Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres gigantic world tour, which is led by Production Manager Chris Kansy, relied on Clair Global for comms and IT. Clair Global designed a comms system comprising 2 x Riedel Communications Artist64 digital intercom network frames, 50 x Bolero wireless belt packs, and 6 x panels. The band’s busy Showcaller, Julia Whittle, communicates via Clair’s main show channel, which has a one-way transmit to some 200 Motorola radios, while multiple radio interfaces are deployed to offer seamless coverage for distant positions, such as pyrotechnic gags, which, on a production of this size, can be fired from up to 400m away from the stage.
Clair Global RF Technician Turner Pollari says: “Each of the Motorola base stations offers two-way communication from our Artist system, Bolero, and radios. With simple fiber runs, it offers us the ability to easily change how we deploy the system. Additionally, with the support of Luminex switches, we can be flexible and quick with changes.
“We take an uplink from the IT printer rack at the stage that provides internet to each Luminex in the comms system, making it easier in a crowded stadium to access apps and other means of communication.”
At every show, a third Reidel Artist64 system lives in ‘video world’, managed by the band’s Video Systems Engineer Chris Farrants. “This enables an easy solution to integrate the engineering, camera, and LED teams, which all live on a Clair Global Bolero system,” Pollari explains. “A further 8 x 4 wire lines are shared with Audio/RF Tech James Smallwood, who runs yet another Artist system that provides panels for the audio and backline departments. The AES67 trunkline also ensures the crew can use the Bolero antennas.”
A key requirement for the team’s huge shows in India was to accommodate a 100-person live stream crew; a Disney+ Hotstar‘s team livestreamed from Ahmedabad for a 3-hour broadcast. Clair Global interfaced 8 x 4 wire lines to keep this team in the loop on how the live concert production was unfolding, ensuring every department could work seamlessly. The Disney+ team had 30 x Bolero on their own network, bringing the total to 80 x Bolero in 1.9 for the Indian shows alone.
“Having so many people with so many communication options means Coldplay’s shows run in a very polished manner,” continues Pollari. “Everything in this huge production is quickly conveyed, from tech to medical emergencies; every step allows for real-time updates.”
The back-of-house IT infrastructure is overseen by Clair’s Data Services Specialist Dalton Tyler, who deploys each IT rack strategically as well as the access points (APs) and SSIDs curated to each crew member’s workflow. Clair Global also creates encrypted networks for each tour department and production office, critically protecting both staff and artist data.
Tyler explains: “In Ahmedabad, we had 2 x Gbps data lines coming into the stadium from the local Internet service providers. Due to the number of people relying on us for data, we used two separate providers for each line, ensuring there was a backup plan. We have several different networks for various departments; management and dressing rooms are set up in advance, and I install up to 24 x Cisco Meraki APs to provide Wi-Fi to all other areas of the venue once on site.
“Other key networks are for the production office compounds, often servicing up to 20 offices, backstage, the stage, where we run APs throughout the underworld, and through our comms system to both FOH locations.”
Music of the Spheres, which has been crowned the highest-attended music tour of all time by the Guinness World Records, wrapped at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 8th.
