Bryan Adams Records Acoustic Show at Pompeii
Bryan Adams recently performed at the ancient amphitheater of Pompeii, Italy, as part of his unique Bare Bones acoustic tour. The concert took place in one of the world’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites, showcasing Adams with just his voice, an acoustic guitar, and a piano.
Bare Bones Tour Highlights
The Bare Bones tour features specially curated one-off shows in distinctive locations such as Rome, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Scotland, and Pompeii. This approach offers an intimate and minimalistic live experience.
Audio Mixing Approach
Stefan Holtz, who has worked with Adams since 2023, mixed the final show using a digitally rented local console. He intentionally avoided analog gear and complex processing racks to keep the sound clean and simple, aiming to preserve the natural atmosphere of the performance.
“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
Holtz used a Neumann KM 185 microphone on the acoustic guitar combined with its built-in pickup, balancing immediacy and natural tone. For vocals, a custom-modified KMS 104 Plus was employed.
“We tried it, and Bryan, monitors, and FOH all agreed immediately: this is a real step forward,” said Holtz.
Legacy of the Performance
Adams’ iconic lyric, “Everywhere I go, the kids wanna rock,” remains true 40 years later, even in historic venues like Pompeii, connecting past and present through rock music.
Author’s summary: Bryan Adams captured a rare, intimate acoustic performance at Pompeii, blending minimalistic sound engineering with iconic rock spirit in a historic setting.