Last few days at Whitby

Thursday was another lovely morning. Nothing particularly I wanted to go to, so had a wander round the shops, and met everyone in The Shambles for lunch.

Then off to the storytelling - first one I've been to - Pete Gritton and Gill Redmond - an excellent hour of stories and music.

In the evening it was the traditional themed ceilidh, and this year it was "Narnia". Not an easy one to think of costumes for, but we had an excellent wardrobe and a Lucy.

I made the mistake of letting someone loose on my face and hair with silver make up, and went as the White Witch

A great night and of course the band entered into the swing of things as well

And even Newcastle Kingsmen did a rapper dance featuring Will the Wardrobe Hampson. If this link works, watch it - it's hilarious!

Friday started with a talk on the life and times of Orkney's  John Rae, a Victorian Arctic explorer who went by the nickname of Long Strider. Told in story, song, verse and music by Bob Pegg. Very entertaining.

Then I went for a walk, over the new bridge and along the estuary. The view from the bridge into Whtiby is one of my favourites.

Met Stuart who was in a music session with the Longhill Ramblers, and then walked out along the pier. although the sun was out, it was pretty windy and cold - couldn't believe some people were in the sea!

Had a really good view of some cormorants sitting on the pier

and then caught some dancing at the bandstand on the way back - the colourful Gog Magog Molly

and Mortimers Morris

Then it was up for our traditional pint in the Elsinore to watch the procession go past, lead by Goathland Plough stots carrying the garland

Pie and mash from the pie and mash shop (where else) for tea, and our usual attempt to finish off what we had left in the drinks cabinet (not much by now!)

Jez Lowe was on in the Spa Theatre, so we caught a great concert from him

before the final ceilidh where as usual everyone gathers. Not as lively as usual, but we had a good dance anyway, and then it was time for the garland to be carried out, and the singing of Wild Mountain Thyme before we all got a piece of heather to take home.




Late night walk back and a final nightcap.

Saturday is an early start, coffee in town, walk round the shops, and lunch in the Crooked Billet on the way home.

Great week again - fantastic weather, good acts, and of course the lovely town that is Whitby. Just realised I haven't mentioned the Yards this year, so here's a picture of one. They're all over. So called because they're a yard wide apparently

Whitby part 2

Sunday
Lovely bright sunny morning, and we went to a workshop on songs of the North East. Ably and hilariously compared by Johnny Handle, it featured several singers from Tyneside and Teeside explain gin how they'd got into singing local songs, and giving us some examples. The Mighty Wilsons were there again, and it was a great concert. At the end they gave a joint rendition of Union Miners, a great way to finish.


On the way out we spotted our local dance team, Sheffield City Morris Men who were dancing at what used to be called the Scoresby Monument until it blew down a couple of years ago.


With them were Mortimers Morris, another of my favourite teams


So I stayed and watched and chatted to friends in the sun. then off to the Station for a pork pie and a pint!
After that I did a bit of concert dashing. Up to the Rifle Club to see Jim woodland, a singer songwriter who I remember from many years ago when he used to come to the Hefts and Blades folk club with the Salami Brothers. he was an absolute joy to listen to.



Then a dash to the Spa Theatre where I caught Tich Frier, who was excellent and gave a passionate tribute to the centenary of the First World War singing some great songs from the trenches, including When This Lousy War is Over, and At The end of The Road.
The Foxglove Trio were up next, and I really enjoyed them. A singer, and guitar and melodeon player, and a wonderful cellist.


Then it was back to the flat for dinner, and then out to the Spa for another dance.

Monday
This morning's workshop was on Songs in South Yorkshire Customs from Ruaridh Greig. He'd done a lot of research on "house visiting" customs including the Tup, Old Horse, Wassailing and Caking. Unfortunately most of them have died out know, but I was surprised how prevalent they used to be in villages around Sheffield, and how local they are. I'd always assumed they were fairly national ones. A great talk.
Up to the Rifle Club again for lunch, and then down to The Coliseum to Cath John Kirkpatrick, who gave a great performance as always.


I came straight out and got in the queue for the next concert which was the April Verch Trio. A Canadian fiddle player and step dancer with a bass player and guitarist. Wow, they were fantastic. Lots of bluegrass, Appalachian, old fashioned swing, and some amazing step dancing.





Back into the queue again for Dance Adversity Challenge, two dance teams in a spoof of University challenge.

Back to the flat for a rest and some fish and chips ( second so far, good job we get plenty of walking in!), then we all went our different ways to concerts, and I went up to the spa to see April Verch again. Unfortunately as I left the flat, the heavens opened and I got thoroughly drenched. My jeans were soaked, and were still wet four hours later. Despite sitting steaming int he audience, I Really enjoyed it, and her step dancing was some of the fastest I've seen, even whilst playing the fiddle!
The the Welsh band Calan were on, who were also very good.


And they had some clog dancing to accompany them


All met up in the late night extra for more dancing, and a spot from another Sheffield team, Boggarts Breakfast, who had decorated themselves with blue lights for the occasion.

Whitby, the last bit

Thursday morning I went to see John Connolly, a wonderful songwriter, with such classics as Mr Punch and Judy Man and Fiddlers Green. He did a great hour of his own songs which are a mixture of very serious, to very funny. Very enjoyable way to pass the time!


Then met friends for lunch in the Rifle Club where I had a very nice ham and pease pudding sandwich, not something you get every day! An important task then lay ahead, shopping for tea. We bought an assortment of seafood, dressed crab, dressed lobster ( a snip at £4 each!), smoked salmon, prawns, smoked mackerel..... Back to the flat to drop it off and prepare some salads, as well as a bit of what we like to call chef's privilege, aka white wine, and up to the Met to join everyone else for The Sultans of Squeeze - Chris Parkinson


And John Kirkpatrick


Two mighty squeezebox players.
Then back for the famous Whitby Seafood Salad extravaganza, washed down with fizz of course.


The fancy dress ceilidh theme was Harry Potter, and so it was time for some dressing up:


And then a walk through the streets, much to the amusement of the residents.
The ceilidh was great, and there were some studding costumes. The band, 422 came as Slytherins


Martyn Harvey and the band looked pretty good

But the best had to be Earlsden Morris who came as a variety of characters, most of them travelling in the Hogwarts Express!
 There's a video of them arriving here

Friday morning was spent walking round Whitby, and trying to get the death eater tattoo off my arm from the night before. Tried everything but ended up leaving it on.

Went to check on the Penny Hedge which had survived its three tides


And then walked up to the Church and the Abbey where you get some stunning views



And down the 199 steps, then a walk to the kipper smokery


And lunch in the Duke of York.
In the afternoon we walk out along the west pier, and even the donkeys looked tired at the end of folk week


Watched Thrales Rapper do an interesting variant on a tumble, which had Star and Shadow as well as members of the audience running underneath it


And then went to The Elsinore to watch the final parade, complete with piper and the heather covered garland being carried by Goathland Plough Stots



After pie and mash from the pie and mash shop (where else) it was off to the final ceilidh, with some fabulous dancing to Peeping Tom.
The dance spot was Star and Shadow doing a combined clog and rapper routine which began with them dancing with hankies instead of swords!



Eventually the garland was carried in


We all sang Wild Mountain Thyme,


 
got our heather, and that was it for another year.

We saw the only rain of the week on the way home, and got absolutely drenched, but we were happy!


Next morning up too early, out by 10am, and off for coffee in town and a bit of shopping. Saw the Frumptarn Guggenband from Barnsley which was a bit of a surprise. Love their new steampunk outfits!



On the way back did a short detour back to Thornton Le Dale to see the scarecrow festival. This is just a couple




Crooked Billet at Towton for lunch as usual, and home.

What a great week!


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Whitby, the middle section

Tuesday began with a folky version of QI, very funny and a pleasant, easy start to the day. JK look a bit stumped here!



Then I strolled up to the Met to see one of my favourite singers, Steve Tilston, who was not even supposed to be appearing, but standing in for someone else. He was great, as always, and here's a very short clip of him singing  The Fisher Lad of Whitby



I was also lucky to catch The Foxglove Trio who were on before him. One of the good things about Whitby is seeing lots of artists, most of whom you've never heard of before and you get to see some really good ones, Foxglove Trio definitely fell into that category.

There's so much real ale in Whitby, but I've not had any, sticking to lager and cider, whats wrong with me!

Then it was back down to see Family Folk Tunes, a brilliant take off of Family Fortunes, where 100 folkies are asked the questions, and this year we were all included, so knew the questions, and could make some intelligent guesses at the answers. One of the teams were friends from Sheffield, and it was hosted as always by Stanley Accrington



The famous question, what instrument would you throw off a cliff, gets the same top two answers every year....



Tea was fish and chips on the go, as we were dashing up to the Met for a concert, interesting to see a cruise liner off shore, never seen one here before.

Great view of the Church and the Abbey as well

Massive queue for the concert, which was entitled Together in Harmony, and was 6 acts harmony singing with little or no accompaniment. Fab concert, really enjoyed it, and eventually got a seat. Started off with the Wilsons, and then the Young Uns, who were great, amazing voices.


I was also impressed with another young band, Teracups, who did some great mouth music



After that, off to the Spa for the late night extra with 422 and more dancing. A tiring day, but great fun.

Wednesday started with some shopping and making a bolognese for tea, and then off to the Spa for a concert, 422 and friends. You never know who's going to be on, and they always bring lots of Young People, this year being no exception.

Then another quick dash to the storytelling, which was interrupted by the swing bridge being open!



The storyteller was Ursula Holden-Gill, and she was excellent, certainly not a shrinking violet!



Back home for tea, and then we got a taxi, normally we walk everywhere, but we were going to the Rugby Club and its a bit far out. Another great concert, starting with our great friend, Pete Morton



Followed by a stream of great entertainers, including Chris Parkinson, another friend, and Alistair Russell



And finishing off with Dave Burland, a wonderful Yorkshire singer.

After it we walked to the Spa for a special late night event with Sheelanagig, a band plating Balkan, gypsy, folky, sort of music. Very loudly.





Lots of bopping from the audience and some dancing and acrobatics form the band. Excellent, but by about 1am we'd had enough and wended our weary way home!



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