THE ORGANISERS of Scotland’s T in the Park festival, Big Day Out Ltd, were celebrating last night after hearing the festival has been shortlisted for four prizes at this year’s UK Festival Awards, writes Alan Wilson, Rocktalk writer.

The nominations follow last year’s success when T won the award for Best Facilities and Organisation, ahead of Glastonbury, V2004 and the Carling Weekend festivals.

As well as defending their title from last year, T in the Park has been nominated in the Best Major Festival, Most Innovative Festival and in the Most Memorable Festival Moment categories, the latter for when Killers frontman Brandon Flowers joined New Order on stage.

Meanwhile, St Andrews singer-songwriter K.T. Tunstall, who starred in the King Tut’s tent at Balado this summer, has been nominated in the Best Festival Pop Act category in the awards.

Big Day Out are now urging the event’s “loyal and legendary fan base” to show their support for T in the Park by taking part in an online vote which got under way yesterday.

Chief executive Geoff Ellis said, “It is an honour to be shortlisted once again in the Best Major Festival and Best Facilities and Organisation categories, particularly since we are current holders of the latter title.

“The nomination for the Most Memorable Moment is also very special as I was standing with Brandon Flowers watching New Order and was amazed when he walked out on stage to perform with them.

“That was an undeniable highlight for me.

“It is fantastic to be shortlisted in the Most Innovative Festival category.

“T in the Park has also championed homegrown talent and was the first festival in the UK to dedicate a stage to it with the addition of the T Break Stage in 1996.

“It also continues to break new talent with the recent additions of the X-Tent and Futures Stage.”

Head of sponsorship at founding partners Tennent’s Lager, George Kyle, said that the festival had “grown into a globally-renowned event.”

Votes can only be cast online, by logging on to www.festivalawards.com The winners will be announced on November 7.