Entec project manager Noreen O'Riordan comments: "Entec has been associated with the Bootleg Beatles since 1994. The band and crew take great pride in producing authentic sound and visuals based on the original Beatles shows of the 1960s, creating a stunning atmospheric evening that appeals to all generations."
The band are known as the definitive Beatles tribute act as well as the longest running and most successful, having formed in 1980 and been performing worldwide regularly ever since.
To deal practically and efficiently with the different venues, both lighting and sound designs needed to be adaptable, and this was a key starting point for LD Mark Jones and FOH engineer Marc Langley.
Looking after sound for Entec was systems tech Chunk Charters, who is in his fourth year of working for the Bootleg Beatles.
The sound system is a d&b Q Series line array, which is flown or ground stacked in multiple configurations depending on the place and space - with a typical flown set up being eight Q1, four Q-sub, two B2-sub per side with E3, Q7 and Q10 for in-fills, out-fills and front-fills. It's rare that two days are ever the same. The show is mixed by Langley using a Yamaha PM5D-RH.
Monitor engineer Simon Lutkin is using a Yamaha M7 CL console, and in keeping with the period feel of the performance, they are all on wedges and wired mics, utilising eight d&b M2 wedges, plus eight E3s for the orchestra and brass fills.
There is a full complement of mics, with a heavy emphasis on Shure SM57s and 58s.
For the larger arena shows - including the NIA Birmingham - extra gear in the form of additional Q1s, Q-subs and B2s was trucked up from Entec.
Pete 'Pepper' Schofield co-ordinated all the lighting requirements on the road for Entec, working on his second Bootleg Beatles tour, and ensuring that all Mark Jones' requirements were met.
The set up is a straightforward front and rear truss with a small amount of lighting on the floor. The front truss features six Clay Paky HPE 300s and two Martin Professional MAC 250 Washes, plus an Optikinetics K4 projector which is fitted with a liquid oil wheel for some authentic liquid effects onto a projection screen hung off the back truss.
Also on the back truss are four Studio Due CS4 bars, four Sunstrips. five CP Alpha Beam 700s for big powerful beam effects, another six of the neatly sized Clay Paky HPE 300s and four MAC 250 Washes, which are also compact and bright.
On the floor are three CS4 bars, positioned along the back of the stage on stands.
Entec is also controlling the music stand lights for the eight piece orchestra from their dimmers.
Joining Schofield on the crew is Jonathan Cope, and Mark Jones also works with them every day, and runs the show from his Jands Vista S3 console.
Bootleg Beatles manager Raj Patel, says, "The band have always shown loyalty to their suppliers and none more so than Entec Sound and Light. Entec provided sound and lighting systems for our first show at the Royal Albert Hall in 1994. Their co-operation and help in putting that first show together secured their services for the next 18 years."
(Jim Evans)
