The George Michael
Singers Live
Ten years since his passing, the original backing singers who shared the stage with George Michael on his biggest world tours stepped into the spotlight at IXL Events Centre for a night that had 240 guests on their feet.
A Gala Dinner and a Concert, Delivered as One
The Original George Michael Backing Singers Live brought together 240 guests for a gala dinner and full live concert at IXL Events Centre. What made this different from any other tribute night was the performers themselves: Shirley Lewis, Jay Henry and Jo Garland are not impersonators. They are the real musicians who toured and recorded with George Michael throughout his career, and their presence on stage gave the evening a weight that a tribute act simply cannot replicate.
As the permanent in-house production partner at IXL, Kudos AV designed and delivered every technical element of the evening from first design meeting through to post-event de-rig. Sound, lighting, screens, scenic elements, the printed dancefloor, the circular bar surround and a full technical crew were all provided by a single team with one point of contact.
From Careless Whisper to Fast Love to Freedom, the entire room was singing and dancing. Delivering that moment technically, with no failures, no interruptions and no surprises, is the job.
Watch the Night
The highlight film from The George Michael Singers Live: the stage, the atmosphere, the production and the moments that made the room stop and sing.
IXL Events Centre is our home ground.
Kudos AV is the permanent, resident production partner at IXL Events Centre at Dallas Burston Polo Club. The Unilumin 2.6mm LED centre screen is a permanent Kudos AV installation. The overhead lighting infrastructure, rigging positions and power distribution have all been designed and installed by our team. When an event takes place at IXL, there is no briefing a new crew, no unfamiliar cable routes and no learning the room on the day. We already know every circuit, every rigging point and the acoustic character of the space in every configuration. Learn more about IXL Events Centre and our in-house partnership.
IXL Events Centre, Dallas Burston Polo Club
Set across a 600-acre estate in Warwickshire, IXL Events Centre is one of the most technically capable event venues in the Midlands. The main hall holds up to 750 banquet style and has been fitted by Kudos AV with permanent overhead lighting infrastructure, rigging points and a fixed Unilumin 2.6mm LED screen. It handles galas, concerts, product launches and large conferences with equal ease.
For this event, the main hall was configured for 240 guests across 24 tables of ten, with a 42 x 16ft extended band stage, a 12 x 12ft walkway leading from the stage into the room, a bespoke curved 34 x 24ft printed dancefloor and a circular bar as a central feature. The room plan, drawn by James Ashford as part of pre-production, placed the stage and screen configuration for the best sightlines from every seat.
The venue is 90 minutes from London, close to the M40 and Birmingham Airport, with parking for 350 cars on site.
Concert Quality Within a Gala Dinner
The brief presented a specific technical challenge: the room needed to function as an elegant gala dinner for the first part of the evening and shift into a full concert production for the live show without any awkward transition. Guests seated at dinner expect a certain lighting quality and a comfortable audio level. A live band and three professional vocalists demand something entirely different.
The solution was a production rig designed from the outset to serve both modes. The D&B flown line array meant no floor-standing speaker stacks blocking sightlines. The overhead moving head rig could transition from warm dinner wash to full beam show in seconds. The LED screens were dressed with GMS branding from the moment guests arrived and ran live content during the performance. The custom dancefloor and printed walkway created a clear performance zone without dividing the room.
Every technical decision was made around the guest experience and the integrity of the show.
How We Built the Show
D&B Flown Line Array
A D&B Audiotechnik line array system was flown from the overhead rig, delivering even coverage across all 240 covers without floor-standing stacks. The system was tuned and time-aligned before doors opened, handling both the nuance of three close-harmony vocalists and the full weight of the 8-piece live band. A separate DJ system managed arrival and dinner service.
Moving Head Lighting Rig
The overhead lighting rig, part of the permanent Kudos AV installation at IXL, was programmed specifically for this event. Warm gala wash for dinner service, transitioning to a full moving head beam show for the performance in purple, gold and white. Every cue was operated live by the Kudos AV lighting operator throughout the show.
Unilumin LED Screens
The permanently installed Unilumin 2.6mm centre screen was joined by two additional large portrait LED screens flanking the stage. Custom GMS branded content featuring George Michael imagery played throughout the evening, with live switching during the performance. The fine 2.6mm pixel pitch delivers clean output at close gala dinner viewing distances.
Stage Build
A 42 x 16ft extended band stage was built for the 8-piece band configuration: keyboards stage left, three vocal positions across the front, drums centre rear, guitar and bass completing the lineup. A 12 x 12ft walkway extended from the stage front through the dancefloor, giving the vocalists space to move into the room during the show.
Scenic: Dancefloor and Walkway
A bespoke curved 34 x 24ft printed dancefloor was installed as the centrepiece of the room, with a printed walkway connecting the stage thrust to the circular bar. Both surfaces were custom printed to complement the GMS event branding. The circular bar, positioned as a focal feature within the room, was lit and integrated into the overall design.
Pre-Production and Crew
Full pre-production was completed before a single cable was run: 3D room renders and a scaled CAD floor plan drawn by James Ashford gave the client, venue and band team a shared visual brief. All technical staff on the night, including lighting operator, audio engineer, video operator and show crew, were provided by Kudos AV with no subcontractors involved.
Not a Tribute Act. The Real Thing.
Shirley Lewis, Jay Henry and Jo Garland backed George Michael across his biggest tours and studio sessions. They were there on the Faith tour, the Listen Without Prejudice tour and the 25 Live world tour. When they sing his songs, they sing from memory, not from imitation.
That distinction matters for a production team. The technical demands of performing artists at this level are different from a tribute act. Monitor requirements, stage positioning, microphone selection and sound balance all reflect decades of professional experience. The Kudos AV audio team worked directly with the band's musical director in advance to ensure the system would serve the performance, not just fill the room.
A huge thank you to Jon, Mandeep and Harry at Kudos AV for delivering exceptional production throughout the evening. The lighting, sound and overall production quality elevated the entire experience and helped bring the event to life.
Atul, IXL Events Centre DirectorCareless Whisper, Fast Love, Freedom: the whole room was on its feet. That is what the production existed to make possible.
Complete Production Delivery
Kudos AV is the permanent in-house production partner at IXL Events Centre. Every technical element of The George Michael Singers Live was designed, installed and operated by the Kudos AV team.
The George Michael Singers Live
IXL Events Centre, Dallas Burston Polo Club · 16 May 2026 · 6 Photos
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