(11/07/2014) The European leg of Arcade Fires Reflektor tour came to an emotional end at this years British Summertime Festival, held in Londons Hyde Park. Audiences danced to the bands rhythmic indie-rock, superbly magnified by lighting designer Chris Bushells impressive light show programmed and controlled using an Avolites Sapphire Touch.
Bushells stage lighting worked seamlessly with the multi faceted set, devised by set designer Richard Stembride, and the on-stage video content. Combined, these factors brilliantly echoed the bombastic mood of the bands art-house electronica with the mass enthusiasm of the crowd.
Nevertheless this show has been no easy ride for the creative team, which has seen them deliver a complex show design capable of fitting into every kind of venue from big US sheds, to European arenas and weekend music festivals, often with limited time and not always using the same lighting equipment. For Bushell, this is where the specification of the Avolites Sapphire Touch Console proved crucial.
The Sapphire Touch was key to the successful realisation of Richards concept because there were so many design considerations to take into account, he explains. I needed a console that would allow me to recreate my design as quickly and efficiently as possible in each space. Luckily the Avolites Sapphire Touch not only manages to do what all other desks do, but its also packaged in a much easier to access and more intuitive platform, which means I can focus on the creative side of my job rather than the number crunching aspect.
And creative it is - Bushell bounces light around the stage almost like it is a living three-dimensional object. The ceiling mirrors are used to great effect and the large selection of fixtures focused in at every angle make for a lively, rich and multi-dimensional show.
In addition, although Bushell is touring key fixtures, he also finds himself using a lot of the festival house rigs.
Obviously as a headliner we get to bring in more of our own rig than most, however I dont put in full production by any means, Bushell continues. For me the delight in using an Avolites Sapphire Touch console is the intuitive functionality, the dual screens and an expansive and versatile surface that gives me access to everything I could need during what can be some frenetic changeovers.
Also instrumental is the ease with which Bushell can transpose the arena show design into the festival rig, as he explains: I can visually map the festival rig on the screen of my console and then copy, paste and clone each fixture from my own design as I like. In fast-paced environments such as festivals this is brilliant!
Koy Neminathan, sales director for Avolites continues: Avolites has an enormously rewarding relationship with Chris Bushell. Its great to see him using the Sapphire Touch in places such as Glastonbury, Earls Court and now British Summer Time at Hyde Park. Chris knows our consoles inside out and has always given us very helpful feedback from his experiences, at both festivals and touring venues. This feedback is a key factor when it comes to our product development and design as we value all of our lighting designers opinions.
About Avolites:
Avolites has built its reputation upon rock-solid live, busk driven desks where seconds count. Committed to providing the very best solutions to all aspects of the industry, Avolites have evolved since 1976 to offer cutting edge technologies across a diverse range of pioneering and steadfast equipment with the highest of quality and design, plus swift and intuitive TITAN software.
About Avolites Media:
Managing director of Avolites, Steve Warren, founded Avolites Media Ltd in 2011. Avolites Media is now the sole manufacturer of the Ai brand of media servers and aims to deliver a comprehensive lighting and video solution from a single intuitive to use control surface.
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(11/07/2014) The European leg of Arcade Fires Reflektor tour came to an emotional end at this years British Summertime Festival, held in Londons Hyde Park. Audiences danced to the bands rhythmic indie-rock, superbly magnified by lighting designer Chris Bushells impressive light show programmed and controlled using an Avolites Sapphire Touch.
