Big Reunion Weekend 2 is festivaling for the 21st Century

The Big Reunion Weekend 2 review

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The Big Reunion Weekend 2 2009

Friday 27th to Sunday 29th November 2009
Butlins Resort, Skegness, Lincolnshire, PE25 1NJ, England MAP
£159 ticket with accomodation - SOLD OUT

For those not aware The Big Reunion Weekend is the brainchild of Club 18-30 holidays. If you holidayed in one of those European cultural hot spots such as Malia, Aya Napa, Magaluf, Rhodes or Ibiza then chances are you know all about this festival. Giving young holiday makers the chance to rekindle holiday friendships / romances. So against this back drop the weekend as you can imagine is an extension of the summer holiday vibe.

Last year when I attended The Big Reunion Weekend I wrote it was the biggest kept secret on the festival scene. Well now it looks like the cat is well & truly out of the bag. Increasing to three weekends from the two weekends held last year, with all three weekends selling out by early November, clearly the 18-30 age group are not affected by the recession or are willing to splash out on having a good time.

On arriving at Butlins Skegness we notice the small Big Reunion Weekend banner on the fence at the main entrance, which belittles the events going on behind the security barriers. Check in is a painless affair, where we are handed our chalet keys. We are staying in the VIP 'The Sands Court' which comprises of three bedrooms, four single beds & a double. The lounge has two leather sofas & is equipped with 26” widescreen tv, microwave oven, cooker, lots of heaters & a lovely shower room.

The chalet is equipped with all kitchen utensils, clean towels are also provided in the shower room & the beds are made up with clean duvets & sheets, meaning you only need to bring your clothes, toiletries & food supplies. This is festivaling for the 21st Century. Upon the coffee table is an introduction by to Butlins from the resort manager, which soon makes it clear that any damages to the chalet must be paid for in full before departure with a full price list for repairs, including £200-£500 for the carpet, so avoid having late night parties in your chalet if you can.

Our first act tonight on the Skyline Pavillion stage is Grime, Garage star Tinchy Stryder, adorned in his own branded Star In The Hood T-shirt, he flies through his quick 20 minute set. Working with a DJ & no backing he does a great version of Number 1 which gets a massive reaction from the very enthusiastic skyline crowd as does 'Never Leave You'.

We then take the very short journey within the Skyline to The Centre Stage theatre where Redz, and Dr Psycho are MCing their tunes.

Then it's the media master Tim Westwood spinning the decks for two hours, somewhere in between there was a 10 minute set by Taio Cruz which we missed due to a much needed smoke break, damn those anti smoking laws.

Ironik & Ibz takes the Centre Stage up to a higher level with their high energy DJ, rapping & MC skills. Ibz is a master of working crowd, he works the front row as though they are all his best long lost friend. Everyone gets a handshake & eye contact.

When not performing they're getting members of the audience to perform on stage in mini competitions often revolving around girls getting undressed. Ibz goes for a wild crowd surf, with the audience grabbing him in areligious like frenzy.

Scottie B, and So Solid Crew star, Mc Harvey carry on with the fun getting some girls out of the audience to dance to some fellow male audience members. MC Harvey screams "Who wants to win a £1000 watch???? Then ladies take of your clothes & get your dance partner hot!!!" The ladies look at each other as one brave lady strips down to her bra & thong. Seeing this another removes her top followed by the last girl doing the same. Getting the crowd to vote on who should win the watch the girl in bra & thong is clearly cheered the winner. Harvey then tells the girl in order to win the watch she will have to get topless, I guess the lure of a £1000 watch is a great way to get girls to reveal their boobs and it works, the girl laughing with embarrassment runs of the stage with her prize.

Finally Artful Dodger makes the stage & brings back on MC Harvey, Ibz, Dr Psycho, Ironik & Scottie B to end the party atmosphere with an extra long Rewind which takes us to closing time of 6.00am. We stagger back to our chalet, where the central heating has kicked in, thankfully as the November Skegness air is bitterly cold & wet. We watch some breakfast tv, have some microwaved food & hit the beds with the duvets. Like I said this is 21st Century festivaling!!!

review by: Gary Stafford

photos by: Gary Stafford