UK - British record producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Fred Again has gained palpable notoriety through emotive remixing, aided by live performances that create real excitement. His team trusts Britannia Row Productions to be part of that live evolution, one that has got the industry, and the electronic world, talking.
Following a successful career producing chat-topping tunes for many household names, Fred Again found his own way into the limelight, recording a collection of songs during lockdown before bagging a BRIT Award for his efforts. This year, his blend of atmospheric house saw him become a two-time Grammy winner.
His ambition to connect with fans has worked in every venue size. Originally, audio rental was a mere two radio mics, offered by Clair Global's Stuart Gilmore after he heard Marea (we've lost dancing) on the radio. He says: “When I was in a sales role, I always started conversations with the teams working with artists I was a fan off, and that’s how I came across them. We soon secured a small hire package before it grew quite rapidly into what it is today.”
Britannia Row account executive, Jonathan Dunlop, took over in December 2022, just as they were going into a three-night residency at Brixton Academy. He comments: "I get a thrill to see them selling out shows, ready to move up to the next level of touring. I enjoy collaborating with them, along with our engineering department, and moving into large-scale and outdoor venues as live audience demand grows. Fred Again makes no compromises on giving the audience the experience they want, and as their supplier, we're sure to give them what they expect."
On tour, Fred's shows are engineered by FOH mixer Jamie Tinsley and monitor team Andy Knightly and Art Tonge.
Helping to facilitate audio infrastructure for 159 concerts over the last two years, Britannia Row operations coordinator Daniel Foster has overseen these burgeoning equipment needs, watching them expand at every opportunity. "The scale at which this job has grown over the last two years has been incredible," he states. "Tours originally consisted of a few Peli cases that would be flown around the world, as well as slightly bigger control packages for UK shows. Since then, it has evolved into a full, worldwide touring rig, ever changing and growing to accommodate the new requirements of the artist."
The speed and innovation with which this team moves means their production suppliers must be proactive, and with audio unequivocally critical to the Fred Again brand, delivering live sound expectations to the same standard globally requires expert planning.
"You never know what will come next, but they will always come up with something to elevate their sound system to a new level," continues Foster. "Having global support all over the world from the other locations in the Clair Global Group, means that no matter what part of the tour they are on, or where in the world they are playing, we can get the equipment they need in time. I think this is invaluable to an innovative artist such as Fred Again."
"We do work with a wide variety of acts,” furthers Dunlop. “We nurture clients and apply the same level of support to up-and-coming artists as we do major acts, wherever they are in their career. The whole Fred Again team refuses to settle for the status quo and will push to get the best sound possible out of every venue, not relying on a singular speaker manufacturer.
"A real highlight of Fred Again’s shows was their performance at the Coliseum in LA over the summer. We worked so hard towards that one show, and from every seat in the stadium, it sounded immaculate."
