Last Day at Folk Week

Friday today. Last day of Folk Week, but hooray, we are here for another week. Yesterday I read a lot more of Dracula; it's really good and Whitby features far more strongly than I expected. Only did one folky activity yesterday, which was to attend the Queen ceilidh. It was great. I just wore a dress, but quite a few men had made a real effort. The two winners were a tall man in very high black boots and a schoolgirl outfit, and a teenager dressed as a Freddie Mercury's tombstone! This was clever as fitted a side Whitby vibe as well! 

I've decided that the late night ceilidhs are the ones to go for. More teenagers just going mad, so fewer people tutting that you're not doing it quite right. The dances have felt a little more stressful than they did last year, maybe we've been at more of the early, brightly lit ones. They seem more serious. The bands playing have been great though, and last night they were excellent at camping up the Queen songs.

Today we went to part two of the all abilities workshop; excellent again. I think one of their children's workshops would be about my level to assist me in playing by ear. Bumped into Alan and Patricia in the courtyard cafe - can't remember what it's called - We know them from Ealing Country Dance club, and they kindly brought several of our musical instruments by car to Whitby and will take them back tomorrow. Patricia has extremely long hair. She hasn't had it cut for 22 years. Jake would very much like me to do this, and the other day I recklessly told him that I would not cut it again apart from a little tidy now and again.

Found folk week a bit tiring this year, possibly because we were far away from the Pavilion etc, so everything felt more important due to travel time etc, and we didn't stay to end of ceilidhs as would have been soooo late going to bed. It'll be different next year. 

Met a very nice man at a few workshops; Nick - he has moved here from Somerset. He encouraged us to make the move, too and told Phil that fiddle players are needed here, as the weekday sessions are somewhat devoid of them.

More on Monday as Coliseum internet caff is closed at the weekend.

back from Whitby Folk Week

Well, we have returned from Whitby; all blogging ceased during Folk Week, because there was simply too much to do! Firstly, tried loads of violins for size and fell in love with the first one that Geraldine Stephenson got out of the back of her van. It's about 100 years old, and comes from France via the Shetlands; it's lovely and has transformed the sound I produce when I play. Then, it was ceilidhs and other assorted related dances every night 'til 1, and up at 8 to go to workshops! Phil and I managed not to annoy quite as many people with our dancing this year, I think we only got things badly wrong about three times, and that was also other people getting it wrong. I'm sorry to have to report there were still a couple of very sour faced people who crossed our paths once or twice during the week. What an amazing week though, and what a brilliant holiday. During folk week, the whole town becomes infused with folk music- all kinds of it, dancing is everywhere, some of it village green type morris dancing, and some more extreme like the Wytchmen- how I wish I got to see them and their exciting band more than just on the first night.
There was an Abba Ceilidh, with the classic tunes done ceilidh band style, and a band formed by Eliza Carthy for the occasion. Her dad Martin played the electric guitar for the occasion, all the band and the caller, Martyn Harvey dressed up 70s disco style. It was excellent, and Phil and I managed to join in quite a few dances without stuffing them up. It really is an incredible feeling dancing with about 500 other people, holding hands and swinging each other about. I'm going to avoid the polka in future though, it's dangerous, as the young people tend to charge about manically and I received a polka related injury when Phil and I, too, were charging about in a rather stupid way and collided with another couple; well, they were dancing crazily too and collided with us. I fell flat on my bum right in front of the band. The band Pete Cooper, my fiddle guru was playing in. Embarrassing as well as painful.
The last night was especially moving. They had a ceremony that we hadn't noticed last year to do with a 'heather garland.' It was brought in serenaded by the Goathland Plough Stots. Early in the evening, children were all encouraged to take a sprig of heather, and then later the adults. Before we took a sprig, everyone sang 'Will ye go Lassie Go'. It was very moving, probably about 5-600 people there, maybe more, all singing gently together. Lots of not very dry eyes in the house as a result. The heather is supposed to bring us back next year. I don't need heather for that, but took some anyway.