Michael Eavis to receive Lifetime Achievement Award at European Festival Awards

Glastonbury festival founder Michael Eavis is to be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s European Festival Awards.

The ceremony, which takes place on Wednesday January 11th in Groningen, The Netherlands, will see Eavis recognised for his prominent role and contribution to the European festival industry.

Commenting on his award, Eavis said: “After 41 years, to win something of this magnitude is something to be incredibly proud of. To still be doing this after that amount of time is no mean feat.”

Speaking about the honour, James Drury managing director of Festival Awards, commented: “Since founding one of the most famous and long-lasting festivals in the world, Michael has dedicated his life to Glastonbury and the millions of festival-goers which have attended the event over its 41-year history. Glastonbury is the grandfather of the incredible festival market, which Europe enjoys, and Michael is cited as an inspiration by almost every festival organiser I speak to across the world. This is why he is so deserving of this honour.”

Eavis launched the Glastonbury festival in 1970, following the very first gatherings at such events as the Isle of Wight Festival. After 11 years, the event finally made a profit and Eavis sought good causes to support across the globe. These days he looks to raise £2m per year to contribute to such causes.

Presented in association with YOUROPE and Eurosonic Noorderslag, the Festival Awards Europe is 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 each year.

Christof Huber, Yourope general secretary concluded, “Michael Eavis is an icon in the European festival scene and in my view, Glastonbury is the mother of all European festivals. He is just the right person to get the Livetime Achievement Award at the Festival Awards Europe”