A Peaceful Market: Performing with a Powered Speaker While Referencing a Fellow Performer’s Small Amp

Hello.
In November, I performed at a market with all of my own equipment.
Here, I will introduce the event itself as well as the equipment used for the performance by both myself and the other performers.

About Shiohama Canal Market

The Shiohama Canal Market, where I performed this time, is held twice a year and features booths run by local companies and stores. It takes place along the canal at Shiohama Terrace and in the park.

Waterfront Grand Experiment 2025

The venue includes a large grassy area and a permanent container café. The market featured booths from nearby companies, selling children’s clothing, towels, wild game meat dishes, sandwiches, coffee, lemonade, and more.

The stage was set up next to the dining area.

After browsing the children’s clothing, you can take a break with coffee or game meat dishes while listening to the performance…
Hmm, you could easily spend the whole day at this market (laughs).

Live Equipment and Setup

This performance took place in an environment where loud volume wasn’t allowed, so I performed at a relatively modest volume.

• The grassy performance area was right next to an apartment building.
• The stage was set up inside the dining area.
• Outside of the music stage, there was no broadcast or other sound, and the venue did not face a road, so it was relatively quiet.

The atmosphere was ideal for solo guitar performances. While the venue provided power, there were no microphones, speakers, or other equipment for the performance, so I brought all of my own gear.

Deciding what to bring was a challenge, especially since I had to move across grass and sandy areas to reach the stage. Therefore, I used equipment that could be carried in a backpack.

Headset Microphone

audio technica / AT810F

Mic Preamp

audio technica / AT-MA2 Microphone Preamp

Multi-Effect Pedal

Line 6 / HX Stomp Multi-Effect Pedal

Main Speaker (also used as monitor)

CLASSIC PRO / CS104P PA Speaker

Including the AC adapter, cables, and other accessories, the total weight of everything except the guitar was just under 4 kg, which is easy to carry in a backpack.

This is what the stage looked like after setting up.

Just placing the speaker on a chair made the sound feel much clearer and more direct.

However… hmm, while it was light and easy to carry, and the sound quality and volume were satisfying, the tangled look of the cables is something to consider for next time.

Also, since several performers appeared at the same venue this time, I got a chance to take a look at what kind of equipment others were using.

Solo ukulele performance

↓ Acoustic guitar amp

YAMAHA / THR5A

It’s a mini amp, but surprisingly, it works. Occasionally the sound would distort if you strummed chords hard, but considering it’s a compact setup that can be carried with one hand, it might be a reasonable choice after all.

Acoustic guitar singer-songwriter

↓ Acoustic guitar amp

AER / Compact 60/2

At Sound House, the successor model AER Compact 60/4 is available.
As expected from an AER amp, both the volume and sound quality were excellent! It seemed like there was still room to raise the volume even more.
Carrying the gear on a cart across the grass probably looked tough, but just plugging in a microphone and guitar allowed for setup in no time, and the sound quality was outstanding— it’s definitely enviable.

Announcements from venue staff, greetings, and BGM playback between stages

↓ ︎Portable PA + wireless microphone

SAMSON / Samson Expedition XP106w

Both music playback and microphone use are wireless! It seemed very easy to handle and move around.

Performance Overview

This time, I played at a volume that allowed people in the dining area and café to chat comfortably. Photos alone might not give a clear idea, so I’ve also included a video of the performance.

You can get a sense of the atmosphere and volume during the performance, including how it compares to ambient noises and conversations around the stage.

Using the CLASSIC PRO CS104P as the main speaker for a live show might be uncommon, but hopefully it provides a useful reference for understanding volume and presence.

If you feel, “No way, this volume and bass thickness aren’t enough for me!” then I’d recommend a slightly larger speaker or one with higher wattage. (For reference, I played with the speaker volume pushed close to the limit.)

Reflection on the Shiohama Canal Marche

The weather was great that day, and the Marche was bustling with people. It was gratifying that groups dining, families, and children playing could hear the performance.
Unrelated but amusingly, my back was photographed while I bought coffee at the venue, and that image appeared in the news later. For some reason, none of the photos of me performing were published—it was quite surreal, really (laughs).

Summary

This time, I introduced the Shiohama Canal Marche and its music event, as well as the equipment used for an outdoor live performance, focusing on the CLASSIC PRO CS104P.

I hope this article provides useful information for anyone planning outdoor events.

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