Whitby Weekenderyorkshires Original Sold Out

Big thanks to Kev & Snowy plus their magnificent team for delivering another top notch Weekender, including a well thought out inclusion of football on big screens, yet still providing music elsewhere in the Pavilion. By virtue of their event, every year they have made Whitby in July & September a ‘Soul Town’- not emulated anywhere else. 

So many highlights, so here’s just a few ....

The feel good, friendly atmosphere throughout which was a credit to everyone there. 

One of the ‘wow’ tunes;  The Allergies  ‘as we do our thing’ (which samples George Bensons ‘water brother’) & ‘loves supposed to be’ (which samples Exciters ‘blowing up my mind’). 

The Main Room; for technique behind the decks and audience engagement ‘right record, right time’ - Ozz Osbourne. 

The enhanced dj /sound systems throughout. From a djs perspective a joy to play vinyl on.

The Market Place sessions; Terry Finns’ Friday night, Andy Baskett’s sets - unassuming, with a keen ear for a great tune and always introduces something rather special. Soul Sam - there’s a separate thread on here citing his legendary Market Place spots. This year more of the same, with some 45s new to me.

Gary Smith - the unsung hero for organising and hosting the excellent Rifle Club. I was particularly blown away by Russ Steele’s and Little Av’s sets. 

The interaction, particularly in The Market Place and The Rifle Club, between those listening and/or dancing then asking the dj about a particular record. 

Regrets ....not being able to catch more dj spots and catch up with all friends we knew were there, somewhere ...   No Met Ballroom. I know Kev and Snowy tried so hard to make this happen again this year but the new owners wouldn’t engage ...

So onto Whitby in September with another glorious Weekender in store feat. The Velvelettes live. 

BYou covered most of the bases there Andy. That was our fifth and it's good to see the event evolve without losing any of its core appeal. Soul Sam deserves a special mention always - we heard him in all three Pavilion venues and every time he delivered. Would have put him on last on Sunday in the market place to set up the Boogie Man and Her like last year, but that's a minor aside. The market place itself is really coming into its own as a mini-venue, and we spent more time there than in previous years.

The modern room had more across the board action this year, while the main room is just in a class of its own.

Big thanks to the organisers, the djs, the traders and punters, and special mention once again to the people responsible for the sound systems, which were top notch.

Unfair to single out particular sessions, but then again it's unfair when schedules clash, so highlights:

Phil Kingswood in the modern room - across the board at its best, from Spyder Turner to DJ Spen

Michael Perrins in the marketplace - great 70s selections

Steve Luigi in the main room - fantastic set

Soul Sam in every room - and special points for the French Fries in his always great Cleethorpes classics set

The Boogie Man and Her - have to say Pete Waterman has changed in an unexpected way, and was disappointed that Soul Sam didn't agree to substitute for Wiggy, but as a way of making the familiar sound fresh this Sunday evening session works brilliantly and caps an excellent weekend.

Tickets for 2019 safely bagged!