They have been lit by lighting designer Steven Bewley of Box Fresh Lighting, ably assisted by MA's grandMA2 desk, and a host of Clay Paky Sharpys.
A long time user of MA consoles, Bewley explains his reason for his desk choice. "I've progressed through the ranks of MA consoles, and the grandMA2 is easy to use, and allows you to programme a spectacular show quickly. It just works, and it does it seamlessly alongside the other kit we use on the show - for video and for sound. It's powerful, and the size of the desk makes it adaptable to smaller venues as well. It's a console I'm falling in love with as it's so configurable."
Bewley specified 40 Sharpys for the lighting rig which was supplied by Lancashire based production hire company HSL, and he considers them as the real workhorse of the rig.
"I absolutely love the Sharpy and every one if its features. With them I can make the whole venue the stage, they are fast and they can cope with a huge amount of information and react instantly on cue. I've long been looking for a fixture that will let me create different movement effects, and the speed of the pan and tilt allows me to do just that.
"The band are relentless tour-ers and so need reliable kit that won't let me, or them down. Operating from the rock solid grandMA2, supported by Sharpy fixtures is a winning combination and one the band are delighted with. They, and their management are amazed at how the show looks since I introduced the Sharpy, so I guess that counts as a success," Bewley concludes.
See the grandMA2 console, and the Sharpy on the Ambersphere stand at PLASA Focus: Leeds this week.
(Jim Evans)
