Clair Global

50 years ago, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman were set to fight in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), in the legendary "Rumble in the Jungle." To promote the fight, a three-day music festival was organized by South African musician Hugh Masekela and American producer Stewart Levin. Zaire ‘74 featured African artists and American performers like James Brown, B.B. King, and Bill Withers. Although an injury delayed the fight, the festival went ahead from September 22-24, 1974.   Clair was chosen to provide sound for the event through a connection with lighting director Bill McManus. Engineers Bill Darlington, Trip Khalaf, and David Hendel were tasked with the gig. Before the event, Darlington and Khalaf transported gear from Lititz to New York, where it was air freighted to Africa. Hendel, working in London, later joined them in Kinshasa.   Upon arriving, Hendel struggled to find the crew due to a lack of information and language barriers. Eventually, he located Darlington and Khalaf, who had already finished loading in the sound system with the help of U.S. union workers. The venue required structural support, and locals worked hard to reinforce it with concrete. Clair’s S-4 loudspeakers, which had debuted months earlier, were stacked on platforms made of ¾" mahogany plywood.   Rehearsals were intense, and engineers experimented with ways to mic traditional African instruments. On day two, a water leak shut down the main cooling supply for the generators, causing them to overheat. When the backup generators were used, half of the PA system failed, and the crew had to adjust the speakers to cover the loss.   During the event, the political climate was sensitive, prompting safety concerns. A film crew encountered difficulties with military personnel while filming, which heightened the crew's caution. After the final performance, the load-out was rushed, and Khalaf recalled personally forklifting equipment to ensure their swift departure.   Despite the challenges, Zaire ’74 remains a key moment in Clair’s history, thanks to a skilled team of problem solvers who ensured unforgettable performances. 📷: Dave Hendel

Adele’s Munich Residency is an incredible example of what - collectively - our industry can achieve. We are so proud to have played a part in this history-making production as our Audio, Comms, Radios and Data Services teams worked across the most anticipated and ambitious outdoor concert series of the year. The huge feat - attended by 800,000 fans - was led by Production Manager Paul English, and required many complex, large-scale and bespoke technical solutions. This called for extensive planning and expert execution from the Clair Global organization’s teams in North America, the UK and mainland Europe. Here's to unwavering teamwork! Britannia Row Productions Limited  BBM Clair  AudioRent Clair GmbH  PA: L-Acoustics  Consoles: DiGiCo  RF: Wisycom Inc  Comms: RIEDEL Communications  📷: 1-5: Stufish 6: Alexandra Waespi

We want to give a huge congratulations to the team behind Billy Joel: The 100th - Live at Madison Square Garden for bringing home three Creative Arts Emmys! We’re excited to celebrate their wins for: 🎤 Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special 🎥 Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special 💡 Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special – special shoutout to our buddy, Steve Cohen! And we’re especially proud of our colleagues, Brian Ruggles (FOH Mixer) and Josh Weibel (Monitor Mixer) for their Emmy win in Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series. Brian and Josh - your dedication and expertise are truly inspiring. After 52 years (Brian) and 15 years (Josh) of working alongside Billy Joel, your commitment to excellence continues to elevate every performance. Of course, a heartfelt thank you to the entire audio team who have supported Billy Joel’s historic MSG residency—you’ve helped bring these unforgettable moments to life.

Help us congratulate the latest graduates of our RIT program! Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll have on the road. To all the seasoned pros already out there, what’s one piece of advice you’d give our newest team members? Drop your wisdom below! ⬇️ Pictured (L to R): Bret Fouliard, Gabe Georges, Jacob Sinay, Phoenix Dellaria, Ryan Sutton, Cole O'Malley, Audrey Jachimowicz, Josh Tenner, Chris Heric, Donovan Friedman

AJR took on their first-ever arena tour, earning high praise from fans across 43 cities, and our crew was there to support them every step of the way. When fans come out to a show, we owe it to them to deliver the best experience possible — and our team delivered night after night. A huge thank you to all the crew members who made this tour a success! Crew: Noah Silverman Erik Rodstol Michael Grabarczk  Michael Mangan Jr Ryan Harding  Gerard Albo  Manufacturers: PA: L-Acoustics   Consoles: Avid , DiGiCo

After 11 months, 65 shows, and countless hours of work, this record-breaking tour has come to an end. Huge thanks to everyone who made every moment extraordinary. We’re honored to work with the best crews and couldn’t be more proud of everything this team has accomplished. Crew: John Buitrago Lucas Kinney  Paul Jump Luis Rivera Zoilo Rodriguez Ryan Hannon Jon Haliwell Felipe Araque Haff Ey Alejandro Martinez Andrew Bizzozero Marcelo Telefanko Santiago Bizzozero Robinson Barerra Cassie Sever John Giacumuzzi Manufacturers: PA: Cohesion

Noah Kahan's 2024 "We'll All Be Here Forever" tour has showcased his incredible ability to connect with his audience and create an intimate atmosphere, even in massive venues. We're honored to have been able to help Noah connect with his fans by providing audio for this tour. A huge thank you to the entire audio crew (and the rest of the crew for that matter) for creating spaces that allowed fans to connect with their favorite songs and create lasting memories. #repost @joellivesey ・・・ Some highlights from the last few months touring with @noahkahanmusic - so many people work tireless to make these shows happen, too many thank everyone here… but I want to give special recognition to this audio team that absolute crushed these shows every night! First and foremost thank you Noah! Thank you for believing in me and allowing me the honour of mixing your show, working with you has been the highlight of my career! Thank you @drewsimmons @ryanlangloismus & @natefutral for giving me this opportunity! Thank you @gabesimonsays for being my partner in crime and always having my back! Thank you @sthom_sound for making the PA sound incredible every single night, despite some really challenging venues and conditions. Thank you @bredanggirl for building the FOH system which is a work of art, hasn’t had a single issue despite the punishment we put it through and always being my extra pair of ears when I’ve lost perspective. @dandoesaudio & @gonzalopintado for their tireless work flying a giant PA, again often in some really challenging venues and conditions. The entire stage audio team @clarkcwright holding it down on MONS w/ @frank_clayton_audio RF Tech & Chris Neimeyer MON Tech. Shoutout to @clairglobal for providing a world class audio package and crew. The incredible Backline team @thehonestthief @astrobelter85 @julien.laferriere & @derektaylorjones. Last but not least the incredible band who continue to get better every night and have been such a pleasure to mix @actuallydylanjones @akbach @marcosvallesmusic @noahintheopen & @nina.dv

Straight off the back of Hans Zimmer’s sold-out shows, Clair UAE’s team was engaged by production company A Loud Minority on behalf of Waterbomb Festival, a water-themed outdoor event in Dubai showcasing K-Pop, Hip-Hop and DJ talent.  Leveraging our unique positioning in the Middle East and our reputation for delivering top-tier production solutions, our experts provided a turnkey solution for this high-energy festival, including PA, control package, RF and comms. George Forsyth looked after the system, sharing FOH mixing duties with Dana Beaudin, while Mark ‘Magic’ Ellis Cope coordinated the RF and Comms. Clinton Hattingh mixed all artists. Read more about the event at https://lnkd.in/euNXuaGh   Clair Team: Al Woods - Account Executive George Forsyth – Project Manager/Systems Engineer Dana Beaudin – Audio HOD/FOH Mix Engineer Rob Turner - Comms System Design Clinton Hattingh – Monitor Mix Engineer Mark ‘Magic’ Ellis Cope – RF/Comms Engineer Nawaz Ali, Nadeem Ali– PA/ Stage Techs Manufacturers: PA : L-Acoustics  Consoles: DiGiCo  RF: Shure Incorporated  Comms: RIEDEL Communications

"UFC has established significant commercial partnerships with Saudi Arabia, and having successfully serviced their live entertainment debut in the country, Clair Global is well-placed to work across more of these major live sporting events in the region." Al Woods, COO - Clair Global UAE Clair Global had the privilege of being part of the UFC's historic debut in Saudi Arabia at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh. With 15,000 fans cheering on the UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs Aliskero, we delivered an unparalleled audio experience and RF system. Our team, led by Regional Manager Stu Wright, meticulously planned and executed the in-the-round setup, ensuring audio that was both punchy and clear for those in attendance. Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming a global hub for live sports and entertainment, and we are excited to continue supporting events in the region. PA: Cohesion RF: Shure Incorporated  Console: Professional Audio - Yamaha Corporation of America

We’re thrilled to have supplied a control package and top-notch audio personnel along with Britannia Row Productions Limited for Paolo Nutini's summer run. From Jazzablanca (Morocco), Electric Castle (Romania), and Inmusic (Croatia) to a headlining show at Yorkshire's Tramlines in England, our crew ensured festival-goers all across Europe got an exceptional audio experience. We believe it's not the gear but the people that make all the difference. Thank you to all the crew for their hard work and dedication. This wouldn't be possible without you! Re-visit our work with this team's 2023 headline tour ‘Last Night In The Bittersweet’ at:  https://lnkd.in/etNBAguq Audio Crew: Monitor Engineer - Grace Howat FOH Engineer - Ben Findlay Audio Crew Chief - Chad Chadwick Clair Global Acc Exec - Andy Walker Britannia Row Ops – Joshua Thomas Manufacturers:  Monitor Console: Allen & Heath FOH Console: Solid State Logic 📷: 1: Paolo Nutini at Tramlines, UK 2: Ben Findlay 3: Grace Howart (photo by @svn_pht)  4: Chad Chadwick