The show goes on for Foo Fighters with L-Acoustics

An L-Acoustics K1/K2 PA system is accompanying Foo Fighters on their latest North American tour, supplied by Delicate Productions.

Following a fall from the stage during a show in Gothenburg, Sweden resulting in a broken leg for the band’s frontman, Grohl and his bandmates are now on the road again for the 43-date North American leg of their Sonic Highways tour, which kicked off – with the singer/guitarist seated on a massive motorised throne (pictured) – on 4 July at Washington, D.C.’s RFK Stadium.

“We have partnered with Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Special Event Services (SES) for the K1 enclosures,” said Delicate Productions president Jason Alt, noting that the company has taken the same approach for tours in the past based on the broad acceptance of L-Acoustics’ K1 system.

The system’s main hangs used for the stadium gigs consist of 16 K1 enclosures atop four K2 down enclosures per side, buttressed by either three delay towers featuring 16 K2s or two towers using 20 K2s, depending on the layout of the venue. In arenas, the system is slightly scaled back, with 14 K1 enclosures atop four K2 down boxes, 12 more K2 for out fill arrays, five Kara enclosures for front fill across the stage lip, and Kara and ARCS boxes for side fills.

A total of 42 SB28 subs are deployed for the stadium shows and 14 for the arena system configuration. These are stacked due to Foo Fighters’ longtime FOH mixer Bryan Worthen’s preference. LA8 amplified controllers housed in 12 LA-RAKs power and process all systems.

With Delicate taking delivery of K2 at the end of June, Alt says it feels good to be part of the L-Acoustics family: “The way we had been doing it in the past had been part of a strategy that saw us invest in other directions,” he remarked, explaining how sub-renting the L-Acoustics systems had enabled them to balance themselves in the larger ecosystem of tour sound.

“It created some important strategic relationships with other companies. But it was a good time to make the move with the K2. Not just for the band, but because of L-Acoustics’ market acceptability, which was the main reason – it’s the number-one name we see on riders now.”

Alt describes the K2 acquisition as a strategic advantage, citing the fact that the K2 delivers the K1 sonic signature in a smaller, lighter form factor, which reduces transportation costs. “That’s also going to be important for corporate shows, which make up the next largest part of our business,” he explained, adding that clients had been asking about the availability of the K2s even before they arrived at his warehouse. “It’s going to be a very busy system. It’s turning out to be a very promising investment.”

As for Foo Fighters’ opening show in D.C., which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the band’s debut album and followed sets from Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr., Heart, Joan Jett, LL Cool J, Trombone Shorty and RDGLDGRN, Alt added, “The show went great. Bryan had a good show and was very happy at the end of the night. I got to mix the opening act, so it gave me chance to evaluate the system as well. I couldn’t be happier with the K2 investment that Delicate has made and was blown away by the performance.”

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