The band's 2008 show was designed and directed by William Baker, who also designed the set, with the lighting design created by Baz Halpin. On tour and for Croke Park, lighting was operated/directed by Dave Lee.The show was produced by Production North.
The design saw Halpin going very theatrical, with all the structures concealed, apart from a centre stage 'W' shaped truss. Lighting fixtures were all positioned on a series of angled trussing sections, some of which moved. This ensured the gaps were filled, and that light could be focussed from all angles right across the performance area for even and balanced coverage.
Upstage, there were six moving trusses, all suspended on two points each. Running on Bandit's own fully programmable Motor Data control system, which was operated by Rob Starksfield, each truss contained three Martin Professional MAC 2K luminaires.
Two diagonally running side trusses each contained eight Martin MAC 2K Washes (and two moving video screens below). To the front edge of these was the 'W' shaped truss, which apart from fulfilling a scenic function and continuing the 'W' theme of the stage set, was rigged with 16 Martin MAC 2K Spots. During the acoustic section of the set, the 'W' truss was dropped in, and sat a couple of feet off the floor, providing an intimate backdrop to the band.
At the front of stage was a 50ft curved truss with 13 Martin MAC 2K Spots, and then three smaller downstage trusses, each with three 2K washes for key lighting. A rear spot truss contained four Lycian 1.2K spots with long throw lenses, which created some fabulous, strong and very tight back-lit looks, making up some of the show's defining visual moments.
The lamp count was rounded off with 16 Martin MAC 300s, which sat on the floor lighting the set and doing aerial effects, two Studio Due Space Flowers on the floor either side of stage, six bars of ACLs and six Coemar SuperCycs to light up the far upstage backdrop - a stripy design containing a subliminal 'W'.
Dave Lee operated the show using two WholeHog II consoles, one from the touring show and a slave to handle the extras, all of which were matched in to the general show looks and driven by pre-existing show cues, to ensure they looked integrated.
Bandit UK Chief Executive, Lester Cobrin says: "It's always exciting to be involved in stadium shows, and it was great to be working with Production North on one as memorable as this."
(Jim Evans)
