The 11-14 March event smashed previous attendance records as 95,000 attendees took in performances from acts as diverse as Angélique Kidjo, Calexico, Violent Femmes, De La Soul, Kev Carmody and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
A first in 2016, Novatech Creative Event Technology supplied all seven stages of the festival using world class audio, lighting, and video production equipment, backed by their expert personnel.
The aptly named Novatech Stage was supplied in its entirety by Novatech, utilising their stage and roofing system. The all-important Foundation Stage, which functioned as the festival's main stage, was serviced by Novatech's new Avid S6L digital mixing console, which has leapt to the top of every touring FOH engineer's first choice for console.
"The S6L proved to hold its own over other consoles being used for the WOMADelaide Festival this year," said Adam Budgen, senior head sound technician at the Adelaide Festival Centre and WOMADelaide Foundation Stage FOH operator. "The sound of the console was warm and articulate. Many of the touring engineers were trying it for the first time, with great results. Most of the engineers who were familiar with Avid's Profile platform were happy with the performance of the S6L, and found it easy to navigate and customise."
Complementing the FOH console was a full L-Acoustics PA, consisting of a K2 line array system supplemented by SB28 subwoofers, with additional coverage via Kara line array elements. Over on Stage 2, an all L-Acoustics monitoring system of X15 HiQ reference stage monitors handled foldback for acts such as The Australian Dance Theatre, Sarah Blasko and Parisian Cuban twins Ibeyi.
In total, Novatech deployed 230 L-Acoustics speaker cabinets, running off of 182 L-Acoustics LA8 power amplifiers across the festival site.
(Jim Evans)
