grandMA2 on tour with Justin Timberlake

Canada - Justin Timberlake kicked off his 20/20 Experience world tour in Montreal a grandMA2 full-size was a key player. True to its name, the tour is "an experience rather than a show," says lighting designer Nick Whitehouse. "It's very visual with lots of projection and lighting and a lot of new technology. We got pretty creative with everything and had fun putting it all together."

The tour is in support of Timberlake's third studio album. The singer will play dates in North America, Europe, Australia and South America.

Whitehouse programmed the tour on a grandMA2 full-size with Jason Gangi, who is also the lighting director. "I like using grandMA2 best," Whitehouse says.

"We did seven weeks of rehearsals," Whitehouse reports. "The gear really got a workout - 20 hours a day." On the tour "the whole rig is hidden behind a scenic back wall and ceiling. We have 80 x Clay Paky Sharpy and 130 x Clay Paky Sharpy Wash mounted on trusses, and all of them come through a grill and look amazing. When they're not on you don't see them at all. And when they're on you can't see the grill."

Although the tour is still in its early days the lighting designer says, "Everything is working great - the grandMA2 is holding up really well. The guys at A.C.T were awesome, too. A.C.T's support has always been incredible. Day or night, we could make one call to A.C.T and get anything sorted out."

(Jim Evans)

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