Paolo Nutini
The UK Festival Awards 2011 took place last night at London's Roundhouse as the industry paid tribute to the best the country has to offer.
It followed the Festival Conference, which took place during the day and saw seven awards announced
Hosted by The Cuban Brothers, the event saw 16 trophies handed out throughout the evening, which featured exclusive comedy performances by Trevor Lock, Luke Benson and a closing set from John Cooper Clarke.
The only double winner of the UK Festival Awards – Derbyshire’s Y-Not Festival - received the awards for both ‘The Grass Roots Festival Award’ (in association with ID&C) and ‘Best Toilets’ (In association with Shewee), having expanded from one scaffold stage and a handmade DJ booth in a disused quarry to three stages and more than 80 bands.
Folk music and dance promoter Steve Heap was honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his services to the festival industry.
Steve Heap has been Director of Mrs Casey Music for over 30 years.
Mrs Casey Music is a specialist promotion company that organises folk/roots festivals and events such as Towersey Festival attracting 10,000 people per year, Sidmouth International Festival (65,000 people), and more recently Big Session Festival and other events at venues including regular promotion at London’s South Bank Centre.
In the Events Industry, Steve specialises in Community Arts Events in the size of 1,000 to 10,000 people in either green field sites or indoor venues.
He is a leading member of the Events Industry Forum and a regular contributor to Arts & Events Industry Publications including the Purple Guide.
He is Director of The Association Festival Organisers (AFO) a body of some 200 Festivals that promotes supports and lobbies on its members behalf.
AFO hold an annual conference that attracts some 260 delegates from the Events Industry.
Other big winners included Ed Sheeran (Best Breakthrough Artist), Glastonbury (Best Major Festival) and Bestival (Fans' Favourite Festival).
Here is the full list of winners:
Best New Festival in association with Access All Areas
Winner: Wilderness
Best Metropolitan Festival
Winner: Tramlines
Best Dance Event in association with Peppermint
Winner: Creamfields
Best Overseas Festival
Winner: Outlook (Croatia)
Best Family Festival in association with Showsec
Winner: Beautiful Days
Best Breakthrough Artist
Winner: Ed Sheeran
Line-Up of the Year in association with XL Video
Winner: Sonisphere
Headline Performance of the Year in association with Jagermeister
Winner: Paolo Nutini - Latitude
Anthem of the Summer
Winner: Chase and Status – Blind Faith
Agent of the Year in association with IQ
Winner: Steve Strange
Promoter of the Year in association with Virtual Festivals
Winner: Secret Productions
Best Small Festival in association with Doodson
Winner: End of the Road
Best Medium-Sized Festival
Winner: Secret Garden Party
Best Major Festival in association with The Ticket Factory
Winner: Glastonbury
Fans’ Favourite Festival
Winner: Bestival
The Lifetime Achievement Award
Awarded To: Steve Heap, Mrs Casey Music / Towersey Village Festival
The following awards were presented at the Festival Conference:
The Grass Roots Festival Award in association with ID&C
Winner: Y-Not Festival
Concession of the Year
Winner: The Beat Hotel
The Greener Festival Award in association with Robertson Taylor and agreenerfestival.com
Winner: Shambala
Best Toilets in association with Shewee
Winner: Y-Not Festival
Best Sponsor Activation in association with Field Marketing and Brand Experience
Winner: Capitalize - Bacardi
The Extra-Festival Activity Award in association with Music Week
Winner: Bearded Kitten
Outstanding Contribution to Festival Production in association with TPi
Winner: The Event Safety Shop
Tagged in Ed Sheeran