Working for creative and technical production specialists LarMac LIVE and renewing their long term working relationship with Cream - the brand synonymous with Liverpool cool since its launch as a club concept in the heady rave days 1992 - this was the third high profile Liverpool-centric event for Adlib in as many months. It followed hot on the heels of The Giants Spectacular and the seven-week International Festival of Business.
Creamfields 2014 saw a glittering array of the biggest, best and most popular DJs in the world joining the lineup. Adlib were working in Arenas 04 (hosted by Pete Tong / London Warehouse Events), 05 (Revealed / Super You & Me) and the VIP (Hospitality Audio System).
Leading Adlib's team on site was Crew Chief Kevin Byatt, and everything was co-ordinated from the office / warehouse end by Dave Eldridge - this, plus as much detailed advanced planning as possible, was key to ensuring that it was another smooth operation on site.
Both arenas involved major overnight lighting / visual changeovers - and the glorious inclement UK weather (with extreme rain on the Friday) - made working conditions additionally tough on site.
Adlib Design's Ian Tomlinson designed production lighting for all three areas, which in CF04 and CF05 was also based on the requirements of the headlining acts each day.
Ground support systems supplied by Prism were constructed around the stages in both arenas and used to provide the lighting positions, some of which were with sub-hung Adlib trusses.
In CF04 the moving lights were Martin MAC Viper profiles, MAC Aura washes and MAC 700 Washes - 56 in total, and these were joined by Chauvet Colorado LED Batten 72s and Atomic strobes plus some bars of 4 x ACLs for additional effects.
The consoles were a High End Road Hog Full Boar and Playback Wing, and the system was tech'd by Chris Richardson, Charlie Rushton and Nathan Harrison. Several guest LDs and lighting operators accompanied their artists, and Chris ran lighting for those who didn't bring anyone.
In 05 Stu Wright, Andy Jones and Anthony Viney looked after all things illuminative, and this stage also ran on the Friday afternoon / evening and therefore had two substantial overnight changeovers which included a completely new video set up and an additional lighting truss for the second night. Adlib also supplied rigging and motors for XL Video's LED screens in this arena.
The 05 production design also had to accommodate Sub Focus's trussing set of three concentric trussing circles on the Friday night - so practicality and adaptability were key, as well as making the arena look fantastic for three very different stage presentations.
The moving lights in 05 were Martin MAC Viper Profiles, MAC 301 LED washes, Studio Due CS4s and Clay Paky Sharpys - 40 fixtures in total, arranged over the stage and above the audience. They were joined by Atomic strobes and the console options were an MA Lighting grandMA2 or an Avolites Pearl.
Lighting in Hospitality was rigged on a central circular truss and featured 50 small moving lights, chosen for their size and unobtrusiveness - a combination of Martin MAC 350 Entours, MAC 301s, MAC 250 Washes and Beams. They were joined by Chauvet LED PARs, LED cubes and Abraxus LED Snowflakes and ETC Source Four Junior zooms for key-lighting the DJs.
Control was an Avo Pearl Expert and Expert Touch Wing and this area was looked after by Adlib's Jeff Bond, Phil Woodbridge and Cody Chambers.
With 'Make some noise' being the ultimate club chant, getting the right sonic ambience and requisite bass and sub levels is at the essence of the whole EDM sound experience, and so Adlib specified Coda and JBL VerTec systems.
To maximize the vibe of global EDM ambassador Pete Tong and
