26 SOUNDSCAPES S weltering summer nights a music festival. This, plus a psychedelic backdrop of striking strobes, booming sound systems and dazzling visuals. However, these creative gatherings go back much further than the invention of the glow stick, having been a permanent fixture in societies that dates back many thousands of years. One of the first-ever recorded festivals was held in 582BC in ancient Greece – marking the creation of the Pythian Games. Though that might have been somewhat different to today’s definition, it does highlight the inherent element in human nature that draws us towards celebrating live music and cultural experiences with each other. filled with sequin-studded faces and fluorescent forms are the usual images the mind conjures when thinking about The festivals of the late 20th and 21st centuries have exploded in popularity, and their format has consequently changed drastically both in terms of the music and how it’s performed. This has led to a myriad of show- stopping innovations in the audio-visual (AV) field, with world-renowned events such as Glastonbury, Primavera Sound, Burning Man and Tomorrowland acting as yearly exhibitions for some of the most exciting tools available to the live events market. THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE COACHELLA A rising star in the festival pool has been the US’s answer to Glastonbury: Coachella. Garnering a mix of opinions
WATCH ME Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish take to the stage to perform Ocean Eyes
regarding its influencer-studded range of attendees, it has served some of the most advanced AV feats of recent times. There was the legendary performance by Daft Punk in 2006, landing in the festival’s Sahara Tent in an LED pyramid that somewhat resembled a spaceship. This show has been so influential, some even claim it to be to EDM what the Sex Pistols at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall was to punk. Coachella has even been known to ‘resurrect’ music greats; during a set by Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg, rap legend Tupac materialised on the stage with them via hologram. With great performances like these come great production teams. Bianca Gan is an RF coordinator for Frequency Coordination Group, and 2024 was her second year of being part of the team for Coachella. “As the RF coordinators, we check in with the stage audio crew to make sure all the house wireless gear is working throughout the festival, as well as the monitor engineers, techs or RF techs for each band that may be bringing in their own wireless package,” Gan says. With the focal role of troubleshooting any issues people may have with their RF equipment, Bianca and her team have first-hand experience of the AV needs for an event of this size. “Most of the prep involves getting as much information beforehand from the bands about what wireless gear they’re bringing in. We need to know exactly what model and ranges are needed, plus how many frequencies and any two-way intercom systems they may be using.” A big issue often faced by AV teams when it comes to large-scale music festivals is a basic one: communication. “The challenges at Coachella are like every other music festival, where we’re often working with either insufficient or incorrect information. It’s important that bands and any other activations across a festival site get us correct information regarding makes, models and ranges of gear. We can then ensure it will all work within the specific RF spectrum and avoid making last-minute changes.” Gan emphasises that she usually carries a pair of Shure SE215s with her in instances where ‘we’ll occasionally need to listen to an IEM pack to help
troubleshoot something’, leveraging the earphones’ professional sound- isolating qualities. As another successful edition of the festival comes to a close – with groundbreaking performances from the likes of Lana Del Rey, Tyler the Creator and Doja Cat this year – the controversial festival continues to be a glowing emblem for AV innovation. MORE THAN THE MUSIC That said, not all festivals serve as a celebration of sound – many exist to recognise a wide array of arts and cultures. There is even a festival out there with a dedicated focus on the unwavering creative talents of those hailing from our own industry. Signal, based in Prague, is a festival of digital and creative culture. During its ten-year run, it has welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors, aiming to link contemporary visual art, urban space and modern technology. In other words: from around the world, showcasing everything from dazzling light design and digital art to cutting-edge AI and thoughtful conceptual pieces,” begins Martin Pošta, founder and CEO of Signal Festival. “But Signal is so much more than just a show – it’s about learning, exploring and getting inspired. Whether you are a kid or a professional, there’s something at Signal for you.” Having become the most-visited cultural event in Czechia, the festival acts to educate itself as well as its visitors. It links the historical backdrop of beloved Prague with the latest technologies and contemporary social issues. When asked to highlight some of his favourite installations featured at Signal, Pošta immediately noted, The Physical Possibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living . “Unveiled in 2022, [the project] challenges conventional notions of mortality through a captivating display of light and sculpture,” he explains. “This thought-provoking installation confronts viewers with the fragility of life, inviting it’s an AV nerd’s idea of heaven. “Our festival unites top talent them to contemplate their personal experience in the face of mortality. “Through its powerful imagery and immersive design, [the project] sparks
Coachella has become a staple for music lovers, platforming massive talents from rap legends to pop icons
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