High Lights brings club intimacy outdoors with d&b’s KSL.
Delivering club-quality sound in an outdoor space surrounded by residential areas is no easy task – but RSH Audio have twice accepted the challenge for the High Lights Festival in Barking Park, using sound systems from d&b audiotechnik to create that intimate club experience with precision and control . . .
Setting the scene
High Lights is a design-conscious, top-quality open‑air electronic music festival held in East London’s Barking Park. Launched in 2024 by London-based promoter Percolate, the event is characterised by a striking audio-visual environment, where “architecture meets nature”, created by design studio Lucid Creates. The inaugural event attracted a crowd of 7,000.
Setting Objectives
Great sound is an absolute priority. The three-day gathering draws top dance music talent and promises an experience that is both visually and sonically stunning. The Installation Stage delivers smooth, powerful coverage throughout its 60m x 18m outdoor area, while providing the ‘indoor’-style intimacy and punch of a top-tier nightclub.
The RSH Audio team, led by director Joe Haycocks, had to design an audio system which would provide that sought-after club-style level and intimacy, plus a quality, even coverage across the audience area, while working within the constraints of the rigging options available. What’s more, because Barking Park is bounded by residential areas, it is essential to limit any off-site noise emissions.
The Solution
RSH Audio, a long-time user of d&b systems, fulfilled the audio remit for the first event in 2024 using a d&b KSL system, brand new to its inventory that summer. For this year’s High Lights return, RSH rose to the challenge again, repeating the success of the debut event.
The system employed for both years consisted of KSL main hangs, optimised via d&b ArrayCalc software. These were complemented by SL-SUBs, while V-Series delays in six positions, plus a selection of YP and VP boxes as additional fills, completed the sound’s rich ‘club’ feel.
Elsewhere, the secondary space, the Monument Stage, was served by d&b V-Series mains, supported by SL-SUBs, and with V-Series delays. When it came to off-site noise concerns, they were able to provide the required assurance using d&b NoizCalc to predict and mitigate far-field noise propagation.
It was a fantastic show,” Joe Haycocks, RSH Audio’s project manager, “and something which felt very new and special in London’s festival scene.”
He adds, “I genuinely believe that ArrayCalc, NoizCalc, and of course the fantastic pattern control of all the products make d&b a clear forerunner when you have such tough briefs!”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Following the inaugural event, Haycocks said, “It’s super rare in London to receive so many great comments about the sound at an inner-city, year one festival!”
Simon Denby, speaking on behalf of High Lights’ promoter, Percolate, says, “RSH Audio have continued to blow us away with some unparalleled levels, while still delivering exceptional clarity at High Lights. The feedback from audience and artists playing has been incredibly positive.”
