music tours

Over the years we’ve seen artists produce some incredible songs, with the instruments they use as iconic as the artists themselves.

As experts in music transport we thought we’d shine a spotlight on some of history’s most famous musicians, and the legendary instruments they used to bring their music to life.

Brian May’s Red Special Guitar

Brian May is a man with many strings to his bow. He’s most famous for his work as Queen’s lead guitarist, as well as writing the likes of “We Will Rock You“, “I Want It All” and “The Show Must Go On“. But his achievements don’t stop there. He’s earned a PhD in Astrophysics, worked as Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, and—most fittingly—built his own electric guitar from scratch.

The Red Special, also known as the Fireplace or the Old Lady, was hand-made between 1964 and 1966 by Brian and his father.

A bizarre assortment of materials went into its construction; the guitar’s neck uses mahogany from a Victorian-era fireplace mantle, while an old oak table became the centre body. The guitar also uses valve springs from a 1928 Panther motorcycle, with a bike saddlebag holder and part of a knitting needle forming the tremolo arm. May famously uses a sixpence to strum the strings, taking its homemade sensibility to new levels.

The guitar was also unique in that it was designed to feed back—something many musicians and audio engineers work to avoid.

Queen fans can hear the guitar prominently on tracks like “Procession”, “Stone Cold Crazy” and “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Although many replicas exist, May continues to use the original in many shows. It stands alone as a unique instrument in the rock music scene; it was lovingly restored in 1998, ensuring we’ll enjoy its unique sound for many years to come.

Paul McCartney’s Hofner Violin Bass

Rising to prominence as songwriter and bassist for The Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney has won 18 Grammy awards and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.

Famously, McCartney plays the Höfner 500/1 violin bass, both during and after his time with The Beatles.

However, the instrument came to the musician thanks to a twist of fate.

McCartney didn’t plan on becoming The Beatles’ bassist. He started out on piano and guitar, and moved to bass when the original bassist, Stu Sutcliffe, left the band to pursue painting instead.

McCartney found a Höfner in a music shop in Hamburg, and the instrument became indelibly associated with his time in The Beatles.

It’s also been used in his solo material, though a Rickenbacker bass—gifted to him in 1965—was used, as well, particularly during his time with Wings.

The original Hofner bass was stolen at some point in the late 1960s, but Hofner gifted McCartney a new one in 1963; listen out for it in The Beatles’ 1969 rooftop concert, or any of McCartney’s recent performances.

BassPlayer.com claims it still has the setlist from a 1966 Beatles show taped to one side.

Jonathan Davis’ Mic Stand

Most people not in the music industry or even the music transport industry don’t really think about microphone stands.

Of course, Swiss artist H.R. Giger is not most people, and he’s responsible for one of the most unusual microphone stands we’ve ever seen.

H.R. Giger is well known for his sinister artwork, which blends organic and mechanical elements in bleak, otherworldly landscapes.

He’s most famous for his work on Ridley Scott’s 1979 film Alien; his paintings inspired the film’s art direction, and he worked on the film as part of its award-winning design team. 

Around the year 2000 Giger was contacted by Jonathan Davis, lead singer of nu metal band Korn and a fan of Giger’s work.

He wanted Giger to create a microphone stand inspired by his artwork, whose aesthetic at the time was well established.

Davis gave Giger plenty of creative freedom on the design. He merely asked that it be fully functional as a mic stand and easy to move.

Visually, it also needed to be biomechanical. The mechanical details were created from bullets, tubes and wires, and the mic stand is still used in Korn’s performances today.

The result is something humdrum transformed into something striking, unnerving and unforgettable.

A total of five mic stands were created using Giger’s design, with the moulds used to make them destroyed shortly after. Two are in Davis’ possession, with the others kept in museums and gallery exhibitions.

If you’d like to see the mic stand in person you can see Korn live in concert, or visit the H.R. Giger Museum in Switzerland.

Tom Morello’s ‘Arm the Homeless’ Guitar

As guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, Tom Morello is famous for his intense, politically motivated music. He’s often seen in the company of his distinctive, graffiti’d guitar, but its relationship to his music is more complex than you might expect.

In an interview with Guitar World, Morello disputed the idea that great instruments are important for great music.

His guitar—which features four smiling hippos and the “Arm the Homeless” message—was specially constructed for him in 1986.

However, since he didn’t know much about guitars at the time, the resulting instrument didn’t sound great.

Morello would go on to replace most of the components over the next two years—the neck alone has been replaced about ten times—and today, only the body is original. 

The final version of the Arm the Homeless Guitar was established around 1990.

That instrument led to Morello writing many of Rage Against the Machine’s songs. Morello spent many of his early years chasing the perfect sound for his instrument; after a while, he decided to stop chasing perfection, and work with what he had.

The result is an impressive discography, covering songs like “Killing in the Name”, “Bulls on Parade”, “Guerrilla Radio” and many, many more.

To learn more about the band, you can visit their official website.

Harry Chamberlin’s Mellotron

First manufactured in 1963, the Mellotron is a curious instrument similar in appearance to a keyboard.

It worked as an early sampling machine; each key plays a short music sample stored on a strip of audiotape.

This allowed musicians to easily incorporate unusual sounds into their music, like church organs, mandolins and so on.

The Mellotron is actually a newer version of an old instrument called a chamberlin, named for the man who created it.

Early models of the Mellotron were prohibitively expensive; the Mk 2 Mellotron would cost about £17,000 in today’s money.

However, since each key could produce 18 different sounds, and the unit incorporated reverb options, pitch options, speakers and stereo amplifiers, it could hardly be accused of doing too little.

According to Reverb, the Mellotron thrived in an era of music hungry for innovation.

On that front the mellotron was an unqualified success; bands such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Oasis all incorporated it into their music.

Listen out for the Mellotron at the start of “Strawberry Fields Forever”, in the cellos of “Wonderwall” and the flutes of “Stairway to Heaven”.

Although the mellotron seems to have fallen out of favour, the spirit of sampling lives on in bands like The Avalanches and artists like DJ Shadow.

If you’re looking to make music history yourself, Stagefreight is here to help. Our team of drivers are all experts when it comes to music transport.

We know how important it is for the right trailers to arrive at the right time. That’s why our lead driver will take control of the planning of trailer arrival. Upon arrival, our drivers will help you with lighting choices, and even help build the stage with your team.

Our drivers are experts at journey planning as well. Before we set off we’ll plan the most cost-effective and fuel-efficient route to the event.

If you’re ready to go on tour with your band, give us a call on 0113 797 898.

Or if you’re after other event transport options, have a look at our service page.

Last year was a huge success for music tours across the UK and Europe.

Stars like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and Pink dominated Pollstar’s Top 100 Worldwide Tours.

But if you’re aiming to be in this top 100 list yourself one day, you’ll want to get your first big band tour on the road.

Not sure where to start?

No worries; we’ve put together the A-Z of band stage equipment transport to help, so the first tour is stress-free for you.

A is for audio plan

Get someone experienced with acoustics and setup to help you plan your perfect audio. Microphones, PA systems, front of house systems and foldback systems aren’t cheap, so you’ll want to know that these are all in safe hands.

B is for band gear weight

How much does your band gear weigh?

For fuel-efficiency and overseas travel, you’ll need to know that. Or your music transport crew will need to know that.

Also, never underestimate the importance of securing the band equipment in proper road cases. We’ll get back to this in “L” for load-out strategy.

E is for extras

It’s not just the equipment that needs to go with you! Don’t forget about the stage gear, lighting and props. There are also extras like carts and casters to make load-out easier and more time-efficient.

L is for load-out

A sound load-out strategy helps you stay on schedule. Our drivers are pros at this and get fully stuck in with the production crew. It’s like having a driver and roadie in one.

Anyone having to sort the build down of the drums in a rush knows how good it is to have some back up with this.

M is for music

Don’t forget about the music. It’s what it’s all about. Let the transport pros worry about the route and you worry about your sound.

P is for planning

Get some tips on this early on. Talk to your equipment transport team as early as possible to get tips on what truck size you need, as well as costs and tips for making the tour as cost-effective and fuel-efficient as possible.

S is for security

This isn’t just about insurance (though Stagefreight does have a fully comprehensive insurance policy for all our trucks and warehouses, which you can find out more on here), but about ensuring a security-focused transport plan.

Knowing where your schedule will take you and what parking up options there are shouldn’t be underestimated when it comes to having a stress-free tour.

R is for road cases

These are also referred to as truss cases, and they make all the difference to music transport. They’re expected in music transport and keep instruments and equipment safe.

Road cases are also great for ensuring load-out happens swiftly.

T is for Tetris and tall amps

Ever been faced with an empty trailer, a stack of road cases and an incredibly short timeframe to get things in? Our team know how to stack. They’re basically Tetris pros.

You can rest assured that we’ll take care of everything from tall amps to unique props.

You’ll be amazed by how much fits into our trailers, especially our unique urban trailers.

U is for urban trailers

Through over 25 years of music transport experience, we’ve found that a trailer specifically designed to get around the tight city streets but still be able to hold the same amount of equipment is essential.

Our director, Chris, designed our unique urban trailers that are 33 foot, while having the same capacity as the 45s. Intrigued by the design? Read all about it in our urban trailers article. 

Z is for Zzzzs

The gig is over, the load-out’s complete and you’ve enjoyed the after party. It’s a job well done all round.

Time to go and catch some Zzzzs. You’ve earned it.

If you’re keen to get your music tour on the road, but don’t want to worry about the music transport details, give us a call on 0113 797 898 today.

Our team is trained in the A to Z of band equipment transport, so let us worry about the transport so you can focus on the music.

For many music fans, concert tours are the best way to see their favourite bands in action. They’re perfect for hearing the latest songs, enjoying old favourites or marvelling at some cutting-edge stage design.

A few concert tours can change the course of an artist’s career, or raise it to heights nobody has seen before. We’ve rounded up some of the most memorable concert tours in recent years—the ones that took bands and fans to exciting new places.

Elton John at the Troubador

Singer and pianist Elton John has sold more than 300 million records worldwide, given us smash hits like ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘I’m Still Standing’, and contributed to works like The Lion King and Billy Elliott the Musical. But his first big break was in 1970, when a 23-year old Elton played a six-night show at LA’s Troubadour Theatre.

Before the Troubadour, Elton was struggling to make a name for himself on his home soil. He’d had some success in the UK charts, but it was in America that he really gained widespread appeal. The Troubadour show was booked on the strength of Elton’s self-titled album; Doug Weston, who owned the theatre at the time, booked Elton immediately after hearing it. The audience for the show included legendary music figures like David Crosby, Quincy Jones and Mike Love (of the Beach Boys). By the show’s end, there was another musical legend in their midst.

Why exactly was it such a hit? 

Part of it was the sheer energy Elton channeled, but another draw was the original music Elton brought to the concert. It was lauded for its sheer uniqueness, and with a career spanning five decades it’s safe to say this is one talent that’s stood the test of time.

The concert included a mix of old and new songs like “Your Song,” “Honky Tonk Woman” and “Take Me to the Pilot.” It was rapturously received by the audience; LA Times critic Robert Hilburn said Elton was “going to be one of rock’s biggest and most important stars,” while 1990’s Rolling Stone magazine declared it one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most important concerts.

More importantly, it was a stepping-stone to wider success around the world. Elton would go on to perform further tours across Europe, and never really stopped. Unfortunately this legend is  bowing out with the Elton John Yellow Brick Road Farewell Tour, which commences this September.

The Ramones’ 1977 European Tour

American punk rockers The Ramones are famous for songs like “Blitzkrieg Bop” and “Judy Is a Punk”. Their music helped to establish punk rock as a unique sound. But it also stripped away the gaudy excess that defined the rock bands of the 1970s, and cemented their place in rock history.

The Ramones would go on to perform at over 2,000 concerts, and one of their most significant ones was in 1977. After playing at venues across Europe—including Switzerland, France and the Netherlands—they saw out the year in a series of shows at London’s Rainbow Theatre.

The 1977 tour lived on thanks to the 1979 album It’s Alive. Featuring audio from the London show, it was the first of seven live albums the band would produce. This album went on to be one of the most acclaimed live albums ever released. It’s not hard to see why; according to Rolling Stone Magazine, the atmosphere was so charged fans were ripping seats from the floor and throwing them at the stage.

Tina Turner’s Wildest Dreams Tour

The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner has sold more than 200 million albums and singles in her glittering career. She’s also sold more concert tickets than any other performer, and several of those were for her 1990s Wildest Dreams Tour.

The Wildest Dreams Tour ran for 16 months across 1996 and 1997. It featured pop legend Cyndi Lauper as an opening act, as well other standouts like Toto, Belinda Carlisle and The Accelerators. Performances spanned five continents, with dates in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia and North America. The Europe destinations covered most of the continent, with performances in the UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey and Russia.

In short, this rock legend took workaholic to a whole new level. But fans loved her for it as she made sure as many of her fans as possible were able to attend this now legendary concert tour.

Sadly the tour was also marked by tragedy. Kenny Moore—pianist and longtime collaborator with Turner—died while the tour was in Australia. He had worked as the musical director, background vocalist and keyboard player in Turner’s band for 20 years before his death, and Turner dedicated her later performances to his memory.

Even now the Wildest Dreams Tour remains Turner’s biggest tour to date, with more than 250 performances and three million fans attending worldwide. 

U2’s 360° Tour

Irish rock band U2 has gained a “love-em-or-hate-em” reputation over their 42-year career. What’s undeniable, though, is that they know how to put on a show. One of their more recent efforts was the U2 360° Tour, which ran across two years and 110 shows from 2009 to 2011.

The tour ran in support of No Line on the Horizon, the band’s 12th studio album. However, its crowning achievements may be technical rather than musical. A key component of the show were its circular ‘Claw’ stages, which gave the audience a 360° viewing angle of the band’s performance. Following its eight-hour assembly time each of the four stages measured 165 feet high, weighed 180 tonnes, and covered more than 28,000 square feet.

The stages cost between £15 and £20 million to construct, and each one required 120 trucks to transport. Fortunately at least one of these trucks has gone to a new home; it will become a permanent installation at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Utah. (We’ve got our priorities firmly on the trucks and event transport aspect). 

Another major innovation was the stage’s expandable screen, which according to Bono inspired LED screens elsewhere. The 54-tonne screen used half a million hexagonal LED ‘pixels’ to generate its imagery. At its peak, the screen had an area of 14,000 square feet.

Today the tour remains the highest-grossing music tour in history. At its conclusion it had made £450 million in sales, and seven million people had turned out worldwide.

The Rolling Stones’ A Bigger Bang Tour

Though band members have come and gone, The Rolling Stones have been rocking out since 1962. The English band has estimated record sales of more than 250 million, and they’ve given us four of the highest-grossing concert tours in history. Before U2 knocked it off the top spot A Bigger Bang Tour was the highest grossing tour the world had ever seen, earning over $558 million.

The band launched the tour in support of their Grammy-winning album of the same name, and it ran from 2005 to 2007. The majority of the shows took place in Europe (Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, Serbia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Norway, Denmark, Finland and the UK just to name a few) and North America, though there were several performances in South America, Oceania and Asia as well.

Rolling Stones tours are famous for their unusual stage designs and A Bigger Bang was no exception. Early concepts took inspiration from opera houses in the 19th century. The final stage design featured sweeping, 15m-high balconies on the back wall of the stage, which could hold up to 400 audience members. Other features included detachable stage sections, a huge LED screen and even CG graphics representing the original Big Bang.

The tour faced some hurdles along the way though. 

Its European leg was delayed for a month by Keith Richards, who got a concussion after falling out of a coconut tree in Fiji. Two more concerts in Spain had to be pushed back when Mick Jagger contracted laryngitis. Still, the Stones have never let little things like illness get in the way of their music; their No Filter Tour concluded earlier this year in Warsaw, and we expect to hear about a new tour very soon.

Roger Waters’ Us + Them Tour

Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters made music history with politically charged The Wall Live, the highest-grossing concert tour by a solo artist. Its extravagant stage featured a 250-brick wall, which collapsed at the end of each show. The Daily Maildescribed it as ‘one of the most ambitious and complex rock shows ever staged.’ Now he’s back with the Us + Them Tour, which brings that energy and creativity to a new audience.

The European leg of the tour will perform in 23 countries including Spain, Italy, UK, Hungary, Croatia, and Bulgaria, though there have been several shows in America, Australia and New Zealand before then. The stage was designed and manufactured by TAIT, who have also worked with artists like Pink, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake. It features a main stage 74 feet wide, a bank of laser units, flying pigs (as you can never have too many flying pigs in a show) and even inflatable smokestacks.

So far the show has received positive reviews. Dave Simpson’s Guardian review praised its ‘impeccable’ sound quality, and said the mostly retrospective show ‘feels alive and relevant.’ Ella Kemp’s review in The Independent described it as ‘a thematic emporium of Pink Floyd’s greatest moments’, while Metal Wani said the show was ‘unmatched for its quadraphonic surround sound and out of this world sensory visual production.’

The tour runs until the end of August; visit the official site to learn more about it.

The Killers’ Wonderful Wonderful World Tour

Nevada rock band The Killers have gifted us hits like ‘Somebody Told Me’ and ‘Mr Brightside.’ Since their first album in 2004 they’ve remained a consistently entertaining part of the music scene. Their latest album Wonderful Wonderful received its fair share of praise, but there’s a personal edge to it too; lead singer Brandon Flowers explores sensitive topics like his wife’s PTSD in the music. Now fans have the chance to see them live in the band’s latest tour.

Mixing new songs with old classics (and some impressive dance moves), the Wonderful Wonderful World Tour is paying visits to Thailand, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong throughout September. Previously the band has been all over Europe including the UK, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Luxembourg to name a few destinations. 

Reviews from last year’s shows have been typically positive. The Independent’s Jess Denham said The Killers ‘are back, bigger and bolder than ever’, while their London show ‘was pure euphoria—from sparkling start to fizzing, life-affirming finish.’ Their Sheffield show—according to The Yorkshire Post—was ‘a non-stop sonic assault of sing-along anthems and a wall of noise, eagerly lapped up by an audience keen not only to hear new material but of course the hits which have made The Killers such a popular live draw.’

If you’d like to see the band do their thing for yourself, visit the official website here.

We hope we’ve shown there’s no shortage of wonderful concert tours in music history. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for the next generation of concert tours!

If you’re looking to do something similar, we at Stagefreight are concert tour trucking experts. Our team has plenty of experience with live event transport, and we know what it’s like when the pressure is on.

Our experienced lead driver takes control of the trailer schedule, ensuring you get the right trailers at the right time. When your stage materials arrive, our drivers will support you with lighting choices and even help to build the stage with your team.

We’re also experts at planning the most fuel-efficient, cost-effective route to an event.

We’ll get your event equipment to you on time, every time.

Visit our Contact Us page for more details, or call us now on 0113 797 898.

Summer is finally here, and it’s the perfect chance to get out into the great outdoors. Fortunately there are plenty of events to choose from, and many of them rely on trucks to transport the stages, props and music equipment that make them a success.

We’ve put together a list focused on event trucking, with special occasions that need some heavy-duty transport to carry off. 

Llangollen 2018 

Tuesday 3 – Sunday 8 July 

Celebrating its 70^th anniversary this year is the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. This day and night festival is known as one of the world’s most inspirational cultural festivals. 

Each year the team of 4,000 performers greets around 50,000 visitors to celebrate international peace through music and dance events. This year the evening concert line-ups includes big names like The Kaiser Chiefs, The Hoosiers and Toploader (who are all pretty busy this summer festival-wise) as well as West End star Alfie Boe and the Belfast Cowboy himself Van Morrison.

There are also daily competitions at the Royal International Pavilion. This is where the famous message of peace and friendship from the children of Llangdollen is sent out to the children of the world.   

The 70^th anniversary festival promises to be a grand occasion and a must-see. Find out more on the official festival website here. 

Ramfest 2018

Sunday 15 July 

Don’t forget you can also look forward to Ramfest 2018 on the 15^th July! It’s an annual event at Southowram Cricket Club that is packed with live music. The line-up this year includes The McCarrons, In Echoes and David Barnes from The Voice to name a few. 

The event raises money for different charities every year. The supported charities this year are Heartbeat of Sport and the Andy Man Club, who have a deputing band performing. Several people from Stagefreight will also be there, so why not swing by to chat about event trucking with us all? 

Find out more including how to get tickets here.

Keep On Truckin’ at Truck Festival 

Friday 20 – Sunday 22 July 

Known as the godfather of small music festivals, the annual Truck Festival at Hill Farm in Oxfordshire once again promises to be an event to remember. Truck Festival has been going strong since 1998, and now includes some charming glamping accommodation. 

Due to popular demand Truck Festival is also trialing a new Thursday entry (19^th July) for which there are only limited tickets. The Thursday line-up includes Peace, Jaws, Kanadia and Little Brother Eli. 

With six stages and over 100 bands playing, there’s plenty to see including George Ezra, Jake Bugg, Drenge, Courteneers, The Big Moon and We Are Scientists. 

Not sure what to expect? Have a look at last year’s highlights reel: 

Y Not Festival

Thursday 26 – Sunday 29 July 

As the name implies, why not go to this exciting festival in Pikehall, Derbyshire?  Y Not Festival has a wide variety of music genres, and even encourages local and unsigned music talent to get up on stage via the ‘apply to play’ feature. 

This year’s line-up on the main stage includes The Libertines, Manic Street Preachers, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Kaiser Chiefs, Jamiroquai and The Wombats. There’s plenty more though as The Quarry Stage, The Giant Squid, Flamingo Jack’s and The Allotment all have their own line-up schedule. 

That’s not all at Y Not Festival though. You can also enjoy some family favourite movies like Moana and Inside Out or some suspense filled classics like The Martian and Jurassic Park. 

There’s something for everyone at Y Not Festival, so why not have a closer look at the event website here. 

The Big Cheese Festival 

Friday 27– Sunday 29 July

Caerphilly is home to one of Europe’s largest castles. For the last 21 years the people of Caerphilly have celebrated their heritage with a party called The Big Cheese Festival. It’s a free event that attracts over 80,000 visitors and offers businesses of all shapes and sizes an opportunity to exhibit. There’s also some live music, reenactments and plenty of fun at the fair. 

Unsurprisingly–but certainly worth adding to the visiting agenda–there’s a splendid cheese market for you to visit. But if you don’t fancy any cheese, don’t worry; there are over 60 food stalls to choose from too. 

Find out more about The Big Cheese Festival here. 

Edinburgh Foodies Festival

Friday 3–Sunday 5 August

If you’ve got a sweet tooth (or a savoury one) then you need to get to Edinburgh this summer! Foodies Festival is a three-day celebration of food from around the world.

The festival is divided into several distinct areas, each one focusing on a different food type. Head to the Street Food Avenue where you can sample treats from over 30 food stalls. If you’re looking for a more hands-on approach, hit the Drinks Theatre for Prosecco and Parmesan master classes, or go to the Kombucha workshops for chocolate making and cake decorating. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can also enjoy cream pie throwing, cheese stretching and chilli eating competitions as part of the event. 

Children are very welcome at the festival; they can learn to cook in the Kids Cookery Theatre, get stuck into a craft area or jump around on the bouncy castle. If you’ve got an Earlybird ticket, children can join you for free. Add headline bands The Hoosiers and Toploader into the mix, and Foodies Festival is a guaranteed gastronomic marvel!

For further details, visit the official website.

Rock at the Castle

Sunday 5 August

Past and present collide at this exciting free music event! Rock at the Castle takes place at Hertford Castle Gatehouse, a Grade I listed building that dates back to the 15th century. Boasting four music stages around the castle itself, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.

Visitors to Rock at the Castle can enjoy live bands, acoustic acts and musicians in a variety of genres including folk, rock, indie and pop. Children are welcome too and can enjoy face painting, a bouncy castle and other activities. If you find yourself getting hungry, there will be food stalls and a pop-up bar onsite.

For more details on this event, click here.

Broadstairs Folk Week

Friday 10–Friday 17 August

Broadstairs Folk Week is an exploration of folk music and dance by the sea. Taking place in the Kent coastal town of Broadstairs, the festival has been running for more than fifty years, and offers a glimpse at a great swathe of music heritage.

Visit the main concert area in Pierremont Park to see headline acts such as Tim Edey, The Longest Johns and The Jim Causley Trio. You can also enjoy a variety of pub gigs; last year’s festival covered a diverse range of genres including celtic, country, Spanish jazz and- of course- traditional folk music from England, Scotland and Ireland.

If you fancy yourself the next Fred Astaire, there are several dance events to attend. Try 17th-century English country-dances, American square dancing or modern dances in old styles to really spice things up. With over 70 events running each day, there really is something for everyone.

Broadstairs Folk Week offers a mix of free and ticketed events, though you can buy an all-in-one ticket that covers all venues and events. For a full list of events, visit the Broadstairs Folk Week website.

Reading Festival

Friday 24 –Sunday 26 August

Nothing’s better in summer than a good old festival. One of the biggest is the Reading Festival, running over the August bank holiday weekend in both Reading and Leeds. It’s a must-see for all UK music fans.

This year’s lineup includes some legendary artists such as Fall Out Boy, Kendrick Lamar, Kings of Leon and Panic! At the Disco. If you’re looking to mix things up a bit, head on over to the alternative stage to see the likes of Harry Hill, Chris Ramsey and Lee Nelson.

Festivalgoers also have many different camping options to choose from. Keep it simple with Pink Moon tents, or go upmarket with Podpad housing instead. You can even bring a caravan or campervan with you if you want a few more home comforts.

Get a breakdown of acts by stage here, and read more about the festival as a whole here.

Chatsworth Country Fair

Friday 31 August – Sunday 2 September 

The Chatsworth Country Fair is known to be one of the most spectacular outdoor events of the UK. 

It takes place in Chatsworth Park in Derbyshire and promises a fun-filled event for the family. You can try your hand at heritage country sports or rural country crafts. There’s also grand entertainment at the Grand Ring, where you can watch some JCB diggers dance or enjoy performance by The Household Cavalry Musical Ride. 

But there’s more! At the Stoves Cookery Demonstration Theatre you can get some cooking tips and tricks from Great British Bake Off legends Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry and Nadiya Hussain. Once these guys have whetted your appetite, you can then explore the fine food village and treat yourself to something tasty. 

All information and tickets info is on the Chatsworth House website here. 

These are just some of the fantastic events that you can enjoy this summer. They’re also the kind of events we can help you make a reality, thanks to our vast experience in event trucking and transportation.

Don’t forget that Stagefreight can help with your entire event trucking needs. We have experience in many different aspects of event transport, from one-off shows and music festivals to massive trade exhibitions. Our experience lets us handle massive logistical operations with minimum stress, ensuring everything arrives on time, in perfect condition and along the most efficient route.

If you’d like to learn more about what we do, visit our services page or give us a call on 0113 797 898.

We’ve been talking quite a bit about theatre transport lately. But did you know we also offer a music transport service?

Well, you might have noticed us mentioning Joan Baez every now and now.

And how could we not? As it’s her farewell tour this year and she’s such a music legend. Plus, as you can imagine Ian is well excited to be on tour with her.

(You can find out more about our Ian Lowe in our Meet The Drivers article)

Spurred on by Ian’s enthusiasm for his current tour, we’ve asked around to find out what the rest of the crew love about music transport.

The people

When friends and family find out that you’re touring with a famous musician or well-known band, they often ask what that’s like.

Exciting is definitely part of the answer!

The music celebs the Stagefreight team has worked with are really friendly, and despite being very famous are also very humble.

(Joan Baez is easy to talk to as Ian tells us.)

You’re not just interacting with the musician, though; you’re spending time with the whole tour team.

Being a people person and being willing to lend a hand with tasks outside of driving is, therefore, crucial when touring.

Being part of the team is top of the list for our drivers on music transport tours. Or during any of our transport jobs, actually.

The travel and the destinations

There’s not much time for sightseeing when on tour, but travelling across the

UK and Europe is definitely a perk of the job.

Sharing stories of travel adventures in places like Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Barcelona, Lisbon, Bratislava, Vienna, Budapest and many more is a key part of staff catch-ups.

As music tours cover so many different places and destinations, the team gets a chance to see a lot of different destinations and venues.

Ian has covered most of Europe on the first leg of the Joan Baez tour and there are still two more legs to go! As you can imagine that’s a lot of travel.

The challenge

Meeting the scheduling timings spot-on – every time – is something the lads thrive on. The planning, organising and execution on the night and day are a regular source of excitement.

No matter if you’ve got a one-truck music tour or a 16 truck fleet to coordinate, there’s a high sense of achievement when loading, unloading and route planning goes without a hitch time after time.

Music tour lengths vary, of course, but there’s a skill to coordinating music transport across venues and across countries.

Our top priority is to make sure the show’s all set, night after night.

The stage sets

No, our lads don’t design the stage sets. (Though, there’s a thought…)

But they do help out with set-up, which gives them a peek at what the show will look like. And boy, there’s a lot of creativity out there.

The variety of stage sets, especially for music, is vast.

U2’s 360°tour is probably one of the most famous and unusual music stage sets from a build perspective.

But you can’t deny that a spectacular light show like the Muse show from back in the day by Oli Metcalfe is worth our admiration, too.

Three lighting guys hanging from the ceiling to follow the band members with spotlights takes some doing – not to mention the laser show during the iconic guitar solo.

A stage set that needs some planning, the right equipment and a well-planned load / unload sequence.

These are the most talked about reasons behind loving music transport. The lads have plenty of other stories to share, but we’ll keep these for another time.

As you can see there’s plenty to love when it comes to music transport.

If you’ve got a music tour of your own coming up and want a crew of music transport experts on your team, give us a call on 0113 797 898 today!

Or have a browse of your services to see what else we get up to.

When you’re planning your next music events, it pays to be ahead of the curve. We’ve highlighted some of the best music festivals that 2018 has to offer.

Boomtown Fair

The Boomtown Fair runs from Thursday the 9th to Sunday the 12th of August, at the Matterley Estate in Hampshire. Running since 2009, each year introduces a new chapter in the town’s ‘history’. Boomtown has seen rapid expansion, alien invasion, civil unrest and toppled regimes. 2018’s show promises to be just as exciting!

In more practical terms Boomtown offers 25 stages and many smaller venues, spread across 12 distinct ‘districts’. Each district focuses on a small selection of genres, ensuring there’s something for everyone to experience. While 2018’s lineup is yet to be confirmed, last year’s included the likes of Loyle Carner, the Utah Saints and Alabama 3. Whatever your tastes, there will be dozens of different acts to choose from!

On-site accommodation is available. Visit the official website for full details.

Download Festival

If you’re after the last word (and first choice) in rock music, the Download Festival is one of the best music events. It runs from Friday the 8th to Sunday the 10th of June in Donington Park.

The festival launched back in 2003 with contemporary hits such as Evanescence, Iron Maiden and Marilyn Manson. The festival has only gone from strength to strength since then; this year, attendees can look forward to Avenged Sevenfold, Ozzy Osbourne and none other than Guns N’ Roses!

With a range of camping options also available, the Download Festival is an excellent option for rock fans. Visit their website for more information.

Bestival

Describing itself as ‘the most colourful show on Earth’, Bestival is a boutique music festival on the Jurassic Coast. It takes place between Thursday the 2nd and Sunday the 5th of August at the Lulworth Estate. 2018’s show boasts legendary acts like London Grammar and Chaka Khan, as well as new blood from acts like Mura Masa and Mabel and Idles.

Like the Boomtown Fair, Bestival has several distinct areas for attendants to explore. From mysterious forests to vintage caravans to the world’s biggest bouncy castle, there’s no end of distractions for you to explore! Music fans will want to check out the Castle Stage, which hosts the festival’s headliners and heavy hitters.

A variety of camping options are available, with camping included in the ticket price. Festivalgoers can bring their own tents, caravans or motorhomes, or stay in one of the festival’s luxury tents already set up onsite. For full details, visit the Bestival website.

Latitude Festival

Winner of Best Major Festival at the UK Festival Awards, the Latitude Festival is a great choice for diverse, family-friendly music events. It runs from Thursday the 12th of July to Sunday the 15th of July, at Henham Park in Suffolk.

Offering more than 20 distinct areas, there’s something for fans of every kind of music. The Obelisk Arena hosts the festival’s headliners, which has seen the likes of Arcade Fire, Bon Ever and Mumford and Sons. If you’re looking for something a little different, the BBC Music Stage showcases alternative music from many different genres.

Visitors to the Latitude Festival can also enjoy film screenings, theatre productions, stand-up comedy and many different arts and crafts activities for children. Enjoy all this while surrounded by vibrant woodland and the best festival atmosphere Suffolk has to offer!

For full details visit the Latitude Festival website.

Tramlines Festival

This festival celebrates the city of Sheffield in all its glory. Boasting four stages of world classic music, the festival also showcases art, comedy, and regional food. It all takes place at Hillsborough Park, from Friday the 20th to Sunday the 22nd of July.

Each of the stages has a different focus, including indie acts, local talent and emerging artists. This year also sees the return of Into the Trees, a mix of family-friendly area in a wooded glade! When you want a bite to eat, tuck in to some quality street food from both local and national traders. Vegan and gluten-free options are available, as well as a range of locally-brewed alcoholic drinks.

For full details, visit the Tramlines Festival website.

This is just a small sample of the fantastic festivals the UK has to offer. And these are exactly the kinds of music events Stagefreight can help you to put on.

As a stage transport company, we know how crucial timing is for any show. That’s why our experienced lead driver takes control of planning the trailer arrival, to ensure everything arrives at the right time. They will plan the most cost-effective, fuel-efficient route to the event, too, saving you money and ensuring everything arrives on time. Once your goods arrive, our drivers can also help you with lighting choices, and build the stage with your team. Working with Stagefreight guarantees your show, large or small, will go off without a hitch!

For more information on how we can help, get in touch with us now via our Contact page.

At Stagefreight, music transport forms the backbone of our business. From getting instruments and stage props to grand operas or to intimate one-off shows, our clients have strummed, warbled and plinked through some wonderful shows.

But music transport is more than rock bands and grand orchestras. Join us on this magical mystery tour through the strangest corners of the musical world.

The Subcontrabass Flute

The flute is an instrument famous for its high pitch- in fact, it’s the highest pitched instrument in an orchestra’s woodwind section. This flute takes a rather different approach.

A subcontrabass flute produces a very low sound, three octaves below a concert flute. The instrument is over 4 metres long, and can be constructed from metal or PVC.

It’s possible to create a flute with an even lower sound called a hyperbass. At its lowest level, a hyperbass can produce infrasonic sound, which is beyond the range of human hearing.

The Instruments Carved from Ice

Most musicians use instruments built to last. This Norwegian musician takes a rather different approach.

Terje Isungset is a percussionist with 20 years of experience in jazz and Scandinavian music. He creates instruments from many unconventional materials like sheep bells, slate, arctic birch and- of course- ice.

By carving solid blocks, Terje can turn simple ice into trumpets and glockenspiels. The sound is both familiar and ethereal, and driven by the belief we are visitors to the earth, rather than owners of it.

Terje also curates the Ice Music Festival, which takes place each year in Geilo, Norway.

The Solar Powered Music Box

Music boxes are about 200 years old, use clockwork innards, and feature a design small enough to fit in one hand. Henry Dagg ignored almost all of these conventions when he constructed this bizarre instrument, commissioned by the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

The ‘sharpsichord’, or pin-barrel harp, takes the principles of a music box and scales them up a bit. Constructed from stainless steel, the instrument plays music by rotating a drum with pins attached to it. These pins ‘pluck’ each string of the instrument, producing music.

In the initial plans, the instrument would sit outside and use a solar-powered motor to drive the machinery. However the owners moved it from its original, open-air location for fear of theft. What’s more, the instrument can only play 90 seconds of audio before it begins to repeat itself.

Still, it’s a striking- if unwieldly- take on a classic of musical instruments.

The Musical Marble Machine

Some people, when given a marble run, are happy to pass marbles through the tubes and channels for a couple of hours. Other people, it seems, are a little more adventurous.

Created by one Martin Molin and played by Wintergatan, a Swedish ‘folktronica’ band, the Marble Machine is a Frankenstein’s monster of an instrument. It incorporates several different instruments (or parts of instruments) into its frame, which are then triggered by hundreds of falling metal balls. Musicians ‘program’ the song into the machine using rows and rows of Lego bricks. These work like the innards of a music box; changing the arrangement of bricks changes the song as well.

A new and improved version of the machine has been created for touring purposes, but you can visit the official Wintergatan website to see the original being assembled. It now lives at Museum Speelklok, a Dutch establishment dedicated to self-playing musical instruments.

The Stalacpipe Organ

Our last instrument is certainly the biggest….and the most unwieldy. The Stalacpipe Organ uses an entire cavern to produce music!

Built in 1954 by Leland Sprinkle, a mathematician and electronic scientist, the organ lives in the Luray Caverns of Virginia. When a musician presses a key on the organ, they send a signal to an electromagnet, which taps a rubber mallet against one of the stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

These stalactites cover a distance of 3.5 acres. That’s 14,164 square metres…or just over 2 and a half football fields!

However, to keep the organ in working order the operators must constantly battle damp and low temperatures. Parts of the organ are even coated in beeswax to prevent corrosion. The organ will also need retuning in a few hundred years, but thanks to its official government designation as a US Natural landmark, the organ will hopefully be around for a long time yet.

As you can see, there are some truly bizarre instruments in the world of music. But we at Stagefreight don’t see them as obstacles. We see them as exciting music transport challenges (well, perhaps not the Stalacpipe).

Whatever you’re looking to transport, Stagefreight is here to help. We’ve got plenty of experience transporting weird and wonderful items (over 25 years to be precise). And ensuring they arrive at their venue in perfect condition on time – every time – is what we do.

Once our drivers arrive, they’ll help to build stages and advise you on lighting choices. They become a part of your event team. And if you need to make a last-minute event change- or addition to an existing lineup- our music transport experts can step in and ensure the show goes on.

Call us now on 0113 797 898 to learn more about what we can do for your next show.