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AIF awards dished out in Cardiff

By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 2 November 2016

So, the Association Of Independent Festivals’ Festival Congress is ongoing in Cardiff right now as we speak, and last night that included the event’s annual awards bash, hosted by music lawyer Ben Challis (of Glastonbury Festival legalities fame), because these indie festival types are so likely to slander someone in their acceptance speeches legal representation needs to be constantly on hand. That and he’s an accomplished awards ceremony host and a lot cheaper than Dara Ó Briain. I assume.

But what about the winners? Were there any winners? Yes, there were winners. Imagine an awards event where no one won anything. “Sorry everybody, but we gave everything rigorous consideration, and it turns out none of you were up to scratch this year”. Actually, that would be a great awards ceremony. Quick, let’s set up that awards ceremony. But no, at this awards event there were winners. And the winning went like this…

New Festival On The Block (No More Than Three Editions): Bluedot

Unique Festival Arena: Deer Shed Festival’s Film Production Big Top

Live Act Of The Year: Spring King

Mind Blowing Spectacle: Brian Eno’s Light Installation at Bluedot, Jodrell Bank.

Best Smart Marketing Campaign: End Of The Road’s Line-Up announcement video

Festival Journalist Of The Year: David Hillier (freelancer for The Guardian, Vice etc)

Act Of Independence: MAST drugs testing piloted at UK festivals

Festival Caterer Most Likely To End Up On Instagram: The Cheese Truck

The Backstage Award: Artist liaison at Blissfields

Unsung Hero: Penny Mellor, a health, safety and welfare expert at festivals.