When it came to the enormous Godskitchen tent, Zig Zag's Neil Hunt wanted to install the highest impact lighting possible and also to try out Robe's ColorSpot and ColorWash 1200 ATs for the first time.
The rig comprised seventy-six ColorSpot 1200E ATs and 24 ColorWashes hung all over the stage and tent on an intricate trussing network, secured into the tent by 70 points - the work of Harry Box from Concert Lights. The fixtures were used for both stage and dance floor lighting and were the main wow factor of the arena.
Lighting was programmed and operated by Matt Holden-Jones who ran lighting for the numerous DJ sets, and Paddy Sollitt who ran lights for the Happy Mondays' headline slot on the Friday night. Both used an Avolites Diamond 4 console to control the Robe's, which they were also using for the first time.
Both Hunt and lighting crew chief Haydn Thomas loved the brightness, and made favourable comparisons to the 1200's output being considerably brighter than its competitor products. The 1200 proved itself to be an ideal tool for lighting large dance events where lighting, visuals and the atmospherics were vital.
Zig Zag own a quantity of Robe 160 XTs which Sollitt has used on several gigs including for leading Pink Floyd tribute band "Off The Wall", and he's also used 575s, but even he wasn't prepared to be quite so impressed by the 1200s. "Incredibly bright and they can perform great effects" he says, adding that they are also very easy to programme. "In all, Robe does a great range of lights covering all requirements - its clear considerable thought has gone into this."
For Holden-Jones, it was the speed of the Washes that stood out. "They move and change absolutely instantly" he says, also commenting that the helpful and easy to read LCD displays on the base are also very useful.
Thomas was struck by the fixtures' reliability, noting that they had problems with only two fixtures in the three day get in and rigging period, one due to water ingress after heavy rainfall on site during the rigging period, however both units were soon fixed.
Blackburn-based HSL Productions supplied all Robe fixtures to Zig Zag as a dry hire, plus all other lighting kit for the Godskitchen arena.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
