SHOWGUIDE
HEINEKEN UK ARE PROUD TO BE THE OFFICIAL BEER & CIDER SPONSOR OF THE UK FESTIVAL AWARDS
CONTENTS 04 Welcome
27 Agency of the Year
07 UK Festival Conference 2015 - Overview
29 Promoter of the Year
08 UK Festival Conference 2015 - Cashless Rules
31
Anthem of the Summer
Everything Around Us
33 Headline Performance of the Year
10
UK Festival Conference 2015 - CDM
35 Line-Up of the Year
Regulations 2015 – A Review
37 Best New Festival
12
UK Festival Conference 2015 - Use Your
39 Best Festival for Emerging Talent
Imagination – Ideas For More Intelligent
41
Curation
43 Best Overseas Festival
UK Festival Conference 2015 -The State Of
45 Best Metropolitan Festival
Welfare
47 Best Dance Event
UK Festival Conference 2015 – Sustainable
48 Best Family Festival
Strategies – Making Green Fields Greener
49 Best Non-Music Festival
The Best Use of New Technology Award
51
14 16 19
The Grass Roots Festival Award
Best Small Festival
20 The Extra-Festival Activity Award
53 Best Medium-Sized Festival
21
55 Best Major Festival
Concession of the Year
23 Best Hospitality
56 The Outstanding Contribution to Festivals Award
24 Best Toilets
59 The Afterparty
25 The Brand Activation Award
59 Thanks
WELCOME... ...to the UK Festival Awards & Conference 2015 Somehow it’s already that time of year again when we gather together to celebrate the collective achievements of our beloved festival industry. It’s been another incredible year for UK festivals, and so we’ll be revelling in the sector’s myriad success stories throughout the Awards, and using the Conference to dissect some of the pertinent issues in our immediate pasts and futures. The unprecedented response we received on votes this year is indicative of an increasingly excited and engaged festival-going public, a testament to the year-round dedication of all those nominated. 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. We’ve invited an eclectic and innovative bunch of festival industry insiders to speak across our Conference panel sessions, and it’s important to us that you find the subject matter compelling and informative. Please don’t hesitate to relay feedback on that or any other aspect of the event, whether measured and constructive in your approach or decidedly scathing. Finally, we would like to extend a massive thanks to all who have been involved with the Awards and Conference, not just this year, but also for the eleven 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 UK Festival Awards Team Michael Baker Steve Jenner Chris McCormick Mel Robinson
Justin Gawne Tom Lawson Moses Naaem Amy Wright
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REPORNMENTAL IM FOR TH T AN PACT E UK F D ESTIVA VISION L INDU STRY
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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE - at a glance 10:00 – REGISTRATION 10.30 - CASHLESS RULES EVERYTHING AROUND US 2015 saw the advent of the fully cashless festival as a viable reality, with major international events utilising various means to eradicate the use of physical money onsite. Several festival organisers will evaluate their first-hand experiences with cashless systems, and discuss the benefits and pitfalls of each.
Moderated by: Gareth Cooper Mark Laurie Alex Dixon Jordi Herreruela Limvirak Chea
Greg Parmley – ILMC / IFF Snowbombing NCASS Count of Ten Specialists Cruïlla Festival Eventbrite
11.30 - CDM REGULATIONS 2015 – A REVIEW In April of this year the HSE revoked the 2007 Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and replaced them with an updated version, intending to further ensure the safety of construction projects. Have the new guidelines had wholly positive effects on the festival industry, or is there further room for improvement?
Moderated by: Steven Corfield Pete Holdich Gavin Bull Q Willis
Andy Lenthall – PSA Serious Stages Star Events HSE PRG
12:30 – COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH 13:30 - USE YOUR IMAGINATION – IDEAS FOR MORE INTELLIGENT CURATION The mainstream has dried up, with major UK festivals allegedly responsible for creating a paltry five new headliners in the past decade. The market is saturated with uninspired, recycled line-ups, and so we’ll be looking at alternative means of creating more unique, imaginative programmes and experiences.
Moderated by Michael Baker – Festival Insights Vincent Koreman Incubate Festival Tim Hubbard Eroica Britannia Alexia Higgs Meltdown Festival Nick Green Arts Council England Luke Bainbridge Festival No.6
14:30 - THE STATE OF WELFARE The health risks associated with attending festivals are myriad, from the frequently addressed and constantly developing issues of crowd safety and drug & alcohol usage, to the oft-overlooked problem of hearing damage. With these areas in mind, can festivals be doing more to reduce the potential harm their audience members may incur onsite?
Moderated by Chris Kemp – Yourope / MOM Consultancy Alex Brooke Peppermint Bars Reece Miller We Are FSTVL Paul Legge Showsec Michelle O’Loughlin Chill Welfare Scott Douglas Heineken
15:30 – COFFEE BREAK 15:45 – SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES – MAKING GREEN FIELDS GREENER As an industry we can always be doing more to leave less of a trace. An eclectic roster of ecological innovators share their expertise and ideas on how the festival industry can reduce its footprint and help audiences to do the same
Moderated by: Chiara Badiali – Julie’s Bicycle Hamish Skermer Natural Event Jacqui Reeves FareShare SW Liz Warwick Cambridge Folk Festival Chris Johnson Shambala
16:30 – CONFERENCE ENDS. UK FESTIVAL AWARDS STARTS WITH DRINKS RECEPTION AT 19.00 19.15 – Dinner 21.00 – Awards ceremony begins 00.45 – It’s all over!
CONFERENCE SESSION 10.30: CASHLESS RULES EVERYTHING AROUND US 2015 saw the advent of the fully cashless festival as a viable reality, with major international events utilising various means to eradicate the use of physical money onsite. Several festival organisers will evaluate their first-hand experiences with cashless systems, and discuss the benefits and pitfalls of each.
Moderated by: Greg Parmley – ILMC / IFF Greg Parmley is the former Editor of IQ Magazine, and the current Managing Director of the ILMC (International Live Music Conference), an annual conference dedicated to the international live music industry.
Gareth Cooper - Snowbombing Gareth Cooper is the founder and CEO of Broadwick Live, whose portfolio includes the winter sports & music festival Snowbombing, the UK Festival Award-winning Festival No.6, Electric Elephant, and the innovative brand-focussed Bacardi Triangle. Snowbombing launched a full cashless deployment at this year’s event along with RFID company Intellitix.
Jordi Herreruela - Cruïlla Festival Jordi Herreruela is the Director of Cruïlla Festival, the first festival to implement a cashless system with full PayPal integration.
Mark Laurie - NCASS Mark Laurie is the Director of NCASS and has been with the business for six years. On a day-to-day basis he advises caterers, event organisers and street food traders on all areas of running businesses and events legally and safely. He also sits on a number of government panels, including the Business Advisory Group for the Food Standards Agency. At present he is spearheading the development of the NCASS Connect programme – working with EHOs and event organisers to create a food hygiene passport for businesses across the UK.
Alex Dixon - Count of Ten Specialists Alex Dixon is Commercial Director for Count Of Ten, the group behind Y Not Festival, Truck Festival, Hevy Fest, Tramlines, and Brownstock Festival. Alex has been in the festival industry since the debut of Y Not Festival 10 years ago, having also worked in the finance industry for four years including two years in the Swiss city of Geneva. Day to day, Alex is responsible for sponsorship, bars and traders, as well as other in-house projects such as catering and glamping.
Limvirak Chea - Eventbrite Limvirak Chea is VP of Business Development for Eventbrite, the world’s largest self-service ticketing platform.
CONFERENCE SESSION 11.30: CDM REGULATIONS 2015 - A REVIEW In April of this year the HSE revoked the 2007 Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and replaced them with an updated version, intending to further ensure the safety of construction projects. Have the new guidelines had wholly positive effects on the festival industry, or is there further room for improvement?
Moderated by: Andy Lenthall - PSA Andy Lenthall is the General Manager of the Production Services Association, which represents companies and individuals providing technical services to live events; consulting, lobbying, pontificating, writing, talking and generally dealing with the issues that affect its members’ businesses.
Steven Corfield - Serious Stages Steven Corfield is the Managing Director of Serious Stages, a renowned supplier to the festival sector for over 30 years. Staging many of the UK’s best-known independent festivals, its impressive roster includes Glastonbury, Lovebox, and WOMAD, to name a few. Serious also supplies the outdoor events industry with temporary buildings, VIP covered areas, media structures and audio masts.
Pete Holdich - Star Events A key member of the Star Events’ team for more than 17 years, Head of Structures, Pete Holdich, has worked across all the festivals in the company’s front line over that period, including Bestival, Creamfields, Download, T in the Park, V North & South, and We Are FSTVL.
Gavin Bull - HSE Gavin Bull is an Inspector of Health & Safety, currently working in HSE’s Construction Division as the topic lead for construction in the entertainment and events sectors. Previously, he worked as a front line regulatory inspector across various industry sectors including Agriculture, Woodwork, Printing, General Manufacturing and Construction.
Q Willis - PRG In his relatively new role as Head of Rigging Services at PRG, Q Willis has been focussing on developing existing customer relationships in the rigging industry and also looking for ways to promote new opportunities. Previously Willis worked as Head of Technical at The O2, opening the venue in 2007 and working on a number of high profile events.
CONFERENCE SESSION 13.30: USE YOUR IMAGINATION - IDEAS FOR MORE INTELLIGENT CURATION The mainstream has dried up, with major UK festivals allegedly responsible for creating a paltry five new headliners in the past decade. The market is saturated with uninspired, recycled line-ups, and so we’ll be looking at alternative means of creating more unique, imaginative programmes and experiences.
Moderated by: Michael Baker - Festival Insights Michael Baker is the Editor of the online B2B publication Festival Insights, and an Event Coordinator for the UK Festival Awards & Conference.
Vincent Koreman - Incubate Festival Vincent Koreman is one of the founders of Incubate Festival, based in Tilburg, The Netherlands. His priority as the festival’s Artistic Director is to create a platform for independent and innovative international artists. In addition to a music lineup that comprises a multitude of underground luminaries and unique performances, Incubate also boasts robust film, theatre, debate and arts programmes.
Tim Hubbard - Eroica Britannia Tim Hubbard is one of the four partners behind the iconic English lifestyle and cycling festival Eroica Britannia. After completing the L’Eroica ride in Italy eight years ago he saw the potential in building a quintessentially British festival around the core cycling experience. Now in its third year as a three-day festival, Eroica Britannia has rapidly expanded, expecting to attract an international crowd of 50,000 to its 2016 event.
Alexia Higgs - Meltdown Festival Alexia Higgs is a Producer at the Southbank Centre, London. Over the last year she has produced the Winter Festival and New Years Eve, Women of the World (WOW), and David Byrne’s Meltdown Festival, amongst other projects. She was the project manager of The Rest is Noise and the summer festival in 2014, Festival of Love, and prior to this was an event manager specialising in classical music.
Nick Green – Arts Council England Nick Green is a Relationship Manager for Arts Council England, based in the South West and working nationally to support the development of festivals, outdoor arts, carnivals and circuses. Previously he worked in East London, helping turn Victoria Park into a major festival venue and supporting festivals in Tower Hamlets, and has commissioned, produced or production managed festivals and events from Cornwall to Edinburgh working with a huge variety of artists and art forms.
Luke Bainbridge - Festival No.6 Luke Bainbridge is Head of Arts and Culture for Festival No.6. He was one of the founding editors of the award-winning Observer Music Monthly, and ghostwriter of Shaun Ryder’s autobiography, the Sunday Times bestseller Twisting My Melon. He is currently working a new book called Red Planet (to be published by Constable in 2016) and his first feature film. He also works with In Place of War on festivals and projects in Brazil, Uganda, Egypt, Zimbabwe and Lebanon.
CONFERENCE SESSION 14.30: THE STATE OF WELFARE The health risks associated with attending festivals are myriad, from the frequently addressed and constantly developing issues of crowd safety and drug & alcohol usage, to the oft-overlooked problem of hearing damage. With these areas in mind, can festivals be doing more to reduce the potential harm their audience members may incur onsite?
Moderated by: Chris Kemp - Yourope / MOM Consultancy Professor Chris Kemp is known primarily for his work in crowd management and his ceaseless endeavour to make events safer. As a key member of Yourope Event Safety Group (YES), Chris has been asked to speak on many occasions across the globe on aspects of crowd safety. Having worked in the music industry as a promoter and venue manager for over a decade before entering academia, he has a wide range of practical knowledge as well as an academic underpinning to his work with Mind Over Matter Consultancy.
Scott Douglas – Heineken Scott Douglas is Heineken’s Account Director for all its major festivals & events in the UK, with clients including AEG Live, Live Nation, Isle of Wight Festival, Central Catering, Peppermint Catering and Creative Events.
Reece Miller - We Are FSTVL Reece Miller is the founder of multi award-winning dance music event We Are FSTVL. Launched as a one-day event over the May bank holiday weekend in 2013, the inaugural FSTVL sold out weeks in advance and has maintained a consistent level of success since. We Are FSTVL won a UK Festival Award for ‘Best Medium Sized Festival’ in 2014, and has been shortlisted for both the same award and Best Dance Event this year.
Alex Brooke - Peppermint Bars In 2003 Alex Brooke co-founded Peppermint Events, formed as a joint venture with the Mint Group to deliver fresh event concepts and high quality bars at outdoor events. Peppermint now services over 40 events annually – primarily providing bars and catering services to outdoor events. It has long-standing client relationships with the likes of Bestival, Secret Garden Party and Field Day, to name but a few. Recent additions to the Peppermint client list include AEG Live and Live Nation.
Paul Legge – Showsec Paul Legge started working for Showsec as an Operations Executive in 2006 before being promoted to the role of Area Manager for London two years later. He has since stepped up to a new position of Regional Manager for the South East when Showsec put in place a restructure of their operation in the Southern region. Over the years, Paul has worked with many venues in the capital including Earls Court, the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith and The Roundhouse, while he has also fulfilled senior roles at major events such as Wireless, Hard Rock Calling and Lovebox.
Michelle O’Loughlin - Chill Welfare Michelle O’Loughlin is Director of Chill Welfare, a social enterprise that provides specialist drug, alcohol and mental health crisis intervention and support services at festivals and events around the UK. She coordinates welfare services – providing information, advice and support to drug users or those considering using substances and conducts research into drug prevalence. She has spent the last five years providing welfare services at nightclubs, dance events and music festivals in Scotland and Europe. Michelle is also a National Training and Development Officer for Scottish Drugs Forum where she develops and delivers training courses on subjects such as New Psychoactive Substances (Legal Highs), Substance Use and Young People, Violence Against Women, Trauma and Mental Health.
CONFERENCE SESSION 15.45: SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES - MAKING GREEN FIELDS GREENER As an industry we can always be doing more to leave less of a trace. An eclectic roster of ecological innovators share their expertise and ideas on how the festival industry can reduce its footprint and help audiences to do the same.
Moderated by: Chiara Badiali - Julie’s Bicycle Chiara Badiali joined Julie’s Bicycle in October 2012 and works as part of the arts team, with a particular focus on getting the manifold stakeholders in the UK music industry on the same page when it comes to embedding environmental sustainability and best practice in their activities. Working on initiatives including EE Music, she is reaching out to help harness the sector’s collective power in effecting change.
Hamish Skermer - Natural Event Hamish Skermer is the Australian-born founder and managing director of Natural Event, the world’s biggest provider of composting loos, which brings dignified and environmentally sustainable sanitation to a variety of situations around the globe. The company has provided toilets for 350 events in seven countries around the world – all based on his unique loo design.
Liz Warwick - Cambridge Folk Festival Liz Warwick advises the Cambridge Folk Festival and Cambridge Live Trust on the environmental aspects for their 40,000 attendees, and oversees all green issues for the events. Cambridge Folk Festival was awarded an Outstanding rating in the Greener Festival Awards 2014, the highest possible honour and one of only nine to do so globally and one of only two in the UK. The festival has also been shortlisted as a finalist for Green Operations in the European Festival Awards.
Jacqui Reeves - FareShare SW Jacqui Reeves has headed up FareShare South West for six years, in which time it has developed into the most successful FareShare franchise by developing new projects involving employment, education and more recently their award winning catering arm The Surplus Supper Club. Jacqui has always worked within the ethical, recycling business from running her own up-cycling design company to an organic, fair-trade juice bar. She is passionate about reducing food waste, fighting poverty and building public support to lobby government and the food industry to stop the shocking amount of good food wasted within the food and events industries.
Chris Johnson – Shambala Chris Johnson has extensive festival industry experience spanning a 15-year career of varied roles and contracts, fulfilling the role of Festival Coordinator for over 50 events and festivals – from small community-led events to complex multi-agency delivered events of 80,000 capacity. A regular speaker at industry events, sustainability consultant, occasional lecturer and campaigner, Chris has practical knowledge of how to implement successful green initiatives on the ground and industry-wide experience of delivering change. Chris is also the chair of the Powerful Thinking Group, the UK’s think-do tank on sustainable energy at outdoor events and is also the Associate for Festivals and Events with the Julie’s Bicycle team, a leading international organisation advocating sustainability in the creative industries.
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THE AWARDS Best Use of New Technology IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Technological advancement is one of the strongest forces propelling the festival marketplace forward. Whether these innovations are applied to help organisers forge closer relationships with their audiences online, or to enhance visitor experiences and operational efficiencies on-site, it’s evident that festivals are evolving at a faster rate than ever. This award recognises the individual application of new technology at a specific event that offers the greatest promise for the future of the market as a whole.
FINALISTS Belladrum Tartan Heart (for the Rapidscan Box Office app) Download (for its RFID Cashless Dog Tags) Latitude (for its live digital coverage) Liverpool Sound City (for the Gigmit live music service) Port Elliot Festival (for Loowatt) Glastonbury Festival (for the Arcadia Spectacular biofuel flame system) Reading Festival (for the CoLocator service) Snowbombing (for its RFID Cashless wristbands) Wild Life Festival (for The Terminal Stage)
THE AWARDS The Extra-Festival Activity Award The advent of the ‘boutique festival’ has created a huge paradigm shift in the festival market, incurring an increased demand for pop-up performances, mass participation games, eclectic cuisine, quirky installations and overall aesthetics. This award celebrates the most creative auxiliary initiative undertaken on this year’s festival circuit.
FINALISTS Bearded Theory (for Spring Markets) Blissfields (for Angel Gardens) Festival Number 6 (for Carnival No.6, parades, installations) Grillstock (for King of the Grill BBQ competition) Latitude (for its comedy, poetry and film programming) Liverpool International Music Festival (for its art commissions) Lost Village (for Basecamp) Standon Calling (for Angel Gardens) The Big Feastival (for The Wheat Project) Wild Life Festival (for its Terminal Stage)
Concession of the Year Food, drink, cash machines, and merchandise: the essentials that keep festivalgoers on their feet. These amenities not only provide an essential source of income for festivals, but can also make a huge difference to the overall vibe of an event. Staff are there day and night, rain or shine, with a smile and good humour, and this award acknowledges the hard work they do and the importance of concessions at festivals.
FINALISTS Beetle Juice Cocktail Bar Burrito Boys Cereal Killer CafĂŠ Churros Bros Goan Fish Curries Gourmet Griffin The Breakfast Club The Cheese Truck The London Pie and Mash Company Wood Fired Pizza Engine
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THE AWARDS Best Hospitality IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Concurrent with growing expectations for more novel, creative non-musical offerings, audiences are increasingly spoiled by the comforts and perks that festivals offer in VIP packages. ‘Hospitality’ – a concept entirely alien to the original festival scene – is now widespread, manifested in cordonedoff VIP areas, a myriad of luxury sleeping arrangements, and higherend bathroom facilities, all at a price of course. The remit of this award is not to simply celebrate the event with the most extensive or exuberant extras, but the one that implements them in a way that doesn’t devalue the experience of its regular ticketholders.
FINALISTS 2000trees Barclay Card Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park Camp Bestival Creamfields Download Festival Number 6 Fusion Festival Glastonbury Festival Shambala Wilderness Festival
THE AWARDS Best Toilets Although it may not be the most glamorous aspect of an event, the quality and quantity of the toilet facilities are incredibly important to attendees. Whether they take the form of pristine portaloos or potentially krakeninfested longdrops, a festival’s toilet situation is indicative of the respect (or lack thereof) that organisers have for their audience.
FINALISTS 2000trees Bestival Creamfields Download Isle of Wight Festival Kendal Calling Reading & Leeds V Festival Wireless Y Not Festival
THE AWARDS The Brand Activation Award 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 Bulmers Elle Magazine & Rimmel London Innocent J채germeister Laurent Perrier Smirnoff STA Travel Strongbow Viber Virgin Trains
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, DELEGATES AND SUPPORTERS FOR MAKING IFF 2015 A SELL-OUT SUCCESS.
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THE AWARDS Agency of the Year IN ASSOCIATION WITH
This award recognises the booking agency responsible for making the greatest positive contribution to this summer’s festival content.
FINALISTS 13 Artists CAA CODA Connected Talent Earth Agency EC1 Echo Location ITB Primary Talent International Solo Agency United Talent Agency William Morris Endeavor X-Ray Touring
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE GLOBAL FESTIVAL INDUSTRY www.festivalinsights.com
THE AWARDS Promoter of the Year IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Recognising the festival organiser who has produced an outstanding event, overcome adversity, or truly gone above and beyond the call of duty and pulled something phenomenal out of the bag. There’s always at least one each year – often several – so this one is a very tough call for judges.
FINALISTS Amust4Music (Bloodstock) Andy Marsh & Ian Evans (Victorious) Count of Ten (Y-Not, Tramlines, Truck, Brownstock) Damien Sanders, Big Kev & Team (Fusion) Fiona Stewart & Team (Green Man) From the Fields (Kendal Calling, Forgotten Fields) John Giddings (Isle Of Wight / Solo Agency) LOST VENTURES (Lost Village) Scott Barton (Creamfields) SJM Concerts (Wild Life Festival)
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THE AWARDS Anthem of the Summer IN ASSOCIATION WITH
The ultimate test of any song is how it’s received live – and there’s no better place to gauge this than at festivals. While thousands of great records have been lapped up by millions over the summer, a few stood out as true populist classics, creating defining festival moments and were sung all the way back to the campsite. Which one epitomised the spirit of summer 2015.
FINALISTS Bring Me The Horizon – Throne James Bay – Hold Back the River Jamie xx – Loud Places Kendrick Lamar – King Kunta Lionel Ritchie – Dancing on the Ceiling Mark Ronson – Uptown Funk Patti Smith – Gloria Skepta – Shutdown Spring King – City The Weeknd – Can’t Feel My Face
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THE AWARDS Headline Performance of the Year IN ASSOCIATION WITH
A killer headline performance can be talked about for years to come, etched into musical history as one of those ‘I was there’ moments. To succeed requires energy, musicianship, dedication, creativity and a fortuitous coming together of time and space. Some acts may be regulars on the festival circuit, but which one really nailed it this year?
FINALISTS Björk at Wilderness Festival The Flaming Lips at Liverpool Sound City Fleetwood Mac at Isle of Wight Festival Florence and the Machine at Glastonbury Grace Jones at Festival Number 6 Jon Hopkins at Bloc Jungle at Secret Garden Party Missy Elliot at Bestival Muse at Download Sufjan Stevens at End of the Road Festival Taylor Swift at British Summer Time Hyde Park The Libertines at Reading & Leeds
THE AWARDS Line-Up of the Year IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Despite how many quirky art installations and pun-based concession stands your festival has, it will always be the lineup that shifts the most tickets. Booking a few curveball acts, legendary reunions, and underthe-radar innovators can set an event apart from the multitude of less inspired rosters around.
FINALISTS Bestival Barclay Card Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park Common People Download Festival Number 6 Field Day Isle of Wight Festival Kendal Calling Latitude Liverpool Music Week Parklife The Social Festival
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THE AWARDS Best New Festival IN ASSOCIATION WITH
In what many would argue is an already over-saturated market, these debutantes managed to navigate the battle royale of the festival circuit and hold their own against established titans. Bringing a fresh take, new music and alternative audiences to the festival scene, which one have you already put in your diary for next time?
FINALISTS Breaking Bands Festival Common People Forgotten Fields Garage Nation Lindisfarne Festival Lost Village Robin Hood Folk Festival Southampton Soundclash Festival Together The People Wild Life Festival
More than just an Audience T h e Wo rd ’s B e s t A re n a s F o r C o n t e m p o r a r y L i v e M u s i c
festival Issue 24
DECEMBER 2015
A planning-season publication free to subscribers of LIVE UK
THE World’s
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AN AUDIENCE REpoRT 2015
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T h e Wo rd ’s B e s t S t a d i u m s F o r C o n t e m p o r a r y L i v e M u s i c
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AIF backs returns scheme Koko victory ove Twickets’ ethical resale proves success l r developer King of The Hil The Weeknd rises
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THE AWARDS Best Festival for Emerging Talent ‘Supporting emerging talent’ is a virtue that many festivals lay claim to, but there are only a select few that take an active role in making sure their platform is an effective one. Stacking unknowns on a tucked away, standalone stage ensures that they’ll most likely play to four of their mates, especially considering the multitude of well-established acts they’ll be competing with for the audience’s attention. This accolade, new for 2015, aims to recognise the efforts of the organisers that effectively help their fledgling acts connect with and grow their audience.
FINALISTS Barn on the Farm Bloodstock Open Air Breakout Festival Cambridge Folk Festival Live at Leeds LIVE in Barnsley Liverpool International Music Festival Liverpool Sound City Mammothfest Reading & Leeds
THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT FESTIVALS UNITING AND EMPOWERING INDEPENDENT FESTIVALS
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FIVE REASONS TO JOIN AIF: 1
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FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.AIFORG.COM OR TEL: 020 8994 5599
THE AWARDS The Grass Roots Festival Award Often the best small festivals spring from an organic labour of love and a visionary idealism that resonates with thousands. These festivals should be celebrated, not just for the courage, commitment and often personal sacrifice invested by their organisers, but also because they never forget where they’ve come from, supporting both local communities and new music along the way while maintaining an independent spirit and resisting commercial saturation. All hail the grass roots festivals and their creators!
FINALISTS 2000trees ArcTanGent Barn on the Farm Beautiful Days Bloodstock Open Air Eden Festival Green Man Lost Village The Secret Festival Y Not Festival
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THE AWARDS Best Overseas Festival IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Depending on the year, the term ‘British Summer’ can seem like an oxymoron, and so increasing numbers of Brits are flocking abroad with the incentives of cheap flights, exotic cultures and warmer climates.
FINALISTS Annie Mac Presents: Lost & Found Festival (Malta) Benicassim (Spain) Creamfields Ibiza (Spain) Electric Picnic (Ireland) Hideout Festival (Croatia) Ibiza Rocks (Spain) Lollapalooza Berlin (Germany) Pohoda Festival (Slovakia) Snowbombing (Austria) Sziget Festival (Hungary)
the UK Festival Awa A rds and Conference
Our BSc (Hons) Event & Festival Sustainability Management has been tailored er sustainability and environmental care surrounding live events and festivals. Bucks has been instrumental in delivering Music and Event Management undergraduate ic industry. #BucksMusic @BucksMusicDept facebook.com/BucksMusicDepartment
0800 0565 660 advice@bucks.ac.uk bucks.ac.uk/music
THE AWARDS Best Metropolitan Festival IN ASSOCIATION WITH
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 Blackpool Music Festival Dot to Dot Live at Leeds Liverpool Calling Liverpool Music Week Liverpool Sound City Macmillan Fest MADE Birmingham Slam Dunk Festival Tramlines
THE AWARDS Best Dance Event IN ASSOCIATION WITH
As the cultural relevance of rock music arguably continues to wane, electroniccentric events are becoming increasingly prevalent and prestigious. For those willing to ignore their circadian rhythm in exchange for four-to-the-floor beats and delirium-inducing visuals, these events are synonymous with a good time.
FINALISTS Beat Herder Brownstock Festival Creamfields Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) UK Field Manoeuvres Lost Village Festival Parklife Retro Trax We are FSTVL Wild Life Festival
THE AWARDS Best Family Festival Growing up doesn’t mean you have to stop going to festivals – it just gives you a great opportunity to bring your kids! Every year, there seems to be more and more children at festivals, with specifically designed spaces and facilities for kids reflecting this growth. Games, workshops, play areas and activities for youngsters all combine to make their weekend a memorable one – and often a much easier one for mums and dads. Which festival was the most enjoyable for families this year?
FINALISTS 2000trees Beautiful Days Barclay Card Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park Camp Bestival Eden Festival Isle of Wight Festival Kendal Calling Latitude Victorious Festival Y Not Festival
THE AWARDS Best Non-Music Festival It’s not just music festivals proliferating worldwide; in recent years there has been a litany of events whose primary focus is on mediums, activities or offerings other than the sonic. From food & drink, gaming, sports and so on, we believe it’s about time these guys got some shine.
FINALISTS Base Camp Festival Eroica Britannia Innocent Un-Plugged Insomnia Gaming Festival Manchester International Festival NASS Festival Saloufest Taste of London The Good Life Experience Wildfire Adventure Camp
THE AWARDS Best Small Festival IN ASSOCIATION WITH
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 2000trees Eden Festival Festival Number 6 Garage Nation Larmer Tree Festival Lost Village Southampton Soundclash Festival The Secret Festival The Social Festival Truck Festival
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. Some will continue to expand and join the ranks of the majors, whilst others will probably settle happily into their niche and stay there.
FINALISTS Beat Herder Beautiful Days Bloodstock Open Air Camp Bestival End Of The Road Festival Green Man Kendal Calling Latitude We are FSTVL Y Not Festival
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 Bestival Barclay Card Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park Creamfields Download Glastonbury Isle of Wight Festival Parklife Reading & Leeds T In The Park V Festival Victorious Festival Wireless
THE AWARDS The Outstanding Contribution to Festivals 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
Peter Gabriel
Most renowned for his illustrious and prolific music career - which has thus far involved co-founding the legendary Genesis, releasing eleven solo studio albums, and taking three forays into cinematic composition – this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Festivals Award has also remained a festival industry luminary after founding WOMAD in 1982. Since its inaugural year, WOMAD has presented over 170 festivals in more than 30 countries, and remains the most successful and highly regarded world music festival on the planet. Perhaps the most cosmopolitan festival in existence, WOMAD’s eclecticism and truly singular endeavour to represent as many cultures as possible has led it into its 33rd consecutive year as both a bona fide British institution and international phenomenon. The festival also led directly to Peter forming Real World Records in 1989, which boasts a wide-ranging catalogue of more than 200 titles of world-class music from all corners of the globe. WOMAD 2015 hosted 120 artists from 53 different countries, continuing the festival’s tradition of restlessly innovative programming. Over the course of its history, WOMAD has helped to make international stars out of acts such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Pakistan) and Toto La Momposina (Colombia), as well as showcasing some of the biggest names in global music such as Youssou N’Dour (Senegal), Neneh Cherry (Sweden), Ravi Shankar (India), Gil Scott Heron (USA), Gilberto Gil (Brazil) and Toots & The Maytals (Jamaica) to name but a very few. It is for all of the above reasons and more that the UK Festival Awards is proud to name Peter Gabriel as the winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Festivals Award.
THE AFTER PARTY
THE BARFLY, CAMDEN 00:30 – 03:00
WITH CONTINENTAL DRIFTS & FRIENDS
For the first time this year the UK Festival Awards will have an official after party, courtesy of Continental Drifts & Friends. Legends of the festival scene, Continental Drifts are the maestros behind late night specials like Shangri La and Club Dada, and purveyors of some of the finest festival acts all over the world. From midnight to 3 in the AM, DJ Chris Tofu and DJ Pony Montana will be holding it down at The Barfly, spinning electro swing and all manner of remixed vintage music.
THANK YOU! THE 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.
Our sponsors:
All of those who entered the Awards
Bucks New University Bulmers Charge Candy Eventbrite Heineken ID&C PRG XL Video PSA Peppermint Bars Playpass & PayPal Snoozebox White Light
All of our Conference panellists
Our supporters: Audience Live UK Beetle Juice CGA Strategy CT Festival Insights IFF IQ Magazine iZettle National Express Pollstar Sign-Up To TPi Magazine
All of the judges who helped to decide the winners All of those who voted Festival Awards team Michael Baker – Conference Curator Justin Gawne – Mondiale Publishing Steve Jenner – Director Tom Lawson – Festival Awards Manager Andy Lenthall – PSA Chris McCormick – Blue Peg Moses Naaem – Event Coordinator Mel Robinson – Graphic Design Damian Walsh – Mondiale Publishing Amy Wright – Mondiale Events Director
CONGRATULATIONS
PETER GABRIEL ON YOUR
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FESTIVALS AWARD 2015 WITH LOVE FROM EVERYONE AT
WOMAD