George is based in London. This is his second tour with Cullum and his first as LD, where he works very closely with Cullum's Artistic & Visuals Director Nickin Corrigan to produce the captivating live performance aesthetic. This is based around creative, quirky and highly effective use of IMAG camera footage which was George's starting point for the lighting design.
The lighting equipment is being supplied by Leeds, UK based rental company Zig Zag Lighting who have serviced Cullum's live work for some time. His tours have also incorporated Robe products for a while.
For Momentum, the lighting design includes the latest Robe Pointes and LEDBeam 100s, together with LEDWash 600s and Robin 600E Spots. The fixtures are arranged across two trusses - front and back - and the floor.
On the front truss are six LEDWashes used to light the faces of Cullum and his band. Cullum's key lighting is combined with a soft focused follow spot - he has multiple stage positions and will get up from the piano with little warning. The soft focus means the spotlight is almost unnoticeable and looks like a continuation of the front wash.
On the back truss are six Robin 600E Spots and six LEDBeam 100s, the latter fitted with top hats to reduce some of the spill and tighten up the beams, which look especially good in the water-based haze they are using. The four Pointes are also on the back truss together with some 2-lite Moles.
Dotted around on the floor are five more Robin 600E Spots and additional 2-lite Moles. The 600E Spots provide back-lighting for each band member while the Moles produce a general stage glow effect - both sets of lights are arranged in a semi-circle to shape the stage.
Also on the floor are another three LEDBeam 100s, two up-lighting the floor toms and one on Cullum's snare drum - which gets struck mid-way through the show.
George operates using an Avolites Tiger Touch console. Lighting and camera footage blend seamlessly and beautifully to reinforce Cullum's intense and highly entertaining performance which is enthralling sold out audiences everywhere they play.
Audio for the tour is provided by south London based Chaps PA company - FOH engineered by Danny White with John Underhay on monitors.
(Jim Evans)
