggested places without curious assumptions.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Nick
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 11:34 PM

I'd try outside The Fleece overlooking the river. I think you'd fit in fine. Usually a bunch of people there who join in together and sing and play. The Fleece usually has stuff going on in the front bar (small and busy), main bar and the outside terrace so lots of options.

You might also try starting something off in a less used pub and you might attract people to join. My wife and I had a really enjoyable evening some years back in the back bar of the Golden Lion. There were some members of Jacks Rake (band from Sheffield) who had 'commandeered' the place for the evening to enjoy some tunes together much to the enjoyment of a bunch of listeners but were happy to have other people join in so we did. Great fun. I looked in this year but nothing was going on there. So a 'band' or group of people can work well to set things off.

Station Inn is also welcoming and people join in together. Front bar is pretty small but had a fluid collection of upwards of 10+ musicians but with a basic nucleus of a group of people.

Even the Black Horse could accommodate 4 people easily. It can go through quiet periods and would work with a group of people. I shared a pleasant hour sharing some songs with a duo there this year.

Think you'll find it easy to find plenty of spots to fit in.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Nick
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 11:43 PM

The other thing is that there tend to be quiet times in even the busy pubs when there is a lull - or people disappear off for food or a break.

eg The Ship is generally pretty busy (tunes rather than songs) but can go through times (teatime to early evening) when it can go quite quiet before the evening session gets into full swing. A bunch of people coming in can give it a shot in the arm

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 03:24 AM

Thank you Nick

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 03:57 AM

Take your lightest instruments to carry as parking can be a problem. Also try to book accomodation with parking if you are in the central area.
The pub opposite the ship does good lunchtime shanty sessions. We usually buy a season ticket as they are relatively inexpensive and it supports the festival, as well as giving the option of the odd workshop/ concert.
Don't forget the fish and chips Whitby is famous for.
FloraG

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: r.padgett
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 04:07 AM

Tha Ship front day time, The Middle Earth late pm and evening, Black Swan, Friendship club upstairs

Where you can get!!

Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: banjoman
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 05:21 AM

Daily lunch time session at the Last in First out if you can find it. Its somewhere in the housing complex near the station. Welcomed all & sundry last year although its a pretty small place. Might see you there

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 06:14 AM

We've had a thread about that one. It's now a Rupert Murdoch theme pub.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 08:58 AM

Thanks all.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack's Rake
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 08:13 AM

Hiya Richard.

Only just spotted this so the places I'd recommend have already been mentioned but I thought I'd share our perspective with you since we go up as a band and, like yours, we have a lot of arranged stuff.

Having been to the festival for the last eleven years our typical day has become:

Morning - recover (see evening, below), take the kids to the festival play group thing and get along to whatever workshops seem interesting. There are eight of us when we're all there but the wide range of workshops on the programme meens that there is, pretty much, always something for each of us.

Afternoon - assuming there isn't a concert we fancy, more workshops or go along to one or other of the programmed sessions. We're a varied bunch - some of us are fully fledged tune session types who would generally go to the sessions in the Ship or the Board, others are more takey-turny singer types who would tend to go to the Fleece where there are often 4 sessions on at once, some more raucous and anarchic than others. There's usually, even this year, something outside the Middle Earth if the weather's ok. There are also some programmed slow sessions - in the middle Earth this year - which those of us who don't have a head full of tunes go to fairly often.

Evening - depending on what time we get out and, again, assuming there's no concert we like the sound of, we'll often go somewhere to listen to others for a bit, the Endeavour being a favourite, and then maybe go and join a session or start one somewhere. As Nick said, above, the Golden Lion is often good at this stage. There is usually a polite session, mostly songs with guitars & so on but some tunes, in the front room with people taking turns and quietly listening to each other which is nice but not really our bag though we do go in for an hour or so on occasion. The back room is generally full of non-musicians but they tend to welcome and encourage people to play if they see instruments and this regularly develops into a boisterous song & tune session.

Later evening - inevitably, somewhere between 9 ish and 10 ish we repair to the back room of the Station. This has become our nightly destination for the past 7 or 8 years. It's generally very noisy and very crowded, sometimes meaning a seat doesn't become available for quite a while but, if that's the case, it means there'll be music to listen to!

The nature of the Station - large-ish room, lots of non-folky types in there drinking, the fact a lot of the programmed acts often go down there after fulfilling their duties, the 2 pm last orders and the fact it's pretty rowdy - leads to a varied experience with no two nights in there being the same, unlike a few of the other places. Depending on who's there it will sometimes be mostly tunes, other times mostly songs, other times anywhere between the two. People are generally happy to join in and be joined in with and there is pretty much always a substantial "audience" of non-musicians who have come in to hear the music. There are at least two groups of people I'm aware of and have become friends with who go to Whitby that week each year largely because of what's on in the Station.

So, if you want to play your stuff to for some people to hear and enjoy and for others to join in with, the Station's where it's at. Don't be expecting pin-drop silence, though. The people around the musicians will generally quieten down when a gentle tune is played or an unnacompanied song is sung but there will still be noise from closer to the bar and the other rooms so those precious about people hearing each subtle nuance of their 18 verse unnacompanied anti-foxhunting song will probably enjoy themselves more elsewhere, possibly the front room on the right which has unnacompanied singing all week long.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 08:50 AM

Thank you very much Jack's Rake.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 25 May 15 - 07:37 PM

This seems to be the only Whitby Folk Week 2015 thread, so here goes.

Any couple need accommodation? We've booked a cottage that takes 4:

Candyfloss Cottage

but so far there's just the two of us. (There are two double rooms and a small bunk room we're intending to use for storage).

Nothing less than the full week, please. Too complicated to organize odd days.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 12 Jun 15 - 08:03 AM

Are any F-off Northumbrian pipers going to be at Whitby?

I'm curious because I have acquired a couple of Georgian salamuris (traditional whistle/recorder hybrid shepherd's whistle). Having tried and failed until recently to fit them into any known scale, I have just realized they're best thought of as being at at A=405 pitch, which makes them pretty logical. And also compatible with old Northumbrian pipe pitch.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Jul 15 - 02:30 PM

Bump. Really looking forward to this! We will have G/F and her fiend Fola with us - both excellent singers and I have tempted them to add additional harmony lines to some songs we more or less know.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 19 Jul 15 - 02:39 PM

Fola the fiend might be more at home at the Goth weekend!!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Jul 15 - 03:14 PM

It'll be my first Whitby: relying on my fiend to point me in the right direction! Isn't there a Dracula connection?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Jul 15 - 03:44 PM

I always spell it "Fiend". Mr Happy started it, long ago.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Noreen
Date: 19 Jul 15 - 07:12 PM

Jack Campin, have you still got spare accommodation?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 20 Jul 15 - 06:57 AM

There's a barber in Whitby who reckons that the best place to be during folk week is the Costa del Plenty and off he goes!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,John Golightly
Date: 22 Jul 15 - 08:23 PM

Help please.

I am pretty much a newcomer to Whitby (this will be my 2nd visit and the first was a long while ago). For my wife Susie - the first time.

I've read this thread with great interest - although it has wandered a lot!

I only have a few days there; I don't know the pubs. or indeed the types of session one would expect to find in them. I play melodeon.

I'm looking for English Sessions but don't mind at all if mixed with song - but most of all:

The kind of session where musicians listen to each other. I want to hear and learn from others. If someone has found a different way of playing an old and well-known tune it would be great If I could hear it through before it's drowned out by others who hear the tune, and ignore the interpretation.

Where's the best chance of finding a polite/sensitive session in Whitby?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Jul 15 - 12:20 PM

Early or late are your best bet - early evening in the Dolphin or near closing time in the Elsinore. The snug at the Station might also be worth a try. And the very small pub at the foot of the Flowergate most evenings (often Northumbrian).

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 23 Jul 15 - 02:13 PM

polite/sensitive session. (JG)

What you are looking for we call 'a workshop'.

Most people interpret 'session' as come-all-ye.

There are often specialised sessions especially at the bigger festivals like Whitby, and may be described loosely as 'beginners', 'intermediate', 'experienced'. However they are not always advertised as this, but looking at who is down to run the session is often a good indicator. More open sessions in the pubs are usually free for all, so you take pot luck!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,richie
Date: 23 Jul 15 - 03:13 PM

The sessions in The Board Inn tend to favour english with the occasional american old timey tune thrown in. The Ship if its back in favour will be wall to wall irish.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Jul 15 - 05:31 PM

Keep telling me about accompanied song (often English, sometimes unaccompanied)...

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Ebor Fiddler
Date: 23 Jul 15 - 06:16 PM

The Station is probably your best bet Richard.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 Jul 15 - 05:33 AM

Ta

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 24 Jul 15 - 06:28 AM

The Board Inn. Is that the one at the bottom of the 199 steps? There was a time when the then landlord used to hang a notice up during festival week. It read "NO HIPPIES OR FOLKSINGERS"!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Mo the caller
Date: 24 Jul 15 - 09:29 AM

"
.....often specialised sessions especially at the bigger festivals like Whitby, and may be described loosely as 'beginners', 'intermediate', 'experienced'. However they are not always advertised as this, but looking at who is down to run the session is often a good indicator. "

Well, that is all very well. But people who don't know the person running the session won't know what to expect.
Same applies to other things on the programme
e.g. At an Irish Ceili with Jerry O'Reilly the dancing will be Set Dance for those who know the dances - no walk through, probably not even a call. And lots of song in-between.(not sure if there is one this year)
So you can waste a lot of time going to the wrong thing. And leaving the person running the workshop with the difficulty of whether to please those who did know or see who turns up.

Yes you can sometimes get a clue by cross-referencing the item in the programme with the biog in the 'other half', but not always.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,John from"Elsie`s Band"
Date: 24 Jul 15 - 09:57 AM

Last year I enjoyed a grand afternoon concert by a select group of performers( no floor singers involved) at a pub in Robin Hood`s Bay. The name deserts me.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Nick
Date: 24 Jul 15 - 10:28 AM

Still reckon the Fleece, Station, Endeavour, Black Horse, Golden Lion and Middle Earth will suit a lot of your needs

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 24 Jul 15 - 11:50 AM

Re John's post of 9.57 - that sounds like the Half a Day at the Bay session at the Dolphin in Robin Hood's Bay; the programme tells you which of the festival's booked performers will be there each afternoon. But there are usually floor singers too....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Liberty Boy (sans cookie)
Date: 26 Jul 15 - 10:04 AM

The Irish Hooley (Céilí)will be in the Metropole on Wednesday night. The dances, both céilí and set will be called, as they always have! Difficult figures in the sets are usually walked through.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 26 Jul 15 - 11:51 AM

On the subject of workshops the one person who won't have seen the programme given to the customers will be the person running it. What s/he thought was to be the topic may not be what ended up in print.

I remember once a "Playford" workshop at Whitby which was devoted entirely to dances composed by Pat Shaw.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 26 Jul 15 - 12:42 PM

Just a thought, could the person running a workshop not look in the programme themselves?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 26 Jul 15 - 12:43 PM

Or.. could it be that the person running the workshop knew sod all about the given subject and ran a workshop on things they did know?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: JP2
Date: 27 Jul 15 - 11:51 AM

John G,if you're looking for a polite/sensitive session try the Melodeon Forum session,Thursday pm at the Elsinore I believe.

And before anyone starts on about Melodeons,they can be played sensitively I believe............I obviously can't and neither can most of my friends but somewhere.........somewhere!!!!!!!

You could confirm exact timings by visiting the Melodeon Forun site.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 27 Jul 15 - 01:35 PM

Last year The Ship was excellent, the new landlord enjoys folk music himself, there were some very good sessions in there.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,John Golightly
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 06:16 AM

Thanks for the very helpful responses, (especially Jack Campin/Richie/Mo/JP2). Notes duly scribbled in diary.

JP2 - "Somewhere" could well be the Middle earth at 5pm on Saturday. I'll be there.

I shall be very sorry to miss Frank Lee's session later in the week as I have to return to Devon on Wednesday.We have known each other for some (!) years.

Steve G - I take your point about workshops. However, in my experience such sessions can and do happen .... they are seldom planned, and the best one can do is find the times and places where they are most likely to develop, and hope for the best. I tend to avoid very large sessions - the music often gets too fast, too loud, and out of control. (I don't know why, but prime candidates for this treatment seem to be 'Speed the Plough' and '3 around 3')

As for my use of the word 'sensitive' - there's musical sensitivity which involves phrasing and shaping a tune rather than just bashing it out. I'm very keen on this.

Then there's social sensitivity which I will illustrate by a counter-example as follows:

One of the saddest things I have ever experienced in a session was to see a relative beginner (and we've all been there) start a well-known tune. She was clearly nervous, but played well, if a tad slower than normal. People joined in supportively, but across the room someone who hadn't listened at the beginning, finished his conversation, put down his pint and let rip. Before long he had increased the tempo beyond the capability of the originator of the tune - so she just shrugged and gave up.

I'd be surprised if that sort of thing happens at Whitby, though.

Thanks everyone.


John

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Nick
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 12:51 PM

John

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Nick
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 12:53 PM

oops.
I have seen that happen at Whitby where the people concerned also changed the key that the person started the tune in :)

But it's rare

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 03:01 PM

I've seen a fiddler do that to an unaccompanied singer - but it was at Tenterden. The fiddler in question has a hide like a rhinoceros and much the same musical ability, so probably did not even realise.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 05:57 PM

I must admit I haven't seen many of those rhinos at Whitby but there are a few in the sessions in my area of Yorkshire and I have been known to let them know in no uncertain terms how antisocial they are.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 30 Jul 15 - 05:02 AM

I have the 2015 programme in front of me. Something I have never seen before ............. there are several spots marked down as "Workshop" and the adjoining space says "Anyone wishing to run a workshop this slot can be booked in the festival office"

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 30 Jul 15 - 06:27 AM

FAO of John Golightly.

Hi John, I don't know what standard you play at. However so far I have found that there are Beginners Melodian Workshops at the Middle Earth run by George Garside on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 until 11.20.

On Thursday there is a two part harmony workshop for instruments that play in D and G this is run by Mary Humphreys and Anahata. This is at the Conservative Club from 10 until 11.15. It states that this is NOT for beginners.

Also on Thursday at the Spa (upstairs Bar) from 10 until 11.20 there is a Melodian workshop run by Doug Eunson

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Aug 15 - 04:08 AM

Really getting excited about this now!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 05 Aug 15 - 07:12 AM

George Garside has had a small stroke so someone else is doing the introductory melodeon workshops. See melodeon.net for the details.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Mo the caller
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 10:46 AM

He wasn't there last year (also health reasons)

Mudcatter recommendations of his Slow & Steady sessions are what took us back to Whitby after a break - and they were just what we needed.

Hope he recovers well.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,DTM
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 01:10 PM

Raggytash:
1) "Jack, the singing outside the Middle Earth has been serious curtailed this year. Whereas at one time sessions outside would spill onto the pavement and go on until the early hours the council have vetoed such usage."
Vectis:
2) "Avoid the Plough. It used to really rock there and the beer was very cheap but Sam Smith stopped the music, a sad sight to walk past a silent pub during Folk Week"
3) "Loads of fast Irish played everywhere."

1) Not like Authorities to stamp out anything that punters find enjoyable (T-I-C smiley)
2) On the bright side, at least any non-folkies will have somewhere to drink in peace.
3) Love the Irish but alas don't like "Loads of fast Irish" music.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: BobKnight
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 02:54 PM

I won't be there. Boo Hoo. I love Whitby.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 10:17 PM

Word has it that the Middle Earth has closed down

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Carol
Date: 13 Aug 15 - 04:09 AM

I enjoy the large lounge in the Rowing Club, well I think that what it's called, it's the place where one of the Whitby Folk Clubs meet in the bar upstairs. Plenty of space and the singing goes around the room, usually organised by a gentleman. Think I'm known there as the one who sings the mucky songs. Lunchtime Song sessions in the Dolphin and last but not least singing in the small room on the right in the Station. Folkies paradise !

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 13 Aug 15 - 07:10 AM

That's the Friendship Rowing Club Carol the other smaller one being the Fishermans Rowing Club

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Nick
Date: 13 Aug 15 - 09:10 AM

Middle Earth looks pretty open and were adding to this site yesterday about forthcoming events - Middle Earth

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Raggytash
Date: 13 Aug 15 - 12:30 PM

Pure unadulterated tosh. It was open this afternoon

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 14 Aug 15 - 08:51 AM

Anybody wanting to play in an open session can come along to the Fisherman's Rowing Club - that's the one up the stairs. Anahata and I are hosting a session on Wednesday 26th August from 1-3pm. As we play mainly English tunes we are only too pleased to welcome other like-minded players. Scandi, French and other tunes also welcome. Good steady speeds encouraged.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Sapper sans cookie
Date: 18 Aug 15 - 04:13 PM

I'll be tending to meander up and down between the Black Horse and Middle Earth as usual, with occasional forays across the bridge.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 02:54 AM

Transport issues appear to be solved. Volvo will be rammed to the gills (even with very long roofboot) on the way up, so there may well have to be leg-stretching breaks on the 6-hour drive. But I have got the improved sound system therein running for entertainment, even if I am going to have to take out the big sub and put in a smaller one to make more luggage space.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 03:46 AM

Richard why on earth are you bringing a submarine, even a little one, you'll be too busy playing and listening to bugger about under the sea.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Git Parker
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 06:19 AM

Heresy - I know. Is there any Bluegrass, Americana , Western Swing etc in the pubs. I am based in Whitby over Festival Week ( without instruments ) and some of the above will help the beer go down.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Mo the caller
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 07:56 AM

I don't know the subtleties of American music, but maybe that's what happens outside the Middle Earth - did someone say they weren't allowed to play outside this year. Maybe look for someone carrying a guitar case and ask them???

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 10:33 AM

I've encountered some old-time at the Board. You could also ask the Rattle on the Stovepipe guys or the Paleys if you can find them.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 19 Aug 15 - 10:56 AM

There are at least two official Old Timey sessions listed in the festival programme. IE.,

Tuesday, 1-3 Rattle on The Stovepipe will be playing with Joe Locker in the (oh God!) Conservative club bar.
Friday. 1-3. The New Deal String Band, Pete Cooper and Dan Stewart are in the Fisherman's Rowing Club.

Both events are free, and of course you don't HAVE to buy any refreshments in The Con Club. Last year we ended up singing the Internationale and The Freedom Come All Ye in there.

Plus of course both bands will be playing at various other paying venues around the town.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Harry Harriss
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 10:09 AM

Is there likely to be any sessions on the eve of folk week (i.e. Friday)? I know there's RHB folk club, but anything in town?

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack's Rake
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 12:39 PM

Richard.

Say hello of you see any of us in the back room of the Station (or anywhere else for that matter).

We look like this! : www.jacksrake.co.uk

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 20 Aug 15 - 08:49 PM

Richard

You don't say where you are coming from and when but unless you are travelling overnight I would suggest you add at least one hour to your journey - and hope there are no accidents and incidents (Paul Simon?).

Fred

What's wrong with buying subsidised grub and ale from the Con Club???

The cheapest pint in Whitby apart from the Plough Mortuary, and the sandwiches are usually pretty decent for those taking fuel on the hoof.

And yes I voted Labour in the election so am now part of an oppressed minority rather than a disenfranchised majority.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 21 Aug 15 - 06:09 AM

Guest. Spending money in the Conservative club helps to line the coffers of the Conservative Party.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Raggytash
Date: 21 Aug 15 - 06:20 AM

Harry I would try the Station, the Black Horse and the Endeavour at first.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Joe Nicholson
Date: 21 Aug 15 - 11:39 AM

The food and the snacks in the Rifle Club are very good and the beer is at club prices. It is also a very good Festival venue. Plus Mo and I will be running our usual Singarounds every night.

Joe N.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 21 Aug 15 - 12:09 PM

The Friendship Rowing club has always been very welcoming reasonably priced and spacious, you can always find a seat even when it is busy.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 21 Aug 15 - 03:59 PM

Hi Fred

So you would rather pay inflated prices elsewhere at establishments that are almost invariably run by people who support the party you love to hate? How much of the profit from your heavily subsidised pint would you think goes to party funds? I would hazard very little.

PS Always vote Labour myself but then it's a class thing.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 21 Aug 15 - 07:09 PM

Hi Jakes Rake it would be great to meet up with you at Whitby after meeting you at Carol's last Friday

Gerry

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 22 Aug 15 - 05:03 AM

Guest. There's no love in it. I just hate the Conservative Party.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 02:01 AM

Thought I'd drop in to the Station to say hello to Jack's Rake and Richard - went there at midnight as things were winding down at the Elsinore, to be told by the bouncer (or more likely, barman deputed to do the job) that they were full up. Considering how stowed out that place can get and still keep on with business as usual, the crowd must have been like "how many people can we get in a Mini?".

But the streets seemed quieter than usual and the programme has a lot more empty event slots than previous years.

God I detest The Little Angel. You can hear their bloody PA right at the other end of the Flowergate.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Musket
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 03:59 AM

I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for last night and the joke about the nun on the flying trapeze.

To be fair, some people wanted to laugh.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack's Rake
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 03:05 PM

Hiya Banjo Flower.

Really enjoyed your playing at carol's! I'm sure our paths will cross some time this week but we're in the Station pretty much every night after 9 or 10. In fact we're just off there to meet Carol as soon as we've finished this curry!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack's Rake
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 03:10 PM

Hiya Jack.

Strange that. It was rammed, but no more than on any given night in the past so I haven't a clue what their beef was. I noticed the Middle Earth staff were being rather officious regarding a couple of issues this afternoon, also, so I wonder if there's been some external pressure regarding numbers and other stuff.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack's Rake
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 03:17 PM

Hiya Musket.

In that case, I would like to apologise for anything I ever say, do or sing, any night after about 11 pm during any Whitby Folk Week. I'll start with my comments, in French, to the French lad playing the pipes beautifully in the station last night. It's true, though. My cat IS a grandfather and M. Marsaud's children WERE called Jean-Paul and Marie-France.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 04:19 PM

Can't be very good at Whitby if you are writing on here

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 15 - 10:42 PM

Beer good in the Endeavour, and some good beer in the Dolphin which was rammed beyond endurance Sunday despite arriving 20 minutes before the session start), undrinkable in the Rifle Club. I actually abandoned an unfinished pint. Nothing but lager and top pressure in the Middle Earth. Some nice singing in Joe and Mo's session in the Rifle Club Saturday night. Enjoyed Knights and MaGeean's session in the Endeavour Sunday. Lots of tune sessions, some unaccompanied song but very little accompanied song found so far. Fleece very patchy, suffering a lot of pop and ARSS. Also some sensitive singing in the Star Sunday but I arrived with only an hour of the session left so did not get a song. Hoping to try the ballad sessions in the (spit) conservative club soon. Our rented house is only about 100 yards from the First and Last (or is it the In and Out) so hoping to try that soon . It seems that the programmed song sessions tend to end bang on time rather than just carrying on until everyone drops from exhaustion (as they do at Sweeps)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 26 Aug 15 - 05:25 AM

Swan very good Tuesday, with an off-programme sinaground ably led by Richard Grainger in the evening, which ended about midnight when the Wilsons and the Keelers and at least one Unthank gave an unscheduled pub concert at the other end of the bar.   

Aiming for political song in the Dolphin at 1 pm today. I wonder if the Blairites will be there.

Bad salads 2moz (maybe).

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Aug 15 - 01:45 PM

I hadn't seen Geoff the Duck dancing until I found Whitby Scratch Morris today.

Geoff is bloody good.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Sapper sans cookie
Date: 27 Aug 15 - 03:56 AM

GUEST,DTM
1) Not like Authorities to stamp out anything that punters find enjoyable (T-I-C smiley)
2) On the bright side, at least any non-folkies will have somewhere to drink in peace.
3) Love the Irish but alas don't like "Loads of fast Irish" music.

1: I chatted to the Landlady of The Middle Earth on Saturday evening and apparently the curbs are the result of a single complaint to Scarborough Borough Council. Ironically, the lady who made that complaint is on holiday in Spain this week.
She also added that Scarborough want to see the Goth Festival move there

3: Back room of the Black Horse had a group of diddly dees hogging the session on Monday(?) afternon until, during a short pause, I jumped in with Byker Hill a full volume!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Aug 15 - 04:55 AM

I should correct myself, it is not the Swan we have found pleasant, it is the Star. Good session chaired by the Landlord Weds night, although a huge fat beery chap and his shrieking family made life shit for the first hour. But that discouraged the weaker singers, who left, and then he left too. After that 'twas grand until fairly well after midnight. Nice to have a short chat with cujimmy, and a also a chat with a man named after electrical components who took me to the source of the lines that Dylan stole to insert in the Dylan/Baez version of Queen Jane.

Political session was very interesting, and most singing very good, but the chairing was weak and some people went on too long so it took the full two hours to (just) get round the room.

People in the streets with amplifiers, who should be shot on sight on principle.

Still no sign of Mither. I think he must be avoiding me.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 15 - 01:48 PM

Richard Bridge
Nothing but lager and top pressure in the Middle Earth.

You must have gone straight upstairs then, some decent ales available in the downstairs bar.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Aug 15 - 04:21 PM

Neither my tenor nor I saw any handpumps downstairs in the Middle Earth.

Anyway, I am now back in Sarf Lunnon. I recommend avoiding the A64 A14, A1M (or A1 as the case may be - PARTICULARLY near Newark) and M11. And if you ask your satnav to dodge the jams on the A14/A1/A1M DO NOT GO INTO DONCASTER. Road closures.

I wish I had followed my instincts and gone drekly to the Humber Bridge and then cross country south.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,John star inn
Date: 28 Aug 15 - 08:58 PM

Thanks for the positive comments guys. The star in was the "Yorkshire" pub at the festivals inception, and as a folkie myself, and the new landlord, it is heartening to see that we are heading in the right direction

Thanks for the correction Richard Bridge. I knew the Swan didn't have Young Richard Grainger running a session.

It was briliant to see The Keelers, The Wilsons, Barry & Ingrid Temple, Ian Russell, Jonny Handle and a whole gang of my North East folkie pals in my pub. Although, i must admit, there were just as surprised to find a familiar face from the northern folk scene as the landlord :-)

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Aug 15 - 04:22 AM

100

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Acorn4
Date: 29 Aug 15 - 11:17 AM

ten out of ten for The Star - beer prices best in Whitby and a good singaround/session every night. Workshops at £4 a time with the concession put Sidmouth to shame!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Aug 15 - 01:46 PM

It was so good in the Star that sometimes it was hard to get in - in the end on Thursday in the 2-4 session I gave up, and hunted for anywhere else, but found nothing pleasing to my mind. The Folk Club on Thursday night was not bad at all either. Jim Mageean was in there but Graeme Knights was giving it large in the Black Horse down the road... I like their attitude!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,cujimmy
Date: 29 Aug 15 - 02:09 PM

Yes The Star gets my vote this year to, I met lots of new people from all over UK, even a couple from Isle of Man and wonderful songs and singing all week.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Andiliqueur
Date: 29 Aug 15 - 02:28 PM

Also thanks John(landlord of the Star)for holding an impromptu Friday Singaround even though everything had officially ended. At times We almost won the battle with the bar!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 06:13 AM

Richard Bridge. "Aiming for political song in the Dolphin at 1 pm today. I wonder if the Blairites will be there."

There were no Blairites there that I could see, but it was a bloody good session. Encouraging to see how much it's come on in the last couple of years.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 07:09 AM

I must put in a good word for the Rifle Club, where we had lunch most days. We settled for soup and their interesting selection of rolls. And I enjoyed my pint of Whitby-brewed beer - as did the others there.

However, it was strange to look out over the sea sparkling in the bright sunlight and hear the Christmas carols booming out from the concert room. I kept thinking of roast turkey.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 12:41 PM

Hello Fred. Which were you? We were the four in front of the fireplace who re-jigged Lal Waterson's "Hilda's cabinet band" as "David's cabinet bend".

The political session could have done with twice as much space and twice as much time.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 04:38 PM

The spoken word session in the Star was my discovery for this year. Dare I mention the excellent and inexpensive mugs of tea both there and in the Fisherman's (where you could get a buttered scone with it for the price of tea in the Spa).
As ever the grouse was the impossibility of being in 2 or 3 places at once, and getting between them + changing shoes etc in no time.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 31 Aug 15 - 05:09 AM

I was seated with my back to the window and was the first person to sing after SU. The song I sang, after moaning interminably about my mate Alun Parry being refused a vote in the Labour leadership election, was The Socialist ABC.

I remember the group in front of the fireplace, but for the life of me I can't remember David's Cabinet Bend. (Well it was one hell of a long week.)

Can you post the words here? Maybe that will jog me.

I agree that the singaround should have been longer, or maybe there should have been a second political singaround on another day.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 31 Aug 15 - 06:24 PM

Ah, yes, I remember the spoken bit and the abc.

Lyrics to the original Waterson Hilda's cabinet band (we didn't change much) here - http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Hildas_Cabinet_Band.htm

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 15 - 07:15 PM


I wish I had followed my instincts and gone drekly to the Humber Bridge and then cross country south.
My preferred route after too many jams on the alternatives although the closure of the A15 for an accident made for a senic diversion. Lincoln can be a little slow but A1 was fine from Newark down to Black Cat.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 03:34 AM

Didn't make W. this year - but I expect you all had a great time. The season ticket is modestly priced so you can pick and mix events while contributing to the running costs.
Memories
walking among the heather - really special at this time of the year
eating fish and chips
hearing the Wilsons
meeting the same 5 people whichever event you went to ( how does that happen)
never winning a prize in the raffle at the shanty sessions
a double rainbow seen from the café at the pavilion
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Selby
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 07:06 AM

I find it interesting that there is little praise for the festival. In my opinion no festival no fringe

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 08:28 AM

We never use the A64 and associated roads when travelling between Selby and Whitby at Festival time.

Instead we go through the centre of York diverting off towards the Hospital (well signposted) and joining the B1363 as far as the ring road.

We turn right and then proceed via Strensall and northward on minor roads until we reach the A170 west of Pickering before turning north once more until reaching the A171 west of Whitby. After that it's take your choice - straight in or on to Sandsend depending where abouts we are staying.

This run takes about thirty minutes longer than a good run (not available Festival time) via the main roads and is a few miles further.

A huge bonus for us this year was the incredible colours over the moors - so vibrant. We have done the journey to Whitby hundreds of times and cannot remember seeing the heather looking so magnificent.

We returned by more or less the same route (one or two detours by choice)and arrived home relaxed; which was just as well as we had been burning the candle both ends and in the middle meeting up with old and not so old friends and imbibing the odd hoppy infusion.

We enjoyed all the events we attended and how lucky we all were with the weather!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Carol
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 12:47 PM

I was wondering what was going on in the Ship and where it was in the town. The Star is getting better and i really enjoyed it this year - of course knocking the bar down and moving it to the bottom of the stairs, making a larger space to sing would be great John and Di.
Really some good singing going on all week.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Raggytash
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 01:30 PM

Just a quick note to say a HUGE thank you to all who came on the Glaisdale trip. This morning I paid £146.00 into the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat account.

Cheers

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 02 Sep 15 - 06:31 AM

Well done to all especially you Nick for organising the Glaisdale trip for such a good cause.
Sorry I did not make it or indeed Whitby this year, work keeps searching me out.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 02 Sep 15 - 05:16 PM

It was a wonderful week wherever you went. The sun shone brightly and the heather on the moors was in full bloom too.

A highlight for me was James Fagan singing Anderson's Coast at his Australian song workshop - but there were many more!

Thank you, Whitby.

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Alec
Date: 03 Sep 15 - 04:51 AM

A fantastic week of singing and dance with lots of highlights, The Demon's, the trad nights at the football club, Archie Fisher and hearing Ken Wilson and Jim Macfarlands quality voices. Ken's renditions of the 'Joy of Living' and Jim Woodlands 'Ghost Story' in the Metropole concert, were something special. But the Wilson's annual late night extra at the Metropole was by far the best yet! it was like a giant singaround Brilliant.... See you all again next year for more of the same!

Subject: RE: Whitby 2015 - best places.
From: GUEST,Tatterfoal
Date: 03 Sep 15 - 05:33 AM

Whitby pavilion exhibition hall for Geoff Cubitts workshops all week were brilliant, he even filled the exhibition hall on the friday night.   Great stuff.