Keeping UB40 shows weather ready

Outdoor music events come with complex logistics and strict safety protocols - and weather can disrupt any part of the operation. For fans, conditions shape the whole experience. Kingston Calling ft. UB40 with Ali Campbell is a summer outdoor concert series delivered and promoted by Fabrik NZ.

For most of the tour, warm, settled conditions set the scene for a classic summer evening of live music. But on the date of the Pukekohe concert, the weather had other plans. Lightning posed a genuine operational risk, and the team needed accurate, real‑time weather insights. Peter Fisher onboarded and trained the crew into MetConnect ahead of gates opening, giving them access to live observations, risk matrices, and, crucially, lightning alerts.

Using MetConnect’s lightning module, we set a precise point over the venue with custom alert and warning zones. As strikes tracked closer, organisers monitored the situation closely. One team member told us he “had his eyes on it all night.”

Operations Manager Adam McDonald shared, “It gave me accurate information to make informed decisions on the night. Without this data we potentially would have had to pause the show. It gave me the confidence to continue.”