Supplying the 2017 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Evans Audio Visual Staging provided equipment and scenic elements across the whole site of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta – the biggest event of its kind in Europe – 10th-13th August, 2017.

Hundreds of thousands of people visited Ashton Court, on the edge of Bristol, during the four-day Fiesta, and Evans was involved in multiple locations across the large site, normally a country park.

For the Balloonists’ Marquee, where pilots gathered several times each day for all-important briefings, Evans supplied six Nexo PS8 speakers, hung from Utopium’s truss, for background music and announcements. These were relayed using Shure hand-held radio microphones and a Yamaha QL1 mixing desk. Evans provided a 42inch screen which was used for presentations in the media suite.

Multiple LED screens were placed around the Fiesta site to carry live close-ups from the displays, sponsor adverts, content for radio presenters who were broadcasting live from the site and public announcements. Evans operated the video content, which was sent to the screens using two Panasonic HE60 Hot Head cameras, an RP50 controller, two Macbook Pros which ran Playback Pro and a Datavideo HS2000 vision mixer.

A giant ‘Bristol’ sign stood over the main arena at the Fiesta, provided by Evans and lit up at night by Utopium. In the Members’ Enclosure, where financial supporters of the Fiesta and VIP guests enjoyed close-up views of the balloon launches and aerial displays as well as corporate dining, Evans supplied several pieces of equipment.

This included two Samsung DM65e 65inch screens which were mounted onto scenic flats to create a conference set, which was used in the breakfast events and the Chairman’s Address. Also for the breakfast meetings, a QSC K8 PA system with five Audio Technica es935 microphones, all controlled on a Yamaha QL1 Mixing Console, were delivered.

Evans also installed a 65inch Samsung screen which was mounted on the TV wall in the Energy Lounge and for or audio playback and video/presentations a Barco PDS902 switcher and three Lenovo laptops were used.

The Energy Lounge was the Fiesta hub for Bristol Energy, the event’s leading sponsor for 2017. Here, graphics and prints were mounted over scenic flats to create a visual display for the company. Graphics were also printed onto canvas by Evans for use as the welcome wall for the Members’ Enclosure.

Finally, at the Fiesta’s Reception area, scenic flats covered with a single printed canvas provided a welcome wall where a 40inch Samsung LED screen supplied by Evans was also mounted.

Evans AV Staging’s Reg Evans comments: “Being a Bristol-based company it was a privilege to be part of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, which is such a prestigious event in the city’s events calendar.”