With the awards event in its eighth year, Managing director James Drury wanted to take the festival industry's annual celebration to a new level. Moving from the IndigO2 at the O2 Arena in Greenwich to the Roundhouse in Camden meant a new format for the awards, which was hosted this year by The Cuban Brothers.
The UK Festival Awards saw 16 winners collect their trophies, following seven awards at the Conference during the day. Folk music and dance promoter Steve Heap received the prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for his continued dedication to the festival industry.
Rob Da Bank took home the new 'Fan's Favourite Festival Award' for the sold-out Bestival, whilst a panel of judges this year decided Glastonbury was 'Best Major Festival', Secret Garden Party was 'Best Medium-sized Festival', and End of the Road was 'Best Small Festival'.
Drury turned to studio, stage and set specialist LS-Live to provide a full staging package for the event.
The stage had to host all the awards and performances by Trevor Lock, Luke Benson and a closing set from John Cooper Clarke. LS-Live created detailed CAD designs of a bespoke in-the-round structure, which was approved by the production company Seven7.
Made entirely from LS-Live's off-the-shelf rental stock, the stage comprised an inner 16' LiteDeck circle with a custom design feature; 20 sunken lights round its perimeter to uplight the stage and add an element of drama to the show. Guests on stage could then step down to one of three protruding standard LiteDeck platforms, which each reached the floor via a small staircase, allowing award-winners to access the stage from three different angles in the room.
In order to create a smart finish for the structure, LS-Live covered the surface with hi-gloss black vinyl for a shiny effect, added a border of aluminium angle, and clad the sides in black dye bond and draping.
James Drury commented, "The step up to the Roundhouse this year meant we had the opportunity to be even more creative with the space, and so needed to source a staging company to build an in-the-round structure for the event. LS-Live offered a service over and above what we asked them for. They designed a great looking stage with a quality bespoke finish at a great price."
(Jim Evans)
