When people think of hybrid events, they often picture a polished stage in a hotel ballroom, paired with a virtual audience watching on Zoom. But hybrid can be more than that. Much more. In fact, some of the most powerful hybrid experiences happen far from the traditional venue. Like, say, in a tent. In a field. During a festival.
At Stream7, we believe that if an audience wants to be there, we can make it happen – wherever “there” happens to be. And that was exactly the brief for Greenbelt Festival, where we brought broadcast-quality streaming to a festival stage in the middle of rural Kettering. It was a true exercise in hybrid thinking, event technology, and creative delivery.
Breaking the Hybrid Mould
Hybrid isn’t just a pandemic workaround or a corporate contingency plan. It’s a way to extend the reach, impact, and accessibility of live experiences. And with the right setup, it doesn’t need to be confined to buildings with strong Wi-Fi and plug sockets.
Greenbelt is a unique and long-running arts, faith and justice festival that takes place each year on a country estate. We’ve been proud to partner with the festival for several years now, supporting their commitment to inclusion and accessibility. Our long-term collaboration is built on trust, innovation and a shared passion for engaging content. We’re excited to be returning again this year to continue that work and push the boundaries of festival streaming and hybrid event delivery.
The festival team approached Stream7 with a challenge: capture and stream a curated programme of talks, debates and interviews from their Hothouse venue to audiences who couldn’t attend in person. It was a chance to demonstrate how hybrid events can be adapted for non-traditional environments without sacrificing quality or professionalism.
The Brief: Streaming from a Field
Unlike many of our hybrid event setups, this venue came with no hardwired internet, unpredictable power access, and no climate-controlled room for our kit. Instead, we were working in a pop-up tented venue with changing light, temperature swings, and an enthusiastic but bustling live audience. This wasn’t just about installing tech in a field – it was about making a field work like a studio.
Our goal? Deliver a reliable, high-quality livestream experience that felt every bit as professional as an indoor conference, while remaining completely portable and unobtrusive to the live festival atmosphere. This is where true events technology comes into play: adaptable, mobile, and rugged enough for any environment.
The Challenges: No Room for Error (or Ethernet)
From a technical perspective, the biggest challenge was connectivity. With no fixed internet on site, we used 5G bonded technology to create a stable, redundant connection capable of supporting multi-camera video streaming. This kind of solution is perfect for hybrid events in remote or outdoor settings where traditional infrastructure doesn’t exist.
Power was also an issue, so we brought our own generators and battery backup systems to ensure no interruptions. Inside the tent, we had to contend with ambient noise, dynamic lighting, and limited rigging options. Our portable setup needed to be compact, fast to build, and robust against the elements. Festival streaming means planning for the unpredictable – and being prepared to adapt on the fly.
The Tech: Flexible and Field-Proven
To keep things slick and lightweight, we used a mobile production unit that included:
- Multiple PTZ cameras for discrete, high-quality visuals
- Tricaster for live switching, graphics and encoding
- Bonded 5G for connectivity
- Shure wireless systems for crisp, reliable audio
- Portable monitors and capture gear built for quick deployment
This event technology toolkit allowed us to deliver high-end results without a fixed location. The same approach can be scaled up or down for other festivals, outdoor events, or pop-up hybrid activations.
We integrated seamlessly with the on-site team to manage speaker transitions, maintain audio clarity, and deliver real-time uploads to the festival’s digital platform. With each talk and interview, we captured the spirit of the festival and brought it to life for virtual audiences.
We also facilitated the participation of remote presenters from around the world. Using our live streaming infrastructure, we seamlessly integrated speakers who were unable to travel into the programme, allowing them to present and interact with both the in-person audience and those watching online. This capability not only expanded the diversity of the festival’s content but also reinforced the true potential of hybrid events to bring global voices into local settings.
The Result: A Festival Streamed, a Community Reached
Despite the setting, the final product was polished and professional. Hundreds of viewers tuned in remotely, including festival-goers with accessibility needs, overseas participants, and those who couldn’t travel. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the quality and inclusivity of the digital experience.
For Greenbelt, this wasn’t just about ticking the hybrid box – it was about growing their reach and deepening their connection with audiences. It showed that hybrid events and festival streaming can work hand-in-hand to unite people, ideas, and communities across physical boundaries.
The Bigger Picture: What Hybrid Can Be
This project proved something important: hybrid isn’t about where you are. It’s about who you want to include.
With the right tools and team, it’s possible to deliver engaging, professional hybrid content from virtually anywhere – from rooftops to fields, castles to classrooms. It just takes planning, creativity, and a production partner who doesn’t flinch at the words “middle of a field.”
This is where greenfield thinking comes into play – approaching hybrid event design with a fresh perspective, free from the constraints of traditional venues and infrastructure. By starting from a blank slate, organisers can reimagine how, where, and who they reach. Hybrid events are no longer defined by location – they’re defined by ambition.
Tips for Organisers Thinking Beyond the Ballroom
- Get your AV team in early – they can help shape the setup and solve problems before they arise.
- Don’t assume hybrid is too technical or expensive – smart, portable setups are more accessible than ever.
- Prioritise audience experience – your remote viewers deserve the same quality as those in the room.
- Plan for power and internet – if it’s not provided, you’ll need to bring it with you.
- Test, test, test – in the days before and on-site.
- Think about content longevity – festival talks and performances can be edited into on-demand content.
- Make accessibility a priority – hybrid is a powerful way to reach new and diverse audiences.
At Stream7, we love taking hybrid events out of the boardroom and into unexpected places. Whether it’s a city centre conference or a countryside festival, we bring the same level of care, creativity and technical expertise. If you’re planning an event that could benefit from reaching a wider audience, let’s talk – we’re always up for an adventure. Even in a field.
And if you’re heading to Greenbelt this year – whether in person or online – we’ll see you there.
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