Adlib supplied
an L-Acoustics ‘racks-and-stacks’ audio solution plus a full support package and
crew to Years & Years recent UK tour which saw the chart-topping rising
star synthpop trio from London playing a series of sold out theatres and
arenas.
Adlib
were brought on-board by production manager Steve Down. Two of their most experienced
regular engineers, Sam Proctor and Hassane Es Siahi were tasked to ensure that
band engineers Pablo Campanara (FOH) and Harry Bishop (monitors) received
impeccable support.
Due to the
variety of venues on the itinerary, Pablo specified a system with great
flexibility, so an L-Acoustic’s K1 / K2 package, which in the largest iteration
– as used for Wembley and Birmingham – comprised of 12 x L-Acoustics K1s a side
with 4 x KARA downs for the main hangs and 12 x K2s a-side for the secondary /
side hangs.
The 18 x
SB28 subs were ground stacked and configured as three 3-high stacks per side,
the first one directly below the main arrays and two subsequent ones at two
metres and then four metres onstage, mirrored left and right.
For the
smaller gigs the K2 array became the main hang and the subs reduced to two
3-way stacks per side.
For
infill, on top of the outside sub stacks were four ARCS boxes per side
complimented with a single KARA element each side on the inside sub stacks. All
speakers were driven by LA8 amplifiers.
One of Adlib’s standard Lake processing / control
systems dealt with the processing, utilising three LM 44s at FOH, going to two
LM26s onstage and a RedNet D16R interface, distributing AES to all the amps
with analogue backup.
Sam
states that the flexibility of the K2 in particular is ideal for a tour like
this in mixed venues where it can be an ideal side hang in one room and a
powerful and fully focusable main array in another, also making it extremely
cost-effective to tour – rather then having to send additional components out
to supplement all the larger dates.
The FOH
and monitor consoles for Years & Years and their full monitor set up was
supplied by London based Hark Audio, the band’s regular supplier for some
years. Adlib was very happy to work in partnership with them.
The
support package from Adlib consisted of a DiGiCo SD10 for FOH and a Soundcraft
Vi1 for monitors, plus a full line system and mics-and-stands.
Danish
singer / songwriter MØ. performed for the whole tour with two other acts – Mabel and Nimmo – also
appearing at three shows each, and all three playing at Wembley. Two of these
had their own IEM systems, MØ. toured her own FOH console and all of them brought
dedicated own engineers.
Sam and Hass again ensured with
their forward thinking, planning & prep that everyone involved had exactly
what they needed and therefore, each day ran as smoothly as possible.
Audio wise it was a relatively straightforward
set up – they know all the venues very well, their nuances and the optimum
set-ups, and the process flowed extremely efficiently. “Lots of good people
helped create a really happy working atmosphere and it was good to be part of
this,” concluded Sam.
Adlib Client Manager Phil Kielty
concluded, “it has been brilliant to watch Years & Years develop in the
live arena. We’ve worked with them on various shows and when Steve Down asked
Adlib on-board it was all about us working as part of his team and fitting in
comfortably. The entire production is stunning to watch, and the band and everyone
involved are achieving truly amazing results!”
http://www.adlib.co.uk
Photos by Shirlaine Forrest
