News

Reading Orgainisers Defend Sound Quality

• 1st Sep 2009

Melvin Benn, boss of Reading Festival, has spoken in defence of the sound issues which some fans complained about at this year’s event, blaming it on the weather conditions.

Some bands that played on the Main Stage suffered apparently fluctuating volume. Despite some fans complaining of the sound being too quiet, Benn said that the volume was louder than last year, but was effected by adverse weather conditions.

“To be fair, the sound has been massively better. Last year we were having to run so low that it wasn’t possible, that hasn’t been the case this year. Generally, we’ve been running between 101 and 103 decibels, sometimes 107, amazing.

“The only issue has been there have been massive gusts of wind which can pick up the sound and throw it away. That’s not a sound issue per se. Some people will have noticed on Friday we had to drop the screens on the Main Stage because of the wind. The sound has been pretty remarkable, the gusts of wind have been difficult. It’s generally a British summer issue.”