The reason behind the rebuild, a total refurb that saw only the outer walls remain, was to rebrand and expand the venue in order to attract bigger name bands. Installation of the Elation gear was by BOS Event Support, a full-service event production company located in Sittard.
BOS Event owners Jamie Borger, Davy van Onna and Dennis Siemonsma handle projects collaboratively, choosing equipment and suppliers carefully based on the needs of each individual project. "Eventually for the Volt install we chose Elation because of its favourable price/quality ratio," says BOS Event Support's Dennis Siemonsma. "Because this project was a public tender where price was decisive, it was important to choose a brand that offered a wide range of products at an attractive price. The assessment panel also knew the brand well and those factors led to the choice of Elation."
Volt houses stages in a 600-capacity main performance room, a smaller 200-capacity room and in a café/bar area, all three spaces equipped with new Elation lighting. For Volt's main performance stage, BOS Event installed Elation Satura Spot LED Pro and Platinum Wash ZFX Pro moving heads, powerful yet energy efficient LED fixtures with full colour mixing, the Satura Spot also capable of graphic projections. Laying down washes of colour and working with the moving heads are Elation EPAR QW LED PAR Cans.
"The output of both the Satura Spot and the Platinum Wash ZFX Pro is remarkably high," Dennis comments. "Furthermore, it is a big advantage to have the EPARs in RGBW and RGBA. Overall, we're very satisfied with Elation and the functionality of the fixtures fits perfectly to the wishes of the venue."
Because Volt has limited ability to service the new lighting rig themselves, BOS Events fills that role perfectly. Dennis comments: "We deliver the technical professionals to operate the shows in combination with the volunteers at Volt. We work out the technical riders of the artists, provide the staff and equipment, and provide much of the service and maintenance. We've used Elation's service and support very little so far but when we have contacted them, any problem was solved quickly and adequately." When service is needed, Volt's close proximity to Elation's Holland-based European headquarters in Kerkrade, just a short 30-minute drive away, makes any service issues even easier.
The refurbishment has given the venue a fresh image and offers a technical foundation with which a variety of artists can perform. A successful opening night saw the EDM dance party Soulfully Yours as the first event using the new Elation rig followed the next day by well-known Dutch band Blaudzun. A steady stream of acts have enjoyed the benefits of the rig since.
(Jim Evans)
