Alcons Powers Trondheim Rocks 2026 At Its New Home

Trondheim Rocks 2026 marked a new chapter for one of Norway’s leading rock festivals, with a complete Alcons Audio system delivering clarity, control and impact at Ladesletta.

© Lars Rune Skaug / Trondheim Stage

Trondheim Rocks 2026 relocated from the iconic E.C. Dahls brewery site to Ladesletta in Trondheim, creating a new setting while preserving the festival’s connection to the city. Promoted by Trondheim Stage, the 2026 edition featured 12 bands, headed by Volbeat and Norwegian rock legends DumDum Boys, attracting thousands of rock fans.

As with many outdoor events, Trondheim Rocks operates in a populated urban environment, where audience experience must be balanced with responsible sound management. For this year’s edition, the system was supplied by NPro and deployed as an Alcons Audio solution, with system design led by Erwan Thomas.

Using Alcons’ portfolio, the system was tailored to the requirements of the Ladesletta site. A key strength of the Alcons platform is the consistent sonic character created by its proprietary pro-ribbon technology, central to the company’s design philosophy and supporting a transparent listening experience across system formats.

“One of the best PAs we have done a show on this summer! I wish we had that PA in the US.”, Samantha Boone, system engineer Volbeat

At the heart of the deployment were 32 LR28/80 large-format double 14” line-array loudspeakers, configured as 16 per side for the main left/right PA, supported by 30 BC543 triple 18” cardioid subwoofers. Additional coverage was provided by LR24/90 and LR18/90 outfill line-array systems, LR18/90 infills, RR12 point-source array downfills, VR12/90 front fills, and a FOH near-fill system comprising two BF181 subwoofers and two VR12/90 loudspeakers. The system was powered by Alcons Sentinel10 amplified loudspeaker controllers and managed through ALControl software.

Throughout the venue, the system delivered the clarity, detail and dynamic range associated with Alcons’ pro-ribbon technology, allowing audiences to connect directly with the performance without becoming conscious of the system reproducing it. For Erwan Thomas, the objective was simple: “The less you hear the system, the more you feel the music.”

A particular strength was the LR28’s projection and controlled directivity, which helped create a consistent listening experience. Combined with the controlled low-frequency performance of the BC543 cardioid subwoofers, the system provided the impact and musicality required for headline performances by Volbeat and DumDum Boys.

The venue’s exposure to a prominent wind corridor introduced environmental challenges, with changing conditions across the audience area placing increased importance on predictable system behaviour. In these conditions, the consistency and coherency of Alcons’ pro-ribbon technology helped preserve clarity and intelligibility across the site.

Prediction and simulation tools were explored as part of planning. EASE 5 prediction software and the newly integrated IMMI workflow were used in an early-stage evaluation, generating useful data and insight for future sound-management strategies. While the workflow was not fully implemented, the process was positively received by Trondheim Stage.

Touring professionals responded enthusiastically. Volbeat system engineer Samantha Boone commented: “One of the best PAs we have done a show on this summer!” She added: “I wish we had that PA in the US.”

DumDum Boys’ sound engineer Johnny Skalleberg added: “Having mixed on Alcons systems regularly over the last few years, I’ve come to appreciate their transparency. They translate what you’re trying to achieve without getting in the way, which is ultimately what I look for in a PA. The result is that you spend less time thinking about the technology and more time focusing on the music.”

The deployment at Trondheim Rocks 2026 demonstrated how Alcons’ pro-ribbon technology can meet the demands of an outdoor festival while preserving clarity, consistency and musical connection. At the festival’s new home, the system helped keep the focus where it belonged: on the artists, the music and the shared experience.

For more information, visit www.n-pro.no and www.trondheimrocks.no .

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