Stage all set for Bryan Adams

Dashrath Stadium, a grand stage of 2,600 square feet, trusses and beams laden with state-of-the-art lighting, hundreds of security guards, and some 25,000 eager fans. These are just some of the ingredients necessary for the Bryan Adams Live concert in Kathmandu on Saturday, February 19. The open-air stadium will be the venue for the show-stopper event that is also being hailed as the unofficial highlight of Nepal Tourism Year 2011.

But lately, the highlight has been the preparations at the stadium. A crew of 25 has been working since Wednesday to get the concert stage ready.

“The stage is a structure 36 feet up in the air. The equipment for the stage was transported from India, where Adams toured over the last couple of days,” shared Simant Gurung, director of ODC Network, one of the organizers of the event.

Though he started his musical journey in 1978, Adams’ self-titled album put him in the music scene in 1980 but it was not until January 1983 that he became a household name. It was with the song Straight from the Heart from his third studio album Cuts Like a Knife that he climbed up the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Adams’ popularity soared after the release of his best-selling album Reckless released in 1984 which featured songs like Summer of 69, Run to You, Heaven and It’s Only Love featuring Tina Turner.

In the 90s, Adams collaborated with artistes like Sting and Rod Stewart for the single All for Love and released several other award-winning chart toppers. This decade, however, Adams hasn’t been able to recreate the musical magic of the past with his recent releases Room Service in 2004 and 11 in 2008.

And he will be singing a repertoire of his past hits during the two-hour-long performance in Kathmandu. And if the songs Adams performed on his current India tour is anything to go by, expect songs like Everything I Do, Cloud Number 9, 18 Till I Die, You’ve Been A Friend To Me, Heaven, Here I Am, Let’s Make A Night To Remember, Please Forgive Me, The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You and Summer of ‘69 among others.

As the stage was being built at the Dashrath stadium in Kathmandu for the Canadian rock star to croon, Sunil Hamal of JPR Events, reflected on behind the stage activities.

A total of 18 trucks were used to transport the equipment for the concert from India. “It is all worth it in the end. The concert will be of the best quality regarding the sound and the lights. It’s the same equipment and sound you would get, whether you’re attending a concert in New York or London,” expressed Hamal.

Adams’ crew, who flew in yesterday, consists of more than 35 people. According to Simant Gurung, director of ODC Network, “Apart from the band members, the entourage also includes doctors, physiotherapists, security guards and chefs.”

When asked about the economic impact of the concert as such, Samden Sherpa, the spokesperson for the event said, “Events like this create work for many people and at the same time provide a leverage to attract tourists.”

Adams who’s flying on Friday from Dhaka, Bangladesh, performed at the opening ceremony of the cricket world cup 2011.

According to organizers, more than 18,000 tickets have been sold so far. And the tickets will remain on sale till February 19, Saturday. The deadline was extended considering all the fans heading from outside Kathmandu to attend the concert. Tickets will be available till 2 pm at Manakamana Development Bank.

Vishwa Niketan School in Tripureshwar, Boys Union Ground and Khula Manch have been designated as parking spots. The traffic authorities encourage Adams’ fans to make use of public transport to and from the Dashrath Stadium to avoid congestion.

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