We had technical and artist rehearsals for Kings of Leon as they prepared for a UK tour and their huge BST show in Hyde Park in June.
Hello Magazine’s review of their “electrifying” performance noted how the stage was carefully designed to let the music speak for itself, with “vibrant backdrop of waterfalls and volcanoes, bringing an earthy and low-key dimension to the band's 105-minute setlist.”
While The Guardian’s review of their First Direct Arena show in Leeds said:
“This is a show that thrills an arena by shunning many staples of arena rock. There are no 30-foot robots or call-and-response routines. The visuals are beautifully but tastefully presented while Caleb’s chatter and stage moves – a fraction of an Elvis hip shake here, a marginal shimmy of the boot there – are so wonderfully minimal they’re almost hilarious.”
Kasabian also prepped for their homecoming show in July with tech and artist rehearsals in our studio. ‘Kasabian Summer Solstice II’ at Leicester’s Victoria Park was the follow up to their original Summer Solstice back in in 2014.
Leicestershire Live’s review of their “triumphant return” raved about the energy of the set stemming from their now single-frontman show: “With the smell of pyros in the air – and there were plenty throughout the hour-and-a-half set – Serge excelled. On the latest album, you tend to forget that he is not a lead singer by trade […] he’s a more dynamic frontman on stage.”
Closer to home, Biffy Clyro have been getting ready for the final headline show of this summer’s TK Maxx Presents Live at The Piece Hall series, followed by a headline slot at Victorious Festival in Southsea just two days later. In the historic, open-air courtyard of one of the region’s most unique venues, the 34-night concert series has broken previous box office records, on their way to selling out 200,000 tickets.
“The lights and lasers were bigger than anything I’ve seen at The Piece Hall in five years […] It’s become a venue where massive names in music can deliver unforgettable performances. And this Biffy Clyro gig was a perfect example.”
Photo: Mike Burrell
Another artist on their way back to a home crowd via the Production Park studios was singer-songwriter Gerry Cinnamon. Headlining TRNSMT Festival in July, the Glaswegian was a massive crowd-pleaser, with The Modern Record dubbing the show “a triumphant celebration of music and community.”
And we can’t talk about homecoming shows without mentioning New Order, who came to Production Park this summer to rehearse was their first full headline performance in Manchester since 2021 – Live From Wythenshawe Park, alongside Johnny Marr, Róisín Murphy and Nadine Shah.
“By the time the sun has set, New Order arrives in a haze of synthetic glory. As lasers fly over the mist-cloaked crowd, ‘Academic’ kicks things off on a high. Bernard Sumner’s distinctive voice melds with the rich, atmospheric instrumentals. ‘Crystal’ only amplifies the nightclub feel of the set, with disorienting colours engulfing the field, and screens flashing as distorted riffs pulse.” – On Magazine
Photo: Warren Jackson @wvk33
Finally Massive Attack also came through our doors before they hosted a groundbreaking carbon-free festival at Clifton Down in Bristol, which was powered by completely renewable energy, with compost toilets, 100% vegan food and no carpark – instead electric buses shuttled gig-goers back and forth from the station and the city.
“Carbon-zero was the aim of the event, fitting for a left-field city like Bristol and for a group who’ve always worn their politics proudly on their sleeve […] And it’s quite a show. The bombardment of messages from the huge flickering backdrop like the most right-on political airport departure message-board on earth, overwhelms. But it’s true to their form, highly relevant and important, putting many/most artists to shame with their silence on things that matter these days.” – Louder Than War
But it’s not all been music this summer, Audi hosted the Q6 E-Tron launch event in Studio 004, celebrating their new fully-electric SUV, while we’ve also facilitated two virtual production shoots with Russell Hobbs and Primark.
Local production company Tungsten Media collaborated with Ponderosa agency and the XPLOR team to create a TV commercial and socials for their longterm client Russell Hobbs.
And POC for Primark partnered with Leeds studio EDNA, for an ‘around the world in a day’ fashion campaign, traversing continents and seasons without leaving the studio/
If you want to work with us, hire our spaces or find out more about the Production Park studios, email studios@productionpark.co.uk or call +44(0)1977 659850.
Lead photo: Justin Ng
