The outdoor, city-centre site for Boston Calling featured two Leo Family systems supporting artists such as Sia, Disclosure, Robyn, Sufjan Stevens, Janelle Monae, and Haim. The systems were provided by Atkinson, N.H.-based Rainbow Production Services.
"This was the first year we had the Leo Family on both stages, with Leo on the Blue Stage and Lyon on the smaller Red Stage," reports Scott Tkachuk, CTO and touring director for Rainbow. "That combination gave us a lot more control, which was critical as we were surrounded by 60-story buildings of concrete and glass. Those boxes can throw for days, but the critical factor here was precise control. Leo and Lyon gave us better coverage with fewer reflections. That was a big win."
According to Tkachuck, the linear characteristics of the Leo Family were also a good match for Boston Calling's eclectic lineup. "We had everything from neo-acoustic to alt rock and EDM, and the FOH mixers were all blown away by what they heard, even though some of them had never experienced the Leo Family before.
The Boston Calling systems at both the Blue and Red stages comprised a total of 24-each Leo-M and Lyon line array loudspeakers along with 18 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements, 18 700-HP subwoofers, and seven JM-1P arrayable loudspeakers. The combined onstage foldback systems included a total of 12 MJF-212A and MJF-210 stage monitors, eight MIca line array loudspeakers, eight 700-HP subwoofers, and three 900-LFC elements.
One of Europe's premier electronic dance festivals, BigCityBeats World Club Dome drew 51,000 for three nights of revelry with headliners that included David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Armin van Buuren, and Hardwell. The Leo Family system powering the event was supplied by Emsdetten-based POOLGroup.
At the one-stage BigCityBeats World Club Dome, the main reinforcement system comprised 28-each Leo-M and Lyon loudspeakers and 52 1100-LFC elements in addition to 16 Leopard, 20 Mica and 24 Mina line array loudspeakers, 16 JM-1P loudspeakers, and 12 UPQ-1P loudspeakers. All stages at both festivals relied on Galileo Callisto loudspeaker management systems for drive and precise optimization.
A notable addition for 2016 was a stage side-fill system of six Leopard line array loudspeakers and two 900-LFC low-frequency control elements. The system was specifically requested by headliner David Guetta and used by all other artists as well.
(Jim Evans)
