As Scandinavia’s largest beach festival, Palmesus 2025 in Kristiansand, Norway, drew thousands of fans to the waterfront for unforgettable performances by Kygo, Fisher, Stormzy, Chase & Status, and more. With multiple stages, a sprawling beachfront site, and a reputation for world‑class production, the festival required lighting and audio solutions that could deliver clarity, impact, and reliability in a demanding outdoor environment.
To meet the festival’s ambitious production needs, HARMAN Professional deployed a powerful combination of Martin Professional lighting and JBL Professional audio systems across the Main and Cupra stages. On the main stage, the rig included 40 MAC Viper XIPs, 30+ Martin MAC Aura XIPs, 30+ Martin MAC Aura Raven XIPs, and multiple Martin P3 System Controllers. This setup was complemented by 190+ Martin VDO Sceptron fixtures and Martin P3 system control at front of house. The Cupra stage, which hosted interstitial DJ sets between performances, also featured 80+ Martin VDO Atomic Dot fixtures, Martin MAC Aura XIP fixtures and P3 System Control. A powerhouse performance audio system included JBL VTX A12 line arrays and VTX G28 subwoofers to deliver high‑output, world class festival audio. The integrated package ensured dynamic, visually striking lighting and powerful, flexible sound that could adapt seamlessly to both daytime and nighttime performances.
As the sun set over Kristiansand’s beachfront, the combination of Martin Professional performance lighting and JBL Professional performance audio systems created an immersive festival atmosphere defined by clarity, punch and creative flexibility. Lighting designers praised the rig’s performance and versatility: “I’ve been working with Martin my whole career. Now whenever I see Martin included in the rig, I know I have some good tools to work with,” said Marius Flatnes, Lighting Designer for Kamelen. Having experienced the new MAC Aura Raven (XIP) in action, Flatnes added, “After doing two shows at Palmesus, I am really pleasantly surprised by the MAC Aura Raven (XIP). Its punch, colors, speed… it’s so snappy, which is not what I expected from this big of a fixture.” By combining cutting‑edge lighting fixtures with powerful, flexible sound systems, HARMAN Professional underscored its role in shaping the future of live production and delivered a festival experience that resonated with both artists and audiences.
