During the second round of his boot-stomping “Back to the Honky Tonk” tour in 2024, Blake Shelton treated crowds of thousands to rowdy evenings of chart-topping hits, surprise guests, and plenty of his signature charm. A full spectrum of Cohesion products, from arrayed loudspeakers to stage monitors, were in support of Shelton’s dynamic, heartfelt 21-arena excursion across the continent.
Shelton and his team recreated the intimate, energetic atmosphere of a genuine Texan honky tonk in every arena they visited—a tall task for cavernous venues with seats stretching into the 300-level bowls. Additionally, the stage incorporated a 100-foot thrust, surrounded on each side by VIP seats situated at a genuine working bar. The specified audio system needed to produce seamless coverage for every seat while showcasing Shelton’s musicality—in particular, vocal intelligibility and diction.
Clair Global deployed the PA, with a left-right main hang of sixteen Cohesion CO12 flanked by side hangs of fourteen Cohesion CO10. Six Cohesion CP218 II+ were ground stacked on each side of the stage in cardioid configuration for low end support. Two Cohesion CO8 were stacked atop two boxes on either side to help cover small slices of seating in the lower bowl, and six Cohesion CP6+ tucked near the monitors provided fill to enhance intelligibility along the lengthy main thrust VIP area. Fourteen Cohesion CM14 and a pair ofCM22 monitors were specified, as Shelton prioritizes vocal clarity and the ability to hear all his band members with crisp fidelity.
Packed houses each night enjoyed a wide swath of Shelton’s Grammy Award-winning career, and fans sang along to each hit song bolstered by the crisp diction provided by Cohesion. Though spectators were behind the PA, and Shelton occasionally sang in front of it, vocal intelligibility was never sacrificed, and every seat, from the upper bowls to the barstools snug against the unique thrust-side saloon, received seamless coverage thanks to Cohesion’s horizontal pattern control. Cohesion additionally proved to be efficient to rig and transport, with lighter weight and smaller form factors than touring market alternatives in the same class.
“The Cohesion system we have, I don’t know how you top it. Having a great system just puts the sound at another level.”
