USA - Since it launched in 2008, Outside Lands, one of America’s premier music and arts festivals, has annually transformed San Francisco’s vast Golden Gate Park into a cultural celebration, elevated by Meyer Sound systems provided by the Bay Area’s own UltraSound.
The 2024 festival, which took place 9-11 August, showcased the pairing of Meyer Sound’s Panther large-format linear line array loudspeaker and 2100‑LFC low-frequency control element at the Lands End main stage, which hosted performances by Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Sturgill Simpson and The Killers, plus a standout country set by Post Malone.
“Panther and 2100-LFC are an unparalleled pair, and we are so excited that they are making their debut together at the Lands End stage here at Outside Lands this year,” says Katharine ‘Katie’ Murphy Khulusi, Meyer Sound’s director of loudspeaker development. “They are made to pair well together, but they also play well with our existing ecosystem. We think that because of the linearity and the high fidelity of the pair, they can be used on a system of any scale.”
The main system at the Lands End stage centred on arrays of 18 Panther loudspeakers per side, supported by nine 2100-LFC control elements flown on each side and 16 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements on the ground. That system is supplemented by Panther first delays and Leopard compact linear line array loudspeakers on second delays, with Lyon line array loudspeakers in outer-hangs.
“Last year, Panther was deployed with 1100-LFC, which is an incredible dual-18-inch touring sub that packs a punch,” says Murphy Khulusi. “This year, we’re excited to see it paired with Lyons and Leopards and 2100s and 1100s. It really shows how we can evolve while still keeping our ecosystem.”
“The 2100-LFC was built to pair with Panther, voicing-wise, so they complement each other really well,” says Josh Osmond, UltraSound’s operations manager and project manager for the Lands End stage. “As you get into the lower range of the Panther it really works with the top range of the 2100-LFCs as they pair up at the crossover point.
“Having the 21-inch speaker in the 2100-LFC control elements provides a big, full, rich low end,” he adds. “But it maintains the nice, fast transient response that everyone’s used to from a Meyer Sound system.”
Meyer Sound systems powered numerous areas throughout the festival, with Lina compact linear array loudspeakers and 900‑LFC compact low-frequency control elements at the Dolores open-air dance tent, a Leopard system in the main grandstand VIP cabana, UPJ loudspeakers in a VIP courtyard, and UPA loudspeakers distributed throughout the 200ft-long, two-story VIP area in the Polo Fields grandstands.
With sustainability top of mind on the festival circuit, Panther and 2100-LFC’s power efficiencies exemplify how technological innovation can align with green goals – core values for Meyer Sound, UltraSound, event promoter Another Planet Entertainment, and Sound Future, a nonprofit collaborating with Meyer Sound to use live events as a catalyst for climate innovation.
“We want to make sure that all of the new products we’re releasing with each new generation become more and more efficient,” says Murphy Khulusi. “Because not only is that a good speaker model, but it’s also better for the environment. It’s more sustainable, both for the touring company and for the venue.”
