The Audio System behind Country to Country Festival

We supplied Country to Country at the O2, the UK’s largest country music festival

The Resounding Return of C2C Festival Amidst the Pandemic

In March 2020, the rigging motors were already in the roof and the equipment was in the trucks when the onset of Covid caused a last minute cancellation of the Country to Country festival. Fast forward through two years (like no other) and this year’s event came as a welcome bookend to the global pandemic.

Since its inaugural year at the O2 Arena in 2013, Country to Country has developed into a three-day event that runs simultaneously in London, Glasgow and Dublin with one line up rotating round the three venues over the weekend. The events attract a daily audience of over 50,000 with performances from the cream of America’s country music scene. This year’s headline acts for the three days were Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs and Darius Rucker, with Kip Moore, Brett Young, Ashley McBryde, Russell Dickerson, Scotty McCreery, Flatland Cavalry and Hailey Whitters also on the bill.

L-Acoustics K-Series: Delivering A Superior Audio Experience

We supplied the full audio system for the London shows, opting once again for an L-Acoustics K-Series solution. Main L-R hangs comprised 14 L-Acoustics K1 with 4xK2 as underhangs. A further 4xK1 and 12xK2 made up the side hangs with 12xKaraII per side flown as outhangs that were positioned side on to the stage to deliver the required 270 degree coverage. For sub-bass, Hire Manager Dan Bennett specified a ground array of 28 KS28s in front of the stage apron, with 8xK1SB per side flown directly behind the main L-R hangs to ensure sub coverage to the rear of the Arena. On stage featured side fills of 3 x ARCS2 with 2 x KS28 per side with L-Acoustics X15 wedge monitors to supplement the artists own IEM systems.

As part of the standard festival package, we supplied a pair of Avid S6L-24C consoles at front of house for the visiting acts who opted not to bring a control package while over on stage a pair of Yamaha CL5s were available for monitor engineers.

Resilience of Live Events and the Return of C2C Post-Pandemic

Dan Bennet commented on the return of C2C after the pandemic:

“This event seems particularly symbolic as we were literally loading in for the 2020 show when it was cancelled. Many thanks should go to the promoter SJM who at the time ensured that suppliers were supported in spite of them suffering significant losses themselves.”

Dan Bennet

“The impact on the Live Events industry is well documented; it was the first to be switched off and one of the last to reopen. We managed to restart in time for some festivals last summer but it is only now that we are starting to see a return to normality. To be back in the O2 working with SJM and the C2C production crew once again has been a pleasure and we look forward to doing it all again in 2023.”