Festival Congress Reveals This Year’s Award Nominees

Back for its third edition in November, annual awards ceremony Festival Congress reconvenes in Cardiff to celebrate this year’s best independent events, as voted by members of the Association of Independent Festivals.

The nominees have now been revealed, with ten categories ranging from the conventional to the more left of field, including ‘New Festival on the Block’, ‘Unique Festival Arena’, ‘Mind Blowing Spectacle’ and ‘Festival Caterer Most Likely to End up on Instagram.’

Brand new for this year too is the ‘Act of Independence’ award that will celebrate the event that was most exemplary of the spirit of free thinking independence. One nominee for instance was Shambala, which eschewed the usual festival food fayre of greasy burgers and moody hot dogs and went entirely vegetarian, with no meat or fish on site, as well as hosting an on site drug testing system by MAST for attendees to test the purity of their drugs – a forward thinking, progressive and exemplary approach that has been rightfully recognised by the AIF.

Other nominees hoping to go home with a gong include Jodrell Bank’s Bluedot, Glastonbury’s female only arena ‘The Sisterhood, The Good Life Experience, Deer Shed Festival’s Film Production Big Top, Wilderness Festival’s ‘Saturday Night Spectacular’, Bestival’s ‘Spaceport’ and Tim Burgess’ ‘The Tim Peaks Diner’, which was a huge success at festivals like Kendal Calling, Field Day, and Festival Number 6 amongst others.

The independent awards ceremony will hit the Welsh capital on November 1st-2nd at Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place. Check the complete list of nominees below.

New Festival On The Block

Bluedot
Convergence Festival
Lost Festival
The Good Life Experience
Twisterella
The Vicar’s Picnic

Unique Festival Arena

Children’s Cafe at The Good Life Experience
Forest Stage at 2000trees
The Tim Peaks Diner
Glastonbury’s Sisterhood Venue
Deer Shed Festival’s Film Production Big Top
Bestival’s Spaceport

Live Act Of The Year

Blossoms
Symphonica featuring Mr. Switch
Spring King
Moose Blood
Jack Garratt

Mind Blowing Spectacle

The World’s Biggest Bouncey Castle at Bestival/Common People
Wilderness Festival’s Saturday Night Spectacular
La Compagnie des Quidams at Festival No. 6
Brian Eno’s Light Installation at Bluedot

Festival Caterer Most Likely To End Up On Instagram (In Association With Ncass)

Claw
The Cheese Truck
Luardos
Paelleria
The Bhangra Bus Cafe
Kelis’ Le Bun

Best Smart Marketing

End of The Road’s Lineup Announcement Video
Shangri La’s Media Hell Campaign
Secret Garden Party’s Gardener’s Guide to the Galaxy Theme
Bestival’s Hand-Drawn/Painted Triptych of The Spaceport Headliners
Eastern Electrics Rickshaw DJ/Pacman lineup announcement

The Backstage Award

Artist Liasion at Barn On The Farm
Comedy/Team Ops at End of The Road
Sue & Jo at Bingley Music Live
Artist Liaison at Blissfields
Clean Campsite Team at Nozstock the Hidden Valley
LarMac Live at Bestival, Common People, Camp Bestival

Act Of Independence

Shambala Goest 100% Meat & Fish Free
Bestival Staff Swim2Bestival
MAST Drugs Testing Piloted at UK Festivals
General Public’s Hop Project
Steve Bedlam – Calais Refugee Aid

Festival Journalist/Website Of The Year

David Hillier – Freelance
Marcus Barnes – Fest300
Slummy Single Mummy
Melographic

Unsung Hero

Penny Mellor

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