Sigur Rós Global Tour 2022
January 9th 2023
22live has completed a global tour with Icelandic band, Sigur Rós. The tour heralded as ‘Unique’, and ‘A Musical Experience’ was the first official outing for 22live, and gives the new company a great footing to assert itself from.
Thomas Stone, Tour Director for Sigur Rós, has a long-standing relationship with Paul Timmins, 22live founder and Hire Director, and first made the call to him regarding the opportunity in mid-February 2022. Paul Timmins had worked with Stone and Sigur Rós previously, and so the mutual trust was there that 22live were capable of delivery, and similarly Timmins understood this was a serious chance for him and 22live to establish themselves within the marketplace.
Paul Timmins explains; “Here was a real chance for 22live to put a world tour out the door as its very first job. The opportunity came really before I had planned to be ready, but while I knew it wouldn’t be easy, I also knew I had to get ahead of the game and make this happen for Thomas.”
The initial requirement was to build the control package that would be taken out globally starting on April 28 in Mexico. The tour would carry the package from there around the USA and Canada until mid-June and would then recommence to cover New Zealand, Australia, and Asia throughout August. Band rehearsals started in Iceland in March, so this gave 22live a four week lead-time to get the package together.
Paul Timmins
“Here was a real chance for 22live to put a world tour out the door as its very first job. The opportunity came really before I had planned to be ready, but while I knew it wouldn’t be easy, I also knew I had to get ahead of the game and make this happen for Thomas.”
The brief was familiar to Paul, the package needed to be compact, and meet the tour’s technical and budgetary requirements. FOH engineer Ingvar Jónsson was also a familiar face to Paul and so the initial task was to identify which mixing consoles they would like to take out on the road.
Timmins explains “I knew Ingvar’s highest priority has always been sonic performance, as he’s always been an audio purist, and although DiGiCo is a brand he hadn’t previously toured with, I felt that now was the right time to explore the option of providing DiGiCo with the 32 Bit IO to give him that cutting edge transparency. It seemed that the SD12-96 ticked the boxes for all that the tour required and so we set about making plans around this console.”
Timmins continues “I was keen to use DiGiCo for the tour, not only because it was the right brand for both engineers in the current era, but also because I wanted something that could be effectively supported globally. The SD12 is probably one of the highest volume consoles sold by DiGiCo, it had the right specification and size, and is present in many territories across the globe. I felt in safe hands recommending this console to fly globally knowing both DiGiCo and partner rental companies around the world could be on hand to support as required.”
Paul Timmins
“I was keen to use DiGiCo for the tour, not only because it was the right brand for both engineers in the current era, but also because I wanted something that could be effectively supported globally.”
22live were fortunate enough to be able to source an SD12 system locally in Iceland for the band rehearsals meaning that both Jónsson and monitor engineer Throstur Albertsson were able to familiarise themselves with the workflow and control surface at this early stage of the production. This Enabled both engineers to start building a show file around the new choice of mixing console and allowed them to gain confidence in the package therefore providing a comfort factor that the SD12 was the right choice for them and Sigur Rós. By the time band rehearsals concluded in early April both engineers were very happy with the proposal..
Timmins comments “The fact that we were able to source the SD12 system for rehearsals in Iceland was very useful. It bought us time to prepare the touring package in the UK, ready for production rehearsals in Black Island Studios which were scheduled for mid April.”
Now the console choice was finalised focus turned to the rest of the package which was customised to provide the touring production with everything they could need while on the road in N.America and Asia where they would be utilising house systems across the dates. As this was 22live’s first outing and this tour was happening earlier than 22live had readied itself for, everything from flightcases to line system had to be assembled from scratch. There was time to achieve the required result but this meant a co-ordinated effort by Paul Timmins, who was currently operating independently, to ensure delivery ran smoothly.
“I decided that the only way to deliver the job with the presentation and attention to detail required was to appoint a project manager for the UK build and delivery. It was at this point I brought Chris Pyne into the fold on a freelance basis to support the project. Chris, I knew, had the relevant DiGiCo knowledge and I also wanted to employ a Martin Audio system for use in rehearsals which I knew Chris could also support. This appointment proved to be a good decision.”
Over in the Sigur Rós Production camp Thomas Stone was busy trying to sort a system technician for the tour whom had the means to work in the USA. Tim Burke was appointed towards the end of March who became an instrumental member of the audio crew, supporting the kit and engineers on the road throughout.
Back in the UK Chris Pyne and the 22live team were gathering momentum. The build progressed rapidly with support from Flightcase Warehouse for case requirements. Link were able to provide some of their off the shelf products which enabled a line system to be manufactured in time to meet the deadlines. Sennheiser too were instrumental in ensuring delivery was met for the 2000 series IEM system, and the Digital 6000 wireless microphones. Autograph Sound Recording facilitated the DiGiCo acquisitions as well as helping to source the d&b M4 Stage Monitors, DPA Microphones, and the Meyer Sound Galaxy processor.
The Meyer Sound Galaxy was integrated into a custom drive rack, enabling FOH engineer Ingvar Jónsson to have his proprietary front-end processor on whatever PA system he was presented with day to day, giving him the comfort and consistency required to get a great result in unfamiliar territory.
Paul Timmins comments “It was time critical but at the same time comfortable, to achieve the build in time for production rehearsals. We were very confident in the team, and we worked with suppliers to achieve the deadlines. Actually what we ended up building was exactly what we knew we were capable of. Despite the fact this was done with a quick turnaround, and from a standing start the quality of the package built, utilising all new equipment was something I am very proud of. We all know that it’s easy to buy the kit (although that in itself has been less easy in 2022), but the proof of quality is all down to how the gear is packaged and presented. We did this with great finesse and the package was as well assembled as anything I’ve been involved with historically.”
Even completing the 22live branding in time for the tour ship out day became a priority. 22live needed a cool look that represented their image, and that could be put onto anything including a tour label, ready by April 18th. This was another small challenge that was successfully delivered on time.
The system was delivered in its entirety for the Black Island production rehearsals as scheduled. The Sigur Rós team met the package with Chris Pyne for 4 days where a Martin Audio TORUS system was also deployed for the benefit of the engineers and the band. Both Ingvar Jónsson and Throstur Albertsson were supported by 22live personnel as well as being supported by key manufacturers onsite to ensure a smooth handover. Paul Timmins also visited rehearsals to make sure everyone was happy and he comments “It was a great feeling to have our first control package prepped and in rehearsals. It was a landmark occasion for 22live, but also the first of a string of successes we achieved throughout 2022, our launch year.”
Throstur Albertsson validates this sentiment; “The whole process with 22live has been top-notch support. Even during our first rehearsals, we had hands on training from DiGiCo which was not asked for but just provided, with top service which has just been invaluable.”
Ingvar Jónsson too passed comment “Anyone can supply equipment but having the right crew and support you need on the tour is the most important thing. The other thing that is nice is that this whole package is very compact racks are very well thought out making travel much more simple. FOH is three things; rack, console and one Peli.”
The production rehearsals were a success and the Sigur Rós team were very pleased with the delivery, performance and presentation of the 22live system. From Black Island the package was shipped by air to the West coast of the USA before hitching a ride to Mexico for its debut show. It was met there by the production crew which also now included Giles Woodhead as Production Manager.
Paul Timmins comments “It was quite funny really that 22live’s first proper gig was actually in Mexico! Not exactly local to us, and no matter how confident we were in the kit, we were all very happy when we received positive feedback that the first show had gone well.”
“The whole process with 22live has been top-notch support.”
Throstur Albertsson - Monitor engineer
“Anyone can supply equipment but having the right crew and support you need on the tour is the most important thing.”
Ingvar Jónsson - FOH engineer
The whole of the North American run from that point went ahead without a hitch. The only small issue we had was adding an extra channel of RF to the mix which we managed to sort remotely. “All in all we were very pleased that the package had been so well received and that all in the Sigur Rós camp were happy with everything we’d delivered.” comments Timmins.
From there 22live started to look forward to the European run, where there could also be the opportunity to provide the PA. 22live took delivery of its Martin Audio Wavefront Precision Systems in June, and so providing the PA to the European tour, starting in September, became a very real prospect. Giles Woodhead, Production Manager for Sigur Rós began conversations regarding the Martin Audio option. Giles had experience working with Paul and Martin Audio and had confidence in the package and the supplier.
Previously FOH Engineer Ingvar Jónsson had been very happy utilising other brands of PA, and had little experience with Martin Audio. However Giles’s confidence in the brand, and the fact that the deployment of the Martin Audio TORUS System in Black Island rehearsals had been so well received encouraged Ingvar that it could deliver the result he was looking for. The support 22live had offered already on the rehearsal system alone had also demonstrated the technical competence of freelance personnel working with 22live, and the fact that Martin Audio systems and the technology behind them was up to the task of competing among the best in the business.
Meanwhile at 22live Paul Timmins had also expanded the team of directors with Simon Gladstone, and Stefan Phillips also joining the company in June. This also would help on deployment of bigger systems for the latter half of 2022.
22live were very pleased to be confirmed in August as the ongoing PA supplier for the European leg of the Sigur Rós 2022 tour. Now with the larger operational and technical resource in place, Paul was able to lean on the expertise of his own team more heavily for the delivery of this phase of the project.
Stefan Phillips comments “We had just joined 22live and we knew we needed to deliver a first-class result for this and all jobs, myself and Simon have been very motivated to do just that and so we set about making our plans.”
Paul Timmins also comments “The technical team to support the PA and the existing Sigur Rós crew was critical. We needed to ensure that whoever we supplied to do the job was extremely familiar with the latest Martin Audio products, and would be able to troubleshoot out on the road as well as ensuring the PA was deployed in an optimal configuration each day ready for Ingvar to get what he wanted from the system.”
Paul Timmins secured this team early on, booking the freelancers ahead of the tour confirmation to ensure availability of the right people; Joseph Pearce was appointed as System Tech, and Jonny Buck as PA tech and crew boss. “Both guys are among the most experienced Martin Audio freelancers, and both were known to Thomas Stone which was another advantage,” comments Timmins.
Sigur Rós Audio team from L-R; Paul Timmins (22live), Ingvar Jónsson (FOH Engineer), Joseph Pearce (System Tech), Jonny Buck (PA Tech), Tim Burke (Stage & RF Tech), Throstur Albertsson (Monitor engineer)
Paul Timmins
“The technical team to support the PA and the existing Sigur Rós crew was critical. We needed to ensure that whoever we supplied to do the job was extremely familiar with the latest Martin Audio products.”
The PA system had to cater to a variety of venues ranging from 2500 – 16000 capacity, because of this it was necessary for the Sigur Rós tour to carry the largest Martin Audio Wavefront Precision product, the WPL, which is a 2 x 12” line array, combined with WPS, the smaller 2 x 8” Wavefront system.. This combination of boxes meant that for the larger spaces the WPL could be deployed with WPS side hangs, while in the smallest of venues the WPL could stay on the truck entirely.. This therefore gave the system a great degree of versatility and flexibility.
The tour had at its disposal 32 x Martin Audio WPL, 24 x WPS, 12 x SXHF218, 6 x WPM Lip fill, 4 x TORUS 1230 In/out fill. New Outboard Motor Controllers were also deployed as a part of the package to ensure the PA tech had what he needed to deliver accuracy each day.
Stefan Phillips and Simon Gladstone had been able to action their plan, prior to load out, of a complete Martin Audio IK42 rack build in 2 x double bay 24U racks, keeping the packaging neat and tidy with integral 63A Power distribution utilising 22live’s new SES Power Distros..
Jonny Buck passed comment “The PA packaging has been really good as well. They have really thought about it but they could have gone the other way. Everything is the same depth and the same size.”
Simon Gladstone
“It was a tight turnaround from joining the company, developing some initial thoughts on how the line system needed to be constructed, to getting the Sigur Rós PA package delivered for the load out in early September! But we did it and we did it well.”
A full Dante returns system was established employing a brand new 22live drive rack, which also featured an Outline Newton drive processor, a Mac Mini for the Outline Newton software, a PC for Martin Audio VU-Net, with a Microsoft Surface pro wireless tablet for remote tuning, an Electrosonics wireless analyser set hooked up to Smaart RTA software, Quad Fibre returns running Dante Primary and Secondary, an analogue redundant back-up utilising the new custom line system Simon had begun work on, and a plethora of Netgear switches for a full redundant Dante network.
Simon Gladstone comments “It was a tight turnaround from joining the company, developing some initial thoughts on how the line system needed to be constructed, to getting the Sigur Rós PA package delivered for the load out in early September! But we did it and we did it well. I was just glad that the control gear was already out!”
Ingvar’s first real experience of the Martin Audio WPL was at the opening show of the European tour in Lisbon on September 28th. Paul Timmins had flown out to be there and witnessed the show in its entirety and comments; “For me this was the second landmark moment that the Sigur Rós tour delivered for 22live. This time it wasn’t just the control package but it was our first full production event and tour. It was an incredible moment for me to realise all that we had achieved in a relatively short space of time. Suddenly 22live was live and we were achieving more than I could have dreamed of after only 8 months of starting out, and what made it even better, was that Ingvar seemed to be enjoying himself!” Ingvar comments “It’s been really good. A really nice system. It’s very consistent in the transition. For me that is the main thing I look for in a PA.”
Paul Timmins
“Suddenly 22live was live and we were achieving more than I could have dreamed of after only 8 months of starting out, and what made it even better, was that Ingvar seemed to be enjoying himself!”
In addition to the PA Throstur Albertsson decided that he too would like to make some additions to the monitor package. It was decided that adding a KLANG system to monitor world could certainly be an interesting addition to create a new dimension for both the band and Monitor engineer. The DiGiCo SD12 monitor package was therefore complemented by the addition of a DMI-KLANG option card, and the KLANG Immersive In ear mixes were then immediately accessible from the SD12 surface for the European leg of the tour.
From there the rest of the Sigur Rós European run went as well as 22live could have hoped. The PA delivered, and the biggest issue the company had was a blown fuse in the motor controller, for which Paul Timmins drove to Köln to replace. Paul Timmins jokes “One benefit for me of living on the borders of Kent is that I can get to the tunnel quickly should an emergency situation in Europe arise! No but in all seriousness I didn’t necessarily need to drive a fuse to Köln but it wasn’t really a big deal and I wanted to do it, to show my support and appreciation to the team. That’s what this game is all about, being there when you’re needed and going the extra mile as required. This perhaps wasn’t one of those moments but our enthusiasm to deliver quality and be the best of what we can be is certainly there.”
Ingvar Jónsson also commented on the 22live support; “It’s good to know we have a contact at the other end of a phone. We had one issue and they had responded in 24hrs. You can feel instantly that people care about what you are doing. 22live are not going to leave you with an error message on a console. It’s good to know they will take good care of you. In America it was even less time than 24hrs when they replied to something and they were looking into the problem.”
Ingvar Jónsson
“It’s good to know we have a contact at the other end of a phone. We had one issue and they had responded in 24hrs. You can feel instantly that people care about what you are doing.... It’s good to know they will take good care of you.
All venue photos taken by Joseph Pearce on tour
In conclusion Paul Timmins surmises “All in all jumping to deliver Sigur Rós when we had the opportunity has proved to be the best possible move we (22live) made, perhaps all year. It meant we moved faster than we might have otherwise, it gave us the inspiration to push boundaries without taking any major risks, and 22live is now in a stronger place for doing so. We are indebted to Thomas Stone, Giles Woodhead and all of the Sigur Rós team for believing in us, and we are confident that the service we provided to this tour has been as good as would be received anywhere. It is a testament to our new team that we were able to do this so well, and we have demonstrated our capability to the market. We have already proved ourselves with this job, and we know that as we build our infrastructure we will be able to increase the volume we are capable of delivering, but the one thing we never want to compromise on is ensuring we give all of our clients the personal touch, and we take on only what we can manage. We look forward to supporting all those that want to work with us, and in particular Sigur Rós and the team behind them for many years to come. Thankyou again for giving us the opportunity.”
Paul Timmins