1st September 2011

DORCHESTER: Anonymous 2011 youth festival showcases local musical talent

By Anita Harries

The Anonymous Festival returned to Maumbury Rings in Dorchester over the bank holiday weekend with the weather as changeable as the acts that performed on the stage.

Pulled together by the young people of Dorchester Youth Extra, assisted by an army of community workers, volunteers, and Anonymous stalwarts Emma Scott, Jude Allen and Keith Hatch, this was yet another successful day of music provided by a wealth of local talent.

The main stage saw such prolific acts as Popeye and the Pixies, Last Chance, and Jack Harrison and the Dharma Bums. Female vocalists Sarah Pardoe and Molly Hyde joined Teenage Wasteland, a band playing their first gig with a mix of punk, ska and reggae. Featuring a set of covers along with some very original material, they were very good.

Headline group and firm favourites Thomas and the Mock Ups, with the Tolpuddle Martyrs and Red Flag Festivals already under their belt, produced the kind of performance the audience has come to expect of this outfit.

Band member Leo said: “We were really stoked that we were invited to play the Anonymous Festival and better still being asked to headline. Maumbury Rings is one of the most awesome venues we have been lucky enough to play in.”

Fee and Ben’s Acoustic Cafe also hosted some very creditable local musicians, including Amelia Barnes and Bethan Gibbons. There was an opportunity to join in during an open mic slot, or just sit and listen to the music whilst enjoying a delicious pizza.

The dancers from Distinction gave their usual polished performance, the Dorchester Dance and Ballet Club coped incredibly well with the wet grass, and more entertainment came from Bordering on Morris, and Portrait.

Some very curious stilt-walkers, a digital funfair, graffiti art, craft activities, rocket building, a climbing wall, and an inflatable bungee run made sure nobody suffered from boredom and gave ample opportunities to dodge the showers, while the amazing Maverick Slackliners gave demonstrations of their skills as well as allowing everyone to join in the fun.

Local organisations play a big part in the Anonymous Festival, and were on hand to provide advice and information on a variety of subjects. Including the Space Youth Project, the Shire Alcohol and Drug Outreach Service and Nightstop, a service for young runaways.

Dorchester Amateur Boxing Club ran a tombola, there were skateboards, t-shirts and a whole range of other products to buy.

The weather might have been kinder, but people turned out to enjoy the music eat burgers and ice-creams, and most of all have fun. Bring on Anonymous 2012!

PICTURE 1: Learning to slackline

PICTURE 2: Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Tess James, joins organisers and volunteers for the opening of Anonymous 2011

PICTURE 3: Teenage Wasteland play their first ever gig on the Anonymous stage