Bristol's largest independent music venue renews its sound with KV2

The complete renovation carried out in The Fleece has opted for the audio technology of KV2. Two boxes of 3 VHD2.0 pathways, eight passive subwoofers out of 18′ VHD4.18 and a pair of EX12 infills.

The Fleece has been offering live music and disco nights from 1982, so it is not surprising that the facilities, including the public address system, will need an update. The ambitious project consisted of a complete redesign of the interior, including a new larger stage with new Led screens, new lighting systems and a sound system KV2.

Located in an old sheep market, now a listed building, The Fleece is Bristol's largest independent music venue, where artists such as Radiohead have performed, Oasis, Muse, Jeff Buckley, Coldplay, Sea Girls, Amy Winehouse, Frank Carter & Rattlesnakes, Queens Of The Stone Age, George Ezra and Ed Sheeran.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced temporary closure, saw the opportunity to perform a complete renovation.

The Technical Director, Rich Munday, explains that the previous public address system had been operating at full capacity for twenty years, so it was time to update it.

“The forced closure caused by the Covid-19 pandemic was the opportunity to renovate the premises from top to bottom. The first time I heard the KV2 PA in action was at a demo in Plasa 2019. The sound was above all I had heard, and I mentally took note that if ever the opportunity arose to get a new PA for The Fleece, would recommend".

Munday also wanted this to differentiate itself from others located in the city of Bristol.. “I felt that if we wanted to be better, we had to be different. While other locals have opted for line arrays, I prefer a point source system: with its well-defined high-end, is more immediate and has much more glue “.

After consultation with the KV2 team, Munday opted for a pair of mid/treble boxes of 3 Way VHD2.0 complemented by eight passive subwoofers out of 18′ VHD4.18 and a couple of infills EX12.

“He had already created a 3D digital model of the premises for the remodeling, So, once we had a specific KV2 solution in mind, I was able to add it to the virtual model to check the exact fit and audio coverage requirements”.

Munday points out that reactions to the system, both visiting engineers and the public, have been nothing but positive.

“Any coverage problems with our old public address system have been solved with the KV2 system, especially at the front of the audience. Voices are clear and legible throughout the auditorium, but the compact format of the speaker systems means that the public address system does not dominate the performance space. Public feedback has been very positive. They notice the difference and like the immersive experience”.

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