News and updates

Following a successful set of events for our client Simply Books, Mainline were chosen to supply audio for the opening set of book launch events at Prologue. Developed by the Simply Books team, this is a newly-opened, next-level bookshop and reading experience also incorporating a bar and stage area. The opening events offered the opportunity to meet and hear from authors Adalyn Grace, Virginia Evans and E L James.

The events are a straightforward PA system for two to three wireless microphones, using one or two HK Audio Polar 10 or Martin Audio DD6 speakers, and an Allen & Heath CQ-18T sound desk for walk-around mix control.

We wish the Prologue team all the very best wishes and good luck with the new venture.

Client & Venue: Prologue Books

2026 marked our 10th production year alongside colleagues at Titanium Fireworks for this year's Disney compilation theme. As usual, our pre-production lighting design was carried out closely with Titanium's display designers to achieve an integrated and complimentary show. The event orientation was swapped round again this year due to the wind direction, ensuring a safe firework drop zone.

Audio employed a well-proven arrangement of quad Martin Audio ground stacked line arrays, each with 4 x WPS mid-high boxes atop 2 x SXCF118 subwoofers, all powered by 2 x iK42 amplifier racks. FOH sound control used an Allen & Heath CQ-18T. Bolton FM provided background music and compering via a mono analogue feed.

The fine weather allowed us to employ the full lighting design of 12 x Prolights Astra Hybrid 330 and 12 x Prolight LEDJ Spectra Flood 18T3 weatherproof units, controlled by an Avolites T3 plus T3 wing.

Titanium fed their soundtrack audio to the sound desk, while the FireOne firing timecode signal was fed to lighting control. The result was a great show, with a very happy crowd, and a very happy client.

Client & venue: Bradshaw Cricket Club

The Mainline DJ Arena returned to Bury town centre for the fourth year. A well-proven format saw a great lineup of international and local DJ's and vocalists. Headliner Ian Van Dahl returned again with Genie MC hyping up the crowd.

The PA system consisted of two flown line array hangs of six Martin Audio WPS boxes, four DD6 boxes as front fill and eight SXCF118 subs on the ground. Stage monitors utilised two Martin Audio LE100 wedges while the DJ booth employed a pair of Blackline XP15's each on a Blackline XP118 subwoofer. Sennheiser ew300 e935 wireless microphones were used for all vocals and compering. FOH sound desk was an Allen & Heath SQ-5 with a remote GX4816 Expander at the stage end, then Dante audio to two iK42 amplifier racks.

Noise overspill to the surrounding areas and adjacent stage was minimised using Martin Audio's Display Optimisation design software and single-box resolution in the line arrays, with a degree of sub 'steering'.

Lighting employed Prolights Astra Hybrid 330, Prolight LEDJ Spectra Flood 18T3 Pro and Martin Atomic 3000 strobe units, with control using an Avolites T3 and T3 Wing

Our good friends at Decades of Dance deployed their LED screen and lasers to great effect, and also sorted out a last minute hitch with Pioneer CDJ compatibility.

Client: Glaston-Bury

The third year of Solskin Festival was blessed with extraordinarily good weather, although this was challenging for everyone setting up the event. Mainline worked very closely with the organising team to tailor our services to the exact requirements. Each year builds on the previous years' experiences as the festival develops steadily within a carefully-controlled budget.

The main stage production increased slightly to suit this year's artistes, including Pagan and Norse music. The larger stage area was lit by Chauvet R2 LED Washes, mini-beams and Prolights Astra Hybrid 330 fixtures, with Chauvet COLORdash Batten-Quad 12 bars for stage rear uplighting, and UV Cannons for the audience area. FOH lighting control employed an Avolites T3 and T3 wing.

PA comprised a ground-stacked Martin Audio WPM system using 4 x WPM array elements topping 2 x SXCF118 subwoofers per side, plus LE100 stage wedges, all powered by an iK42 amplifier rack. Drum fill used a Blackline XP15 plus XP118 subwoofer. FOH employed an Allen & Heath dLive S5000 surface and DM48 MixRack specifically for its upgraded RackUltra FX effects package upgrade.

The lower field ceremony area was covered superbly again by a pair of HK Polar 10 speakers and an Allen & Heath SQ-5 mixing desk. Prolight LEDJ Spectra Flood 18T3 Pro fixtures were used around the field for uplighting boundary trees.

Mainline provided a generator for the whole site power including production, food stalls and traders. Mains distro provision was expanded this year to incorporate a larger feed to the lower field ceremony area for PA and uplighting, plus details such as LED festoon lighting for the entrance pathway.

Client: Solskin Festival

East Lancashire Railway's second year of Vintage Vibes saw Mainline again providing full production for the outdoor main stage over two days. This year offered cover bands and tribute acts in a wide variety of genres, with a DJ compere throughout. Glorious weather helped our build and strike days either side of the event.

A Martin Audio WPS system was employed in two flown hangs of 8 boxes with 8 SCXF118 subwoofers. A set of Martin Audio DD6 provided front fill with LE200 and LE100 stage monitors. Amplification consisted of iK42 and iK81 amplifier racks configured for single-box resolution / optimisation and subwoofer array control. This enabled tight sound control throughout the challenging audience area, being a high-walled car park.

An Allen & Heath dLive S5000 surface and DM48 MixRack were employed for sound control, using digital networks for GigaAce and Dante.

Stage lighting comprised Chauvet R2 Wash and Prolights Astra Hybrid 330 moving heads, Showtec Stage Blinder 2 units, and Prolight LEDJ Spectra Flood 18T3 Pro fixtures rigged downstage for their IP65 weatherproof rating. Chauvet Geyser P7s and stage hazers were also employed. Lighting control employed Avolites T3 and T3 Wing.

Well done and thanks go to all the ELR organisers, and particularly to the volunteer Event Runners who transported performers' equipment to and from back-stage.

Client: East Lancashire Railway
Venue: East Lancashire Railway, Bury

We were very pleased to provide full production for the third year since Bury Pride grew large enough to include an outdoor stage.

Martin Audio was used in ground-stacked formation of four WPM boxes atop two SXCF118 subwoofers per side. The WPM rig and LE100 stage monitors were driven by a Martin Audio iK42 amplifier rack. Performers and the compere used a set of Sennheiser wireless microphones, plus DI boxes for acoustic guitar and performer devices. An Allen & Heath SQ-5 mixing desk controlled sound at side-of-stage, with backing track playback from a laptop PC.

Stage lighting comprised rigged and stage-mounted Prolight LEDJ Spectra Flood 18T3 Pro fixtures alongside Prolights Astra Hybrid 330 moving heads also on stage, helping greatly with rig and de-rig time. Lighting control used an Avolites T3 and T3 Wing at side-of-stage.

Client: Bury Pride
Venue: Bury Town Centre

The festival featured all the fun of circus and theatre across multiple venues, but on low-rise stages at ground-level. Performances included acrobatics, contemporary and heritage clowning, slapstick and juggling, supporting local and international talent.

PA was supplied, built and tuned for the client at the main performance area across two stages. The PA comprised six sets of Martin Audio WPS in ground-stacked formation, split 4 and 2 for the main and second stages respectively. Each PA stack consisted of four WPS line array elements atop two SXCF118 subwoofers. Three Martin Audio iK42 amplifier racks were deployed, each driving two PA stacks.

Good weather just-about held for a successful event, and the client was pleased with the sound levels, coverage and clarity.

Well done and thanks go to the MJD production team for their assistance at load-in, rig, strike, and load-out.

Client: MJD Event & Technical Production Ltd.
Venue: Town Hall Gardens, Southport

Ramsbottom Come Together Festival (RCTF) ran its second year over three days in the town. Our first festival of the year certainly brightened up a winter weekend.

Mainline's production ran across four of the eleven venues involved, ranging from small PA's for spoken word and acoustic singers / guitarists to full lighting, sound systems and stage-decking in St Paul's Church.

We strengthened our sound engineering team for the weekend, alongside our colleagues at The Met, Bury, who provided sound engineering for their Emerging Talent showcase day.

St Paul's Church provision consisted of a main PA using Martin Audio WPM array elements pole-mounted to Blackline XP18 subwoofers. Despite limited positioning options, this arrangement gave a good coverage and clarity without needing any front fill. Performer foldback deployed 4 x Martin Audio LE100 wedges, with these and the main PA powered by a Martin Audio iK81 amplifier.

FOH control used an Allen & Heath SQ-5 mixing console with remote GX4816 stage box. Audio linking was via Dante to the iK81 amp.

Lighting was necessarily simple with budget and setup time restrictions. This comprised 2 x Prolights Astra Hybrid 330 moving heads and 4 x Prolights EclPar IPMFC on upstage stands, plus 2 x Prolights EclPar IPMFC for key lighting. FOH control employed an Avolites T3 console running via a laptop PC.

RCTF is a free community arts and culture festival, raising awareness about the Co-op Hall, promoting local hospitality and bring more visitors to Ramsbottom.

The Co-op Hall has the potential to be a great event and creative entertainment space in the town centre. Built originally as a scaled-down version of London's Albert Hall, the building is sadly in a poor state of repair after many years of neglect. Ramsbottom Co-op Hall Heritage Trust is actively seeking to purchase and restore the building to something of its former glory. Read more about the project: https://www.coophall.com

Check out some of the acts on our stages during the weekend:
Adventures of Salvador
Canter Semper
Charlotte Kinsella
David Woodman
Izzie Walsh
John W Doyle
Katie and the Bad Sign
Kayleigh Hall
Last Race Home
Seawalk

Client: Ramsbottom Co-op Hall Heritage Trust Ltd

Our ninth production for this well-loved organised fireworks display, 2025 saw some incremental improvements to the show. This year's show was set to an audio soundtrack from Wicked, in conjunction with Titanium Fireworks.

The event had perfect weather for everyone except Titanium - with safety being their prime concern, the forecast wind strength and direction caused a late change to the event layout. The whole show was turned 180 degrees on the cricket pitch, allowing a firework 'drop zone' away from the audience. This required a little replanning on our side but with the otherwise great weather, a superb show took place.

Lighting comprised 12 x Prolights Astra Hybrid 330 moving heads, supplemented with 12 x Prolight LEDJ Spectra Flood 18T3 Pro fixtures. Control employed Avolites T3 with a T3 Wing, running a pre-programmed light show set to the fireworks soundtrack.

Audio employed the regular 4 ground stacks of Martin Audio WPS, each with 2 x SXCF118 subwoofers plus 4 x mid/top elements, powered by 2 iKon42 3-way amp racks. An Allen & Heath CQ-18T provided FOH sound control, with audio transferred straight to a Dante digital feed into the amp racks.

FireOne firing control SMPT timecode fed the lighting desk while the soundtrack mono audio feed went to the sound console. A mono audio feed input also came from regular hosts Bolton FM, who provided the usual background music and compere.

Client & venue: Bradshaw Cricket Club

Third year running for the Mainline DJ Arena at Glaston-Bury's festival, fundraising for Bury Hospice and other local good causes. Mainline provided the sound and main lighting production, while our colleagues on the Decades of Dance team provided the LED screen, laser effects and ran custom screen visuals for each act.

We were blessed with a great line up of dj's and big name acts from the world of dance music, including Sweet Female Attitude, Capella, Michelle Platnum and Kelly Llorenna. Ian Van Dahl and Genie MC made a welcome return to the stage, marking their 3rd year at the event.

As ever, "T'Other Stage" with its host of rock bands was located next door to the DJ Arena, which traditionally causes some sound overspill between the stages. This year we reduced the audio gear complexity and achieved more with less. The Martin Audio PA comprised two hangs of six WPS line array elements per side, with six SXCF118 subwoofers on the ground. Using single-box optimisation, the high and mid end throw was designed to drop off just outside of the arena. Meanwhile, the low end was steered more centrally which wasn't ideal but really helped with overspill to the adjacent stage.

Great crowds of folk enjoyed the glorious weather, though the heat did cause a few technical hiccups.

A couple of other PA system design changes saved the need for a remote stage box: by locating the Sennheiser radio mic control rack at FOH, their outputs could be wired straight to desk inputs. This left only the DJ main left and right channels needing to be brought to the desk, which were routed via a small two-way Dante interface.

Lighting production was similarly slimmed down to reduce complexity and transport, while rigging and de-rigging was greatly eased thanks to the co-operation of stage providers OSB Events. Lighting comprised Prolight LEDJ Spectra Flood 18T3 Pro, Martin Atomic 3000 strobe units, and Prolights Astra Hybrid 330. Lighting control used an Avolites T3 and T3 Wing.

PA equipment overview: Martin Audio WPS line array, SXCF118 subwoofers, LE100 stage monitors, WPM element front fill, Blackline XP118 and XP15 for DJ monitors; Sennheiser ew300 e935 radio mics; A&H SQ-5 desk FOH control via Dante.

Client: Glaston-Bury

July brought a string of promotional events with Simply Books in North Cheshire, with a simple vocal PA and microphones.

First was an evening with author David Nicholls was held at Cheadle Hulme School. This was a new venue for the client and ourselves, and our thanks go to the estates staff for being so accommodating, ensuring the event was a success.

The following day was a lunchtime event with Steph McGovern at Piccolino Restaurant in Bramhall, launching her new novel, "Deadline".

Two further book launch evenings were held for Abigail Bergstrom and Shari Lapena.

Each event featured one or two HK Polar 10 speakers, three Sennheiser radio mics, and an Allen & Heath CQ-18T mixing console. Background music was also provided from a laptop for a couple of the events.

All events require attention to detail, even the small ones. For example, limitations on speaker placement, people unfamiliar with using a microphone, and restaurant kitchen background noise all brought their challenges. Having the CQ mixing console was very welcome for control, being able to control the mic mix in the audience area using a tablet. The console also had our back in live-mode feedback detection just in case.

Client & venue: Simply Books

This three-day Pagan and Heathen festival is now in its second year, and Mainline were very pleased to be on event production duties again. Organisers, revellers, performers and traders enjoyed something more akin to a family gathering. We worked closely with the festival owners who have a particular aesthetic vision and attention to detail. A varied music selection included Celtic, Nordic and Irish folk-rock with a harder edge.

Mainline's production involvement consisted of PA, lighting and stage deck provision for the main performance tipi tent, PA for a lower field ceremony area with boundary tree uplighting, plus festoon lighting, generator provision and mains distribution around site.

A ground-stacked Martin Audio WPM system was chosen for the main stage, in two-box configuration. This allowed a compact arrangement in the slightly restricted tipi area, but still with control of sound spill into adjacent areas. Stage monitor foldback comprised four Martin Audio Blackline XP12s plus a Blackline XP15 drum fill. This allowed us to deliver an excellent but cost effective system on a tight budget. FOH control used an A&H Avantis desk with a GX4816 Expander as stage box.

Lighting consisted of Chauvet R2 Washes and minibeams on stage, R2 washes rigged in the tipi structure, and Chauvet COLORdash Batten-Quad 12 bars uplighting the rear of stage. Lighting control used an Avolites T3 with a T3 Wing. A set of Prolight LEDJ Spectra Flood 18T3 Pro were deployed in master/slave configuration for uplighting around the ceremony area field.

This year we chose HK Polar 10 for the ceremony area PA speakers, with 12 channels of Sennheiser G3 wireless headset microphones under control of an A&H SQ-5 sound desk. The HK's provided excellent vocal clarity and detail across the area.

Client: Solskin Festival

We had the pleasure of mixing live sound for Sam Tomlins at Wax and Beans, Bury. The intimate, homecoming gig as a three-piece band marked Sam's new single release, 'Yours', and forthcoming debut appearance at Glastonbury Festival. Sam is a veteran of the Raise the Roof festival series from several years ago, and the only performer we've worked with to perform at both Glastonbury and Glaston-Bury festivals.

Glass Frogs band provided great support including four-part vocal harmonies. The two-band intricate setup was a time and space challenge but we received compliments from on and off stage for the live sound results.

Allen & Heath CQ-18T was our mixer of choice, with HK Polar 10 speakers out front and a single Blackline XP12 as monitor wedge when not using IEM mixes. The CQ-18T mixing desk is a favourite on our smaller gigs, especially with our less experienced sound engineers. The desk offers a remarkable set of features that really help setup and workflow. Allen & Heath have produced a group of excellent presets for different instruments and tastes. For example setting a channel input as 'acoustic guitar' is a great starting point, with several high-level adjustments for different guitar sounds. Any finer adjustment or control can then be made by setting the channel configuration to 'Complete' mode if required.

Many thanks go to the bands and staff for their help.

Client: Sam Tomlins
Venue: Wax and Beans Vinyl Records and Coffee Shop

We provided full production for Bury Pride's outdoor stage, now in its second year, as this annual festival continues to grow.

Sponsored and stage-managed by Roch Valley Radio, this year's lineup included singers, poetry and choirs with various backing tracks, celebrating and raising awareness of LGBTQ+. Marc Dawson opened the show on acoustic guitar, and Aunty Ginger closed the day's proceedings.

Martin Audio WPM in ground-stacked formation was deployed for out-front sound with an Allen & Heath SQ-5 on mix duties. Martin Audio Blackline XP12s provided a cost-efficient stage monitor solution.

Lighting consisted of rigged Prolight LEDJ Spectra Flood 18T3 Pro and Prolights Astra Hybrid 330 on stage, with control in the hands of an Avolites T3 and T3 Wing on its debut outing with us.

Client: Bury Pride
Venue: Bury Town Centre

Vintage Vibes was our first festival of the season at East Lancashire Railway. This was a new venture for ELR in place of previous years' 1940s events, with two days of soul, funk, groove, disco and more. Saturday was headlined by The Real Thing and Sunday by Masters of the Scene - Abba Tribute Show.

We deployed a Martin Audio WPS flown array with 8 SXCF118 subs in a front array, LE200 stage monitors and DD6 for front fill. Mixing employed A&H Avantis with digital link to a GX4816 Expander stage box and Dante link to Martin iK42 amplifier racks and a recording laptop PC.

Lighting was controlled by Avolites Tiger Touch and included Chauvet R2 Wash and Strike 4, with Prolights Astra Hybrid 330. This was the first outing for our new Astra Hybrid 330s, and they lived up to all our expectations. Even during daytime, air effects were visible in the stage haze.

Well done to ELR on the success of their new festival, and many thanks go to the volunteer team who managed transfer of all the band equipment to and from the stage area.

Client: East Lancashire Railway
Venue: East Lancashire Railway, Bury

Simply Books hosted an evening of Jazz and glamour at The Rex Cinema in Wilmslow, with author Fiza Saeed McLynn talking about her new book, 'The Midnight Carousel'.

Simply Books is a new client and we're pleased to be working with this small cafe wine bar bookstore business.

We provided Martin Audio Blackline XP12s in the cinema theatre for an audience of 100, with an Allen & Heath CQ-18T mixing desk for the talk, and a singer accompanied by a backing track.

Client & venue: Simply Books
Venue: The Rex Cinema

Allen & Heath have released RackUltra FX, a dedicated effects module for the dLive mixing desk range. This provides eight new effects engines on dedicated send and return buses, hence these will not use up existing dLive buses or any of the sixteen existing dLive effects units.

The new effects comprise studio-quality reverbs, distortion / saturation, vocal harmonisation and real-time processing including vocal pitch correction. All new FX inputs and outputs have their own dynamics processing with sidechaining plus a four-band parametric EQ.

RackUltra FX is now available from Mainline, included with the dLive DM48 MixRack.