Wednesday, at Stars n bar, a famous venue in Monaco, a press conference was held to present the concert. “It marks a change in Monaco. It’s a modern concert in the current rock scene with Muse and Kaiser Chiefs as the opening act,” proudly declared Jean-René Palacio, the artistic director of the concert.
The idea is not new. Genesis was supposed to perform at Louis II. Due to technical reasons (transport of equipment in semi-trailers) it was not possible to proceed. “After this issue, we proposed to build the stage ourselves,” explains Salim Zeghdar, the event’s producer. Huge screens, a massive stage, and acoustics worthy of the biggest global concerts. Every detail was carefully attended to. And the arrival of Muse is the icing on the cake with their latest album “Black Holes and Revelations,” which sold over 3 million copies worldwide six months after its release in 2006.
The young band Second Sex, three of whose four members are currently doing their baccalaureate exams and two of whom are brothers, livened up the press conference. Three songs, two in French and one in English, were enough to prove their talent. A meteoric rise. After playing for a long time to just a few dozen people in Parisian bars, they will have the honor of performing in front of several thousand people before Muse, for whom they have already opened. With Kaiser Chiefs and Muse, they will be an integral part of Monaco’s historic rock event.
Some details:
• 200 technicians (including roadies, turf-cover technicians, structure and stage technicians, sound, lighting, and video technicians, the production team, catering, drivers, etc.) per day will work on the organization of the concert between July 4 and July 15, with a peak of 400 people on-site on July 11 and 12, totaling 1400 meals served.
• No fewer than 25 semi-trailers for all technical aspects (turf covering, stage, lighting, sound, video).
• 4 and a half months of preparation for the show.
• A stage of 30 m x 20 m.
• 11,100 m² of protected surface area, with 8300 m² of turf and 2800 m² of tartan.
• For programming, both traditional and automated lighting, a 3D studio has been working on it for the past 3 weeks.
• 2 operators to control the light consoles and 3 spotlight operators who will cover the band “from all angles.”
• Sound quality: the V-DOSC system from L-Accoustics will be used, a system adapted to large concerts in stadiums.
• 2 additional full-day video screens of 6 m x 4 m on both sides of the stage to complement the one in the center of the stage (which belongs to Muse).
• The additional resources for sound, lighting, and video are equivalent to the productions of Céline Dion at Stade de France, Genesis or Madonna at Bercy, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Wembley.
The Muse concert also includes:
• A security device with 95 agents from Riviera Sécurité, reinforced by the Public Security of Monaco to ensure the best reception, access, and efficient and speedy ticket control.
• A medical setup with Monaco Firefighters and the Red Cross: 3 tents on the turf plus the usual stations in the stadium.
• Volunteers: 80 hostesses, 90 stadium stewards, etc.
