Noah and the Whale, Laura Marling, Seasick Steve all up for Festival Awards

There’s barely a week left before the shortlists are drawn up for this year’s Festival Awards – plenty of time to cast your votes for your folk favourites.

Noah and the Whale’s whistling radio pleaser 5 Years Time is up for Anthem of the Summer, and Charlie and friends also appear in the Best Newcomer category up against their good chum Laura Marling.

Wandering bluesman Seasick Steve is in the frame for the Festival Feel Good Act gong for a live show that only the mercurial Gideon Conn comes close to matching in terms of inducing uncontrollable grinning.

FFS favourite End of the Road is also in the running for Best Small Festival and Best Grass Roots Festival as well as Best Toilets, which they triumphed in last year, although there’s already been a noble plea from EOTR organisers not to vote for them for the latter after some pongy problems on the festival’s third day.

Cast your votes for the finalists here before October 13, and again for the overall winners in the following week.

Words: Mike Didymus