An overview of who’s on today. All information subject to change.
The festival programme with full details of locations and timings is available to purchase from the Whitby Folk Week Shop, as well as various venues in Whitby including Holmans, Arch & Abbey, Station Inn, Tourist Information and Whitby Pavilion.
Special Events
Church Service for Folk – Rev’d Steven Foster; West Gallery led by Gillian Edwards; Taffy Thomas
Book Launch – “Shadows & Whispers – Graeme Miles Remembered” Named after one of his songs, this is a biography of the great Teeside songwriter and artist and is a two-year labour of love by Ailsa MacKenzie. Introduced by Ken Hall with Ailsa, Martyn Wyndham-Read & Graham O’Callaghan
“Hull Trawling” – “When men were men, and women changed the world” Martin Woodford
Concerts
Alistair Anderson – Alistair Russell – Arthur Knevett – Brenda Spence – Carolyn Robson & Moira Craig – Close Quarters – Derek Schofield – Doug Eunson & Sarah Matthews – Enda Kenny – Evergreen – Gordon Tyrrall – Graham Pirt – Helen Capes – JIB – Jill Pidd – Jim Murray & TGTHB – Jimmy Crowley & Eve Telford – Joanie Crump – John Kirkpatrick – Johnny Handle & Chris Hendry – Julia Pollock – Kevin Sheils – Kirsty Hannah – Macdara Yeates – Martin & Eliza Carthy – Martin & Shan Graebe – Martyn Wyndham-Read – Mary Cryan – Matt Quinn – Melrose Quartet – Patakas – Paul Downes & Mick Ryan – Pete Coe – Pete Morton – Rosie Stewart – Ruth & Sadie Price with Lisa Oliver – Sherburn Bartley Sanders – Sue Burgess – The Davenports – The Wilsons – Thomas McCarthy – Vic Gammon – Wynton Moore
Ceilidhs & Dances
Family Ceilidh – Jack Kanutin; Trinculo; May Cheadle
Ceilidh – Ceilidh night with Flowers & Frolics with Martyn Harvey, then Out of Hand with Martin Clarke. Dance display by Pecsaetan Morris
Playford Dance – Matthew Vernon; Alex Cumming & Audrey Jaber
Storytelling
Close Quarters – Iris Skipworth – Ken Wilson – Megan Wisdom – Mike Rust – Moe Keast – Mossy Christian – Paul Downes & Mick Ryan – Phil Tyler – Spare Parts Concertina Band – Tom Goodale
Talks, Chats & Interviews
Presentation – Martin Graebe “Down the Pub with Baring-Gould” Sabine Baring-Gould liked to go to the pub. He knew that it was a place where men would meet and, frequently, sing after their day’s work
Whitby Interview – Stanley Accrington in conversation with Julia Pollock
Presentation – Thomas McCarthy shows the first of his two documentaries made for RTE, “Songs of the Open Road”, which focuses on his traveller family in Ireland. Part two on Friday morning
Waggonners Cottage comes to Whitby – Jim & Lynette Eldon and Liam Robinson give a public showing of their informal music, dance and step dancing sessions, usually held at Liam’s idyllic cottage in Wold Newton, Lincolnshire
Folkies on film (1 Of 2) – Join Jonny Mohun as he forages for the furtive folkie lurking in dusty corner of TV & film
Workshops
Running Set Dance Workshop – Lead by Annabel & Nigel Sharp and Morris Oxford
Dance Music Workshop – Traditional dance music from Lincolnshire. A repertoire workshop for mixed instruments playing in D & G. A chance to learn traditional dance tunes from manuscript sources. Mossy Christian
Festival Orchestra (1 Of 6) – with Carol Dawson & Steve Le Voguer
Beginners Whistle Workshop – with May Cheadle
Irish Set Dance Workshop – Jerry O’Reilly & Rosie Davis will teach The Kenmare Polka Set
North West Morris Workshop – Wakefield Morris will teach a single step dance, based on a traditional dance from Newton Le Willows. Suitable for all
Longsword Workshop (1 Of 5) – with Southport Swords
Cotswold Morris Workshop – Ethelling Jig: Pecsaetan will teach this triangular dance of their own devising in the Fieldtown tradition. Suitable for all abilities; bring hankies if you have them
Workshop “It Was Perfect In My Kitchen!” – Gordon Tyrrall looks at the pitfalls inexperienced performers make when they go to play in public
Intermediate Whistle Workshop – with May Cheadle
Beginners Clog Workshop (1 Of 5) – with Camden Clog
Introduction To Rapper Dance Workshop (1 Of 2) – with Northgate Rapper
Singing In Harmony Workshop (1 Of 5) – with Carolyn Robson & Moira Craig. No experience needed. (Please note: venue change for the rest of the week)
American Dance Workshop – Unusual transitions with Sam Tetley Smith: Using the basic contra moves in unexpected combinations. Suitable for anyone who knows contra basics. With Alex Cumming & Audrey Jaber
Intermediate Clog Workshop (1 Of 5) – with The Gillow Family
Next Steps In Playford Workshop (1 Of 6) – First Steps – with Thomas Bending, see Page XX for details. With Mollie and Joshua
Advanced Clog Workshop (1 Of 5) – with Tiffany Walker
Clog For The Family – with May Cheadle. All welcome
English Dance Workshop – Maggot Pie – Bob Morgan leads dances from one of the most controversial collections of dances published, kicking off the modern era of dance composition. Intermediate dancing level – mostly common figures with uncommon figures walked through carefully. With Fran & Philip
Contemporary Poetry Workshop (1 Of 4) – Angela Topping will nurture your skills and inspire your writing
Welcome To Contra Dance Workshop (1 Of 2) – Led by Charlie Turner, get moving to the music with an introduction to the fundamentals of contra dance. Great for new contra dancers, open to all! With Trip Hazard
Children & Young People
Playtime For Children Aged 3 To 6 (Under 3 Welcome With An Adult) – Come and join the Playtime team. There will be an opportunity to join in crafts, playdough, games, stories, songs and dance
Playworks For Children Aged 7 To 11 – Children will be able to participate in a range of crafts, games and songs, and lots of silliness with the Playworks team
Longsword For Children Aged 7 To 14 – Children have the opportunity to learn a range of longsword dances with Sue Coe and Mossy Christian
Yoof Club (For 10 To 18 Year Olds) – Bryony Griffith & Will Hampson; Seven Champions Molly Dancers; Iris Skipworth
Youth Orchestra For Children 8 Years And Over – Lesley, Kerry and Will lead the children in ensemble arrangements of popular folk tunes. All abilities welcome ability to read music is preferred
Children’s Folk Choir – Lesley, Kerry and Will will teach the children a selection on well known songs. (If you have a pirate hat, please bring it along)