2nd September 2010DORCHESTER: Top talent on show at youth festival
by Anita Harries
Dorchester’s free youth festival, Anonymous, was back this year with a vengeance.
In stark contrast to the cold, wet weather of last year, organisers were greeted by brilliant sunshine and crowds of people turning up to enjoy a day of local and national talent.
Young people from Dorchester Youth Extra worked hard putting together an amazing day of music, activities, stalls and food outlets, with support from Dorchester Town Council and West Dorset District Council.
Emma Scott, Community Development Officer for West Dorset District Council, said: “The young people from Dorchester Youth Extra really wanted to build on the success of last year’s Anonymous Festival, and we have really pulled out all the stops to make this an event that has something for everyone.”
Musically, the local talent on show demonstrated just how fortunate we are in Dorchester to have so many gifted musicians.
The main stage saw acts such as Thomas and the Mock Ups, Patchwork Mammoth, Kill the Conversation and Eighty Three Days join headline act The Stow who launched their autumn tour at the event following a successful festival season.
Between the music, performers who took to the stage included the Dorchester Ballet and Dance Club, the cheerleading and street dance skills of Distinction, and the superb Dorchester Youth Theatre.
Adding to the main stage line up was an Acoustic Café where as well as enjoying wonderful pizzas from the Jalopy van, first class entertainment was provided by Lil Dreads, Bethany Hyde, Abi Rich, Owen and Capaldi, and Jack Harrison and Joe Trudgeon.
Jago’s DJ Tent saw Dorchester’s first silent disco highlight some of the top local DJ talent, while slightly more bizarre were the Whalley Range All Stars with their 30 foot long sleeping sow.
The public had the chance to peek at a show that took place inside her belly, and it proved very popular especially with the children.
A digital funfair, virtual coconut shy, climbing wall, and the free running of Train Hard joined a variety of craft stalls to keep people going all day. Children could build lanterns, flags, pom poms, peg dolls, hats and bracelets, weave a rag rug, and build and launch a bottle rocket. A bouncy castle and sumo wrestling created an appetite for chips, burgers, candy floss and ice creams. And Dorchester Youth Extra had their very own range of non alcoholic cocktails for sale.
Opened by the Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Leslie Phillips, this was yet another success story for the young people of Dorchester. With a whole range of information available from organisations such as Rerun – the Dorset Runaways Service, Shadows, and the Space Youth Project, as well as a first class entertainment programme.
PICTURE: The B Sharp Youth Music Project from Lyme Regis
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