New NEXO Alpha+ hybrid source system debuts at Lakefest

Eastnor Castle Deer Park in the rolling Herefordshire countryside, is transformed each August into Lakefest, a family-friendly 4-day UK festival for around 18,000 people.

Headliners this year included Echo & the Bunnymen, Groove Armada, Faithless and Busted, performing on the main Abbey Stage rigged as usual by Swansea-based Total Sound Solutions with their NEXO GEO M12 line array, P+ Series monitors and original Alpha side fills.

Lakefest 2025 was also notable as the UK debut for NEXO’s new Alpha+ hybrid source system which featured on three stages including the second stage Funkytown, which hosted performances by the Buzzcocks, the Beat, Brand New Heavies, Dub Pistols and So Solid Crew, with DJ sets from Woody Cook and Louis Capaldi.

With his own Alpha+ system arriving in the warehouse in the same week as Lakefest, Sash Pochibko from Derby-based event production services company Sound of Music took the opportunity to visit Lakefest and check out the new system in use.

“The first system we purchased 23 years ago was NEXO Alpha E, so we were very excited when we heard about the new Alpha+. We’ve been looking for a new large format point source system for some time and placed an order as soon as it was announced at ISE, but this is the first opportunity I’ve had to listen to the Alpha+ system in use. I listened to it on the Funkytown stage last night and I was quite honestly astounded at the result.

“Before Alpha+, a comparable system would have been many line array cabinets that would have had to be flown or required many technicians and crew to stack safely” continues Sash. “The Alpha+ system can be deployed very quickly with a fraction of the number of cabinets.”

Bristol-based PW Group ran the 7 Hills stage at Lakefest 2025, where company founder and production services veteran Paul Wiltshire was equally enthusiastic about the Alpha+ system rigged there.

“I think Alpha+ is phenomenal. It does everything we need it to do. All the different bands we’re doing – from reggae to ska, dance to pop, indie to rock – it just brings everything alive.”

“Alpha+ undoubtably has Alpha DNA in it” comments Sash in conclusion. “It’s definitely going to be a system that’s out of the warehouse more often than not.”