it's a vintage year for Endorse-It

Set in fields the hue of scrumpy, golden and tanned in the sun, Endorse-It this year is distinctly punk flavoured (in memory of Malcolm Maclaren) although banjo bands, dance acts, reggae, and guitar bands along with local acts are also in attendance for a weekend of frock and roll. Despite the punk heavy bill the vibe this year felt more relaxed and upbeat than ever before. As the logo for the festival says - quality assured, and you can be assured it is.

Making sure the family friendly festival improves year on year, the festival organisers had moved things about on site, giving the festival a few tweaks which worked well in the whole. All the usual aspects were still there, the healing Pixie Chill area, food and drink stalls, loos, welfare, merchandise stall, shops, and the all weather main stages. The kids area had expanded what it offered even more, with the Yokel Jugglers teachin' 'em all to be pirates, and looked like fun for the nippers. Changes included a completely new location for Strummerville and it's stage, sofa, and the only campfire on site. The new area really worked well and provided some great acts like Rum Shebeen, The Supernovas, Jonny Newsom (who does a Radiohead cover - and unsurprisingly it starts to rain), Beans on Toast, some wicked kid beat boxer, and more. Good to see many people making a donation to the foundation whilst they're chillin' out there too. Nearby was another open mic stage and a performance space used by the Hoolagans hoola-hoop troupe.

The punk theme meant the music choice had perhaps narrowed even more and the positioning of the open mic stage (a pimped up caravan) right next to the Bus Bar Stage (and of course the Endorse-It Bus) did mean half the time one of the acts playing totally drowned out the other. Another soundclash was to be found up at the Dance tent where the Purple Purge Crew had their own vibrant tent right beside them. No such problem with the Desmond Dekker (main) stage, Wig-On Casino, the other open mic stage which also housed Teasy Pleasy Burlesque, or the Comedy Stage. As long as you weren't trying to watch a band the noisy hubbub from the various tents added to the lively atmosphere of the festival which seemed much fuller with the better use of space leaving less empty areas.

The site was bedecked with particularly spectacular crazy sculptures from the Wrekon Crew and a large wooden lettered 'EIID' which the kids delighted in painting, as well as a large 'MAD' over the entrance to the site. I especially liked the shaggin' sheep in the Rock The Bus Bar. Beside the arena is the campsite, a rather lively affair full of characters and noise most of the night. The campsite has its own site and Scouts prepared to supply anything even bottled gas for campervans! There are plenty of toilets, a cafe, and a family (less crazy) camping area. A short skip away is the campervan field and the car park. A dry week before the festival means there's no problem getting on site this year. Last year mud meant that the cars had to park on the hil above the site.

The attendees seemed a varied bunch this year, the usual old school punks with their families, the festival regulars, and locals, joined by more teens, and more older folk, providing an even wider age range. There were much more people (blokes) prepared to get involved in getting into dresses on ladies day, some seeming to enjoy it so much they were still thus attired the next day. There was also an impressive amount thought put into dressing up this year with the 'Festival Queen Award' a close fought event. Okay, so Scrumpy Sunday resulted in a few casualties sleeping in the sun, but responsible drinking didn't lead to any trouble flaring, and I saw not a hint of trouble all weekend. That's not to say there wasn't any, unfortunately there was a spate of thefts from tents on the opening night, something that afflicts many festivals each summer.

Food choices were widened this year, and even included a bakery, although I didn't get to try many of them, the food at the three curry (Thai, Indian, and veggie) stalls were so delicious I ate there every day, not even getting a chance to eat at the posh (uses real plates and everything) restaurant that is Malinkeys. Meal prices were reasonable at around £6-7, although the lack of Asian Grub Foundation meant I had to opt for a 50p more expensive soggy, microwaved samosa - not a patch on their crispy, spicy snacks. Uncle Badger's Potato Wedges, Pieminster, Welsh regular Iechy Da, and tasty veggie haven The Wide Awake Cafe were also family favourites.

It's at this point I should perhaps mention the facilities, whilst remaining well stocked with loo paper most of the time and without hand sanitizer (take your own), they did get in a bit of state late in the night, although the ones that were less (or not) illuminated were the best option. However each morning, including the Monday, they were once again clean and tidy. So whilst not pristine all weekend they were working, not too far to get to, and never with a queue in front of them. On Sunday, the urinals provided frock wearing male festival goers the chance to use the line "Is this the ladies?" which after the thousandth time just isn't funny anymore.

There were plenty of bars and barstaff which meant even at busy periods there was little delay in getting a drink, and wealth of drinks on offer, each of the three bars offered different ales or ciders. The Bus Bar offered the festival's own specially brewed Endorse-It Stamp, and the Dance Tent bar offered Ringwood Best, and there were a couple of other ales which popped up over the weekend including Mole, and festival regular 49er. The choice of cider, and proper scrumpy resulted in those of us wanting to try all of them feeling rather Rosie by the end of the night. The first night forinstance I hit the hay rather early for a deep apple induced slumber, even the rowdiness of the surrounding campers couldn't rouse me.

The music was a lovely mix of festival strength punk, rock, ska, dub, dance and reggae with a scrumpy & (south) western flavour in parts too. For the music review of the weekend click here.

This is the seventh year, and was surely the best one yet, with a classic vintage feel to it. A terrific atmosphere and more boys than ever taking up the chance to rock out with their frock out. A weekend of great scrumpy, and upbeat music with a much more punk flavour to remember one of punk's luminaries. For those that like their festivals more D.I.Y. and organic, sensibly priced, and without the more commercial trappings of other festivals I would wholly recommend it, or should that be I heartily endorse it!?.

A big thanks to the organisers LGO, the stewards, the low key security, those behind the scenes, the bar staff, the caterers, the bands, the friends I met, and all of those who went, and you for reading this.

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