The UK Festival Awards – set to host its 16th edition on December 5th at the Troxy in London – has revealed its shortlists for 2019.
After a record 450 applications for the Awards in 2019, the announcement of shortlists has been highly anticipated. The shortlists comprise over 70 festivals and booking agents, all hoping to win one of 21 prestigious accolades. Festivals with multiple nominations include All Points East, Parklife, 2000trees, Bluedot Festival and Tramlines Festival.
The shortlists for the Innovation Award, recognising new concepts and initiatives that are at the cutting edge of festival culture, include 2000trees, Festival in a Bag, Lost Village, We Out Here, Hubbub Wireless and The Rubbish Project.
In the running for this year’s Brand Activation Award (sponsored by CGA), recognising the brand that brought their best experiential marketing or activation to festivals, are: Birra Moretti, Bulldog London Dry Gin, Co-Op, Hells Parlour, Laurent-Perrier and United Utilities.
This year, UKFA will welcome back rapper, comedian and actor Doc Brown to be its host for a second year. Beginning his career as underground rapper Doc Brown, Ben Bailey Smith now has a host of notable television performances under his belt, including a starring role in ITV’s Law & Order, C4’s The Inbetweeners and Derek, BBC thriller Hunted, BBC comedies Miranda and, Russell Howard’s Good News, Live at the Apollo and more.
UK Festival Awards’ Awards Manager, Michael Baker, says: “With over 450 submissions made and 55,000 votes cast, this has been an especially competitive year that stands as a testament to the incredible efforts of the UK festival industry in 2019. Thank you to all of those who participated, and congratulations to our finalists – we look forward to celebrating all of your achievements with you at the UK Festival Awards on December 5.”
Tickets for the ceremony are on sale now and can be purchased here. Tickets include a seat at the ceremony, access to the networking reception and in-house after party, plus street food catering courtesy of KERB Food and some complimentary drinks. Buy now to avoid disappointment, as organisers are preparing for another sell-out event.
For more information on the event – including timings, details on the judging process and more – please visit the official website or contact the team on info@festivalawards.com.
Without further ado, here are the 2019 shortlists for the UK Festival Awards:
The Innovation Award: Recognising new concepts and initiatives that are at the cutting edge of festival culture.
- 2000trees (for The Retreat)
- Festival in a Bag (for its essentials backpack)
- Hubbub Wireless (for its bespoke Wi-Fi network at 2000trees)
- Lost Village (for its immersive environments)
- The Rubbish Project (for The Rubbish Cup)
- We Out Here (for its Kindness platform)
Last year’s winner: Shambala Festival
The Women in Festivals Award: Launched in part to honour the profound legacy of late Tramlines Festival Director, Sarah Nulty, the UK Festival Awards’ Women in Festivals Award is a new addition for 2019 that will celebrate the accomplishments of women across all facets of the live events industry during the past year.
- Christine Dent (Kambe Events)
- Georgie Thorogood (Dixie Fields Festival)
- Gill Tee (Black Deer Festival)
- Jenny Hamada (AEG Presents)
- Josie Da Bank (Camp Bestival)
- Rachel Lowson (Leopallooza / The Wyldes Group)
Concession of the Year: Goes to the catering company offering the most creative, delicious, and exciting food & drink offering at this year’s festivals.
- Cheezy Vinyl Bar
- DeadGood Burrito
- Flavors of Africa
- Happy Maki
- Notso Katsu
- Wild Card Brewery Craft Beer Tent
Last year’s winner: Cheezy Vinyl Bar
Marketing Campaign of the Year: Goes to those responsible for the most unique and effective marketing or PR campaign of the season.
- Bluedot Festival
- DunDee 80s
- Eastern Electrics
- Leopallooza
- London Dessert Festival
- NASS Festival
Last year’s winner: Kendal Calling
Best Festival Production: Recognising the incredible impact production plays in creating memorable experiences for festival-goers.
- All Points East
- Boomtown Fair
- Elrow Town London
- Parklife
- We Out Here
- WOMAD
Last year’s winner: Elrow Town London
Agency of the Year: Recognising the booking agency responsible for making the greatest positive contribution to festival content.
- ATC Live
- Creative Artists Agency
- International Talent Booking
- Midnight Mango
- Paradigm Talent Agency
- Primary Talent
Last year’s winner: Coda Music Agency
The Brand Activation Award: Recognising the brand that brought their best experiential marketing or activation to festivals.
- Birra Moretti at BST Hyde Park
- Bulldog London Dry Gin at Field Day
- Co-Op’s festival supermarket
- Hells Parlour at Lost Village
- Laurent-Perrier at Taste of London
- United Utilities at Bluedot & Kendal Calling
Last year’s winner: Old Mout Cider Kiwi Camp
Line-Up of the Year: This award crowns the festival that managed to create the most exciting programme in accordance with their means.
- All Points East
- Black Deer Festival
- Bluedot Festival
- Download Festival
- Parklife
- Slam Dunk Festival
Last year’s winner: All Points East
Best Non-Music Festival: Recognising the best non-music festival in the UK for 2019.
- Bournemouth 7s Festival
- Camper Jam
- Festival of the Sky
- Great Dorset Chilli Festival
- The National Festival of Making
- Yorkshire Dales Food & Drink Festival
Last year’s winner: The National Festival of Making
Best Festival for Emerging Talent: This award goes to the festival that most effectively supports and promotes the smallest names on its line-up.
- AVA Festival & Conference
- Cambridge Folk Festival
- FOCUS Wales
- Liverpool International Music Festival
- Off The Record
- Sound City
Last year’s winner: Live at Leeds
Promoter of the Year: Recognises the promoter behind at least one outstanding festival, who may have notably overcome adversity or exceeded expectations.
- Barn on the Farm
- Black Deer Festival
- Fly Events
- From the Fields
- Little Gay Brother
- Marina Events
Last year’s winner: Broadwick Live
Best Family Festival: This award goes to the event that best caters towards families.
- Africa Oyé
- Camp Bestival
- Elderflower Fields
- Latitude Festival
- Shambala Festival
- Walthamstow Garden Party
Last year’s winner: Latitude Festival
The Greener Festival Award (presented by A Greener Festival): This award goes to the festival that has shown the most dedication to reducing its environmental impact.
- Barclaycard presents British
- Summertime Hyde Park
- Boomtown Fair
- Cambridge Folk Festival
- Gay Village Parade
- Glastonbury Festival
- The Green Gathering
- Greenbelt Festival
- Lambeth Country Show
- Lost Village
- Manchester Pride Live
- Walthamstow Garden Party
Last year’s winner: Wood Festival
The Grassroots Festival Award: This award acknowledges the independent festivals whose organisers sacrifice their time, energy and finances in order to host an event that’s true to their ideals and free of commercial interests.
- Breaking Bands Festival
- Camp Wildfire
- Mad Hatters’ Affair
- Osfest Derbyshire
- Winsterfest
- Woo Fest
Last year’s winner: Barn on the Farm
Best Overseas Festival: This award recognises the best overseas festival of 2019.
- Altitude Comedy Festival
- Afro Nation
- Pol’and’Rock Festival
- Snowbombing
- Sziget Festival
- Tomorrowland
Last year’s winner: Sziget Festival
Best New Festival: Recognising the most promising new festival that launched in 2019.
- Call of the Wild Festival
- Cheltenham Wellbeing Festival
- Festival of the Sky
- Funk in the Forest
- The Giving Tree Festival
- We Out Here
Last year’s winner: Timber Festival
Best Metropolitan Festival: This award is bestowed upon the festival that most convincingly made a city its own.
- All Points East
- Cleethorpes Gathering
- Tramlines Festival
- TRNSMT
- When In Manchester Festival
- Whitby Goth Weekend
Last year’s winner: Parklife
Best Small Festival: This award recognises the best festival with a daily capacity lower than 10,000.
- ArcTanGent
- Breaking Bands Festival
- Camp Wildfire
- Made In Manchester
- Neighbourhood Festival
- Woo Fest
Last year’s winner: ArcTanGent
Best Medium-Sized Festival: This award recognises the best festival with a daily capacity between 10,000 – 39,999.
- 2000trees
- Bluedot Festival
- Camp Bestival
- Clockstock Festival
- Truck Festival
- Y Not Festival
Last year’s winner: 2000trees
Best Major Festival: This award recognises which one is of the highest quality and is restricted to events with a capacity exceeding 40,000 per day.
- Download Festival
- Glastonbury Festival
- Isle of Wight Festival
- Latitude Festival
- Tramlines Festival
- Wireless Festival
Last year’s winner: Download Festival
UK Festival Awards is grateful to our sponsors of this year’s event:
Sponsorships opportunities are still available, contact craig.jackson@festivalawards.com for details.
About UK Festival Awards
Since its inception in 2004, the UK Festival Awards has been dedicated to recognising and celebrating the collective accomplishments of the nation’s most beloved industry. Across its 20 categories, the Awards acknowledges the achievements of organisers and suppliers in the fields of programming, production, innovation, emerging talent, marketing, hospitality, catering and more.
In 2017, food and drink business consultancy CGA acquired the UK Festival Awards. From its offices in Manchester, United Kingdom, and Chicago, United States, CGA experts work with many of the world’s biggest consumer brands, including drinks manufacturers, consumer brand owners, food suppliers and wholesalers as well as pub, bar and restaurant retailers, festivals and government entities.
For more information, visit: www.festivalawards.com
