SMR 2025 marked a milestone moment for Stevenage, with The Lamex Stadium hosting its first large scale live music event. Across three days of the May bank holiday weekend, thousands of fans gathered for headline performances from Skindred, Ella Henderson, and Richard Ashcroft.
IPS supplied its SmartStage 180 trailer stage, configured with 7.5m PA and video wings, the largest setup available, creating a 30 metre wide, arena scale performance platform. In addition, IPS delivered FOH and accessible viewing structures, helping ensure a smooth, coordinated build across the site.
To deliver a stage solution capable of matching the ambition of the event, promoter KB Concerts Limited partnered with IPS. Transforming a football pitch into a concert arena presented several challenges. The stage needed to make a strong visual statement, meet the technical expectations of touring artists, and be installed within the tight turnaround of a working sports venue.
As one of the largest trailer stages in the UK, the SmartStage 180 provided the scale and flexibility required. The extended PA and video wings not only gave the stage a commanding presence but also created ideal positions for large format video screens. This ensured clear sightlines across the stadium and gave the event the look and feel of a major festival, despite being the venue’s first concert of this scale.
Stadium load ins are rarely straightforward, and access at The Lamex Stadium was extremely tight, with only centimetres to spare as the trailer stage was manoeuvred into position.
Detailed planning and an experienced IPS crew ensured the stage was installed safely and efficiently, keeping the build firmly on schedule.
Alongside the main stage, IPS supplied a 6m x 6m Clearspan FOH structure for sound and lighting control, plus an 8m x 6m accessible viewing platform built from Layher with ramped access. Providing both the headline stage and supporting infrastructure allowed IPS to streamline delivery, maximise crew efficiency, and maintain a consistent standard across the site.
With generous trim heights, flexible rigging and PA options, and fast build and de-rig times, the SmartStage 180 comfortably met the demands of headline touring artists while fitting the operational constraints of a busy stadium. SMR 2025 set a strong precedent for future live music at The Lamex Stadium and reinforced IPS’s reputation as a trusted staging partner for ambitious, first of their kind events.
Click here for more information about the IPS 15m Trailer Stage Structure.
