GEORDIE PRIDE FOR HK AUDIO
The official opening of Shearer's Bar at Newcastle United's St. James Park ground on February 12 featured a guest appearance from guitar legend Mark Knopfler who, with former Dire Straits colleague Alan Clark on keyboards, played a live version of 'Local Hero' to an enthusiastic home crowd.
When Knopfler needed a PA system to enhance his own backline, Q Music (Northern) Limited provided a full 2.4kW HK Audio Actor system, together with two HK Audio D.A.R.T. monitors. Q Music also used another HK Audio ACTOR system together with a number of HK D.A.R.T. and F.A.S.T. monitors to provide a full PA system for a Frank Sinatra tribute band.
Q Music's MD, Gary Nicholson commented: "The specification for this event obviously had to be of an extremely high standard, as befits a performer of Mark Knopfler's standing. The chosen rig would have to be assembled in a very short time and on a confined stage area. As usual, HK Audio provided us with the ideal professional solution in the form of their ACTOR self-powered active PA system. We were confident that this system would deliver the perfect sound and, via a combination of DI boxes and microphones we achieved the desired result."
Named after the famed Newcastle striker, Shearer's Bar is an impressively large new sports bar and lounge. Built on three levels, there are displays of Alan Shearer memorabilia and several widescreen TVs showing re-runs of past Newcastle matches.