Martin Audio systems were deployed on four stages at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, in the UK at the end of June – BBC Introducing, Woodsies, The Park Stage and Leftfield – by SWG Events, a technical production services company.
BBC Introducing embraced Martin Audio for the first time. According to Simon Purse, head of audio, SWG Events, the move from its usual enclosed tent to a more open, saddlespan structure required a fresh, upscaled approach to the PA in order to cater for a larger audience. Purse swapped out the previous system for a ground-stacked Martin Audio WPS system.
SWG Events had planned ahead strategically to cope with the demands of Glastonbury, arranging for the six-a-side WPS rig and eight SX218, that the company had recently installed at Cardiff Students Union, to move back into its rental stock at term end, and in this instance take up occupancy at BBC Introducing, where they functioned as left/right stacks to avoid intrusion on camera position, driven in 2-box resolution from the iKON amps.
Four Blackline X8 acted as frontfills and a pair of TORUS T1230 as outfill. Martin Audio LE1500s were provided for artist monitoring, underpinned with SX118 subwoofers. Beneficiaries of this set-up included Antony Szmierek, FIZZ, Jordan Mackampa, Paris Paloma, Pixey, Kingfishr and Maruja.
Purse commented: “The advantage of this arrangement was that we could get greater height on the PA, which is precisely what we wanted.”
Meanwhile, nightly headliners at the Woodsies stage were Gossip, Jamie xx and James Blake but the highlight was the surprise appearance of ‘secret act’, Kasabian. Knowing the importance of this stage, Simon Purse pushed for a full 12 a-side WPL rig in 2-box resolution, with split l/r ground stack sub system comprising 12 SXH218 – providing ample coverage in a 75m diameter big top holding around 6,000.
Adding to his rig were eight WPC on front fill, which Purse said provided enough power for a big stage and avoided the risk of running out of headroom on the front fills. Four TORUS T1215 sidefills (two a side) provided stage monitoring along with two cardioid SXC118s – along with a full package of XE500 monitor wedges.
Sitting high over the festival site, The Park Stage hosted headliners, Fontaines DC, Peggy Gou and London Grammar. Here Purse fielded 12-a-side W8LC, and two W8LCD a-side Downfills, with 16 WSX 218, in l/r stacks. The stage package comprised 12 XE500 monitors with SX118 subs.
Combining pop and politics, Leftfield’s sound requirements tilt more towards reinforcing the spoken word. The stage used Martin Audio’s W8LM. This was flown, eight-a-side chain hoisted onto a goalpost truss structure. For artist reference monitoring, 12 LE12J wedges were available.
Purse concluded: “We had a really good team, the bands worked extremely well, and overall it was just an exceptional year where the atmosphere throughout was fantastic.”
