This year saw iconic UK dance festival Creamfields North celebrate its 25th anniversary, with a Martin Audio system residing at the core of the event’s ‘Stage 3’ and ‘Stage 8’…
The UK’s biggest EDM event, which has been held in the village of Daresbury in Cheshire since 2006, hosted a vast array of superstar DJs over the August Bank Holiday Weekend. Among those performing across the three days were the likes of Calvin Harris, David Guetta, Hardwell, Becky Hill, Bicep Live, Eric Prydz, Patrick Topping, Pete Tong, Martin Garrix, Jax Jones, Scooter, Armin van Buuren, and many, many more.
All the performances were DJ playback, and as is customary, each of the stages changed its name on a daily basis. Working alongside production director Ian Greenway of LarMac Live, Solotech was responsible for ‘Stage 3’ - a large TFS structure - and the outdoor ‘Stage 8 Runway Stage’, which saw the introduction of a new ‘concept stage’.
‘Stage 3’ began as a Silent Disco, as did all opening stages on the Thursday, changing to ‘Catch And Release’ ‘Stmpd Records’ and ‘MK Presents’ on the successive days. The key nights were Saturday when Martin Garrix headlined and on Sunday where MK hostedhis own Arena line up.
Solotech deployed 11 MLA elements with an MLD Downfill at the base on both sides of the stage; further front fills were provided by four Martin Audio DD12, while an array of 13 MLX subwoofers in cardioid ran across the front. Set back in the rear of the compound were two delay masts of 10 MLA Compact enclosures, ground stacked on risers. Overseeing this for Solotech was system tech and crew chief, Olly Fallon.
‘Stage 8’ came alive as Paradise on the Friday, transforming into Trick on the Saturday and Solid Grooves on the Sunday. This stage was designed as a self-supporting, eight-leg truss structure, from which a WPL PA was flown. The upstage goalposts (left and right) supported WPL, and delays consisted of two hangs of eight WPS, were flown from the last goalposts of the truss structure.
Rayne Ramsden, crew chief and system tech on this stage, commented on the first time WPL had been used in this.
“The coverage was exceptional, from the front to the very back,” he said, adding that dance fans surged in to extend the area back 40 metres beyond the FOH position. “Even with that extra capacity WPL catered for the extended throw distance with no trouble at all.”
The complement of speakers that made this possible were hangs of 13 WPL with an additional three WPL fills down on each side of the stage upstage from the main PA hangs. These were supported by an additional four DD12, providing extra front fills, and a broadside array of 13 MLX subwoofers, providing the all-important LF extension.
Ian Greenway added: “We know Solotech well, and their willingness to adapt and overcome at Creamfields is more important than ever as we start to migrate to newer and more unique structures. With two Creamfields festivals a year now, we’re looking forward to further developing the relationship.”
Creamfields marked its 25th anniversary by launching a second edition named Creamfields South, which was staged early June at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and attracted 50,000 dance music fans.