EUROSONIC NOORDERSLAG RECEIVES IMPALA OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARD

17 December 2015 - Press release

Eurosonic Noorderslag is the latest winner of independent label organisation IMPALA's Outstanding Contribution Award to independent music. This annual prize recognises the exceptional efforts of an individual or organisation to promote and develop European independent music. Previous recipients include Armada Music and Armin van Buuren, Martin Mills (Beggars Group), Mario Pacheco and Charles Caldas (Merlin).
 
Over its nearly 30 years of existence, Eurosonic Noorderslag has a proven track record for helping to break new independent acts on the international live music scene. It is also a key exchange and networking platform for independent European music. The showcase festival and music conference are dedicated to European music (for 3 days) and Dutch music (for one day), taking place in the city of Groningen, in the North of the Netherlands.
 
IMPALA will hand over the award at the festival on Thursday 14 January when it will also be holding its first board meeting of 2016. Organised in collaboration with STOMP, the Dutch national independents association, IMPALA’s presence in Groningen is part of a series of events programmed to celebrate its fifteenth anniversary.
 
Eurosonic Noorderslag Creative Director Peter Smidt commented: “We are proud and honoured to receive this award from IMPALA and to be part of the great line-up of individuals and companies who have won this before.For the last 30 years, we have been working to create border-breaking succes for European and Dutch artists and music. We thank IMPALA for recognising our efforts.Eurosonic Noorderslag will keep on working to create the best possible showcase festival, conference and market place for the enormous amount of high quality European repertoire.”
 
Helen Smith, Executive Chair of IMPALA added: “This award underlines the incredible work and achievements of Eurosonic Noorderslag in the past 30 years. The festival has been responsible for kickstarting the European careers of numerous independent artists, making it a key annual event for both artists and independent record labels.”
 
Kees van Weijen, Chairman of IMPALA and President of STOMP, the association of Dutch independent record labels commented: “The IMPALA Outstanding Contribution Award recognises Eurosonic Noorderslag’s unparalleled efforts promoting both Dutch and European independent music and showcasing so many different types of artists.”