A Y-Axis line array system was employed for the event stage, comprising: 32 Y10s and 16 Y10 Subs. Four Adamson LX10s provided centre lip-fill; and for side-fill, three Adamson SpekTrix and one SpekTrix Sub per side were used. Adamson's compact, versatile SpekTrix and its new companion SpekTrix Sub were also ground stacked 'two and two' to handle drum-fill duty. A dozen low-profile Adamson 12MX were used for on-stage monitors.
Headliners Sam Roberts and veteran alt-rockers Sloan capped off a day of musical acts that included Broken Social Scene, Buck 65 and the Constantines. Co-produced by Emerge Entertainment and House of Blues Concerts Canada, the concert was the brainchild of Sloan guitarist Jay Ferguson, whose band wanted to showcase some lesser-known Canadian talent. They shared top-billing with Roberts, whose hit single 'Brother Down' catapulted the Montreal rocker from obscurity as a last-minute opening act addition at the 2003 Rolling Stones SARS Benefit concert, to his recent cleanup of major awards (Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Rock Album of the Year) at the 2004 Juno Awards.M
Barely a year old, Towers Productions is experiencing a similar rise to the top, quickly making its mark in the city's entertainment production industry with major event contracts including Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square and clients like the Hard Rock Café, Emerge Entertainment, House of Blues, and BMG Music Canada.
Owner Steve Towers is positioning Towers Productions to stand apart from the city's existing production companies by providing more than just superior sound for its customers. His background in the pro audio business and knowledge of the city's venues and who's who in the music and promotion industries have led him to be more client-focused, rather than product-focused in his business approach.
But maintaining an inventory that performs exceptionally at every event is still an important part of the equation. "I always have someone in place at each show specifically to be with the client," explains Towers, "but by having the Adamson rig, that person doesn't work very hard because everyone is happy."
Nowhere is that more apparent than at Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto's newest multi-purpose outdoor space which Towers says is poised to become the city's equivalent to New York's Times Square. His continued presence there during its summer concert series saw potential new clients seeking him out based on what they were hearing from the YD Square stage. "We just can't keep enough business cards in the drawer at FOH, people keep asking. Everyone loves the sound - it sells."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
