As the UK City of Culture 2025, Bradford is playing host to an extensive programme of events in the arts and entertainment field. With a rich and diverse cultural heritage as the backdrop to a year of celebration, Bradford 2025 has invested in a number of existing and new creative spaces to expand opportunities for people to engage in cultural events. One such flagship venue is the aptly named Loading Bay, a multi-use arts centre located in a repurposed warehouse.
Music, comedy, talks, exhibitions, immersive theatre and even live video-gaming take place across its two performance spaces and gallery. To ensure the best possible experience for artists, performers, and audiences, the Bradford 2025 technical team turned to Bradford-based production specialists Pro Audio Systems (PAS) to specify and install a full suite of audio and video technologies. Local expertise and responsive service were key to the appointment, which included a front-of-house audio system from EM Acoustics.
“The timeframe around the City of Culture status meant that things had to progress very quickly with everyone hitting the ground running and pulling in the same direction. That’s exactly what happened,” says Dave Simpson of PAS. “The technical team at Loading Bay came to us with a comprehensive list of their requirements, some of which were very specific and some of which they wanted to discuss. Loading Bay accepted our recommendations for a number of aspects of the project, most significantly the EM Acoustics front of house PA system, as well as the zoned system, which takes care of the gallery audio and paging throughout the venue.”
PAS specified a high-performance front-of-house system from EM Acoustics for the venue’s main 200-capacity theatre. The setup features a flown pair of EM Acoustics R8 compact passive three-way loudspeakers, supported by R4s as front fills and R5s as delay speakers. Low-frequency reinforcement is handled by two S-15 compact reflex subwoofers, all powered by an EM Acoustics Di20 installation amplifier, ensuring complete integration and sonic consistency.
“We’ve deployed EM Acoustics systems on several projects and felt that the R8s would precisely meet the needs of the space,” continues Simpson. “Having rigged the system, we weren’t disappointed, and neither was the Loading Bay team. Since the venue opened, they have had numerous compliments from technicians and audience members about how good the sound is.”
To complement the EM Acoustics FOH system, PAS supplied monitors from RCF and an Allen & Heath Avantis Solo mixing console along with a stage box and expander. The full audio inventory also includes a versatile stock of Shure, DPA, AKG, and Sennheiser microphones for both wired and wireless applications and Radial DI boxes, and a wide selection of stands by K&M. A Sennheiser MobileConnect assistive listening system ensures accessibility across performances.
“The project began in October 2024 with a tight deadline for its first event in March this year, with Pro Audio Systems brought in to handle the audio and video installations for the theatre, gallery, FOH areas, and other event spaces,” says George Jackson, Venue Technical Manager at Loading Bay. “From the start, the PAS team demonstrated a clear understanding of the brief and delivered a smooth, detail-oriented install. The venue hosts a wide range of performances, and feedback on the audio system’s clarity has been overwhelmingly positive.”