Off Rhythm

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The 2008 Desert Rhythm Festival only produced ticket sales of 6300 compared to 15,000 in 2007.

Although the Desert Rhythm Festival (DRF) was relocated to a new and larger venue at Dubai Festival City this year, the much-anticipated festival struggled to achieve the same level of success as last year’s sell-out Media City amphitheatre event.

The 2007, two-day, DRF attracted capacity crowds of 15,000 on both days, while this year's event, which was originally scheduled to take place over a two-day program was cut back to a one day event, only produced ticket sales of 6,300.

Event organiser Centre Stage Management (CSM) said while ticket sales were less than anticipated they were happy with the overall running of the event and that the new site provided a satisfactory venue for the festival.

CSM's vice president Lara Teperdjian, says she was "honoured" to have the former frontman of British rock band, The Jam, Paul Weller headlining the festival, along with other international acts The Wailers, Bob Marley's original band with Elan Atias on lead reggae vocals; Caribbean party-kings, Kassav', as well as other local UAE bands.

While, Teperdjian says the combined performances made for a "fantastic live show", some fans were less enthusiastic and voiced disappointment about the poor sound quality that marred Paul Weller's live set.

Head of audio for Access All Areas' (AAA), Burak Altunay, ran FOH for DRF and engineered the live sets for the local UAE bands while, Weller, The Wailers, and Kassav' all brought in their own sound engineers for the festival.

Altunay says some fans thought Weller's set was "too loud" for the venue, which averaged 105dB compared to a 90dB level for the other bands, while others thought it was "harsh overall".

Sources suggested the sound issues that plagued the set had more to do with the fact Weller's regular sound engineer was not present at DRF for unforeseen reasons, which forced Weller to make a last-minute change and opt for a replacement engineer.

Unfortunately, the crew substitution created issues with the audio reproduction that were well-noted by the assembled crowd.

As the over-amplified sound reverberated around the site bouncing-off neighbouring buildings, it was all too obvious to not only Weller but to the entire audience that something had gone amiss.

Altunay says equipment performance or failure was not to blame for the poor sound quality during Weller's set, but more so the evident lack of experience and judgment shown by the engineer.

"Normally, suppliers of whatever brand in Dubai or anywhere else would supply you, to their best intent and ability, what you ask for and what you specify as engineers and as artists. But, what one does from that point on is a matter of choice," he says adding that despite Weller's set, the other bands were happy with the production.

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