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Following a successful stint in North America, the Australian Pink Floyd Show (TAPFS) tribute band has returned to the UK for its #DarkSide50 Tour 2023. This celebrates 50 years since Pink Floyd’s original Dark Side Of The Moon tour.

Significantly, the tour will also marry Martin Audio’s latest state-of-the-art Wavefront Precision line array technology, as fielded by 22live—who handle all audio production for TAPFS—and the original rig conceived by Martin Audio founder, Dave Martin and Bill Kelsey for that 1973 tour.

The idea of recreating this for arguably the greatest cover band on the road today, came from Chris Hewitt (of CH Vintage) who floated the idea back in April.

Hewitt is known for having salvaged and curated much of the iconic equipment that toured concert halls and festivals in the 1960s and 70s, and selected items from his emporium can frequently be seen on show, lovingly restored, at major trade conventions.

He had already created Pink Floyd’sLive at Pompeiirig for that momentous event’s 50^thAnniversary in 2021 (which appeared at the 2022 PLASA Show in London). But in April this year he decided to take it further. Having discussed the idea of revisiting the Dark Side concept with Focusrite chairman, Phil Dudderidge, it was a later conversation at this year’s PLASA Show, in the depths of Olympia, that sealed the deal.

Of course, it also needed approval from the band, who in any case have long used Chris Hewitt’s resource for authentic components for the band’s guitar cabs (in order to capture Dave Gilmour’s precise original tone). He wasted no time in getting back in contact with Australian Pink Floyd founders, Stephen McElroy (aka Steve Mac), Jason Sawford and Lee Smith — who had themselves witnessed some of Hewitt’s Pompeii recreation. They were in favour of the idea, as were promoters SJM and the band’s management.

As a result, the 1973 rig will be on static display inside the venue foyers. But what does it comprise? Centrepiece is the legendary Kelsey / Martin 2 x 15 bins, (two 15” drivers vertically stacked rear facing) which were the firstproduction cabs Dave Martin ever made (after earlier attempting, but failing, to develop a 4 x 15).

Notes Chris Hewitt, “The Martin 2 x 15 Mk1 is the bin that launched the legendary Martin 1 x 15 W bin which became part of the modular system, along with the MH212 Philishave mid. It was realised that 2 x 15 Mk 1 cabs were heavy and didn’t always fit through venue doors, so Martin made a quick design decision to saw it in half horizontally.

“We are taking four of these original Kelsey / Martin bins, loaded with JBL K140s, and the midrangefor Pink Floyd in 1973, which was covered by silver flares with a mixture of Vitavox S2, Electro-Voice 1829 horns and JBL 2402 bullets. We also have those along with Phase Linear 400 amplifiers.”

Also on show are original Sennheiser MD409N vocal mics of the type used at Pompeii and on the DSOTM tour, and some of the original Pink Floyd flight cases in Hewitt’s possession, manufactured by the long-serving CP Cases.

It was hoped that when the doors open at each venue, the general public will be allowed in to view the foyer display only. The exhibit will also be available for an early sneak preview for holders of the special VIP packages, who arrive for soundcheck and ‘meet and greet’ with the band.

22live are happy to be a part of this retrospective, and in particular their hire director (and co-founder Paul Timmins) whose relationship with TAPFS extends back through many tours. “It’s unique that while we are providing the new technology of Wavefront Precision, with all its advantages of scalability and optimisation, in the auditoriums, out in the foyer we are connecting back to the original rig through which fans heard the soundtrack 50 years ago. It just shows how far the technology has come.”

With the unique Olympic-style setting demanding a discreet yet powerful solution with even coverage, it was a challenge to find the right sound system for this occasion. Traditional bulky speakers were out of the question, as they could obstruct the audience’s view and the watchful eyes of the press.

Working closely with Generation AV, N-Live found the perfect solution with Martin Audio’s FlexPoint FP4 sound system. Generation AV recommended the FP4 for its portability and remarkable power, despite its compact size. The FP4 is a point-source loudspeaker tailored for short-throw distributed systems, ensuring premium sound quality from a compact enclosure. It astoundingly delivers exceptional output and performance while taking up minimal space, making it the perfect fit for installations that require precise spot and fill coverage.

At first, there was some skepticism about whether these speakers, due to their compact dimensions, would be loud enough for the grand occasion. However, System Engineer Sher Mohamed’s doubts were swiftly put to rest as he was astonished by the sheer power of the FP4. Its wide and smooth frequency response effortlessly reproduced both speech and music, making it an impeccable choice for the grand stage of the 2023 FIRST Global Challenge in Singapore.

The FlexPoint FP4’s are powered using Martin Audio’s VIA amplifiers, and the new DX0.4 loudspeaker processors utilising the latest FIR presets.

As the world’s young innovators gather to compete and inspire, the technology behind the scenes plays a crucial role in ensuring their success. With Generation AV’s expert guidance and the FlexPoint FP4 as the sound system of choice, the event was a harmonious symphony of technology and talent, embracing the future of youth robotics with resounding success. This collaboration between N-Live and Generation AV has proven to be the ideal solution for this remarkable event, showcasing the power of innovative partnerships in the world of event technology.

Ryogoku Kokugikan stands as the sole dedicated edifice to the revered art of Sumo, Japan’s national sport, steeped in historical significance. The origins of Sumo trace back some 2000 years, with its current form crystallizing around 300 years ago.

This cherished national sport has been passed down through the generations and firmly rooted in Japanese culture. Thus, the name Ryogoku Kokugikan is renowned, resonating with every Japanese, as Sumo wrestlers diligently train here, each harboring dreams of hoisting the prestigious gift cup. Being the very emblem of Japan’s national identity, the revered His Majesty the Emperor himself occasionally graces the arena with his presence, with a special seat reserved for his honor.

Apart from the traditional Sumo tournaments, Ryogoku Kokugikan serves as a versatile venue, hosting a plethora of events, from professional wrestling bouts to musical concerts and corporate gatherings.

Here’s the insight shared by Mr. Akashio regarding the audio system:

“Sumo necessitates an audio system capable of faithfully reproducing a wide range of sounds, from the subtle to the thunderous, resonating within the wrestling ring. Ensuring that even those seated in the farthest reaches of the second floor can distinctly discern the faintest sounds, we aimed to craft an immersive experience. This was no small feat, but we were determined to overcome this challenge.”

Through a meticulous system update, we rigorously experimented with Display3 and discovered that a WPS-centered configuration presented an ideal setup, accommodating the diverse requirements of Kokugikan, including considerations for size, weight, clarity, SPL, and control performance. Additionally, we introduced the much-requested SXCF118 cardioid subwoofer to deliver deep bass notes. Moreover, the installation of TORUS directly above the ring allowed us to distribute sound effortlessly to areas that were hitherto challenged by poor acoustics, owing to the presence of the roof.

Our objective was to engineer a versatile system that could seamlessly cater to a wide array of event requirements.”

Here’s Ota’s perspective from Audio Brains, who executed the adjustments:

“Adapting the traditional Ryogoku Kokugikan arena was a unique experience for me. Instead of relying on measuring instruments, I collaborated closely with Mr. Akashio, relying on our sense of hearing. We strived to maintain sound clarity towards the rear while managing and mitigating any reflections. Surprisingly, we found solutions even in situations where the requirements seemed contradictory.”

After their memorable double header weekend—when they supplied premium Martin Audio PA rigs to both stages at Glastonbury and in support of Queens of the Stone Age at Cardiff Castle—rental partner SWG Events were back in the Castle grounds for shows with Wales’ national treasure, Sir Tom Jones.

The second of three shows saw support by another native son, Stereophonics front man Kelly Jones, this time leading his own spin-off band, Far From Saints.

Cardiff Castle has become a new venue for SWG Events, and so a meticulous design was undertaken for Sir Tom Jones where the optimisation of the system was of paramount importance, as SWG Head of Audio, Simon Purse explained. “The PA had to avoid the walls surrounding the Castle green to avoid any slapback. This was crucial and having DISPLAY [D3 software] really helped. Also since the Castle is in the middle of the City Centre, keeping noise pollution to a minimum was essential—and we had no reported issues offsite at all, as was also the case with Queens of the Stone Age.”

The stage is a permanent fixture at the Castle throughout the summer. “Previously we had left and right hang of 12 WPL and an outhang of 10 WPC on stage right to cover some of the audience and the disabled access platform, but we also deployed a similar outhang on stage left to add to the symmetry of the system.”

“EVERYTHING WORKED SEAMLESSLY AS WPC SOUNDS SO SIMILAR TO THE WPL, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO A LOT TO IT SINCE IT IS VOICED THE SAME.”

So successful was the inaugural Iron Blossom Festival, in Richmond VA, that the organisers have already confirmed that it will be repeated next year.

Contributing to this success was the exemplary sound quality provided across the two stages by Soundworks of Virginia, and featuring Martin Audio’s market-leading Wavefront Precision optimised line arrays. This ensured a first-class experience for headliners, Hozier, Noah Kahan, and Lord Huron—and the rest of the artistes performing.

The Bon Secours Training Center provided the venue for the Festival, organised in a joint venture by Charlottesville’s Starr Hill Presents, Virginia Beach’s IMGoing and Richmond’s Haymaker Productions.

Working in conjunction with Haymaker Productions owner, Tom Beals Soundworks chose Martin Audio’s large-format WPL for main stage and WPC for the second stage—run in 2-box resolution from Martin Audio’s matched iKON multi-channel amplifiers. This design was perfected by the company’s Grant Howard and Bryan Hargrave in the belief that an event of this nature deserved the best system components available.

The exact deployment on main stage comprised 14 WPL elements per side, with 16 SXH218 subwoofers, in cardioid array, with four WPS frontfills and a pair of delay towers, each with eight WPC enclosures— flown at a trim height of 22ft, and each set at around 220ft from the stage. For the subsidiary stage they flew 12 of the smaller footprint WPC elements per side, with eight SXH218 in cardioid array, and four WPS as front fills.

“WE HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS OF ALL THREE OF OUR WP SYSTEMS”.

Steve Payne, CEO, Soundworks of Virginia

This provided even coverage for around 14,000 people (over the two days) spread across around 400ft x 400ft of open field, with unrestricted noise levels.