Dizzee Rascal drives Big Reunion Weekend into a bonkers frenzy

When people find out that I attend festivals, more often than not there is always a reaction about mud & toilet facilities. At the Big Reunion Weekend there are no portaloos or toilet issues to worry about. Staying at Butlins Skegness holiday resort you get the holiday feeling, whether that is using the arcades or eating at Burger King or even one of the many other on site restaurants, there are no burger vans or dodgy noodle trailers here. This is a more civilised festival for those who don't want to struggle in the mud or deal with some of the horrendous toilet stories that you may have heard about on the festival circuit.

This weekend we have been given a ground floor chalet which gives some welcome stair relief. On entering the chalet we are met by a mug stand with a dish full of coffee & tea so the kettle gets turned on whilst we have a look around the chalet. The chalet has also been supplied with shower gel, shampoos, soaps, bath towels & lots of toilet roll, oh this is civilised festivaling on another level.

We have a shower & get prepared for the evening’s fun. Now although there are many entertaining things to do at Big Reunion Weekend like watch the wrestling or a celebrity death match, play the Arabian derby machine or even just sit in one of the many on site pubs, all good fun. It is the music we are really here for though & this weekend's choice of live entertainment comes from a very diverse range, we have some 90s retro from East 17 top deejays Lisa lashes, and Tim Westwood, to the country's current biggest pop star Dizzee Rascal. If that doesn't wet the appetite then I don't know what will.

We arrive at a very quiet and scarcely attended Skyline stage, where the latest ones to watch, according to numerous magazines Ou Est Le Swimming Pool (Sounds like a Friendly Fires tune) are playing their early 80s heavily synthesized pop tunes, take some Human League, Yazoo maybe even some very yearly Depeche Mode & that will give you some idea. It's a shame the crowd are so sparse as they missed a good little set.

DJ Eddy Temple Morris fills the half an hour slot before the Dizzee is due to appear playing some Indy tunes & with fifteen minutes to go gives us a minute by minute countdown to Dizzee's arrival. By now the Skyline pavilion is full to bursting point with the crowd even stretching around towards the back of the stage, which isn't a problem as the stage is open to the sides, given a good view to all.

Dizzee Rascal finally appears with a shout of "Make some NOIZE!!!" now Dizzee, I imagine must shout this upon entering his local paper shop to buy some sweets, such is the regularity with which it is shouted. Dizzee covers the whole stage to ensure everyone in the crowd gets a good view of him. Opening with the Tiesto produced 'Bad Behaviour' gently eases the crowd into the stronger tracks which are sure to follow. His rap partner yells "lets have some old skool" to which Dizzee replies "we don't want old skool!" Clearly the audience do with them chanting OLD SKOOL!!!! Dizzee duly obliges & plays the track 'Old Skool'. The end of the set is filled with his latest tracks 'Dirty Kash' sounds totally different to the single release but still maintains it familiarity. 'Dance Wiv Me' gets the crowd dancing; 'Holiday' gets the crowd enraptured whilst an encore comprising of the huge 'Bonkers' really does drive the crowd into a bonkers frenzy. A fantastic headline set by one of the UK's greatest artist's surely global domination for Dizzee can only be around the corner.

After the awesome Dizzee show we head to the Redz arena where Lisa Lashes is playing some Muse to yet another sparse crowd, we enjoy the tunes but need something with a bigger crowd so we make way to the Centre Stage where Tim Westwood is chatting away over the tunes, we are then once again delivered a cracking slice of Twice as Nice with Ironik once again owning the Centre Stage with MC Versatile & Skepta flanking on mic duties. They are once again later joined by the ever enthusiastic Ibz in his trademark combat gear, MC Harvey, from So Solid Crew fame and the larger than life itself Dr Psycho.

A line up bursting with fun. The set this weekend contains more Indy tunes than dance orientated with songs by Oasis, Kaiser Chiefs & the Killers ruling the set much to the Centre Stage audience delight. Ibz & MC Harvey have a crazy moment where they stage dive into the waiting to catch them audience who I was convinced where going to rip Harvey to pieces such was insatiable appetite for a piece of MC Harvey.

At 5.00am we make our way to the chalet for some much needed shut eye & toast, on leaving the skyline guess what??? Yes once again the Lincolnshire coast is drenched in rain yet again, so a mad run to the chalet ensues..... All great fun!!!!

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