STS Touring Productions Ltd.

STS PA and Lighting News – Jan Feb March 2012

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:05:29 +0000

Not to be outdone by the Backline department, the STS PA and Lighting departments have been incredibly busy since the New Year. With its fantastic links to Sport Presentation, STS took off early in January with the Fast Net Grand Prix Northern Conference Netball Final, working alongside GREAT BIG EVENTS, the world leading Sport presentation company. Moving straight on from there STS Sound Engineers Dom Kelly and Paul Danson are both keeping the sound going at all the Manchester City Football Club home matches.

The National Badminton and National Squash Tournaments came along next for STS, now into the 12th year of supply for both tournaments. Full NEXO Sound reinforcement and TV standard lighting rigs being installed at Bolton Arena to allow for the National Badminton Championships to be shown on Sky Sports for the second year running. Dom Kelly carried on duties for British Swimming at the British Water Polo Championships in Manchester Aquatics Centre. Coming up next week we have Great Britain taking on Russia in the FINA World League Preliminary, again at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

The McCain Indoor City Challenge saw STS Technicians John Taylor and Chris Jones taking out NEXO Sound reinforcement to the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield and the Lee Valley Indoor Athletics Arena, London for two matches. Whilst this was going on, STS supplied full Lighting and Sound Systems to new client, the UK Cheerleading Association, for the 2012 National Championships held in the Exchange Hall at Manchester Central. With over 1300 screaming athletes, the Turbosound Flex Array Sound System was put to the test, with monitoring and In-Fills as NEXO PS10 speakers. Rik Foreman was on Lighting duties.

March saw British Swimming putting on the British Gas Swimming Championships. These were the Olympic Selection Trials and where better to do the trials than in the London Olympic Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park. STS provided equipment for the event putting in Sound, Lighting and Vision Equipment into a VIP room for the British Gas Family and Guests, an entrance tunnel on the poolside for athlete entrance and extra lighting for various Press Conferences. A small NEXO PS10 System was used for background music and announcements with Robe 250 Spots and LED Par Cans creating a relaxing mood. Christie Projectors, new to the STS stock were employed to project 10m square back drops on to the walls of the room, all themed in Red, White and Blue by Rik Foreman, Lighting and Rowan May, Video. STS Sound Technician Dom Kelly was left on site for the entire run to operate sound in the main pool, again shows being produced by Great Big Events.

STS provided a small NEXO Sound System for the opening week of TONEWORLD, the boutique Guitar, Amplifier and Effects specialist based in the heart of Manchester City Centre. The opening day saw a live performance and signing session with Manchester favourite, Johnny Marr.

SPIRITUALIZED are back on the road this month with a dry hire of Sennheiser G3 In-Ear Monitoring Systems from STS. We are looking forward to hearing the long awaited new album and seeing another one of their legendary shows at Manchester Academy 1 on 25th March.

The Turbosound Flex Array System has not been resting in the warehouse either this year. With a quick turnaround early January, painting and refurbishing boxes, the system was out January with Yamaha M7CL Digital consoles at Front of House and Monitors taking care of the incredible ADAM ANT. Wow that was a show! Normal service was resumed back at Manchester Cathedral with Flex Array and Turbosound Monitoring for the first 2 shows of the year, LAMBCHOP and SINEAD O’CONNOR. Lambchop Front of House engineer Menko Leeuw, on his return to the Cathedral after a great show last year with Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell, was happy in control of the Digico SD8 Digital Mixing Console. With Light design from STS Lighting Engineer, Rik Foreman this was another excellent show in great surroundings.

One of Island Records latest signings, REN HARVIEU came to Manchester last week for a Media heavy showcase at Matt and Phreds Jazz Bar on Oldham Street. STS provided ChromaQ LED lighting to create a superb atmosphere, controlled by STS Technician Mark Simpson. Front of House sound engineer, Martin Mittler, was conscious of the important guests coming to check out the show and employed STS to reinforce the House PA System with Turbosound Flex Array and NEXO PS10 Monitoring. Careful planning was needed to ensure sightlines were not disturbed and that the monitoring on stage was small enough to allow for a large band. Martin is a fan of the DIGICO SD8 mixing console and spent a day at STS preparing the show file ready for the sound check. A long day of Promo for the band culminated in an excellent show, leaving a very happy Band, Crew and Label – what more could you want!

March saw STS in The Point, the purpose built corporate venue at Old Trafford Cricket, for the BOOT OUT BREAST CANCER Charity 80’s Ball. Sound Design came from STS Senior System Technician Paul Danson, employing 20 Turbosound Flex Array Cabinets flown from four points to ensure full coverage over the entire main ball room. Control came from the Digico SD8 at Front Of House and a YamahaM7CL for Monitors. Live entertainment came from Radio 1 DJ, Nihal, Live music from Heaven 17 and Go West. Light Design was done by STS Technician Jim Powell and Rigging taken care of by Rik Foreman. Jim went to town on the 80’s design for the room, using conventional lighting fixtures alongside Robe and Clay Paky moving heads and ChromaQ LED equipment. Lighting control came from a Avolites Pearl 2008 Lighting Console. STS again used their new stock of Christie Projects to allow for live camera feed of the Presentations and Bands and PowerPoint graphics. The Event was a huge success with the charity far exceeding their expectations. The organisers were over the moon at the show that STS put on, turning a corporate venue into a real 80’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Show.

STS Backline News – Jan Feb March 2012

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:47:03 +0000

There was no recovering from Christmas and New Year at STS, as 2012 had a flying start in the Backline department with two tours straight out of the warehouse in the first week of January. Old favourites and friends of STS, CLUTCH, were out on the road supporting Thin Lizzy on a UK Theatre Tour. Closely following them around the country, were THE MAINE, out on the road on the All Time Low Tour.

Next saw CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH on a UK and European Headline tour, whilst back in the UK were long time STS client BRAND NEW. STS had the fortune of landing I AM THE AVALANCHE on the Brand New Tour as well. The Brand New Production crew commented back to STS that it was the nicest and most successful tour the band had been on in years. Hopefully see them all again soon.

February saw the return of BIOHAZARD back to the UK for a short run of dates and we look forward to them coming back again for another UK festival season starting in June. The original Motown diva of dance music MARTHA REEVES AND THE VANDELLAS played a fantastic, intimate show at The Duchess in York with all backline looked after by STS Technician, Chris Oliver. Carrying on the soul vibe through February and March were SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS, the world’s premier live soul act, with full backline support from STS.

The relocation of BBC headquarters from the South to the North has started to reap its rewards for STS, with our first Blue Peter show – a live set from CHER LLOYD. Next were the BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARDS where STS stepped up to the mark providing rolling risers and additional backline for those last minute musician requests! The BBC aired their STARGAZING – LIVE programmes, STS Technicians Dom Hardy & Dan Dutton provided support for Sound and Vision equipment – even on the rough Mersey Ferry Crossing!

Dom Hardy ended February with a short backline tour of the UK with founder of THE MODERN LOVERS, singer, songwriter and guitarist, JONATHON RICHMAN.

A last minute telephone call had a van racing to Glasgow with a Drum Workshop Collectors Series Kit to help out CHIMAIRA on their current tour. Within hours everything was all sorted for them.

March sees STS getting into the Festival Season early with Backline and Consumables provision at Chic Festivals ‘HAMMERFEST 4 – THE HAMMER OF THOR’.

STS PA and Lighting December News

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:46:00 +0000

Our Turbosound Flex Array was out in Liverpool Arena for the World Netball Series, which saw England take the gold medal, STS also supplied lighting, truss and rigging with Rik Foremen on lamps, and Paul Danson on sound. (scroll down for pics)

The Armani store in Manchester took two systems for one of their promotional nights including the amazing JP Cooper.

The Rock Radio Xmas party was certainly rocking, with full STS crew, sound and lighting.

STS MD Pete Dutton has been out mixing Mick Ralphs from Bad Company and the mighty Kenney Jones. Also the first show for the new line up of Snakecharmer with Micky Moody, Neil Murray, Laurie Wisefield, and Harry James.

STS Director Paul Collis is still out with Devin Townsend in Canada, having completed a UK leg which saw use of our Digico SD8 with recording via RME MADIface to Logic / Mac Book Pro and also Alesis HD24 systems used for a full multi-track recording in preparation for a live DVD to be released next year. Also used were STS backline extras, rigging and motors.

Flex Array was again in action for Toss the Feathers in Manchester, along with Nexo PS10’s and Yamaha consoles.

A Yamaha M7cl 48 was also in action for Goldie Looking Chain, along with some TSW-218 subs.

Paul Danson is still making sure all is well at Manchester City’s Etihad stadium at all home games.

The Lighting dept. made the journey down the street to light Imelda May at Manchester Apollo.

Dom Kelly spent two days in Media City’s studio HQ2 providing PA mix and DAW operation for BBC One’s “Bang goes the theory” stage show.

The “Ian Anderson plays the Christmas Jethro Tull” show at Manchester Cathedral was overseen for STS by John Taylor, who made use of Turbosound Flex Array as well as a significant compliment of flown Nexo PS10’s to get round issues of coverage and sightlines for the extended seating areas. Turbosound TFM 330 wedges were supplied along with Sennheiser G3 IEM’s. Lighting was looked after by Scampi.

Recent Manchester Cathedral shows have also included Anna Calvi, 2 nights of Wild Beasts, and Turin Brakes.

Screens and Projectors were provided for the Nico McBrain Drum Clinic at the Willows Rugby Club in Salford

STS Backline December News

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:56:28 +0000

Yellowcard and Saves the day, also Clutch are still touring Europe and The Bronx have just set off on a lengthy European stint.

Tinchy Stryder and James Morrison took over the first week.

Hollyoaks music show is back on air, using STS backline were the usual suspects Professor green, Wretch 32, and Nicola Roberts.

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic – Northern Leg of UK dates

Zappa Plays Zappa (Dweezil Zappa)

Switchfoot

Quireboys

Carter Unstoppable Sex Machine

Andrea Bocelli

Elbow, Coldplay, Small Rehearsal PA System for Lady Gaga – last minutes hires for all three.

Nicola Roberts Backline

Lowry Theatre, Salford – again last minute hires.

Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival

Game in Newcastle and Manchester.

STS Backline News – Glen Campbell, Fountains of Wayne, Clutch, Damnation festival, Devin Townsend, Musicport, Hugh Masekela, The Fall, Jeff Chang.

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:52:24 +0000

The magnificent Glen Campbell has recently been out on tour using STS backline, as well as Fountains of Wayne and the mighty Clutch.

A full truckload of STS backline accompanied by personnel Martin Aspinall, Jonnie Read, and Ben Norris were at 3 stages in Leeds for the Damnation festival. STS Director Paul Collis was also on site performing FOH duties for headliner Devin Townsend.

The Musicport world music festival lasted for 3 days over in Bridlington, on site support was handled by STS’s Dom Hardy, with Hugh Masekela topping the bill.

The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and Leeds Town Hall hosted Tsunami victims benefit concerts, again with STS supplying backline.

Long time friends of STS, cult Manchester band, The Fall have been using STS equipment for their latest run of dates.

Taiwanese superstar Jeff Chang took a van load of equipment to shows in Manchester and London, ably assisted by STS’s Chris Jones.

STS PA News – Steve Earle, The Chameleons, The Blackout, Skindred.

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:43:52 +0000

PA equipment has recently been supplied to our friends at ESS over in Nottingham for the Steve Earle tour.

STS Managing Director Pete Dutton has been on FOH duties for Manchester’s own The Chameleons over in Whitby.

The Blackout UK tour saw STS provide Digico SD8 and Yamaha M7CL consoles for FOH and monitors respectively, along with Sennheiser G3 wireless IEM systems. FOH engineer Ben Hammond was very happy with the consistent sound quality he achieved from using the SD8 every night of the tour. Ben is set to take the SD8 out again for his FOH duties with Skindred on their UK headline tour for the 2^nd time this year.

STS News – Full Production for Elbow in Concert with BBC Radio 2.

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:26:40 +0000

STS Touring Productions supplied full production for a recent show at Manchester Cathedral by local band Elbow in Concert with BBC Radio 2. Read all about the Turbosound PA set up by clicking here