ANOTHER TWIN-SITE SUCCESS FOR SSE, CT SCREENCO, SENNHEISER & CAPITAL SOUND

This August's V Festival attracted its biggest-ever crowd of over 130,000 music fans to the twin sites of Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire. Over 40 bands performed with big name acts The Strokes and Muse headlining the main stages. Other main acts included The Pixies, The Charlatans, Dido and Pink.

SSE Hire supplied the audio equipment for both the V (main) and NME stages at both sites. The main stages utilised identical Nexo Geo T systems with Alpha delay towers. The FOH mix was via two Midas Heritage 3000s working on a flip-flop system. Monitor systems were handled in the same way, using two Midas XL3s. The PA system chosen for the NME stage was the JBL Vertec, which is the alternative line array system favoured by SSE. FOH mix on this stage was a Midas Heritage 3000 and monitors via a Midas XL3.

SSE's John Penn commented: "We've been handling both sites at these large events for so long now that we know exactly what's required in terms of equipment and management. Our crews have a vast amount of experience in changeovers - they always manage to give a high level of support to all of the bands' engineers, which is pretty amazing when you consider the amount of bands on at these events. I'm always impressed with their consistent professionalism and good humour! It's been another highly successful summer for SSE."

Having supplied the big screen technology to the V Festival since its inception in 1996, CT Screenco began a new three-year contract with the event this August, fielding identical 32 sq metre 25mm daylight displays at left and right of the main stage at both sites.

With Stuart Young project managing the event for CT Screenco, feeds were taken from the respective content providers - and at Hylands Park this included some creative messaging from Blink TV.

In addition, Barco DLite 7 high resolution displays were provided independently to Basement Jaxx - whom CT Screenco have been supporting on tour - and to Red Bull's Kingsize II skateboard ramp in Weston Park.

Sennheiser UK supplied a full range of evolution mics for the Music Choice satellite stages at both sites, through Capital Sound Hire who provided the sound for both. Sennheiser also had a backstage booth to provide support throughout the events.

The mics supplied included e935 for lead and backing vocals, e865 for lead vocals if a condenser was required, e614 condenser overheads, e609 for guitar cabs, e602 for kick-drums, e604 clip-on for drums and e903 for snare. Capital Sound's Martin Connolly said: "We were really pleased with the Sennheiser mics, which impressed throughout. FOH engineers Mark Javitt and Dave Worcester, reported that they were very happy with the performance, with particularly positive comments about the e609 and e935."