A array of 8 flown MSL-4 cabinets did the trick accompanied by a line of 650 subs across the front of stage, and Meyer UPA-1Ps on front fills. A Legend 3000-56 and Yamaha PM3500-40 pair of boards under the direction Martin Stansford provided FOH control whilst on stage the two Soundcraft SM20 boards run by Chris Jones handled the feeds to the 12 SSE MB2 and 2 Meyer UM-1P monitors. Drum fill was a Mackie Sub with 2x UM-1Ps. There had been a real worry over the sound spill from the outdoor Main stage to the second stage in the Big Top Tent, and vice versa, but through judicious use of the Meyer Mapp-online software, best use of the equipment provoked minimal problem;
In the Big Top tent CSS provided sound and lighting. A Shermann CA4 rig under the control of Keith Farquharson using a Midas 40 channel board, thumped out some stunning performances from heavy rock, reggae, blues etc., to various african genres. Dan Keating on the A & H GL3300 - 32 board took care of the Martin Mach monitors. With the weather as changeable as it was, this hugely successful venue was always well-filled, if not groaning with people. Definitely a case for 2 stages in flip-flop mode next year. A single 32 foot truss spanning the kingposts provided the house and stage Parcan lighting. The cafe style of the venue together with the needs of the bar and food outlet meant that there was always a need for the intimate atmosphere created by the lighting.
Saturday saw the BBC's veteran Ned Sherrin hosting another edition of Radio 4s "Loose Ends". CSS provided FOH sound and monitors for the two guest bands - Radio Tarifa and Dirty Red Bandanas. In true BBC tradition, the programme went through to time unedited, and wine was served at the end. Who says tradition is for stick-in-the-muds?
Finally, CSS provided small PA rigs for the seminar tents.
Huge thanks to all our crew who worked some very long hours to make the band change-overs as fast and efficient as they turned out to be: Lee 'Jabba' Dreezer- Production Manager, Mat Coton- Main Stage Patch Tech, Keith Farquharson- Big Top FOH, Dan Keating -Big Top Monitors, Pete 'Flip' McCrea- Big Top Patch Tech, Dave Lee and Dave 'Emlyn' Hughes. Rigging and Lighting was by Stu Petersen and Andi Dell.
