The stunning backdrop of the historic Ragley Hall in Warwickshire once again played host to the Adventure Bike Rider (ABR) Festival 2024, one of the UK’s biggest motorcycle festivals returning to the estate for its fifth year.
Henley Theatre Services was commissioned by the festival organisers to provide all the stages, technical production support and onsite technical crew to operate the main Bikerhead Stage and five further stages located at various positions across the ABR Festival site.
Adventure motorcycling enthusiasts from around the globe geared up for an unparalleled celebration of freedom, exploration and community from 27th to 30th June 2024. Proud of its exceptional amenities, superb onsite facilities and magnificent surroundings for camping and glamping – ABR delivered a first-class festival experience. 15,000 bikers descended on the beautiful Ragley Hall estate over a sun-packed weekend, which provided the perfect location for guided test ride events with 29 leading motorcycle manufacturers. Riders were offered the unique opportunity to ride through some of the most picturesque landscapes in the heart of England on routes designed to cater to all levels of experience, from beginners to seasoned riders.
The MILOS MR2K roof structure was constructed by the Henley Theatre Services team providing the festival’s main music stage – The Bikerhead stage, located close to Ragley Hall’s picturesque lake and adjacent to the tented Spada Bar and Street Food Market. The Bikerhead stage provided a comprehensive programme of live music over 4 days, the first day for VIP guests only. Featuring several of the UK’s top tribute bands ranging from U2UK to The Smyths, Red Hot Chili Peppers UK and kicking off proceedings with ‘Definitely Might Be’ a popular Oasis tribute act that kept the crowds entertained with hit tunes and an array of nostalgic classics.
MILOS 290 truss and Xstage S9 formed the main structural elements and stage construction at ABR’s five other stages, built under canopies in prime locations across the festival site. The stages offered masterclasses, guest speakers and over 60 talks including The Bridgestone Stage, located under a cool canopy concept providing a new dimension to the entertainment programme. The Bridgestone Stage hosted an eclectic mix of entertainment from top DJs, and dance troupes to world-class choirs and some of the biggest names in adventure biking from across the globe who took to the stage to share their tales and stories with packed audiences throughout the event.
Joe Morris, Director of Henley Theatre Services, said: “The team did an outstanding job delivering a festival of this scale in what is always an incredibly busy time for the company. The MR2K 12m stage is the perfect centrepiece for the event, giving the production team plenty of room for speedy changeovers when combined with an access ramp and Layher cowsheds.”
ABR’s Speaker Stage hosted by Billy Ward, attracted some biking legends over the weekend, guests included well-known names in the world of adventure biking such as Elspeth Beard, Nick Sanders MBE and film director Adam Riemann.
The ABR Festival is not just about having a blast on a motorcycle, the Himalayan Masterclass Stage partnered with manufacturer Royal Enfield was the place to learn all the skills and information needed to become a better, more knowledgeable adventure biker. The Travellers Tent inspired motorcycling enthusiasts with global talks including exploring the Canadian Rockies, Touring in Africa and Riding the Himalayas, all attracting larger crowds over the weekend.
The GoPro Arena was the place to see some of the best riders in the world showcasing their skills and riding talents, whilst one of the biggest draws to the festival is having the opportunity to ride off-road with this year’s event featuring 40km of continuous trail riding potential for riders of all skill levels.
The weekend-long celebration of all things adventure riding and off-road enjoyment featured plenty of highlights and awesome festival vibes for all who attended this fun-filled event. The Henley Theatre Services team was located at all the main festival stages, ensuring technical operations and the delivery of the comprehensive programme ran smoothly throughout the event.
The ABR Festival will return to the Ragley Hall Estate from 27 to 29 June 2025 building on the success of another fantastic year with record numbers and the unique offering the ABR Festival delivers for the adventure bike rider community in the UK and beyond.
