LCR supports Davy Sherwin's Wolf Alice design
- Details
Using a modest selection of lighting fixtures, all supplied by specialist concert touring and event lighting solution provider Lights Control Rigging (LCR), Sherwin's sculptural, atmospherically diverse design is as intoxicating and pounding, and by turns as sparkling and dark as the eclectic collection of songs it's there to enhance.
"The band was keen to develop a fresh new look. They wanted clean lines with no onstage 'contraptions'," explains Sherwin. "They were interested in the detail of the look for each song and the final design was a result of a close collaboration with lead singer and guitarist Ellie (Rowsell) and the rest of the band. The album features a range of musical styles, it is intense with a big energy and there is a real physicality to the band themselves.
"I knew I needed to create something that would offer a scope of looks, yet be easy to tour with the limited crew I have on the road. There is only myself and lighting technician, Ben Hodgkins, taking care of lighting day to day. Ryan and his team were all over it from the off, making suggestions in terms of kit, quick rigging and masking solutions etc. I choose to work closely with my lighting supplier to ensure I have the best possible solution for my client and this is where LCR really shines."
Sherwin's rig is dominated by the GLP X4 Bars for side-, back- and up-lighting, with additional side lighting provided by Martin MAC Auras and some MAC Viper Spots for the FOH face lighting: "The lyrics of the songs are really important to Wolf Alice's fan base. Keeping the focus on the band while being able to see lead singer Ellie Rowsell's face was a priority. In terms of stage lighting, I was looking for something versatile but dramatic and the easy-to-rig GLP X4 battens with their variable focus, moody colour palette and video-mappable pixels did the trick."
Working closely with Sherwin to ensure that the creative flexibility he was looking for was not compromised by the need for easy tourability is Ryan Hopkins, director of LCR. "Davy's focus is to create a high impact, client pleasing design; ours is to make it robust, reliable and easy to tour. Davy was looking to achieve a strongly side- and back-lit, multi-angle, floor-rigged design. To keep the on-stage look clean and sharp, we designed and built some side masking pieces and to ensure the easiest possible get-in/get-out we built pre-wired - and where possible, pre-rigged - booms and trusses."
Hopkins concludes, "Working with Davy on the Wolf Alice tour has been a real pleasure and embraces all the reasons why we set up LCR in the first place. Our aim is always to be a proactive and supportive plug-in for the LD wherever they are on the road. We wish Davy all the best with the rest of the campaign."
(Jim Evans)
