UK Festival Awards - The Reaction

Unfortunately we can't bring you the spontaneous tears of joy, the eratic hand gesturing towards seated peers, and the uncontrollable shaking of elated surprise from the stage - but we can bring you the soppy speeches from those who won...  

T IN THE PARK
(Winner of 'Best Major Festival' and 'Best Facilities & Organisation')
Geoff Ellis, CEO of promoters Big Day Out Ltd:
"We are delighted and honoured to accept these awards for Best UK Festival and Best Facilities and Organisation. This accolade is testament to the extremely hardworking team behind T in the park, many of whom work on it all year round.  Thanks must also go to the T in the Park audience, which is, from my own experience and from what I'm told by almost every artist that plays the event, the best in the world.  We always strive to make their experience as good as we can and whilst we may have the hottest selling festival of 2006, we will never take our audience for granted and will do our very best to ensure that they will want to vote for us in both categories again next year."

BESTIVAL
(Winner of 'Best Medium Sized Festival' and 'Best Innovation')
Rob Da Bank, Bestival boss and Radio 1 DJ:
"Bestival base camp has just erupted with joy and alcoholic things at the news we've won Best Festival (Medium) and Most Innovative Festival. Up against such amazing festivals as The Big Chill and Glastonbury we're chuffed to have got so far in only our second year so big up respect gracias to everyone who came to Bestival and voted for us - they're the winners!"

GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL
(Winner of 'Best Family Festival', 'Most Memorable Moment' for the Make Poverty History moment, and 'Outstanding Contribution' for the team's response to the storms.)
Emily Eavis, Co-Organiser, Glastonbury Festival 
"It was an incredible moment and part of the integrity of Glastonbury. It's important that it's acknowledged that way but also that it's seen as a beginning and not an end to the campaign. Thanks to everyone for voting for it and for being part of it because it's them, not the rock stars, that made it."

SECRET GARDEN
(Winner of 'Best Small Festival')
Freddie Fellows, Head Gardener of The Secret Garden.
"Thanks to everyone who voted for us. We're not looking to impress the people who went this year, or even people who might want to go next year. But hopefully the award might mean we can snake some free booze and a bank loan so we can make it even better next year!! Thank you again for voting."

CREAMFIELDS
(Winner of 'Best Dance Festival')
James Barton, Chief Executive of Cream:
"Cream would like to thank everyone who voted for Creamfields as 'Best Dance' festival for a 2nd year running! The coveted UK Festival Awards are a body that not only recognises what great events we have in this country but firmly puts the UK on the global map as leaders in their field when it comes to outdoor events. The number of people that have voted this year proves this and makes winning this particular award very special. Year on year we aim to improve Creamfields, taking on board comments and recommendations from those people who attend and the results were reflected in this years show which was a sell out success with one of the best atmospheres seen at any festival.  Having already started work on next year's show, we are looking forward and excited about Creamfields 2006!"

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR
(Winner of 'Best New Festival' for Bloodstock Open Air)
Vince Brotheridge, Bloodstock festival director:
"Wow!, for a Metal festival to win in any category is remarkable, we are stunned to have won such a fabulous award for our first Bloodstock Open Air show in 2005, and our mega-thanks go out to everyone involved, especially our dedicated fans who voted for us. Considering we had the weather and sound issues against us, we created a truly unique event which will rank alongside the many great European Metal festivals in existence, and with that "METAL is forever" and see you in 2006!"

DOWNLOAD
(Winner of 'Best Official Website')
Mark Yovich, VP International New Media, Clear Channel Entertainment: 
"We are absolutely thrilled that the public has voted the Official Download Festival website the Best Festival Website in the nation. It is recognition of the success of Download since it was introduced three years ago and to the focus and investment that we have placed on the festivals online presence. We have a truly unique and abundant online community that we have strived to foster and nourish over the past three years and we are grateful for their continued support."

T4 ON THE BEACH
(Winner of 'Best One Day Festival')
Graeme Mason, Managing Director of Channel 4 International:
"We are delighted that T4 On The Beach has won the Best One Day Event award, particularly meaningful given it is voted for by the people who actually attend these events.  From Rachel Stevens to the Kaiser Chiefs, T4 On The Beach now attracts a cross section of some of the UKs brightest talent and winning awards such as this have helped make it one of the summer's must attend events."

BIG CHILL
(Winner of 'Best Cult Following')
Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin, Co-founders of The Big Chill.
"Thank you to those who voted for us. Must have to admit we are giggling at the word 'Cult'! Please just remember all are very, very welcome to come to The Big Chill." 

Status Quo
(Winner of 'Festival Feel Good Act')
Francis Rossi:
"We would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to vote for us. We are really chuffed to win this particularly category and it's fantastic to know that fans out front are enjoying themselves as much as we are on stage."

Goldie Lookin' Chain
(Winner of 'Best Urban Act')
Adam Hussein:
"Get in there. Rock on Tommy, that's what I say. We love our festivals. They only come around once a year so you've gotta get stuck into the things and have a couple of parties. It's the best news I've had all week. My cat died a few days ago after getting its head stuck in a drain pipe trying to catch a mouse. My mother cried and my sister laughed so it was a mixed reaction. I hate cats anyway and at least the dog's still alive, but winning this is much better news."

The other winning artists - Scissor Sisters, Foo Fighters, The Prodigy, and Kaiser Chiefs - were all contacted but were unavailable.

Click here for the full list of winners, including all the runners up.