Bryan Adams Records Acoustic Show at Pompeii
Bryan Adams recently performed at the ancient amphitheater of Pompeii, Italy, as part of his bespoke Bare Bones acoustic tour, capturing the event for posterity. This UNESCO World Heritage Site hosted the Canadian rocker with only his voice, an acoustic guitar, and piano.
Bare Bones Tour Highlights
The Bare Bones tour features unique, carefully curated one-off shows spanning locations such as Rome, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Scotland, and Pompeii. Adams’ performance in Pompeii emphasized simplicity and intimacy.
Sound Engineering Approach
Mixing the final Pompeii show was engineer Stefan Holtz, who has worked with Adams since 2023. Holtz operated a locally rented digital console, deliberately avoiding analog and complex processing to keep the mix clean and transparent.
“People want to feel as if Bryan were standing right in front of them without a microphone,” explains Stefan. “The moment they hear an engineer’s hand in it, the magic’s gone. The technology has to disappear.”
Microphone Setup
- Acoustic guitar captured with a Neumann KM 185 microphone, blended with the built-in guitar pickup to balance immediacy and natural tone.
- Vocals recorded using a custom-modified KMS 104 Plus microphone.
“We tried it, and Bryan, monitors, and FOH all agreed immediately: this is a real step forward,” said Holtz.
The combination of minimalist gear and attentive mixing helped preserve the authentic vibe of the performance, making the audience feel closely connected to Adams’ live presence.
Author’s summary: Bryan Adams’ acoustic performance at Pompeii combined minimalistic equipment and expert engineering to create an intimate and authentic live experience in a legendary setting.