Production specialist Adlib began the 2016 touring season with including Irish singer/songwriter Hozier, provided audio, lighting and crew for a UK and European tour. Hozier has achieved internatioal success with the release of his anthem ‘Take Me To Church’ and debut album, Hozier, which went platinum in the US.
Adlib’s team of Sam Proctor and Terry Smith (sound), and Kevin Byatt and Jeff Bond (lights) worked closely with renowned production manager Sue ‘Duchess’ Iredale, tour manager Jake Ryan Foley and the band’s FOH and monitor engineers Gavin Muddiman and Darren Dunphy with lighting designer Matthew Kilmurry.
An L-Acoustics K2 system was specified for all the UK shows, and for the two largest European venues – Amsterdam’s Heineken Music Hall and the Brussels Forest National – Adlib supplied a larger K1 system. All the shows were sold out and highlights included three back-to-back performances at London’s Brixton Academy. The standard audio configuration for the larger UK shows was 12 K2 speakers per side with eight SB28 groundstacked below, together with four ARCS2 a side for in fill and four Kara elements across the front of stage for lip fill. This system gave plenty of volume and an even coverage to each of the rooms, which were modelled using SoundVision software.
The loudspeakers were all powered by L-Acoustics LA8 amplifiers, 12 per side, and signal was distributed via AES with analogue backup on one of Adlib’s digital return systems. This featured four Lake LM44s at FOH and two LM26s onstage, running via a Focusrite RedNet D16R connected via a TAC4 fibre multicore. The Avid Venue Profile FOH console was supplied by Adlib, and Hozier toured their own stage package with IEMs and Yamaha CL1 monitor desk.
Adlib provided one of its MP3 subs for air movement behind the drummer, powered by a Lab.gruppen PLM 20K amp and run into their monitor system.
Opening for the UK dates, Irish girl trio Wyvern Lingo used another Adlib support package with an Avid Profile console onstage. Both Avids were fitted with FireWire cards to allow mutitrck recording the show each night. Wyvern Lingo also had their own IEMs, which dovetailed with a full Adlib line system onstage.
Sam Proctor was kept busy accommodating the acoustics of different venues, and regards the K2 ideal to get around potential weight issues in flying scenarios, and also capable of being closed up to 10° for tight focusing that avoids balcony edges and other obstructions.
All of Adlib’s engineers also have access to a comprehensive database of systems and venues, an invaluable resource compiled through careful documentation and years of experience and experimentation, which is designed to ensure the best results.
