7th July 2010

DORCHESTER: Music festival rocks Damers School

by Anita Harries

Cool as a cucumber in his designer shades, headmaster Phil Minns played Master of Ceremonies to Damersfest 2010, a festival of fun for the whole family.

Building on last year’s success, a bigger and better programme of entertainment saw more than 1,000 people flock to the school to enjoy six hours of music and dance.

There was plenty to keep young children occupied in the kids zone, including skittles and a coconut shy, face painting and hair styling and football.

And there was always the Governor’s raffle to make sure you went home broke.

Musical mayhem opened with Howling at the Moon, a duo known for their own particular brand of music and humour, before Just Dance took over.

This local dance troupe includes many children from Damers and is run by former pupil Linda Evans.

Jilly Ann was a huge hit last year and again performed a wonderful selection of both old and new favourites.

Distinction Street Dance returned with their latest dance routines, their Cheerleaders produced another great performance, while their Belly Dancing Group had the male section of the audience reaching for their beers.

Well known local singer and songwriter Kipper, Detention for Good Girls with their eclectic mix of indie rock, pop and chart music, and Lazy Sunrise with their exciting arrangements of classic and original material all helped to create a superb festival atmosphere on the school field.

Three young ladies from year four, winners of Damers Xmas Factor, gave an amazingly confident performance in front of so many people.

Continuing in this vein, Damers Supersingers were simply brilliant, including a first class rendition of Those Magnificent Men in their repertoire.

It would not be Damersfest without a performance by the Manic Street Teachers and once again they brought the house down.

Perhaps the loudest screams were reserved for Lil Dreads. Another former pupil and a Blue Peter Gold Badge Winner to boot, he was crowned the Freestyle King after winning a nationwide rapping competition for the government’s anti knife campaign “It Doesn’t Have to Happen”.

Incredibly popular he is fast earning a reputation as a performer and had the young audience eating out of his hand.

PICTURE: Lil' Dreads was the crowds favourite