When South West Audio approached Sennheiser UK for support in supplementing some of their own microphones and radio equipment for the Park area's main stage and the BBC Introducing stage at this year's event, Sennheiser's long-term relationship with the production and sound company was further cemented through the assistance it was able to give them.
Most of the microphones Sennheiser provided matched South West's own evolution wired microphones and included e 904s (toms), e 935s and e 840s (lead vocals), e 914 and e 614s (overheads), e 906s for guitar cabs and e 902s for kick drum and bass cabs. On top of this, South West provided its own Sennheiser radio equipment including SKM 535 vocal mics and ew 300 IEM in ear systems, which were used throughout the weekend. This consistent set of microphones meant that the South West crew on the Park Stage was able to operate a roll on/roll off set up over the event, making turnarounds a much easier process.
"We stock a fair amount of Sennheiser product anyway, but with the additional equipment supplied by Sennheiser UK, it meant we could have double the amount of kit and have one set on stage and another prepared off stage for the next band, making the changeovers much quicker," says South West Audio's Mark Bott.
Artists elsewhere at the three-day festival using Sennheiser and Neumann equipment included main stage performers Dizzee Rascal, Vampire Weekend, Corinne Bailey Rae, Shakira, Faithless and Saturday night's headliners Muse. On the Other Stage, Florence and The Machine, Editors, MGMT, La Roux and The Temper Trap all used Sennheiser lead vocal microphones. Elsewhere, the festival saw various other artists using Sennheiser microphones including N Dubz (East Dance), Ellie Goulding (John Peel), Bombay Bicycle Club (John Peel) and special guest sets from Keane (Avalon Stage) and Biffy Clyro (Park Stage).
"Glastonbury is always one of the most important events of the year for Sennheiser and our excellent long-term working relationship with South West Audio means that, even if we are not at the event ourselves, we are able to stay involved and assist a sound company that has been using our products for many years," says Sennheiser UK artist relations manager Mark Saunders. "The number of artists using the brand's microphones over the site this year really shows that it is one of the most significant dates in the calendar for Sennheiser UK."
(Jim Evans)
