Access All AreasIsle of Wight Festival promoter and Solo Agency MD John Giddings (pictured) is among a host of leading live event professionals due to address pertinent issues during the conference element of the Access All Areas Conference & Awards.
Taking place at Indigo at The O2 on 5 December, the conference will involve key representatives from companies and events across the live industry including Live Nation, AEG Presents, Ryder Cup, Silverstone and the Secret Garden Party. They will debate issues including the challenges and opportunities in the evolving festival market, immediate sustainable event initiatives and solutions, and how the merging of entertainment and sport can drive ticket sales, dwell time and revenue.
The conference, which is sponsored by Troxy, will precede the AAA Awards. The event has achieved record entries and ticket sales. Last year’s awards ceremony saw the introduction of the Editor’s Award, which was collected by Glastonbury Festival’s Emily Eavis in recognition of the event’s impressive sustainability measures. On 5 December, AAA content director Christopher Barrett will reveal the recipient of this year’s award. The Awards will once again be hosted by comedian Emmanuel Sonubi.
The full conference speaker lineup for the AAA Conference & Awards:
The future of festivals
Speakers will discuss what is behind the many festival closures, what can and should be done to mitigate the pressures, how festivals are needing to adapt and change, and what the future holds.
AEG Presents vice president & general manager European Festivals Lynsey Wollaston
Secret Garden Party founder Freddie Fellowes
From The Fields creative director Cathryn Peach Barnes
We Group CEO Nick Morgan
Tysers Live MD Tim Thornhill
Sportainment
The session will explore how the inclusion of live activations and entertainment is increasing and evolving in the live sports industry, how the right balance is found, the operational challenges involved, the best ways of creating strong partnerships between live music promoters and sports operators, and whether the increasing involvement of live music is proving to be a real driver of ticket sales and wider engagement.
Ryder Cup operations director Paul Dunstan
Silverstone head of operations for music and the arts Nicki Seifert
Jockey Club chief operating officer Hannah Simpkins
Access All Areas content director Christopher Barrett
Access All Areas Backstage podcast
This keynote interview will be recorded for the latest edition of the AAA podcast series that sees leading festival bosses take us behind the scenes to discuss their life and times at the helm the events.
Isle of Wight Festival founder John Giddings
Interviewed by Christopher Barrett
Live event sustainability (in partnership with Vision 2025)
Leading live event sustainability specialists and consultants outline the key learnings from the 2024 event season, progress with industry-wide initiatives, inspiring examples of innovations, and quick-win solutions.
Live Nation UK & Ireland head of sustainability Victoria Chapman
LIVE Green impact consultant Ross Patel
Shambala co-founder and Vision: 2025 chair Chris Johnson
Hannah Cox, director Better Not Stop
Said Barrett, “It’s been a year that has seen many hugely successes live events but also enormous pressure on grassroots and independent venues and festivals. The AAA Conference will address the key challenges, the opportunities, and industry-wide issues and initiatives that can help strengthen all corners of the live events industry. I’m particularly looking forward to interviewing John Giddings about his remarkable life and times with the Isle of Wight festival, an event he first attended aged 17.
“On the back of two successful editions of the Conference & Awards, we will be taking the event to a new level, working with the team at Indigo, new partners and sponsors, to deliver an event that celebrates all corners of our world-leading live events industry in suitable style.”
AAA Conference & Awards timings are available here, and tickets can be purchased here.