So having previously thought that our 2004 festival season finished with Off The Tracks we decided to go one step further and made the long trip up the A1 to Whitby for the Musicport World Music Festival. The festival is predominantly held in the Pavillion complex which hangs precariously to the side of the cliffs. The main hall houses an impressively large and well decorated stage as well as a smaller Acoustic Stage. There are also a good smattering of the usual festival stalls for the browsers & souvenir hunters. The old traditional music hall style Theatre holds the second large stage & there is also a small stage in the Cafe Bar area. A fifth stage is located at the nearby Resolution Hotel although I'm afraid we didn't venture that far even though John Otway's old sidekick, Wild Willie Barrett was among the attractions.

Work commitments meant that we missed the Friday evening session which included sets by Chumbawamba and The Angel Brothers. But an early departure from home meant that we arrived in Whitby in time to see some of the first acts on the Saturday lunchtime and hopefully these pictures will tell the tale from there on.

The bars served an excellent range of ales from the Black Dog Brewery. They did however run out on the Saturday evening but this & the slightly restrictive menu on offer where my only complaints on an otherwise fantastic weekend. The theme this year leant heavily towards acts from Africa, the Far East & Celtic lands. Next year we are told to expect more Latin, Eastern European & Mediterranean music & we certainly intend to be back for that.

Thanks to all who put in the effort to arrange such a wonderful event.