Whitby Folk Festival 19-25 August 2023

Subject: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jun 23 - 03:33 AM

I hope to make it for at least part of the week.

Anyone else going?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 20 Jun 23 - 05:35 AM

Cottage booked.

Ticket bought.

Tin whistle polished.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: r.padgett
Date: 20 Jun 23 - 05:58 AM

As usual there will be the official festival with booked guests, the fringe and hopefully folk friendly pubs ~ would be good to know who wants "us" in terms of singers venues; musicians venues and which pubs accept only debit or credit cards and others cash only! no doubt the pint will need a credit card ~ literally

This year I will looking to doing the usual walking, weather permitting, playing the 'tina and singing where ever I can!

Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jun 23 - 08:04 AM

It's all fringe for me nowadays. Just wander round and see where there is noise :-D

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: cujimmy
Date: 20 Jun 23 - 08:10 AM

I was at Whitby over the weekend for the Moore and Coast festival. People were singing in the Waiting Room at the Railway Station, a lovely well run Pub, excellent real ales but card only payments, the owner very friendly and folk music friendly too. I was in the Black Horse on Saturday, singing in the back room was excellent, and cash or card can be used paying for drinks. There was an Irish session in the Endeavour, and I believe the Golden Lion has become Folk Friendly, I was in there a few weeks ago.

Anyway Im looking forward to coming along once again this year - Ive been over 20 times over the years and never tire of learning and sharing new songs and making new friends.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 20 Jun 23 - 08:11 AM

I'm camping BTW so if the weather is bad and you see a bedraggled Gnome - Take pity on him!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Jun 23 - 03:39 AM

Last year I left early and I have decided that was my last WFW. Between the steady reduction in pubs that welcome music and the rapid rise in the price of drinks therein I just find that for me it has lost its spark. I enjoyed my years of stewarding then they changed the format at my regular venue and I did not like the new regime, so I opted out and since then I haven't found a comfortable berth. So sadly, that's it for me, good bye and thanks for all the fish suppers.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: r.padgett
Date: 21 Jun 23 - 01:09 PM

Yes John, the times they are a changing ~ enjoyed your company for many years in the Whitby con club upstairs room and saw some great performers still one or two festivals to see here and there

Cheers mate
Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Jun 23 - 01:31 PM

We were regulars all through the 80s and into the o0s as it provided a great family holiday as well as the festival. Now the family are all grown up and we are still regilsr visitors to Whitby although we tend to avoid high summer now because of the cost. I tend to go to the festival for a few days on my own and the rest of the family visit the town as and when. In fact my daughters are there at the mo and having a great time!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Jun 23 - 01:55 PM

o0s = 90s

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 22 Jun 23 - 08:08 PM

Aye well - you pays your money and takes your choice - or not.

The whole world has changed in the last three years - and not for the better.

Just hope the festival can cope with these changes but it is going to be tough.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Mo the caller
Date: 27 Jun 23 - 11:03 AM

Was good to be back last year (and the year before at the 'should we be doing this?' fringe).
Always something new to try at Whitby so it's always fresh.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Jun 23 - 11:21 AM

I find the Fringe my favourite at most festivals. I am a nutural lurker in dark corners :-D

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,Guest not above
Date: 27 Jun 23 - 03:20 PM

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,Guest not above - whoops
Date: 27 Jun 23 - 03:23 PM

Which nuts do you prefer Dave?

And do you have a favourite dark corner?

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Jun 23 - 03:31 PM

Only nutural nuts and I don't know which corner it is because it's too dark to see!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 30 Jun 23 - 07:24 PM

Hoping to go again with my usual festival buddy. Accommodation booked, but not committed to season tickets yet this time, as some med problems might get in the way. We’re both finding it harder to get around Whitby for different reasons, as anno domini takes its toll on our poor bodies!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Mo the caller
Date: 22 Jul 23 - 08:21 AM

Whitby isn't the easiest to get around. One year they scheduled beginner accordion workshops one each side of the bridge with 10 mins between them (and the bridge closed on the hour). Running uphill with instrument on back, rucksack on front. Fun.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 22 Jul 23 - 08:29 AM

Jeff Davis said; Too many instruments, too many hills!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 25 Jul 23 - 12:31 PM

and too many people for me

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 Jul 23 - 03:37 PM

The solution some find to 'too many instruments' is to just carry one each day. Can't play them all at once anyway.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Mo the caller
Date: 01 Aug 23 - 07:40 AM

Programme arrived yesterday.
Not long now.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Aug 23 - 02:00 PM

I'm getting all excited :-D

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Aug 23 - 06:10 PM

Programmes have arrived! Haven't had a chance to go through it all yet though!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 07 Aug 23 - 10:52 AM

Just so people know.
I was instrumental in renaming the Whitby Folk Festival as Whitby Folk WEEK in order to more accurately identify the event and what it was about.
Pedants for ever I say.
See you lucky ones there.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 23 - 11:19 AM

Is there a Glaisdale train this year

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 08 Aug 23 - 08:06 PM

Having organised the last couple that actually happened and seeing that the reason for them not being so this year, ie the Regatta sharing their dates with Folk Week, there seemed little point in drawing people away from the the town.
It appears the organisers have put together a full programme of events which seem to cater for most tastes.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 09 Aug 23 - 03:42 AM

I am not going.
I hope the weather is good and that you all have a good time, its a very enjoyable festival in a lovely setting.
Malcolm did a good job, and good to see it is still happening

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 09 Aug 23 - 03:24 PM

Thanks Dick - I think!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Mo the caller
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 01:58 PM

Malcolm. Can't it be a Folk Week and a Folk Festival?
Whatever it's called it's the highlight of my year. And I can choose a different strand to concentrate on each time (as well as lots of the same)

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 02:19 PM

I think Sidmouth also changed to Folk Week for a while, but then reverted to Festival. The advantage of calling it Folk WEEK, as Malcolm suggests, is that it identifies the fact that it does last a week and not just a weekend as many other festivals do.
And yes, it's a great, er, week!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 03:14 PM

Sidmouth did/does not have other Festivals taking place within the town as far as I am aware.

In Whitby there have been oodles over the years.

I also doubt if significant numbers of Sidmouth festival customers are attracted to the town at other times of the year.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,Oriel
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 03:31 PM

It doesn't. They aren't.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Aug 23 - 07:56 PM

Sidmouth does have a wealth of festivals apart from the folk festival, though possibly different clienteles. Like Whitby, it has a Regatta, then there are also the following: Walking Festival, Literary Festival, Jazz and Blues Festival, Science Festival and Sea Fest, as well as a summer season of plays at the local theatre.
And a substantial number of the folk festival followers go down for a mid-year reunion in February.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Aug 23 - 04:05 AM

I'm down to 2 nights at Whitby now. See you on Tuesday :-)

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 13 Aug 23 - 01:55 PM

I've always enjoyed the actual music & song at Whitby, although a full wek was always too much for me!
   A great place too for meeting old pals & I applaud the choice of guests without reservation.
   But I won't be there, despite being invited, because the prospect of shuffling across that bridge, fighting my way through myriads of visitors is just too appalling a prospect, I'm afraid.

Have a great time all of you!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Aug 23 - 02:14 PM

The bridge is better now Jim. They shut it off to traffic at peak times. But, yea, it's still crowded!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 13 Aug 23 - 05:08 PM

My friend and I will probably spend most of our time avoiding that bridge and the town centre: staying up near the Rifle Club/Conservative Club, which may dictate which workshops, sessions and concerts we go to. If feeling really adventurous, we might just make it to the Spa or Metropole!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 13 Aug 23 - 05:11 PM

IF they asked me and paid my expenses, I would be delighted to play there, Mean while I will be doing gigs here, it is one of my favourite festivals

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 14 Aug 23 - 02:52 AM

I remember Malcolm banning somebody called Chas from the festival.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Aug 23 - 09:47 AM

That's a shame Tatie. I have been to some nice singarounds in the Black Horse and the Waiting Room. Will probably spend some time in those again next week.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 14 Aug 23 - 03:15 PM

The Plough is a great loss.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Aug 23 - 04:06 PM

The Board too.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 14 Aug 23 - 07:22 PM

I stand corrected Tattie although I was thinking of the people who share the pleasure of the music we primarily enjoy.
Most fair size towns have lots of interest groups that put on events for the like minded and that is great.
Whitby and the area has had many lasting events that we would probably enjoy and which I have always acknowledged and encouraged.
It has also had some super short term and one off events over the years.
The area did have a particularly ill famed none-off non-event purporting to further our cause.
Dick
You have an interesting memory bucket!
Chas was not banned from the festival because he was never part of it!
He was however taken to task extremely forcefully for riding round the town with a loudspeaker slagging off a local business and claiming to speak for Whitby Folk Week! Fact!!
All will be revealed in my upcoming best selling memoires!!!

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 2023
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 15 Aug 23 - 01:38 AM

Hi, Malcolm, do you remeber the Rev ken, falling over while plying his gadget with malt whiskeys, BEFORE YOUR TIME AS ORGANISER I THINK

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 19-25 August 2023
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Aug 23 - 01:59 AM

I went to Whitby Folk Week with Dick Greenhaus and Susan Friedman in 2002. I met the Ducks and Kevin McGrath and a number of other Mudcatters there. I got to see Cyril Tawney and Janet Russell and Steve Tilston, and I loved the afternoon sessions at the pub in Robin Hood's Bay. All in all, it was a wonderful experience.

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 19-25 August 2023
From: r.padgett
Date: 15 Aug 23 - 03:35 AM

Yes Father Ken Loveless ~ anglo concertina player of note a character once seen never forgotten and the Plough a meeting place "in the day" for many of the unbelievable "would bees" and veterans of the trad folk scene must have been early 1970s

I remember Clive Woolf, and the Scottish veteran trad singer whose name escapes me and the many little pockets of singers in all Plough rooms and upstairs and out into the back yard ~ Tony Wilson and the other banjo player in the Plough back room!
Not to mention room for folky families with their children

Great pity, but great times

Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 19-25 August 2023
From: GUEST,RJM
Date: 15 Aug 23 - 04:10 AM

Willie Scott? I think i met you therein about 1974 Ray

Subject: RE: Whitby Folk Festival 19-25 August 2023
From: r.padgett
Date: 15 Aug 23 - 09:56 AM

That's him Willie Scott

Ray

Subject: Whitby Folk Festival 19-25 August 2023 -
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Aug 23 - 04:03 AM

So sad ...... husband has caught Covid and so we won't be able to attend our favourite festival and see all our friends. First time we've missed it for about 15 years.
Is anyone looking for a last minute booking in a very centrally located apartment for 4 persons (Double & 2 singles). It's called Swing Bridge View for obvious reasons as it is behind the huge polar bear statue overlooking the bridge.We were booked from Fri 18th -Fri 5th August but have had to cancel.
It can be booked via VRBO.com and would make an excellent base.
The owners are in Canada at the moment but have been very good , replying quickly to our emails.
It would be good if it was snapped up by someone attending the folk week.
Have fun this week and play and sing loud enough for us to hear it down here in Sidmouth.
Kath Parry