UK Festival Awards have released their full nominee shortlist for the 10th Anniversary event.
On 2nd December, London’s Roundhouse will be buzzing with anticipation as this year’s nominations come to an end and winners are announced, UK Festival Awards director James Drury says he can’t wait: “Again we’ve beaten the record of votes cast with 575,000 received this year and we can’t wait to reveal the favourites of the festival-going public”.
UK Festival Awards are well known for their all-inclusive appreciation of bands and festivals, little and large and this year the Headline Performance of the Year category couldn’t be more diverse. The ethereal sounds of Sigur Rós at End of The Road Festival will be going up against hard-hitting German metal of Rammstein who performed at Download Festival. The Rolling Stones and their Glastonbury debut are also in running for the headline gong, battling against Biffy Clyro and Eminem, both nominated for their bill-topping Reading & Leeds performances.
The summer of 2013 saw charts dominated by British acts. Sheffield rockers Arctic Monkeys’ released crowd-pleasing single “Do I Wanna Know?”, Oxford indie quintet Foals brought us the stomper “Inhaler” and Hackney foursome Rudimental provided the infectious anthem “Feel the Love” featuring John Newman. Having all missed out on taking home the 2013 Mercury Music Prize, anticipation is rising to see which of them may claim the title of Anthem of The Summer at the UK Festival Awards.
Drury says: “We’ve seen one of the most vibrant seasons in 2013, line-ups have featured a huge number of must-see and incredible new acts.” Included in the list of incredible new acts is indie rock band HAIM, having stormed the charts with their number one album “Days Are Gone” they’re lined up for the Breakthrough Act award this year. Also keeping it in the family, brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence, better known as Disclosure are one of six acts who will be flying the British flag in this category.
Beyond the artists, awards for the Best Major Festival category sees season staples, Reading & Leeds and T in The Park up for nomination alongside Creamfields and the global gathering that is Glastonbury. In true Festival Awards style, a relative newbie is also included in the line up with Parklife Weekender also making the 2013 shortlist; following a fourth consecutive sell-out it could well be set to pip the big boys to the post.
2013 saw the emergence of new events spanning over many different genres reflected in the shortlist for Best New Festival. London and the South East acted as the perfect playgrounds for Essex’s We Are FSTVL and London’s FOUND and fans will soon find out if these budding electronic events can stave off competition from the likes of Barclaycard presents British Summer Time and others.
The list of nominee finalists can be seen here: http://www.festivalawards.com/2013/11/05/ukfestivalawardsfinalists/
Tickets for the UK Festival Conference & Awards start at just £40 and are available here: festivalawards.com/tickets/.
Photo: David Hogan
