Glastonbury Festival Founder Honoured with MITS Award
Glastonbury Festival began back in 1970 and has evolved over the years to become a globally recognised event. Festival founder, Michael Eavis, is to be presented with the 23rd Music Industry Trusts (MITS) Award later this year in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the music industry.
Growing from strength to strength, due to its brilliant line-ups of world-renowned artists, increased numbers of festival goers and huge press exposure, Glastonbury generates huge profits which are donated to charity each year. As the UK's most iconic music festival, the event has seen performances over the years from most of the world's biggest rock acts, while also raising awareness as well as money for various charities.
After seeing Led Zeppelin play at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music in 1969, Eavis became inspired to create his own event. A year later (the day after Jimmy Hendrix died) he organised the Pilton Pop, Blues and Folk Festival. The event was attended by 1500 people and tickets cost a mere £1. This one-day gathering has since evolved over the years into what we now know as Glastonbury festival, the largest green field festival in the world, which attracts 175,000 people each year. Today tickets are sold at £210 a pop, generating a large fortune in profit, which is donated to Greenpeace, Oxfam and WaterAid.
Eavis admits, "When I set out on this crazy hippy trip 44 years ago, little did I know how this rollercoaster would run. But now I have to pinch myself every morning when I wake up to the excitement of another day – heading up a team of the most creative artists, anywhere in the world.” This year’s festival will take place between the 25th and the 29th of June, with headlining acts including Metalica, Kasabian and Dolly Parton.
This prestigious annual MITS Award is to be presented to Michael in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the UK’s live music industry and many charitable causes. The Award will be presented on Monday the 3rd of November at a gala dinner in aid of Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust. David Munns, Chairman of the MITS Award Committee said, "Through his tireless dedication, Glastonbury has become an important landmark in the cultural life of this country, with its influence spreading well beyond these shores."