ADLIB Audio sent 22 crew and engineers down to Glastonbury 2005 to run 8 entertainment areas and engage in plenty of cultural and meteorological interaction for the fabulously squelchy event.

Although it was turned into a mudfest on the first day thanks to 4 hours of violent thunderstorms and torrential downpours, none of the famous Glasto spirit was dampened over a bit of rain!

Continuing their association with the Festival, ADLIB supplied sound systems for the Theatre, Circus and Cabaret tents, the Outside Circus and Outside Theatre areas, plus a transit van based mobile system that was on call for various outdoor areas as needed. Engineer Carl Billington battled bravely with the elements to ensure that he didn’t become the ‘immobile’ system!

Cabaret

The Cabaret tent featured a Nexo Alpha system with a Soundcraft Series 4 console at FOH and an SM20 onstage, complete with a full ADLIB active/passive wedge monitor compliment. This tent was run by Dave Jones on monitors and Ben Booker at FOH plus techs Kenny Perrin and Doug Murphy.

Theatre

In the Theatre tent, Stuart Watt, Dave Bennett and Charlie Jeal ran a 6K ADLIB FD system, consisting of four FD2 high packs, four DF 415 subs and a Soundcraft Delta console at FOH that was also utilised for monitors.

Circus

The Circus tent featured a wide variety of performances from contortionists to fire-eaters to magicians to breathtaking pyrotechnic performances, angle grinders, etc. The system here was another ADLIB FD, with a Soundcraft MH3 desk at FOH and a 16 channel A & H Mix Wizard for monitors. The Circus was looked after by James Coates at FOH and Richie Nicholson on monitors, plus Ennis and Neil Holloway.

Outside Theatre

The Outside Theatre – also known as the Fire & Dance Stage – and not the slightest bit phased by the weather - featured another FD system. This one had eight FD2 high packs, four subs and an A & H GL 3300 desk at FOH and a GL2200 desk for monitors. This area was overseen by Chris Suddall, Phil Woodbridge and Paul Dakin.

Outside Circus

The Outside Circus area featured a small FD system, consisting of 2 highs and 2 subs and an A & H Mix Wizard, looked after by Joe Roberts and Scott Negus.

Stuck In The Mud!

The mobile system was a small PA – two ADLIB 15/1 cabinets on stands and a Yamaha EMX500 mixer – based in the back of a transit van, run by Carl Billington. Billington battled with the weather determinedly after the skies opened on the Friday morning, managing to get most places he was needed despite several stuck-in-the-mud moments.

Several acts had to cancel on the Friday as a consequence of flash flooding and mud slides, but once the schedule resumed it ran pretty much according to time in all areas.

ADLIB Engineers on the loose

In addition to ensuring all these areas had great sounding audio, ADLIB engineers were also in action on the main stages around the festival. Steve Cole did monitors for The Coral on the Pyramid stage and then joined the team in the Cabaret tent, and Kenny Perrin left his post to mix the Dead60s who opened the Other Stage on Friday and then left site to do other shows with them over the weekend.

Richie Nicholson looked after El Presidente, who were rescheduled after the John Peel Stage’s initial dousing left it surrounded by a lake on Friday morning, forcing cancellation of the first acts on the bill. Dave Bennet mixed Hayseed Dixie who appeared on the Jazz World Stage and opened the Pyramid action on Saturday.