Well what an absolutely amazing weekend that was! I said earlier this summer that Sunrise Celebration was the best festival I have ever been to but this came very close to surpassing it. And for completely different reasons too. Whilst Sunrise was a completely blissed out hippified affair, Endorse It is a full on aural assault with a line up of some of the best ska, punk, skiffle & techno acts around.
There are only 3 stages to entertain the 5,000 punters and all are a short distance apart. The main outdoor Johnny Cash stage had the best lighting rig Ive ever seen at a festival of this size and the covered Desmond Dekker & Wildcat stages had music into the early hours with Lee & Jared of Peoples Republic of Disco spinning the disks until 6am in the Wig-On Casino.
Plenty of lads frocked up for ladies day on the Sunday and the punk karaoke was an amazing success. I got onstage with punk covers band Fat Drunk Stupid for a rendition of the Buzzcocks Ever Fallen In Love & thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The bar was fairly pricey but did a good selection of potent beers & ciders. There was a reasonable choice of food and plenty of familiar stalls. Security was very low key & I didnt see any evidence of a police presence all weekend.
The campsite was well grassed & gently sloping and with fine weather almost throughout the weekend it was so good to be able to just sit on the ground after the mudbaths of recent weeks.
Unfortunately the blight of the tent thieves followed us to Dorset and one friend had money removed while she was asleep. But that and perhaps the need for more frequent emptying of the campsite toilets would be my only gripes. Otherwise it was simply a fantastic 3 days and my thanks to Father Flounder & Pronghorn for their organisation and all of the many Urbanites and other friends old & new for their company and for making this event so special.