It's the second year that LML's Joanna MacKay has led the production management team for this 30,000 capacity event, which is orientated towards children and young people.
LarMac LIVE's brief included organising the supply of lighting, sound, video, staging and backline for the eight main stages which included an eclectic array of live performance from Primal Scream, Blondie and Mark Ronson to Howard Marks to Groove Armada's Red Light DJ set, Mr Tumble and Sooty, plus host of other bands, DJs, comedians, poets, speakers, circus acts across the three-day event.
Working for Loudsound Events and The Bestival Organisation, LML also production manages the main Bestival event on the Isle of Wight in September.
To provide lighting and sound for the Castle Field (main stage), Stage Two, and the Black Dalia and Bollywood tents, LMC brought in Audile from Manchester, one of their regular contractors. Having a single-source company supplying both of these production elements worked effectively on site and also enabled the negotiation of cost effective solutions.
For the Spoken Word Arena, Bandstand, the Little Big Top and the Dingly Dell Trail in the woods, Isle of Wight based Widget was asked to supply versatile integrated lighting and sound systems.
Site wide video - both projection and LED screen systems - were supplied by XL Video, a regular LarMac LIVE technical partner. This encompassed a projection system in the Little Big Top and LED screens on the main stage.
Cameras for the main stage were supplied by The Faculty of Media, Arts & Society from Southampton Solent University, with whom the Bestival Organisation has a learnership/work experience programme. This offers students the chance to get hands-on involvement in many aspects of event organisation and production.
The Star Events Group - who also work regularly on LML's events - built the Castle Field Stage, a 15m Orbit style roof structure, and installed the decking in Stage 2's tented arena, once again reinforcing the excellent working relationship between the two companies.
The DJ equipment and set ups for seven stages came from locally based LLS and the local crew were Rock Steady from Plymouth. Where possible, LMC's policy is to engage a percentage of local companies and their expertise for the event, to work alongside their regular nationwide technical partners.
(Jim Evans)
