The Outstanding Contribution to Festivals Award

SPONSORED BY

Tonight, we award not one but two individuals who, through the worst crisis that the festival industry has ever dealt with, stepped up beyond pay grade, expectation and the capabilities of mere mortals to lobby, research, represent and nurture their respective memberships through the Covid-19 pandemic storm.

One of our recipients becomes a double winner, an extraordinary achievement through extraordinary times, the second receives the award after bidding a fond farewell to the role he embraced so emphatically.

THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED THE NIGHT OF THE UK FESTIVAL AWARDS

Electric Pets and The Public Eye are two bands from the roster of Derby-based music management company and recording studio, RatCat. Catch them perform at the UK Festival Awards after-show social!

Weaving a rich tapestry of mature darkpop with garage rock swagger, Electric Pets unashamedly draw influence from the foundations of rock n ’ roll history and frame it firmly with a twenty-firstcentury styling. It’ s all here: the distinctive twang of rockabilly and surf, breathy ‘60sgirl-group-vocals, Joe Meek-esque retrofuturist-electronica and bluesy fuzzed out Jack White-like riffs. Having felt restricted by the styles they ’d previously worked in, when the band formed in 2019, they made a pact: no genre was off the table and song was king...

The Public Eye are a four-piece indie rock band formed in Derby, in late 2021. Following a string of single releases, the band released their debut 5 track EP ‘In the OutBuilding’ in July 2022 - very much announcing themselves to the UK Indie scene. ThisIsTheMusic wrote ‘ a fantastic EP, full of indie anthems that will stand the test of time ’ . Bursting with catchy hooks, jangling guitar tones and a driving rhythm section, The Public Eye ’ s music is an exciting melting pot of classic British rock and lyrics that tackle the current topics and issues surrounding the youth of today.