Gate to Southwell Festival shortlisted for best small festival in UK Festival Award 2024
A roots and acoustic music festival which attracts artists from around the world has been shortlisted in the UK Festival Awards.
The Gate to Southwell Festival, which marked its 17th event in July this year, is in the final six for the best small festival category.
It began as a small pub festival in Upton, but has now grown to welcome both international and home-grown acts at it’s Kirklington Lakes festival site.
"We're over the moon to be shortlisted,“ said festival director Mike Kirrage.
“Since the move to Kirklington post covid the festival has been on a definite up. So far this year there have been record sales before we'd announced a single name; it’s a clear indication that people trust us to put on a great show.
“The Best Small Festival award is decided by the public, so a big thank you to all our loyal supporters, our friends, for their votes so far. Gate To Southwell is entirely run by volunteers and this achievement goes some way to acknowledging everything their dedication and hard work has created"
This year it saw more than 5,000 attendees for the four days of music, entertainment and fun held from July 4 to July 7.
Acts included multi-Grammy award-winning Folk, Roots and Americana star Rhiannon Giddens, who guested on Beyonce’s recent 400 million streaming ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ single, and for who the festival was her only UK date of the summer.
Also performing on the festival’s four stages were Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening from Northumberland, The Fugitives from Canada, Suntou Susso from Gambia, The Haar from Ireland, and some of the East Midlands best acts.
It is a family-friendly festival, with camping, glamping, ceilidhs, comedy, music workshops, campfire sessions with cooking and games, craft stalls and food and drink vendors alongside the musical acts.
The UK Festival Awards 2024 this year saw over 350 applications made by over 200 festivals, with thousands of votes cast.
The awards celebrate the best festivals in the country, with winners for the small festival category decided by online fan votes.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Bristol on December 3.
