Sponsored by GAC, this year's music included pre-show live music from The Dirt Drifters, Dead Country, Chris Janson and Jeffrey Steele. Keni Thomas performed the National Anthem before a two-hour live show that featured Rodney Atkins, Van Zant and Taylor Swift, joined by the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.
Lighting designer Mark Carver chose to use ETC Source Fours, Gladiator 3k Followspots, Martin MAC 500s, 600s and 2000 washes, and Vari*Lite 3000 spots to light the show. Equipment was controlled by two Wholehog IIs and wings.
Carver said the surrounding scenery played a large role in his lighting design: "I was inspired by the architecture of LP Field and the Shelby Street Bridge. I tried to incorporate the structure of both into a flag-like shape in keeping with a fourth of July theme."
The challenges of this particular event were to come up with a design that was both stimulating to the live audience yet functional in utilization for television broadcast. Carver said that despite the challenges, with the aid of the highly skilled and professional Bandit technicians, every element of the production was on schedule and a pleasure.
Bandit crew included lighting director, Trevor Ahlstrand and technicians Dave Langford, Eric 'E'Rock' Shafferman, David Albert, Shawn Lear and Phillip Mikesh.
(Lee Baldock)
