/ SHOWGUIDE
A Ticket Arena company
We Play Everywhere Any event. Any size. Festivals Gigs Club Nights Exhibitions Food & Drink And more…
Sell. Promote. Deliver. Built to cope with the evolving needs of the event industry, Event Genius brings together innovative ticketing technology, management tools and unrivalled client services to create efficient solutions for your events. Visit eventgenius.io
A new era is coming… eventgenius
/ CONTENTS 04 Welcome
23 Best Medium-Sized Festival
07 Best Small Festival
25 The Green Operations Award
09 Best Line-Up
27 Best Headline Artist
11 The Brand Activation Award
29 Newcome of the Year
13 Agent of the Year
31 Festival Promoter of the Year
14 Best Indoor Festival
33 Showtime: Roosevelt
15 Best New Festival
35 Best Major Festival
17 Showtime: James TW
37 Award for Excellence & Passion
19 Artists’ Favourite Festival
39 The Lifetime Achievement Award
21 Yes Group H&S Innovation Award
41 Thanks
/ WELCOME... ...to the European Festival Awards 2016 It’s a truism by this point to acknowledge the past year as one of near unmitigated disaster, from Bowie to Prince, Brexit to Trump, Brussels to Berlin, and various humanitarian crises from Syria to The Philippines. With the past 12 months defined by death, division and posttruth populism, it’s more important than ever that we come together and recognise the collective efforts of our industry – one that is built upon internationalism and inclusivity. Despite the mostly gloomy preceding paragraph, 2016 was also a year full of amazing European festivals, and we’ll be using the ceremony on January 11th to celebrate their achievements. To all of the festivals who made it to the shortlists: congratulations and good luck, it’s well deserved. Commiserations to those who didn’t make it to the final stage this year; we hope that it doesn’t deter you from entering next year. Finally, we would like to extend a massive thanks to all who have been involved with the Awards, not just this year, but also for the seven preceding it. We are honoured to be able to host these events for you all and are truly grateful for the opportunity. Thank you, The European Festival Awards Team
/ THE AWARDS BEST SMALL FESTIVAL What these intimate events lack in scope they compensate for with an abundance of idiosyncrasies and grass roots appeal. Despite their minimal capacity, many of these cater to their audiences with such focus and peculiar charm that larger events may seem bland in comparison.
/ FINALISTS [PIAS] NITES (BELGIUM) AMSTERDAM WOODS FESTIVAL (NETHERLANDS) B MY LAKE FESTIVAL (HUNGARY) CHANT DU GROS (SWITZERLAND) FREEMUSIC FESTIVAL (FRANCE) HAPPINESS FESTIVAL (GERMANY) REEPERBAHN FESTIVAL (GERMANY) REVOLUTION FESTIVAL SNOWBOMBING (AUSTRIA) YPSIGROCK FESTIVAL (ITALY)
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE GLOBAL FESTIVAL INDUSTRY www.festivalinsights.com
/ THE AWARDS BEST LINE UP IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Picking the right bill will make or break a festival – no mean feat when there are hundreds of others trying to better you and a decreasing pool of established acts to bid on. Whether it’s about securing the biggest names in the world, putting together special collaborations, or just knowing what the audience wants, our judges are looking for the festival that displayed the most vision when booking acts.
/ FINALISTS DOUR FESTIVAL GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL MELT! FESTIVAL NOS ALIVE OPENAIR ST. GALLEN PALÉO FESTIVAL NYON POHODA PRIMAVERA SOUND ROCK WERCHTER ROSKILDE FESTIVAL
VISIT US AT www.yourope.org/en/emacgroups
/ THE AWARDS THE BRAND ACTIVATION AWARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Sponsorship is a revenue stream that many festivals now depend on for their very existence. Yet creating an effective brand strategy around festivals that adds, rather than detracts from the experience is an art form in itself. This award celebrates the most creative and well-executed sponsor activity this year.
/ FINALISTS UCLL AND ENECO FOR THE SMART ENERGY GRID AT PUKKELPOP URBAN NATION FOR DREAMSCAPE AT LOLLAPALOOZA BERLIN OATLY AT WAY OUT WEST
/ THE AWARDS AGENT OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH
This Award recognises the booking agent who works in a fair and straight way with their artists and promoters, develops new talent and is well respected in the European festival scene. Size doesn’t matter – quality does!
/ FINALISTS ALEX BRUFORD ALEX HARDEE CHARLIE MYATT CLOTAIRE BUCHE EMMA BANKS JEFF CRAFT MIKE GREEK NATASHA BENT PAUL WILSON ROB CHALLICE
/ THE AWARDS BEST INDOOR FESTIVAL Those averse to camping out in the sticks can enjoy these urban events a little more, safe in the knowledge that they’ll be [hopefully] returning to a bed at the end of the night. Sold either on a show-by-show basis, or via an all encompassing wristband, they give people chance to see multiple acts in the comfort of the indoors. Which one had you ditching green fields for the concrete jungle?
/ FINALISTS [PIAS] NITES (BELGIUM) BLUES IN HELL (NORWAY) I LOVE TECHNO (FRANCE) LE GUESS WHO? (NETHERLANDS) LE PRINTEMPS DE BOURGES (FRANCE) LES TRANSARDENTES (BELGIUM) ONE OF A MILLION FESTIVAL (SWITZERLAND) OUT.FEST (PORTUGAL) REEPERBAHN FESTIVAL (GERMANY) TAKSIRAT (MACEDONIA)
/ THE AWARDS BEST NEW FESTIVAL Once again, a handful of excellent new events were launched this year, bravely taking on those with established reputations. Bringing fresh ideas, new music and alternative audiences to the festival scene, which one have you already put in your diary for next time?
/ FINALISTS BLUEDOT (UK) COMMON PEOPLE (UK) DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL PARIS (FRANCE) EXODUS ‘SUPERIOR HARDCORE’ (GERMANY) EXTREMA NOIR (BELGIUM) I LOVE TECHNO (FRANCE) MAD COOL FESTIVAL (SPAIN) MANDALA FESTIVAL (NETHERLANDS) POLAR WEEKEND (FRANCE) REVOLUTION FESTIVAL (ROMANIA)
/ SHOWTIME LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM
JAMES TW
/ THE AWARDS ARTISTS’ FAVOURITE FESTIVAL The group of people that has a unique insight into the festival experience is the artists. Playing in front of thousands of people as they travel from one to another, they probably see more than most do during the summer. Which one did they enjoy the most this year?
/ FINALISTS BILBAO BBK LIVE BEST KEPT SECRET END OF THE ROAD LATITUDE FESTIVAL LOWLANDS FESTIVAL OPENAIR ST.GALLEN PRIMAVERA SOUND PUKKELPOP ROCK WERCHTER SZIGET FESTIVAL
YES YOUROPE EVENT SAFETY GROUP
THE 24TH EUROPEAN HEALTH & SAFETY SEMINAR DATE TO BE CONFIRMED (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017)
THE 25TH EUROPEAN HEALTH & SAFETY SEMINAR 17TH & 18TH JANUARY 2018 EUROSONIC NOORDERSLAG, GRONINGEN, HOLLAND
Striving to make Festivals & Events safer for further information please contact hayley.rogers@momconsultancy.com www.yourope.org
/ THE AWARDS YES GROUP H&S INNOVATION AWARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Launched in 2013, this award recognises innovation in health & safety at music festivals. Many festivals have developed, or are in the process of developing, new ways to enhance health & safety within their crowded spaces. Some go to great efforts to deliver new and exciting products and services, which keep the audience ever safer and reduce the risks within the event environment. These innovations can inform and positively change public behaviour and also create a safety culture throughout the event industry.
/ FINALISTS A PANEL OF INDEPENDENT EXPERTS PICKED OUT THE FIVE INNOVATIONS MOST WORTHY OF THE AWARD.
WWW.TPIAWARDS.COM Download the TPi app on the App Store And Google Play
LIVE EVENT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
WWW.TPiMAGAZINE.COM @tpimagazine
facebook.com /TPiMagazine
/ THE AWARDS BEST MEDIUM-SIZED FESTIVAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH
With a tendency to shy away from big names and shift the focus towards specific genres and unique non-musical experiences, the rising popularity of these events demonstrates that unpredictability and character pay off. Who will pick up the prize this year?
/ FINALISTS BEST KEPT SECRET (NETHERLANDS) DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE (NETHERLANDS) HIGHFIELD (GERMANY) ILOSAARIROCK FESTIVAL (FINLAND) MAIN SQUARE FESTIVAL (FRANCE) MELT! FESTIVAL (GERMANY) OFF FESTIVAL (POLAND) PALEO FESTIVAL NYON (SWITZERLAND) POHODA FESTIVAL (SLOVAKIA) POSITIVUS FESTIVAL (LATVIA)
TODAY REPRESENTING ROUND 90 FESTIVALS FROM 26 COUNTRIES AUSTRIA
»FREQUENCY FESTIVAL »NOVA ROCK »SZENE OPEN AIR
BELGIUM
»PUKKELPOP »ROCK WERCHTER
CROATIA
»INMUSIC FESTIVAL
CZECH REPUBLIC »ROCK FOR PEOPLE
DENMARK
»NORTHSIDE FESTIVAL »ROSKILDE FESTIVAL »SKANDERBORG FESTIVAL
FINLAND
»ILOSAARIROCK »PROVINSSI »RUISROCK »TUSKA OPEN AIR METAL FESTIVAL
FRANCE
»LE PRINTEMPS DE BOURGES »LES RENCONTRES TRANS MUSICALES DE RENNES »ROCK EN SEINE »WE LOVE GREEN
GERMANY
»DAS FEST »DEICHBRAND »FEEL FESTIVAL »HALDERN POP »HAPPINESS FESTIVAL »JUICY BEATS FESTIVAL »MELT! FESTIVAL »ROCCO DEL SCHLACKO »STADTPARK OPEN R »TAUBERTHAL-FESTIVAL »WACKEN OPEN AIR
GREECE
»ROCKWAVE FESTIVAL
HUNGARY
»SZIGET FESTIVAL
ITALY
»AREZZO WAVE LOVE FESTIVAL
LATVIA
»KUBANA »POSITIVUS FESTIVAL
LUXEMBOURG »ROCK-A-FIELD
MACEDONIA
»TAKSIRAT FESTIVAL
NORWAY
»BERGENFEST »BY: LARM FOUNDATION »ØYAFESTIVALEN »SLOTTSFJELL FESTIVAL
POLAND
»KRAKAOW LIVE FESTIVAL »OFF FESTIVAL »OPEN’ER FESTIVAL »ORANGE WARSAW FESTIVAL »WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL
ROMANIA
»ARTMANIA »REVOLUTION FESTIVAL »UNTOLD FESTIVAL
SWEDEN
»MALMÖFESTIVALEN »WAY OUT WEST
SWITZERLAND
»BALOISE SESSION »FESTI’NEUCH NEUCHÂTEL OPEN AIR »FESTIVAL BALÉLEC »FESTIVAL ROCK OZ’ARÈNES »FESTIVAL WEEK-END AU BORD DE L’EAU »GREENFIELD FESTIVAL »GURTENFESTIVAL BERN »HEITERE OPEN AIR »JAZZ FESTIVAL MONTREUX »OPENAIR ST.GALLEN »PALÉO FESTIVAL NYON »STARS IN TOWN »SUMMERDAYS FESTIVAL »WINTERTHURER MUSIKFESTWOCHEN
THE NETHERLANDS »LOWLANDS »MYSTERYLAND »PARKPOP »PINKPOP
TURKEY
»NILUFER MUSIC FESTIVAL »ONE LOVE FESTIVAL
ASSOCIATED MEMBER
»METALDAYS FESTIVAL
»ESPRIT ARENA »EUROSONIC NOORDERSLAG »BUCKINGHAMSHIRE NEW UNIVERSITY »EPS HOLDING GMBH »GLEVMO MOBILITY MANAGEMENT »GLOBAL EVENT TECHNOLOGIES »INTEGRO DOODSON »MOVENDIUM »SWISSCOM »THE COMPETENCE NETWORK »YOUCHIP
SPAIN
YOUROPE
SERBIA
»EXITFEST
SLOVAKIA
»POHODA FESTIVAL
SLOVENIA
»BILBAO BBK LIVE » PRIMAVERA SOUND » SOS 4.8 FESTIVAL
The European Festival Association www.yourope.org
/ THE AWARDS THE GREEN OPERATIONS AWARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Here Yourope and the GO Group jointly recognise the festivals that have made a significant contribution to or achievement towards developing more sustainable events. This may be through practises and systems introduced at their own event(s), through the development of good practices that they have shared with other events, a specific innovation, or through continued improvements over a number of years. The award is judged and awarded by a panel made up of experts not directly linked to any specific festival with the exception that the previous year’s winner will be invited to cast a vote for the following year’s award only.
/ FINALISTS ELECTRIC CASTLE & MAINOI (ROMANIA) IEPER HARDCORE FEST (BELGIUM) NORTHSIDE FESTIVAL (DENMARK) SHAMBALA FESTIVAL (UK) WELCOME TO THE FUTURE (THE NETHERLANDS)
The definitive source of consumer & market insight for the out-of-home market
Consumer usage, performance and perception tracking for out of home brands
Local level benchmarking tool for managed operators
Continuously updated out of home location database
Local level pricing analysis for managed operators
Work with us to understand growth opportunities, track your performance and analyse consumer perceptions.
e: hello@cgapeach.co.uk t: +44 (0)161 476 9140 www.cgapeach.co.uk
/ THE AWARDS BEST HEADLINE ARTIST A remarkable headline performance can be historical. To succeed, it requires passion, energy, musicianship, dedication and creativity. Some acts may be regulars on the festival circuit, but which one stood out from the pack?
/ FINALISTS FOALS IGGY POP LCD SOUNDSYSTEM MASSIVE ATTACK MUMFORD & SONS MUSE PJ HARVEY RADIOHEAD RAMMSTEIN SIGUR ROS
ETEP 2017
European acts on European festivals Arezzo Wave Love Festival (it)
Ilosaarirock (fi)
Reeperbahn Festival (de)
Bad Bonn Kilbi Festival (ch)
Krakow Live Festival (pl)
Rock Am Ring (de)
ARTmania Festival (ro) Beautiful Days (gb)
Best Kept Secret (nl)
Bilbao BKK Festival (es)
Bizkaia International Music Experience (es)
Body & Soul Festival (ie) Bråvalla Festival (se)
c/o pop Festival Cologne (de) Cactusfestival (be)
Chiemsee Summer (de)
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (us)
Colours of Ostrava (cz) Das Fest (de)
Dour Festival (be)
Down The Rabbit Hole (nl)
End of the Road Festival (gb) Europavox (fr)
JULI 2016 Exit ETEP Festival (rs)FESTIVALS:
INmusic Festival (hr)
Larmer Tree Festival (gb)
Le Printemps de Bourges (fr) Les 3 éléphants (fr) Les Ardentes (be)
Les Eurockéennes de Belfort (fr) Les Nuits Botanique (be)
Les Rencontres Trans Musicales de Rennes (fr)
Lollapalooza Berlin (de) Lowlands (nl)
Maifeld Derby Mannheim (de) MaMA Event (fr) Melt! (de)
MENT Ljubljana (si)
Milhoēs de Festa (pt)
Montreux Jazz Festival (ch) NorthSide Festival (dk) Nova Rock (at)
Off Festival Katowice (pl)
Rocco del Schlacko (de) Rock en Seine (fr)
Rock For People (cz) Rock in Rio (pt)
Rock Werchter (be) Rock-A-Field (lu)
Rockwave Festival (gr)
Rolling Stone Weekender (de) Roskilde Festival (dk) Ruisrock (fi)
Secret Garden Party (gb) Siren Festival (it) Slottsfjell (no)
Southside Festival (de)
Spring Break Showcase Festival & Conference (pl)
Super Bock Super Rock (pt) Szene Open Air (at) Sziget (hu)
T in the Park (gb)
(mk) Open’er Festival (pl) VIEILLES CHARRUES (fr)Taksirat Festival BILBAO BBK LIVE (es) POSITIVUS FESTIVAL (lv) DE BELFORT (fr) Blossoms, Inheaven Soom T Seinabo Sey, C Duncan, Postaal, Tallinn Music Week (ee) St.GallenVIEILLES (ch) Frequency Festival (at) LES EUROCKÉENNES BILBAO BBK OpenAir LIVE (es) CHARRUES (fr) POSITIVUS FESTIVAL (lv) Applescal, Georgia, Klangstof, The Hælos LES ARDENTES (be) AREZZO WAVE (it) BELFORT (fr) Blossoms, Inheaven Soom T SeinaboFestival Sey, C Duncan, Taubertal (de)Postaal, Optimus Primavera Sound (es) G! DE Festival (dk) Pumarosa Chikitas, Blossoms, Applescal, Georgia, Klangstof, The Hælos MELT! (de) Hyphen Hyphen, Broken Back, DeWolff, Dubioza Kolektiv LES ARDENTES (be) WAVE The Great Mura Escape Orange Blossom AREZZO Special (de)(it) Galapagai (lt) (lux) Chikitas, Blossoms, Pumarosa ROCK-A-FIELD White, Guts Masa,(gb) Klyne, Liss, SG Lewis Hyphen Hyphen, Broken Back, DeWolff, Dubioza Kolektiv MELT! (de) SLOTTSFJELL (no) Broken Back (gb) Tinderbox (dk) Orange Warsaw Festival (pl) Glastonbury ROCK-A-FIELD (lux) White, Guts Mura Masa, Klyne, Liss, SG Lewis EXIT FESTIVAL (rs) Elias, Dolores Haze, Alex Vargas, PALÉO FESTIVAL NYON (ch) SLOTTSFJELL (no) Broken Back JAZZ FESTIVAL (ch) MONTREUX Lost Frequencies, Axel Flóvent, Blossoms Jain , The United Islands of Deaf, Prague Øyafestivalen Green Man (gb) EXIT FESTIVAL (rs) Stormzy, My (no) Elias, Dolores Haze,Vant, Alex Vargas, PALÉO FESTIVAL NYONSteve’n’Seagulls, (ch) (cz) Aurora, Mura Masa, Jeanne Added, Baby, Graham Candy, The Black Fakear , Hyphen Hyphen, MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL (ch) Lost Frequencies, Stormzy, My Axel Flóvent, Vant, Blossoms(ch) Jain , The Deaf, Steve’n’Seagulls, Soom T GURTENFESTIVAL Vida Festival (es) Paléo Festival Nyon (ch) Greenfield Festival (ch) Hælos, Rag’n’Bone Man Heart Rebellion Aurora, Mura Masa, Jeanne Added, Baby, Graham Candy, The Black Fakear ,SIREN HyphenFESTIVAL Hyphen, Soom Antilopen Gang (it) T GURTENFESTIVAL (ch) Vieilles Charrues (fr) Gurtenfestival Hælos, Rag’n’Bone(ch) Man Heart RebellionParkpop (nl) ROCK FOR PEOPLE (cz) The Parrots, Antilopen Gang SIREN FESTIVAL (it)Holy Strays COLOURS OF OSTRAVA (cz) John FOR Coffey, Bazzookas, Seinabo Sey, Nothing But Thieves Waves (at) Pinkpop (nl) Haldern Pop (de) (cz) Otherkin ROCK PEOPLE TheVienna Parrots, Holy Strays My Baby, Nothing But Thieves , De SECRET GARDEN PARTY (uk) COLOURS OF OSTRAVA (cz) John Coffey, Bazzookas, Otherkin Seinabo Sey, Nothing But Thieves Out West (se) Pohoda Happiness Festival (de) POHODA (si) DOUR FESTIVAL (be)(sk) Staat, Aurora, Cuori, Amber Arcades My Baby, Nothing ButKovacs, ThievesSacri , DeWay SECRET GARDEN PARTY (uk) POHODA DOUR FESTIVAL (be)Fakear, Jeanne Staat, Brodka Amber Arcades My Baby,(si) Bazzookas, Have You Soom T, Stormzy, Lab Festival Positivus Festival (lv)Aurora, Kovacs, Sacri Cuori,WestWay Highfield (de) DAS FEST (de) (pt) My Baby, Bazzookas, Have You Soom T, Stormzy, Fakear, Jeanne Brodka Ever Seen the Jane Fonda Aerobic Added, Fews, Honne DAS FEST (de)Mango, Yast, Hornsman FùGù What’s Next in Music (lt) Primavera Sound (es) Ever Seen theVargas Jane(it) Fonda Aerobic Added, Fews, Honne Home Festival VHS?, Alex FùGù Mango, Yast, Hornsman SUPER BOCK SUPER ROCK (pt) Aurora Coyote & Soulcraft VHS?, Alex Vargas Winterthurer Musikfestwochen (ch) Provinssi (fi) Hurricane Festival (de) SUPER SUPER ROCKFestival (pt) Aurora Coyote & Soulcraft The BOCK Parrots The Parrots ETEP 2016 FESTIVALS: LES JULI EUROCKÉENNES Festival Number 6 (gb)
Iceland Airwaves (is)
Pukkelpop (be)
2003 - 2015:
Zurich Openair (ch)
2003artists - 2015:from 31 countries 3091 shows by 1082 2690 shows artists 31 countries 2690 shows by by 972972 artists fromfrom 31 countries
/ THE AWARDS NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH
It’s not easy being relatively unknown on a festival bill, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to have thousands of people hear your music. With unsigned and relatively unknown acts, or just those who have been working for years with few chart hits on almost every line-up, which was the most promising?
/ FINALISTS ANDERSON .PAAK ANNENMAYKANTEREIT AURORA BLOSSOMS CAR SEAT HEADREST DUA LIPA JAIN NOTHING BUT THIEVES STORMZY WHITNEY
A Ticket Arena company
We Play Everywhere Any event. Any size. Festivals Gigs Club Nights Exhibitions Food & Drink And more…
Sell. Promote. Deliver. Built to cope with the evolving needs of the event industry, Event Genius brings together innovative ticketing technology, management tools and unrivalled client services to create efficient solutions for your events. Visit eventgenius.io
A new era is coming… eventgenius
/ THE AWARDS PROMOTER OF THE YEAR IN ASSOCIATION WITH
This Award recognises the festival organiser who has produced an outstanding event, overcome adversity, or truly gone above and beyond the call of duty to pull off something special.
/ FINALISTS ALTER ART POLAND DAN PANAITESCU (POSTHUMOUS) FKP SCORPIO GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL LUGER SWEDEN POHODA PRIMAVERA SOUND ROSKILDE FESTIVAL WACKEN OPEN AIR WEPROMOTE SWITZERLAND
/ SHOWTIME LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM
ROOSEVELT
/ THE AWARDS BEST MAJOR FESTIVAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Like temporary cities, the largest festivals are a regular pilgrimage and a rite of passage for many. An affront to the adage that less is more, these behemoths certainly have quantity covered when it comes to capacity, stages, acts and practically every other conceivable aspect. But which one will prove to be of the highest quality?
/ FINALISTS DOUR FESTIVAL (BELGIUM) EXIT FESTIVAL (SERBIA) GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL (UK) LE PRINTEMPS DE BOURGES (FRANCE) LOLLAPALOOZA BERLIN (GERMANY) OPEN’ER FESTIVAL (POLAND) ROCK WERCHTER (BELGIUM) ROSKILDE FESTIVAL (DENMARK) SZIGET FESTIVAL (HUNGARY) TOMORROWLAND (BELGIUM)
COLLECTIVE VOICE. MUTUAL SUPPORT. INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS.
THE VOICE BEHIND THE UK’S FINEST FESTIVAL PRODUCTION PEOPLE.
/ THE AWARDS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE & PASSION This relatively new award is dedicated to an individual for outstanding contribution, excellence, passion and dedication for the European festival scene – to a person who has created something bigger than just a festival.
/ THE AWARDS THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH
DEDICATED TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE PERSONAL VISION AND ENERGY HAS PROPELLED THE ENTIRE FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE FORWARD IN A DYNAMIC, CREATIVE AND POSITIVE WAY.
THIS YEAR’S WINNER
DAN PANAITESCU Working on Sziget Festival since its inception, Daniel Panaitescu was responsible for curating’s the event’s awardwinning line-up, playing no small part in the ascent of the festival into an organisation of international renown. The Island of Freedom now attracts almost 500,000 attendees from over 100 countries per year, and this cosmopolitan convergence of like-minded individuals is owed in no small part to Dan’s eminent work as an international booking manager. With the festival’s annual line-ups spanning pop, rock, electronic, metal, folk, jazz, blues, alternative and even classical, Dan ensured that the festival truly catered for everyone – making him absolutely integral to Sziget’s atmosphere of inclusivity and togetherness. Born in Brasov, Romania on 6 November 1955, Panaitescu was a restless child whose antics caused his mother to worry whether or not he’d make to adulthood. One such incident involved him climbing up to the top of a church tower, leaving his beloved grandfather with the task of gathering the men of the village to bring him down. A similarly dangerous pastime of Panaitescu and his friends was to throw each other’s bags onto the frozen sea as far as they could and then retrieve their own. He was educated in Constanta, and usually spent summers in the countryside, either at the parish of his grandfather or with other relatives on his father’s side. In 1974, after graduating from the Mircea Cel Bartel lyceum, he was enlisted to be a soldier in the city of Galati. Attending university in Bucharest, Panaitescu graduated with a degree in Economics 1980. In his spare time he worked as a tour guide of the National Tourist Office during his university years and undertook various internships. Following university he was assigned to work in Sighisoara, and discovered that administering sheets and records as an economist was something he considered pointless and unfulfilling.
As soon as an opportunity presented itself, he left that life behind, instead opting to establish a kindergarten and work there as a teacher, followed by tenures as a geography teacher, a miner, and a Spanish translator. In 1989, he fled across the border to Hungary. “Do not shoot!” was the only Hungarian expression he knew at that time. Granted political asylum, his initial plan was to go further but this didn’t come to fruition. Instead he found friends, shelter, and work in Budapest – the future birthplace of Sziget. Despite settling in the Hungarian capital, he made every effort to return to Romania to visit and support his parents, whom he maintained a close relationship with. Starting in the early 90s, Panaitescu became actively involved in the touring and concert organisation of the following bands: Beatrice, Pokolgép, Bonanza Banzai, Pál Utcai Fiúk, Európa Kiadó, URH, Sziámi, Auróra, and Hobo Blues Band. Constantly in motion, he was a wandering soul, deeply interested in world affairs, politics, movies, books – and of course – music. He always carried a book with him, because a book could be handy at any time. Across his lifetime he visited nearly 50 countries, and respected all local cultures. Those close to him, however, noted that he often enjoyed the journey more than the destination. Tragically, on July 15, 2016, Panaitescu was involved in a fatal car accident in Gyulafehérvár. He is survived by two children, Ádám and Zoia, as well as their mother, Kata Hocz. The bond between Panaitescu and Hocz was considered ‘a real Sziget love’, as the latter also worked on the festival as its Head of Finance before the birth of their children. Panaitescu’s vast contributions to the festival industry and the admiration felt towards him from those within it, at every level, are the reasons that the European Festival Awards has named him as this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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/ THANK YOU! THE EUROPEAN FESTIVAL AWARDS TEAM WOULD LIKE TO SAY A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE, WITHOUT WHOM THIS YEAR’S EVENT COULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED
N
Our sponsors & supporters:
All of those who entered the Awards
Audience Live UK (Media Partner) EMAC Group Eurosonic Noorderslag Event Genius Festival Insights (Media Partner) GO Group ID&C International Festival Forum IQ Magazine (Media Partner) PlayPass Ticket Arena TPi Magazine (Media Partner) YES Group Yourope
All of the judges who helped to decide the winners All of those who voted Festival Awards team Christof Huber Tom Lawson Michael Baker Steve Jenner Ruud Berends Justin Gawne Michiel Florusse
/ SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!