Comedy and cookery in the final line-up for Whitby’s indoor ‘outdoor’ festival

WITH its Arts Council funding agreed Whitby's Musicport is now completing its line-up for the annual October festival that brings international artists together with national and regional acts to create something unique and special on the Yorkshire coast.

The latest additions to the line-up include comedian Jeremy Hardy, a regular on BBCs News Quiz and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, the uplifting band from Marseilles Moussu T E Lei Jovents, ace guitarist and songwriter John Smith, young bluesman Sean Taylor and a new project Morris-Natyam that uniquely combines English folk dance and Indian Classical dance.

With six stages in one indoor venue (Whitby Pavilion) it is guaranteed mud-free, but there is a festival bazaar and outdoor food stalls, a DJ café, films, workshops and children’s activities which aims to create the feel of a summer festival in an indoor space.

Now in its 17th year, the event is always trying to develop and build on what it has previously done. A major development this year is that the Monday and Tuesday following the main event will see the festival going out on tour to nearby towns and villages. As the festival coincides with half-term this year it is hoped this will appeal to family audiences in the area and it will replace the usual fringe events that have previously happened in Whitby.

Full detail are still being confirmed, but festival director Jim McLaughlin says: “We are aware that there are lots of towns and villages that are geographically and socially isolated so we think this is a great opportunity to take some really high quality acts to places that don’t often get a chance to see such things.

“It is hoped that the Sol Cinema, the world’s smallest solar-powered cinema, will accompany the tour showing short films to small audiences with popcorn and ushers/usherettes to complete the experience."

Outside the main venue will be Bob’s Blundabus the comedy/fringe venue that proved such a popular addition in 2015. Spoken word events include a book reading and Q&A from Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff and a round table discussion of music and politics led by Daniel Rachel, whose book Walls Come Tumbling Down is about to be published.

The indoor café area will become The Hub for the weekend hosting various local and nationally known DJs including regulars The Flying Chilli Beats from London and Scarborough’s Mr Tooley. Outside food vans will enhance the catering provision of the venue with food from several cultures and around the main hall there is a festival market/bazaar which helps create the feel and vibe of an outdoor festival. For those wanting an outdoor experience there will be a Sunday morning sea dip accompanied by the excellent young drumming band Runaway Samba from County Durham.

The festival offers indoor camping in The Brunswick Centre, a converted church in the centre of Whitby although this needs to be booked early to guarantee a space.

The full line-up for the festival now looks like this although some late additions are still expected:

Friday night:

The Magic Numbers; Black Umfolosi (Zimbabwe); Martin Taylor MBE; Jamie Smith's Mabon; Moscow Drug Club; The Peace Artistes; Runaway Samba; Bayou Gumbo; Geoff Berner; Morris-Natyam.

Saturday Daytime:

Kathryn Tickell & The Side; Michael Messer's Mitra (UK/India); Jackson Reid (South Africa); Sean Taylor; Jess Wright and Delia Stevens; Fie! Fie! Fie!; Flamenco Con Fusion.

Saturday night:

The Mahotella Queens (South Africa); Sarah Jane Morris & The Bloody Rain Band; Lemn Sissay; Jeremy Hardy; Don Letts (DJ set); Joe Solo; Cath and Phil Tyler; Michelle Scally Clarke; Edd Bateman's West African Love Affair.

Sunday daytime:

Soupsongs Live (The Songs Of Robert Wyatt) with The Annie Whitehead Band; Ragged Union (US); Coope Boyes and Simpson; Harpeth Rising (US); Maz O'Connor; Martin Alvarado (Argentina); The Harty Family; Blanty

Sunday night:

Lynched (Eire); Varldens (Sweden); Arstidir (Iceland); Moussu T E Lei Jovents (France); John Smith; The Mighty Sieben; Well Dressed Gentlemen

  • Throughout the weekend celebrity chef andcomedian Hardeep Singh Kohli will be hosting a cookery stage where chosen artists will demonstrate the food and culinary skills of their cultures including local folk legend Norma Waterson who will also be appearing at the venue in early 2017 at her own festival, Normafest (which Musicport is organising in conjunction with her family).

Weekend tickets are £99, but will go up to £110 on September 1.

Box Office: eventbrite.co.uk/e/musicport-festival-2016-tickets-18983879294

Day and session tickets will go on sale on August 1. Box Office: musicportfestival.com or 01947-603475