Dudestock 2011 – A Dudeist Music and Comedy Festival for Charity

Dudeism, good tunes and comedy go together like Kahlua, vodka and half-n-half. Increasingly so, it’s also going together with doing good in the world.

The Grand Old Dude of York Kristian Lewin is currently organizing Dudestock, a grand new musical/comedy festival for charity in York, UK. Here he is to say a few words about the festival and how very thurrahly it is going to roll (and rock):

By Rev. Kristian Lewin
The Grand Old Dude of York,
AKA The Arch Dude of York

My journey with the Church of the Latter Day Dude started on 22nd November 2009. I took my fantastic lady to the cinema for her 28th birthday where I saw a short film produced by Volkswagen about how movies can inspire a way of  life starring our very own Dudely Lama. This finally gave me that sense of belonging that we all yearn for at some point in our lives. That very same night in the hotel after my good lady had fallen asleep I got on my mobile, opened up the internet and got myself Ordained as a Dudeist Priest.

I like to believe that I have always been the generous type, putting others needs in front of my own (sometimes to my disadvantage) so using the name of The Church of the Latter Day Dude to bring happiness to families in a place I now regard as my home seems to be undeniably logical. The idea came about after a casual conversation with Matti Dudeist-Phoenix Sim, a fellow Dude, when she said "Hey we should put together a festival for UK Dudeist Priests". Fuckin’ A’ Matti! The idea for Dudestock was born. After much deliberation on location, name and all the other what-have-you it all started to come to light. A festival that will fit right in with the parlance of our times, in a location that is roughly central to the borders of the UK, with a name that reflects the peaceful attitude of the event and in a way where many families will benefit and at the same time spreading the word of Dudeism in a non-preachy manner.

Dudestock 2011 is to be a music/comedy festival held here in York, UK with the entire proceeds being donated to a very worthwhile cause, York’s Special Care Baby Unit. I have two gorgeous children of my own and knowing that this place relies almost entirely on donations to keep going is quite astounding. Imagine your child is born prematurely and you are told "he or she is going to have to go into special care however we’re terribly sorry we don’t have a unit here as the charitable funding stopped".

York’s Special Care Baby Unit or SCBU in short does some amazing work. It has rooms on site so parents can stay with their sick children for as long as necessary and offers support to the families after they have left. A place like this has such a profound impact on one’s life that Debbie Miles , Chairperson of the SCBU Committee, will tell you that most of their donations come from parents and/or their family members who have experienced the loving care that the Baby Unit gives in abundance.

Take ‘er easy!

For more info, please contact Rev. Kristian Lewin:
grandolddudeofyork@live.co.uk, (0044) 07790 509 100
Please visit the official sites:
http://www.dudestock.moonfruit.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=147500185268621&ref=ts
http://www.twitter.com/dudestock2011