The main Radio 1 / Kerrang stage was Star Hire’s Vertech 20m festival stage, which created a suitably ‘larger than life canvas’ for the show. In addition to the performance area, the stage housed the PA monitor system in the wings and gave the production team room at the rear to prepare equipment to ensure the 12-band schedule was kept on time. The lighting rig, supplied by Neg Earth, was suspended under the 11m high stage roof.
The main stage incorporated PA towers that flanked the performance area and housed the main PA, supplied by SSE Hire. Outside the PA were the integral screen supports, which housed Screenco’s LED screens, giving a total stage width of 45.6m. The new position of the stage this year meant that the Star Hire crew had to install a 15m long, 5m wide, roll on/off access ramp traversing the steep embankment to a loading dock for the constant stream of production vehicles throughout the weekend.
The main stage FOH controls were housed in Star Hire’s Clearspan 7.5m x 10m system, with an additional spot platform on the rear. A 10m x 7.5m disabled access platform was installed looking down onto the main stage. Star Rigging supplied the crew, on site throughout the weekend to service rigging requirements.
The second ‘Scuzz’ stage was located in a new area production had utilized, in a Kayam tent, with Star Hire supplying over 300sq.m of platform for performing and working areas together with a FOH and spot position. The PA was SSE’s Nexo Alpha system, with LD Andy Liddle utilizing a self-climbing Prolyte ST truss system to suspend a mixture of Par cans, PC beams and Martin Pro MAC moving lights, supplied by Hawthorn Theatrical. They also supplied lights to the chill out area in the exhibition centre, where a third smaller Star Hire stage was placed as a DJ podium.
(Lee Baldock)
