Running from late May through to July 2025, Imagine Dragons’ latest European tour marked their first full-scale stadium run, spanning 17 countries, carrying a full production. Having worked with the band since 2012, FOH Engineer, Scott Eisenberg has witnessed the band’s evolution from club gigs to amphitheatres, arenas, and now, sold-out stadiums. As the venues grew, so did the technical requirements, and professional audio solutions from Adamson Systems Engineering have been a part of the touring story.
“It was with a little bit of luck that I encountered Adamson,” recalled Eisenberg. “I was moving up in my career and had come across Adamson products at festivals, so when the E series was released, I immediately checked it out, liked it, and have been working with Adamson products ever since.”
That relationship quickly turned into a long-standing professional partnership, as Adamson loudspeakers have become a core component of the Imagine Dragons touring setup, providing clarity and power across a range of venues.
“This is the first one we’ve done in a while with our own PA,” said Eisenberg, on the topic of the European tour. “We’ve toured Europe a lot before, but this is our first run since COVID with all of our own gear; all our own shows, all stadiums, some two-night performances.”
With venues holding anywhere between 30,000 and 75,000 fans, the tour demanded a reliable and scalable audio system that delivered exceptional coverage and audio quality, regardless of venue size or acoustics. The 2025 European tour was powered by Adamson’s flagship VGt line array as the main PA and aux system, with a total of 24 VGts per side for the main hang, complemented by E-Series arrays for delay. The combination of 24 flown E219s and 44 ground-stacked VGs subs ensures powerful low-end frequencies and wide coverage throughout the entire venue.
Front and thrust fills are taken care of by Adamson’s CS series loudspeakers. This set-up ensures high-end throw, punchy low-end and smooth integration across venues, thanks to the lightweight and compact form factor of the VGts. “We used the VGt for our recent US tour, and we’re glad to be carrying that experience into Europe,” confirmed Eisenberg.
The system’s scalability is an advantage for the touring crew. Over the summer in the US, the team adjusted their configuration nightly, accommodating venues from low-ceiling amphitheatres to outdoor spaces, and even the acoustic challenges of outdoor venues such as the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
“Adamson makes it easy to work with these different spaces and overcome problematic acoustics,” continued Eisenberg. “The size of the boxes is smaller, but they’re still really powerful. The active loudspeakers help with logistics too, when we’re thinking about how many trucks we need, how the audio integrates with the rest of the production. When you’re on tour, you need to minimise as much as possible, but maximise the experience. Adamson helps to make this possible.”
For Eisenberg, the biggest win is the consistent performance Adamson delivers across a vast variety of venues. “As FOH engineer, my goal is for everybody in every seat to have a consistently brilliant experience. When I was a kid, it was always a bummer to sit far away and not hear the show well. That sentiment stuck with me into adulthood and my profession,” Eisenberg said. “With the Adamson system, the people in the highest seats are getting powerful sound without clobbering the people in front with overly loud low-end. We’ve worked closely with Adamson to develop different configurations and presets to make that happen.”
For a band like Imagine Dragons, whose discography spans from ballads to electronic-infused anthems, versatility is essential. “I love the way Adamson has a nice clear sound, powerful but not abrasive. That’s the thing I keep coming back to,” remarked Eisenberg.
“The tonality suits every genre: whether it’s an intimate acoustic moment or a full-on rock track, Adamson delivers. This is especially true for the VGt series, which has enough power and definitely enough high-end throw to suit almost any type of musical genre.”
With the European tour continuing and a strong foundation built over several years of collaboration, the Imagine Dragons technical crew are confident in the road ahead. “I really enjoy using Adamson speakers on our tour,” confirmed Liam Walker, Systems Engineer. “They sound great right out of the box, and Array Intelligence is intuitive and allows me to have a fast and efficient workflow. When the box sounds great as is, and I can work quickly, we end up getting great results!”
