Okay so the sunshine helped, but last year’s Endorse it in Dorset Festival was a simply glorious weekend. Having suffered the previous year from persistent precipitation, it was as if everyone was simply making the most of it all. Obviously it’s far more than the sunshine that makes Endorse it what it is; quality bands, djs, comedians, and all manner of shenanigans in the middle of a field far enough away from ‘normal life’ to be able to completely forget about it.

There’s so much to love about Endorse it, but in a nutshell it’s a proper festival. It’s a cider-fuelled punky reggae dance party of the highest order. It has a real spirit, and a wonderful atmosphere that simply radiates from the crazy fools who attend year after year. If you’ve not gone you should… really, unless you’re not a big fan of having fun. An adult weekend ticket is a bargain at £70, with kids (10-15 yrs) £38. For details of all available tickets, prices and vehicle info, plus a full list of this year’s entertainment, check the website. For the billions of facebook fans, here’s your Endorse it facebook fix.

For a small slice of what you can expect, pop along to Champions on Thur 10 June, where hosts Pronghorn are joined by Endorse it faves Fat Drunk and Stupid, an a spanking new punk band P.N.U.K. Tunes will be spun by legendary spinner of prime skanking delights DJ Dapper Dan (aka The Rock n Roll Town Crier). A late addition to the line-up also brings Dusty Stray, who will play a post-karaoke acoustic set. Plus… one person attending on the night will win a free adult weekend ticket to the festival, worth £70! Entry is a fiver (£4 for Armadillo Club members). Facebook event? Here.

With the Endorse it organisation and preparation now in overdrive, we managed to distract Lamma (Pronghorn and Endorse it supremo – not pictured below) long enough for him to respond to our questioning…

Q. Hiya Lamma, how you doin’?

A. Busy and suffering from email overload!!!

Q. So, Endorse it in Dorset. How’s this year’s Festival shaping up?

A. Very well and tickets are going through the roof so please don’t miss the bus!!

Q. For those who are unaware, how did the first Endorse it Festival come to happen?

A. It started as a joint birthday party in a field for 200 people… one toilet, one caterer, bring your own beer, three bands in a barn. Loads of fun.

Q. What’s this, the seventh year? Is it getting any easier, or does the weight of expectation grow every year?

A. Yep, and it gets easier in certain areas but new ventures are always a challenge.

Q. Which has been your most enjoyable Endorse it Festival to date, and why?

A. Year two with Desmond Dekker… 1500 people, most of them were friends… you could leave your cigs on a table and nobody would touch them. Bloody Marvellous.

Q. Last year’s Festival seemed to have a wonderful vibe to it. The sun obviously helped but why do you think it felt so good. Or was it just me?

A. A fantastic team of people that help us to put the whole thing together… without them we couldn’t do it, plus all the fantastic bands, acts and comedians.

Q. The initial help you had last year from farmers (trucking in punters from the parking area to the festival entrance on the opening day) seemed to set the tone for the weekend. There was a fantastic feeling of camaraderie…

A. The Farmers loved it (although they did get paid) but yes, it did set the tone and added to the vibe of the whole thing. You only have to look at YouTube to see all the camera phones of excited punters be dragged across the fields.

Q. What is the most enjoyable part of putting on the Festival, and what is the most frustrating?

A. Most enjoyable – Seeing happy people. Most frustrating – Rain!!!

Q. What is the best and/or most enjoyable performance you’ve seen at any Endorse It Festival?

A. This is a tough one to answer!! So I’ll give you a top three.

1 – It has to be Desmond Dekker. For an old boy in his 70s he rocked and was absolutely knackered when he finished and had to be helped off stage at the end. He kicked right off because we got him the wrong brand of Brandy, then when we got him the right one and he lost it. Fantastic!!!

2 – Symarip. To stand in the middle of an audience at your own festival and hear the words “I WANT ALL YOU SKINHEADS TO STAND UP ON YOUR FEET… PUT YOUR BRACES TOGETHER AND YOUR BOOTS ON YOUR FEET… AND GIVE SOME OF THAT OOLLLLLLD MOON STOMPING!!” It doesn’t get much better than that!!!

3 – Lee Perry. And his backing band not turning up… all we got one hour prior to performance was “Sorry man but we’ve got a puncture and we have no spare!!! Sorry Man.” So we put a band together of Endorse it musicians and talked Lee Perry into a jamming set. One of the best hours of my life.

Q. Who are you most looking forward to seeing play this year? Assuming you get much opportunity to watch many of the bands…

A. SubHumans / The Damned / Symarip and anyone on Strummerville.

Q. Getting Credit To The Nation on the bill after a long live absence is a real coup…

A. Yep, and they pretty much chose us as a festival so should be good.

Q. Tell us your funniest Endorse it story…

A. Sorry, too many to comment on.

Q. What changes can punters expect this year?

A. Loads of new stuff and plenty of surprises so get your tickets before we sell out.

Q. What sets Endorse it apart from other Festivals?

A. The vibe… the relaxed atmosphere… festival organisers/bands/acts/punters all mixing together. Generally Endorse it being run by people that have first hand experience of what its like to be at one, on the shop floor so to speak, having spent twenty odd years watching and learning from other people’s mistakes, and stealing a few ideas along the way.

Q. Good luck with this year’s event Lamma. See you at Champions on 10 June for the warm-up!

A. Thanks Tone, and looking forward to it myself. Watch out for the new Pronghorn off-shoot Punk explosion P.N.U.K (half the notes Twice as fast!!) appearing live at Champions on Thurs 10th June.