JUNE 2023

My job certainly does take me to some weird and wonderful places. As I write, I have just come down from the roof of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall and when I say the roof, I mean the roof! It provided me with a bird’s eye view of the site of Eurovision’s Turquoise Carpet event and the Lotto’s Big Eurovision Welcome, just two events to grace the city in celebration of the largest international singing contest.

You can read our chat (page 25) with Culture Liverpool and TBI Media, as we focus on all things Eurovision outside of ACC Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena, the chosen venue for this year’s singing competition. It’s just one of the events to feature in our June edition where there’s the small issue of a Coronation too (page 13).

Before I headed to Liverpool, I visited Windsor to talk to the team at HPower, in charge of delivering Operation Windsor, comprised of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Royal Windsor Endurance, and all Coronation activities outside of Windsor Castle, including The Long Walk. Whose idea was it to put on two of the most high-profile events within the space of eight days? Both events put pressure on our supply chain, especially skilled crew, and they tested the tenacity of some of the most highly respected #eventprofs within our industry. It was clear that there were some very tired faces, and we’re only at the start of the season!

Personally, I am looking forward to getting on the road again soon and visiting event sites to bring you the latest stories. But before I do that, what else can you read about in this June issue? Well, you can discover what plans Dave Grindle and Steve Reynolds, the recently announced co-CEOs of LS Events, have for the business (page 49), and there’s a great focus on concerts with promoters AGN Events, Mega Events, and Revival Productions.

In the coming weeks, I will be touring the UK visiting various sites during the build to cover the latest events that are demonstrating growth and creativity; stories that I hope you can relate to or find inspiration. So, pop the kettle on, make a brew, and enjoy this issue… the most authentic source of news and views in our sector.

Happy reading, Caroline

10 EVENT TENDERS AND CONTRACT WINS

Looking for new business opportunities? Check out the latest event tenders and news of contract wins

13 FIT FOR A KING

Event professionals played a key role in delivering King Charles III’s Coronation celebrations in London and Windsor

19 CENTRE STAGE

Concert promoters discuss their plans for 2023 – StandOut chats with AGN Events, Revival Productions, and Mega Events

25 LIVERPOOL CALLING

Liverpool City Council staged the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine. Here, event professionals discuss their roles in the massive musical event that took over the city and comprised more than one big arena show

30 SHINING BRIGHT

Sound, light, and AV play an enormous role in creating events that stand out. StandOut highlights some great event examples, which have sound, light, and AV at their core

33 ESSENTIAL CREW

Event crew specialists discuss current trends, pay rates, and the initiatives being adopted to attract new talent into the sector

37 FEAST FOR THE SENSES

More than 350,000 people descended on Westfield London for London EID Festival. Waleed Jahangir, festival organiser, talks

41 WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

Event Buyers Live has a team of industry ambassadors, who are set to champion the 2023 event

49 LOUD AND PROUD

Dave Grindle and Steve Reynolds were recently appointed coCEOs of LS Events, the event production agency. In this Q&A, they talk about their plans for the business, their key areas of focus, and company structure

53 ON THE SUSTAINABLE ROAD

Amy Woodward, transport policy expert and advisor to ecolibrium, reflects on sustainable travel trends and how they might impact the events sector