Top Christian artists and 10,000 Connecticut residents descended on the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT last night for “A Night of Hope & Healing,” a support concert for the region after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December. Lending their support for the event were audio provider Blackhawk Audio and manufacturers Meyer Sound and DiGiCo.
Running from 6:30 to roughly 10PM, the show included sets by TobyMac, Chris Tomlin, Mandisa, Laura Story, Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Building 429, as well as discussions during change-overs by authors and speakers Louie Giglio, Max Lucado, and Mary Beth Chapman.
Onstage, nearly every act addressed the fact that they performing cautiously, not wanting to potentially offend by playing music too upbeat or, conversely, to get too heavy-handed with slower material. The crowd was responsive, however, and generally there to feel uplifted
Backstage, there was an equal amount of concern that, having come to Bridgeport with the intention of providing support, that the show didn’t come off as opportunistic. Accordingly, the concert was free, no merchandise was sold and no charity appeals were made. In fact, the show’s promoter specifically asked Pro Sound News not to mention his name or company.
The audio companies involved were working along the same lines, though pleased to be a part of the event. Blackhawk Audio (Nashville, TN), which provides touring support for a number of the acts involved as well as noted CCM festivals, was on-hand with a four-man crew. Additional audio pros were present from Meyer Sound, looking after the LEO line array system and stage monitors fielded for the event; system drive and alignment for the LEO arrays was supplied by a Galileo Callisto loudspeaker management system.
Likewise, DiGiCo had staff onsite, looking after the SD5 consoles used at FOH and monitors, as well as an additional DiGiCo desk used for the free webcast, which at its peak, was sending out more than 23,000 streams around the world—many of them being watched in Connecticut churches. While tickets were allotted to different congregations, interest in the concert often outstripped ticket supply for the 10,000-seat arena, thus viewing events were held.
Look for a full article on the production in the February issue of Pro Sound News.
Blackhawk Audio
www.blackhawkaudio.com
Meyer Sound
www.meyersound.com
DiGiCo
www.digico.biz
