Festival Awards Europe Announce Longlists

The second edition of the awards looks set to be bigger and better with a 37% increase in the number of festivals taking part and entries from 32 different countries.  This is an incredible growth considering it is only Year 2 and reinforces the ever-growing strength and diversity of the pan-European music festival marketplace.

James Drury, MD of Festival Awards Ltd, which organises the Awards said: "The response from festivals has been phenomenal. The Awards are all about recognising the hard work which goes into producing Europe's diverse and vibrant festival industry and having chance to celebrate the achievements of the past 12 months. Not only do they give the fans chance to tell festival organisers how much they enjoyed the events they went to, but we have a number of industry-focussed awards, decided by panels of experts who will consider those crucial behind-the-scenes elements which the public doesn't usually think of."

Decided by a combination of public vote and industry juries, these Awards are the only pan-European body solely dedicated to recognising the contributions and achievements of the event organisers and performing artists that generate billions of Euros for local economies and brighten up the summer for tens of millions of festival-goers each year.

The first round of public voting will go live on October 20 and run until 23 November. Vote Now http://eu.festivalawards.com/

Shortlists will be announced on 24 November, when a second period of voting will take place to enable the shortlisted candidates to generate further votes - should they wish - before voting closes for good on 8 December.

Presented by YOUROPE and Virtual Festivals Europe the Festival Awards Europe will take place on Wednesday 12th January 2011 at Groningen's Stadsschouwburg in The Netherlands, as part of the 25th Anniversary edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag. Winners will be announced on the night with live acts and aftershow party.

Tickets (up to 6 tickets per buyer) to the European Festival Awards, which will include a drinks reception, buffet dinner, live performances and an aftershow party will be exclusively available, on a strict first-come-first-served basis, for festivals and promoters (Eurosonic Noorderslag registration is required).

Below you find the EFA 2011 link. It is secured with password; EFA2011
http://www.ticketmaster.nl/html/connect.htmI?EVNT=EU120111

Register for EuroSonic Noorderslag 2011: http://www.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl/en/conference/about/register/

YOUROPE Chairman Christof Huber commented: "The first edition of the EFA's worked out really well and it was the gathering of festivals that we had hoped for.  We are proud to be co-promoter of the European Festival Awards and are looking forward to a successful second edition in this unique venue"

Virtual Festivals founder Steve Jenner added: "The European festival scene has never been more exciting with new territories springing up on the map and more established markets undergoing rapid maturation. It all bodes for a thrilling Festival Awards and another great celebration in Groningen."

EuroSonic Noorderslag Creative Director Peter Smidt concluded: "With so many European festivals attending EuroSonic Noorderslag, we are happy to open by celebrating the best of them at the European Festival Awards".

This year's Award Categories are as follows:
1. Best Major European Festival
2. Best Medium-Sized European Festival
3. Best Small European Festival
4. Best New European Festival
5. Best Indoor Festival (new!)
6. Best European Festival Line-Up
7. YOUROPE Green 'N' Clean Festival Of The Year
8. Artist's Favourite European Festival
9. Best Newcomer
10. Best Headliner
11. Festival Anthem of the Year
12. Virtual Festivals Europe presents Promoter Of The Year
13. Yourope Lifetime Achievement Award