The band commenced its 45-date cross-country swing in mid-May and wraps after Labour Day. They will be supporting last year's hit LP, Away From The World.
Theatrical Media Services is providing the lighting gear and consoles for design company and video vendor Filiment Productions. Fenton Williams is the production designer and lighting designer for the tour; Aaron Stinebrink is the lighting programmer and designer.
"The overall concept is to continually augment the look of the show as the evening progresses," says Stinebrink. "Everything is mounted on automated curved trusses that can move around during the show. We also have a large curved LED videowall upstage."
Twelve Clay Paky Sharpy Wash lights hang from the sub grid and shine through all the trusses. A dozen Sharpys are positioned above the videowall and 12 more act as floor lights. Fourteen Alpha Spot HPE 1500s are integrated throughout the five automated trusses.
"We chose the Sharpys for the same reason everybody does: They have fantastic light output, speed, great colours and effects. It's a versatile light that everyone uses," Stinebrink explains. "The Sharpy Washes also offer a small footprint, speed and brightness, and they provide a great zoom and the ability to go from a nice tight beam to a wide wash."
He notes that the Alpha spots were selected "because of their output with a 1500W lamp plus two irises and a fantastic zoom. It's a very good light - far superior to others on the market."
George Masek, A.C.T Lighting's vice president, automated lighting, adds, "We've known Fenton, Aaron, and the Dave Matthews team for a number of years and they are always a pleasure to work with. It was nice to see that Aaron and the TMS staff appreciate the same things that we do about the Sharpy, Sharpy Wash, and Alpha Spot HPE 1500. We're very pleased that we were able to offer fixtures that are new and exciting to them."
Francesco Romagnoli, Clay Paky area manager for North and Latin America, adds, "Another great designer/musician team who have embraced our new Sharpy Wash units! We're thrilled that Aaron has incorporate so many of our lights into this tour."
(Jim Evans)
