Inspired by a summer of sport, Manchester Day 2024 was a vibrant one-day, action-packed event filled with free family-friendly fun including great music, dance, performance, acrobatics and a host of other interactive and audience participative events, all with a warm and enthusiastic street party atmosphere, staged in and around the city centre.
Manchester-based audio specialist, tube uk, was asked to provide PA and sound systems for the four main stages, two of which were located in the Deansgate area, two at St Ann’s Square and one on Market Street, all major city centre positions.
tube uk’s Melvyn Coote commented: “It is always fantastic to be part of this event which energises the city centre in the true spirit of Manchester, and it’s amazing to see people from all communities engaging and enjoying, making it their event.”
The main challenges for the tube team of four audio engineers / techs was the tight timeframe and associated logistics. All the sound systems had to be delivered, deployed, run and then de-rigged once the varying content finished, across the different sites within 12 hours.
The largest stage was in Deansgate, and here the sound system set up comprised 12 d&b Y8 speakers in total with 2 Y-SUBS and 2 V-SUBS plus two Y7Ps for infills and 8 d&b M4 monitors, all powered by d&b D20 amps.
The mixing desk here was a Yamaha QL5 console, set up at the side of stage – for practicality and site lines, which handled both FOH audio and a 7-way monitor mix.
A full mics-and-stands package was supplied to each stage – including Shure, Sennheiser, Audio Technica, etc. – to cover all eventualities and genres of music.
The other three stages were all smaller variants of this d&b set up, all of which sounded excellent.
tube uk also installed a sound system for a wrestling ring at St Ann’s Square, featuring multiple wrestling demonstrations during the afternoon, interluded by operatic, rap and hip-hop performances, brilliantly demonstrating of the breadth of culture seen and experienced most days in the lively city of Manchester.
The key to making everything run harmoniously and efficiently on the day was to have very well prepped systems, coupled with a polished and achievable movements / transport plan for pick-ups, drop offs and rigging each stage. And, naturally, an A-Team crew.
This year, the tube team was project managed by Adam Taylor and the sound systems were installed and run by Myles Hayden, Alex Miller, Harry Park & Alex Lehman.
Once the PA was rigged at each stage, one tech remained there to run it while the others moved forward to equip the next stage.
tube uk has been involved in the Manchester Day celebrations (originally Manchester Day Parade) since the event’s inauguration in 2011. “it is an outstanding day for everyone” comments Melvyn, “it brings people together in a bold, colourful, bright and all-embracing event allowing and encouraging people to enjoy the city at the heart of their communities that embrace so much diversity, expression and talent.”
