The Stage

Gray’s on fire

Published Wednesday 18 January 2012 at 16:16

Nick Gray of East Sussex-based visual design practice Renegade designed lighting for Kasabian’s live YouTube Re:Wired performance, streamed direct from London’s O2 Arena which welcomed in the New Year.

According to Gray, the logistical challenges included only having eight hours on show-day to get in, rig and complete show programming before handing the rig over to Chase and Status’ LD Neil Carson, so he could also allow for some programming time for their set. This feat was successfully accomplished with Renegade working with the crew from London-based lighting contractor Neg Earth.

One advantage was that with the band having just finished the first UK leg arena of its new Velociraptor! tour, some visual elements from that show could be adapted for the New Year’s Eve event. Due to the time restrictions, Gray remodelled the O2 stage set without the main video dome from the touring rig.

Instead, he introduced new lighting aspects that helped adapt the space to work in this different context, whilst keeping the basic look and style of the show. The impressive 20-metre by 10-metre high wide structural front arch from the tour, was retained, complete with 134 x 1.5 metre lengths of Barco MiStrip. Three custom trussing arches were added mid-stage area, all of them raking backwards and tilting upwards to contrast with the forward leaning angle of the front arch, and were used to position a selection of Clay Paky Sharpies, Martin Professional MAC Aura LED washes and Atomic strobes.

As with the UK tour, the show was operated for Gray by Paul Kell using a Road Hog Full Boar console, which also drove a Catalyst media server running content to the MiStrips (supplied by XL Video).

Kasabian next travel to Australia, then to Japan before touring Europe and the USA until the end of April, showcasing versions of Gray’s visual design, operated by Rob Gawler.

www.renegadedesign.co.uk