Show Imaging deploys one of the first major festival applications of the JBL VTX B35 on Big Mountain Stage
Set against the backdrop of Glacier National Park, Under the Big Sky Festival has grown into one of the country's premier destinations for country, americana and bluegrass music. The three-day event draws more than 20,000 fans each summer to Big Mountain Ranch outside Whitefish, Montana, where this year's lineup featured dozens of top country and americana artists across two outdoor stages.
To support performances on the Big Mountain Stage, Show Imaging deployed a JBL Professional VTX system centered on the new VTX B35 cardioid subwoofer, one of the first major festival deployments of the B35 subwoofer. The Big Mountain Stage featured JBL Professional VTX A12 and VTX A12W line arrays with VTX B35 flown subwoofers, complemented by ground-stacked VTX B28 subwoofers, VTX A8 loudspeakers for front-fill and outfills, and VTX M22 stage monitors. Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers powered the system throughout the venue.
The VTX B35's integrated cardioid design allowed Show Imaging to achieve directional low-frequency control without the traditional requirement of rear-facing subwoofers, additional amplifier channels or complex wiring. By eliminating reverse-facing cabinets and simplifying deployment, the system reduced rigging complexity and overall cost while maintaining the low-frequency performance required to cover the venue's expansive natural amphitheater.
"In a traditional cardioid hang, every third subwoofer is reversed and wired differently," said Taylor Wade, Technical Director at Show Imaging.
"With the VTX B35, the cardioid is integrated into the enclosure. You hang it, load the presets and you're done. It made deployment faster and easier while coupling really well with the VTX A12 system."
The simplified deployment also proved valuable during setup. Rather than configuring traditional cardioid arrays with alternating loudspeaker orientations and amplifier routing, crews were able to fly the subwoofers in a conventional configuration while relying on the VTX B35's integrated cardioid technology. The approach reduced setup time, system weight, and overall system complexity while remaining compatible with the VTX A Series main arrays.
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