Katy Perry kicked off the massive charity gig in a revealing red ‘Minnie Mouse’ polka dot number.

15 other pop acts joined Katy at the event including: Calvin Harris, Alesha Dixon, Enrique, Ciara, The Noisettes, Shontelle, The Saturdays, Akon, Daniel Merriweather & Mark Ronson and Leona Lewis. James Morrison also performed on the show, along with Kelly Clarkson and the newly reformed Blue. Lionel Richie also popped by to say ‘Hello’. He was the man who, without fail, got the crowd dancing all night long.

JHL were contracted to provide backline equipment for the event and Alex Barclay, Steve Ramshaw,
Cyril Thomas & Steven Eagles were JHL’s technicians at the show, working extremely hard to turn around 16 acts in just six hours.

For more pictures and gossip on the day’s events please visit www.capitalradio.co.uk

For 4 days Lionel was all over London promoting his new album ‘Just Go’. JHL were in support every step of the way, from monitors to multiple duplications of backline. Have a look at how the days panned out:

Friday AM:
Load in across town for rehearsals with the band for all shows. The band was a cream of British session musicians including: Ian Thomas on Drums, Mike Dixon on Keys, Pete Callard on electric & acoustic guitar, Phil Mulford on Bass, Chukki also on Keys along with Chris Egan, Dave Holmes on Electric guitar and Genevieve Wilkins on percussion.

Saturday AM:
Sound check at the Emirates for Capital FM’s Summertime Ball.

Saturday PM:
Totally Saturday – Rehearse and record show

Sunday AM:
Rehearsals for Radio 2’s Ken Bruce show, while also pre-setting This Morning for Monday.

Sunday PM:
Then off to the Emirates Stadium to perform a 30min set followed by a duet of ‘Easy’ with Blue.

Monday AM:
A live to air performance at Maida vale for Ken Bruce show, then followed by a pre-record at London studios for This Morning.

Monday PM:
Finally… Lionel was interviewed and performed live to air on BBC’s The One Show.

JHL’s Project Manager Robert Harding and his team took care of business and included - Simon Panos on monitors for rehearsals, the Summertime Ball & Radio 2’s Ken Bruce show; Robin Tombs on monitors for This Morning and The One Show; Steven Eagles and Steve Ramshaw looking after the backline throughout.

Now that’s what you call a busy schedule!

Added to our Backline stock this month is the amazing AER Compact 60 MK11 acoustic combo.

Compact 60 was developed after the AcoustiCube on which its concept is based and it helped substantially to break out of the ‘boutique-corner’. We were able to prove to a bigger and increasingly more interested public that an all-round, small, powerful and yet simple complete solution for stage, studio and home use does exist and that it works up to the highest demands and standards.


See it at: http://www.aer-amps.info/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

"..... OK, OK, I know this story is long overdue but for those that know Bazz and ask about his whereabouts, better late than never...Bazz has finally hung up his "strings & things” and is now rocking and rolling in the USA. He has also recently married his ol' sweetheart Rosanne and we wish them well. Bazz had been "on the road" since 1958 and has worked for the likes of Santana, The Band, The Nice, Derek and the Dominoes, Medicine Head, Gary Glitter, Stiff Little Fingers, Iron Maiden, The Sex Pistols, and more recently Gary Moore in a long and eventful career.

Bazz came to work for JHL in 1982. He was part of the Backline Rental department but soon assumed the mantle of Department Manager. He is without doubt, one of the most knowledgeable guys in the business and so drawing on his experience in 1989 we set up "The ProShop". A "one stop shop" where rehearsing, gigging, touring and recording artistes could get just about any spares and equipment they needed from one place. No matter where they were, Bazz would always go out of his way to deliver the goods on time. There are many legendary stories of his exploits but we'll save these for another time. Taking up the reins at The ProShop is Bazz's assistant Mr Chris Griffiths, who has now developed his own knowledge of all things "accessories". John Henry's are about to open our very own “online" store so watch this space...................... "

The studio’s continue to be busy with old and new faces, including; Blur, Pixie Lott, Level 42, Incognito, Ali Campbell, Solange Knowles, Graham Coxon, Alesha Dixon, Florence Rawlings, Lady Gaga, Yeah You, Julian Perretta, John Barrowman and preparing for his sold out gig at the Royal Albert Hall “Joe Bonamassa”. Joe’s new album is titled The Ballad of John Henry, so where better to rehearse than here?

John Henry's are the first and only UK company to acquire one of these amazing kits, in recent years, a return to vintage musical instruments is a universal tide in all genre of music. To respond to this trend. CANOPUS presents their NEO-Vintage series.

For more info: http://www.canopusdrums.com/en/drumproducts/neovintage/kit/index.html

At a time when Retro is as hip as ever, Gretsch embellishes the retro vibe by offering a true new professional drum set in the New Classic series. Featuring proportionate Gretsch-formula maple shells, this drum-set produces a vintage Gretsch tonality while giving these drums their own distinctive sound.

See them at http://www.gretsch.com/drums/index.html

With the introduction of the Nord Electro 3, the legacy of the original Electro and the know-how that have shaped some of the other Nord models have been combined. The Electro 3 features a new organ section, a new piano section, new effects and also a new exciting feature that allows the Electro 3 to use any samples from the Nord Wave library. The Nord Electro’s first adventure for John Henry’s is the Solange Knowles UK and European tour.

More info: http://www.nordkeyboards.com/main.asp?tm=Products&clpm=Nord_Electro_3

The Gibson CJ 165 ROSEWOOD is one of the new additions to our stock. The 6-String Mini Jumbo Acoustic Guitar is the stunning modern classic series model. It’s small-body shape is the evolution of the iconic SJ-200. For more info please click here: www.gibson.com For an example of how the CJ-165 sounds, have a look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS9NRTbZWPQ

The Gibson Songwriter Deluxe Acoustic-Electric Guitar has the traditional square-shouldered small dreadnought Gibson body style and sound. The premium Sitka spruce top on Indian rosewood back and sides produce wonderful resonance with tonal integrity.

See all the info at http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/songwriter-deluxe-standard/