Black Deer Festival, Shambala, Truck Among Winners At Independent Festival Awards 2018

Black Deer Festival – Black Deer Festival
Crowned New Festival on the Block at the Independent Festival Awards 2018

Black Deer Festival, Shambala and Truck Festival were among the winners at the Independent Festival Awards 2018 in Sheffield, Nov. 6.

The first award of the night honored the Outstanding Contribution to the independent festival world made by Sarah Nulty, the late director and co-founder of Tramlines festival. Jim Mawdsley, chair of the Association of Independent Festivals, gave a heartfelt speech about his former friend, remembering the “f***ing pleasure” it had been to work with Nulty.

The entire audience was on its feet applauding, when Tramlines head of operations Timm Cleasby picked up the award on behalf of his former colleague in tears.

A total of seven categories were handed out by the evening’s moderator, Glastonbury’s lawyer Ben Challis. Black Deer Festival, one of two new Americana festivals launched in the UK this year, was crowned New Festival on the Block.

Shambala won the Unique Festival Arena award for a second year in a row. At the 2018 edition, Shambala-goers had the opportunity to enter The Data Mine and experience in an immersive and creative way, what types of data one actually hands over to companies in the digital age and what is being done with it. To take part in the fun, festivalgoers had to download an app, which used blockchain technology to create an anonymous digital identity for each user, which is one of the most fascinating and useful aspects about this much talked-about technology.

Truck Festival was awarded for its Smart Marketing Campaign, when it decided to pay homage to the coach of England’s national soccer team by renaming itself Gareth Southgate Festival this summer during the World Cup. England performed well with a young team led by Southgate, who generated a proper hype around himself and the team in the country.

The Peckish Peacock was named Festival Caterer of the Year, and Henge took home the Live Act of the Year trophy. Meltdown Festival in London received this year’s Act of Independence award. The festival’s organizers had hosted a panel on mental-health during a time slot originally reserved for Frightened Rabbit. The band was unable to perform after lead-singer Scott Hutchison, who’s mental health had been suffering, was found dead only weeks before the scheduled concert. 

This year marked the fifth edition of the Independent Festival Awards, hosted by the UK’s Association of Independent Festivals (AIF). The ceremony traditionally takes place on the first day of the organization’s Festival Congress, which took place in Sheffield, England, for the first time, after four years in Cardiff, Wales.

Sarah Nulty, Tramlines

 

Meltdown Festival

 

Magical Festival 

El Dorado 

Houghton

Arcadia London

 

Forest Sessions at 2000 Trees

Main Stage at Elrow Town

Abandoned Chapel at Lost Village

Paradise Heights at Boomtown Fair

 

Dream Wife

The Blue Planet in Concert with the Halle Orchestra

Shame

Barney Artist 

Smokin’ Hot Tamales.

The Lambassadors

Le Bao

Barbeque Dreamz

 

The Red Stars – Kendal Calling

‘Making Waves’ video game – Deer Shed

20th Birthday ‘Nozstalgia’ theme – Nozstock

Promotional videos- Lost Village.