RG Jones was contracted to provide the audio - based around their Synco Martin three-way W8LC/WLX line array system - for an event which was headlined by Simply Red and staged at the Mikheil Meshki Stadium, home of Lokomotiv FC.
The company were working for Steve Nolan's Chromatic Productions, who in turn had been contracted by Neos Creative, BP's main contractor for the event.
RG Jones' engineer, Simon Honywill explained: "BP as operators of the BTC pipeline are staging events to celebrate the completion of this pipeline which runs through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Our first show took place in Baku, Azerbaijan in May and we have now completed the Georgia event where as well as 155 miles of pipeline being laid, two massive pump stations have also been constructed."
Part of the cargo flown out in a massive Antonov aircraft were 44 x W8LC enclosures and 20 x WLX subs, which formed the main PA system. Honywill reports that the original venue earmarked for the event had been a nearby park. "But it was not suitable for a free concert, as the authorities had no idea how many people would turn up - so it was agreed to use the football stadium next door instead."
There the Star Group set about creating a rigging and staging infrastructure at one end of the stadium. The main hangs of 16 x W8LC, suspended from Star's 'V' tower PA structures, were forced out fairly wide as a result of XL Video's big screen displays, combined with the footprint of the 'V' towers. To fill in the centre close to the stage, six W8LC's were hung each side adjacent to the stage, maintaining the audio focus on the stage and ensuring those who arrived early also received the same quality audio as the rest of the stadium. Ten WSX subs were set in a concert array either side beneath the main hangs.
Honywill optimized the system using Martin Audio's bespoke DISPLAY 3D predictive software. "The system sounded fabulous and our clients were very happy with the result," he said.
Mixing desks comprised a Yamaha DM2000 and Midas XL250 - along with the Audio Analysts monitor system. Simply Red brought their own FOH and monitor equipment - along with their sound engineer Gary Bradshaw.
"We had to put together a flexible sound package that would allow us to do pretty much anything," Simon continued. "It was more than you would have thought we needed but we ended up using pretty much everything."
The concert which also featured local heroes the Sukhishvili Georgian National State Dance Company (described by Honywill as "awesome"), was the culmination of a day of celebration which included an official pipeline inauguration ceremony and an exhibition launch and reception at the Georgian State Museum.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
