The historic courtyard of Lyon’s town hall was transformed into a concert venue to host a powerful blend of music, celebration, and community during the recent Bal des Fiertés festival, where APG’s UNILINE MAX made its much anticipated debut. Chosen for its exceptional performance and rapid deployment capabilities, the newly launched new line array system proved a perfect fit for an evening of high-impact sound in a challenging acoustic environment.

The event marked one of the first-ever deployment of the UNILINE MAX by Moov’Event, a France-based event production and rental company led by Felipe Araya, and the first company in Europe to have invested in the new line array series. Working alongside Camille Vidal, a partner of the LGBTQI centre in Lyon as a technical manager for events and live performance, the team was tasked with transforming the ornate courtyard into a professional live entertainment venue quickly and with no compromise on quality.

The client’s brief was to quickly and efficiently set up the courtyard to host several concerts throughout the evening, while highlighting the architecture of this significant venue. The sound system needed to deliver impactful audio across the courtyard, with minimal time for setup.

The power of UNILINE MAX allowed for a single, central line-array deployment that delivered consistent coverage across approximately 30 metres. It was selected to meet the preferences of the event’s headliner, French electronic music producer and artist Vitalic.

The setup consisted of two lifting towers supporting five heads per side, accompanied by ten subwoofers. The system was fully powered using Arbane Groupe amplification products, maintaining a 100% Arbane configuration throughout the installation.

“The architecture of the City Hall courtyard formed a reflective corridor; the challenge was to be able to create a powerful yet pristine sound that would truly represent the music played by the artists in this reverberating environment,” says Araya.

“The UNILINE MAX was chosen because of its quality, versatility and quick implementation, as well as its wide coverage that allows us to respond effectively to performances. It meets all the criteria of a modern system and managed the constraints we were up against”.

Compared to previous years’ point-source setups, the team opted for a single UNILINE MAX line array deployment: Five heads per side and 10 subwoofers, all lifted via a tower-and-hoist rig for optimal positioning and weather resistance.

“Last year, we had to use delay speakers to reach the back of the courtyard,” explains Vidal. “This year, thanks to the UNILINE MAX’s output and coverage capabilities, we eliminated that complexity and achieved seamless sound projection from a single point”.

The system’s precision proved vital. The age and fragility of the surrounding structure – including windows dating back centuries – required careful acoustic control. The UNILINE MAX’s focused directivity helped avoid excessive pressure zones, allowing the team to safeguard the architecture without sacrificing sonic impact.

As the first service provider to invest in the UNILINE MAX, Moov’Event viewed the move as both a technical upgrade and a strategic expansion. “This system opens doors to markets we couldn’t access before,” says Araya. “It’s ergonomics, versatility and build quality make it ideal for high-stakes, high-energy live events like this Pride festival.”

Support from Arbane Groupe was also instrumental to the system’s success. “Their team was with us during set-up and tuning, ensuring we got the best from the system from day one,” Araya adds.

The result was a resounding success. The event’s organisers, including Lyon’s LGBT Centre, were thrilled with the outcome and have already re-engaged Moov’Event for upcoming performances.

“The UNILINE MAX’s debut at the Bal des Fiertés wasn’t just a technical triumph – it was a meaningful contribution to one of the city’s most joyful and inclusive Pride celebrations,” says Vidal.