Earlier this year we took a call from John Warren, production manager for Brian Wilson, asking if we could assist him with a potential acoustic show that Brian would be playing in early July in London.

As time went by the initial quote for a small PA system developed into a full production for an intimate acoustic performance by Brian and three of his splendid musicians (Jeff Foskett, Darian Sahanaja and Scott Bennett), at One Alfred Place on July 2nd. The gig celebrated the launch of Genesis Publications new collector's book and print set containing a series of original collages by the legendary artist Sir Peter Blake, illustrating the songs on Brian's recent album That Lucky Old Sun.

To make the event happen, JHL's Pepin Clout and his crack team - Robin Tombs, Trevor Dawkins, Kevin Ludlam, Rick Marquis-Hicks, Mike Duscinski, Ash Arundell, Simon Roberts and John Dussek provided and installed the PA, backline, stage, lighting and a video relay to an audience overflow area for clients of Genesis Publications. The excited and enthusiastic audience was treated to a superb ten song set comprising:

Roll Around Heaven
California Girls
Don't Worry Baby
Surfin USA
Do It Again
In My Room
God Only Knows
Midnight's Another Day
Going Home
Southern California

That Lucky Old Sun by Brian Wilson and Sir Peter Blake - a signed, handmade, limited edition box set of 1,000 copies is available only through Genesis Publications; www.genesis-publications.com. Tel +44(0)1483 540970. Pre-publication Price: £900.

One of JHL’s Robert Harding’s many summer projects was to supply a complete backline, monitor system, rolling risers and FOH desk w/control for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds appearances at Glastonbury and Latitude festivals.

Ably supported by sound technicians Simon Panos & Pete Veness, backline technicians Matt Caley (Glastonbury) & Trevor Dawkins (Latitude), Robert found fine weather and never had to break out his wellingtons and sou'wester. Even more entertaining than the show itself were the crew's fellow guests at the accommodation provided for the crew at Latitude:

..and speaking of Latitude, once again JHL were contracted by Festival Republic to supply a large selection of backline and rolling risers for this year's festival, trucking a 45' Artic to site stuffed to the gills. Pepin Clout co-ordinated the project for JHL, working closely with Nick Davies from Festival Republic to ensure all his requirements for the festival were fully covered. Jamie Pentlow and his team in the JHL Backline department did a first-class job preparing the equipment for the festival in record time, especially as they had two other festivals (T4 on the Beach and Shoreditch Festival) to contend with that same weekend, never mind all the regular rentals and one-off backlines for other shows and events.

Once again, JHL's Backline supremo Tark Bates put together an all encompassing package to cover the two stages at Weston Super Mare's annual T4 on the Beach extravaganza. Sporting the sunblock and JHL logo, Alex Barclay, Matt Caley, Steven Eagles and Nigel Reavill followed the big red truck down to the coast for a weekend of kiss-me-quick hats and pop & rock, doling out the backline to a number of top turns including:


Gossip, JLS, N-Dubz, Tinchy Stryder, Taio Cruz, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Alesha Dixon, Calvin Harris, Florence & the Machine, Metro Station, Ironik ft Chipmunk, Will Young, Shontelle, Basement Jaxx, Diversity, Daniel Merriweather, Noisettes, The Saturdays and finally Dizzee Rascal.

Featuring on the 4Music Stage included: Tommy Reilly, Fightstar, Paloma Faith, The Maxxabees, Newham Generals ft Dizzee Rascal, Hockey, Little Boots and the Enemy.

Jamie Pentlow and his team in the JHL Backline department set to work again at the beginning of the month with JHL supplying hit making artist and songwriter R. Kelly with full backline and mic’s for his two shows in Lagos, Nigeria for the THISDAY Music Festival which was part of his Africa tour. This was his first tour of the African continent, courtesy of his participation in the ARISE African Fashion Awards. The awards shows and galas also took place in Johannesburg, South Africa which was serviced by our colleges, SA Backline Co in JoBurg.

The Backline spec included Keyboards: Yamaha Motif 8's, Roland X7's + V-Synth GT + VK7, Korg Trinity V3, + MS2000B, Bass: SWR SM900 + Goliath cabs, Guitar: Mesa boogie Dual Rec + cabs, Akai MPC4000 + Z4's, Drums: DW Black Velvet collectors series kit, Sabain cymbals and not forgetting the Porkpie drum throne.

The TC Electronic M3000 has some of the best sounding, most versatile and easy-to-use professional reverbs for music and film/post applications combining ultimate control of directivity in the early reflections with a transparent and harmonically magnificent diffused field; the art of reverberation is brought to a new and higher level.

TC Electronic M3000 main features include:

• Dual-engine reverb-unit


• 600 factory presets


• Multiple I/O formats


• Recommended for for music and film/post applications


• Effects available: Reverb, Delay, Pitch, Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo, Panner, Phaser, De-Esser, Expander/Gate, Compressor

The Moog Little Phatty Stage II is a monophonic analog synth with a massive sound, designed by Moog founder and inventor, Bob Moog.

Moog Little Phatty Stage II puts the performer in control of a 100 percent analog signal path, two ultra stable Voltage Controlled Oscillators, a Voltage Controlled Filter and other versatile features like an external audio input, CV and KB gate inputs and a full MIDI controller.

Additionally, the Little Phatty Stage II boasts great new features including; MIDI over USB, MIDI Clock Sync, an Arpeggiator, Tap Tempo and a stylish Black Finish.

More info: http://www.moogmusic.com/littlephatty/?section=product&product_id=21113&back_id=227

Roland’s original V-Synth set a new standard in expressive synthesis and sound design. It won awards and acclaim around the world, as it forever changed the way sounds were created and performed. But just when you thought V-Synth technology had reached its peak, Roland raised the bar even higher with the new flagship V-Synth GT! This unique instrument injects the V-Synth’s famous Elastic Audio Synthesis engine with revolutionary Articulative Phrase Synthesis technology. Its expression and realism is unprecedented, as is its ability to make never-before-heard sounds.

More info: http://www.roland.com/products/en/V-Synth_GT/index.html

JHL now have in stock….the new VIRUS Total Integration (TI) Line of synthesizers, leading the world in a completely new direction with musical instrument and pro-audio convergence.

TOTAL INTEGRATION uses innovative technology to greatly expand the VIRUS Synthesizer, resulting in an advanced stage/standalone instrument, while simultaneously extending the product capabilities with a suite of compelling studio integration features.

Read more: http://www.access-music.de/page/render/lang/en/p/54/do/Virus_TI2_series_feature_overview.html

John Henry's have been appointed the sole UK & European Main Dealer & Distributor of Ultracase. Due to popular demand, JHL have expanded their holding stock of these original US made cases which are used by many UK and US artistes and are of the highest quality.

Vault and Road cases are available on requested for more information please see www.ultracase.com

Legendary US southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has just finished their first tour of the UK and Europe in seven years to support their new album God & Guns, due out later this year on Loud & Proud / Roadrunner Records.

Their sold-out London show at Brixton Academy rocked out to a full house with new material and old favourites, closing the show with “Sweet Home Alabama” & "Freebird" still sounding as fresh as it did way back when first released.

Tour manager Steve Voudouris got in touch with Pepin Clout at JHL to supply all the band’s backline and guitar radio systems for the run. Amongst the comprehensive range of vintage and contemporary pieces supplied was the mighty new Korg M3 88 note workstation which is now added to our inventory!

Link: http://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com/?module=reviews_tour&id=71
More info on Korg M3