I was going to start writing words about this year’s Endorse it in Dorset Festival yesterday, but a mixture of fatigue and a very real comedown delayed it by twenty-four hours. It takes it out of you does Endorse it, in a lovely, messy, sleep deprivation kind of way. Somehow I managed an eight hour shift at work yesterday, to describe how that felt I’ll nick an apt phrase from a stranger on facebook: Thousand yard stare in a 15 foot office.

See, at the Larmer Tree Festival the Healing Area can be found next to a large bar. At Endorse It the words ‘can be found next to’ are replaced by ‘is’. Debauchery runs amok, but somehow the organisers manage to perfectly blend that orgy of overindulgence with a place where kids and families feel safe and sound (maybe the clear increase in security helped…). Top tip: the toilets in the family field are a delight too. As a fella, wearing a dress in public would usually result in a torrent of abuse and ridicule, at Endorse It on Ladies Day it’s congratulated, applauded and simply brings smiles and laughs.

Musically, last year’s event would have taken a lot of beating. I’d say this year matched it, but overall Endorse It 2010 was better due to there simply being more on offer. The new Bus Bar Stage looked and felt great, the Strummerville Camp Fire Area was bigger (though still cosy) and better, plus three busking and open mic stages gave more artists the opportunity to just turn up and play. Stumbling into La Boite A Musique to see Andy Stock serenading Jonny Neesom with ‘I Wanna Fuck Your Girlfriend’ was one of a hundred memorable moments from the weekend.

The programme I acquired on Friday has long been lost, so my memories who played where and when are sketchy to say the least, but my personal musical highlights (bearing in mind I probably missed 90% of the entertainment) from the weekend are thus: Sarah Griffin, Subgiant, Eat Static, Pronghorn, Inner Terrestrials and The Damned (with Capt. Sensible) on the DD Stage, Toupé in the Bus Bar Stage, Quinns Quinney in the (I think) Something Else Tea Tent, whoever the band was who played at Strummerville at about midnight on Sunday, and Fat Drunk & Stupid’s punk karaoke in the Wig-On Casino – always a highlight, especially with the punk boy genius belting out ‘White Riot’ – perhaps the performance of the weekend.

Somehow I missed almost everything that went on in the Wildcat Stage, which strangely felt slightly detached from the rest of the festie. Or maybe that was just me. Endorse It pick their djs with care and skill too. The Dance Tent proved mighty popular, but my rave days are long gone, preferring as I do to slip and slide to the funk, soul and groovy tunes being laid down by Randy and Earl and dj Scratchy at the Wig-On Casino, and whoever was spinning at the Bus Bar Stage. Compared to last year’s fun I had to limit my Saturday night intake in preparation for helping to run the Oxjam Stage on Sunday. Sticking to Olde English was a wise move (plus dancing helps stave off a hangover, right?)… I felt fresh(ish) as a daisy on Sunday.

We must say a huge THANK YOU!! to Lamma and the Endorse It organisers for allowing Oxjam Bournemouth to have a presence at their wonderful festival. Being able to put on nine bands at the Wig-On Casino Stage has massively helped to raise the profile of what we’re doing, not to mention giving us the opportunity to raise more cash. Again, THANK YOU to everyone who came, played and helped to run the stage, and to everyone who donated to our fundraising pot. Steve aka Totally Lostit, your work over the weekend was heroic, and having you there on Sunday made everything easier. Paul Tucker too… another soundman who went above and beyond the call of duty.

To my fellow Oxjammers Rob and Geoff who shed leg hair, and to our waxers who had the pleasant task of tearing strips from our scabby legs… your braveness was also heroic! Getting your legs waxed doesn’t hurt. Okay, it smarts a little around the inner thigh area, but the embarrassment of having a pair of brief ‘hair shorts’ until normal hair resumes is possibly the worst part. Thanks so much to Mischa for ‘making it’ at 11am (no idea how you did that, mate), to Si Genaro for his compere skills, to Dreadlock Photography (sooo glad you found that bag Steve!), and to Animal Talent Show, One Man Destruction Show, The Sporadics, Mutant Vinyl, Big Face Reggae, My Broken 101, Science Of Eight Limbs and Lady Winwoods Maggot… everyone’s combined efforts meant we raised £248.91 on the day!

So, the Endorse it in Dorset Festival simply goes from strength to strength. The rain (for the most part) held off, the quality and variety of entertainment on offer was fantastic considering the weekend price tag, but most importantly it’s the vibe and atmosphere which radiates from this random field near Six Penny Handley which makes this festival one of, if not the musical highlights of our year. It takes a hell of a lot of hard work, passion and dedication to put on a festival as good as this. Same time next year? With bloody bells on.

All images supplied by Dreadlock Photography – loads more photos to come.
For a look at 19 videos we took at Endorse It, take a look at our You Tube Page.
Were you at Endorse it? Let us know your thoughts…

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