As the big international acts start to head down under for the busy summer season there is one thing many of them have in common - Vari*Lites.
Elton John's lighting designer Kevin 'Stick' Bye, a former Vari-Lite technician, prefers to use Vari-Lites and for this run he preferred to have around 52 VL3000 and 12 VL2000 washes. Lighting was supplied by PRG.
Nickleback's lighting designer Butch Allen also used PRG's Vari-Lite 3000 fixtures as well as six VL2500 washes with Chris Maeder in control.
The most talked about concert was Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto World Tour where lighting designer Paul Normandale used Vari-Lite VL3500 Wash FX units to create a lighting experience to perfectly complement the band's ultraviolet spectacular.
"The band wanted a vivid ultraviolet feel, with a sphere of energy that could transform from small to massive," explained Normandale.
To create the right look, he used Vari-Lite VL3500 Wash FX units, which feature an output that exceeds 50,000 lumens, as well as varied new options for colour and beam control. "The 3500 allows me to use just one light with where I would normally have to use two," he added.
The 3500 FX was the back bone of the stadium show, with 34 units including 12 on the upper concourses of the stadiums.
The band had its own strong vision for its live performances. At each gig, fans were asked to wear a radio-controlled lighting device wristband that omitted either blue, white, pink, or yellow on cue to music, turning the entire stadium into a sea of dancing orbs.
"Coldplay is all about live audience interaction, the OED wristbands were given free to every member of the crowd and interact with the lighting and performance, basically it is 60,000 people of pixels," said Normandale.
Lighting was supplied by Chameleon Touring Systems who are also providing the lighting for Jennifer Lopez who will be playing arenas later this month with a Vari-Lite dominated rig designed by Sean Burke.
