Dancing electric violinist Lindsey Stirling kicked off her Artemis world tour in October with Alec Spear’s production design. Artemis is a “goddess of the moon” character Stirling created, which inspired her album and tour. Spear also served as content/video director on the first European leg. “Lindsey is a great friend,” says Spear, who has also been fabricating a few props and scenic pieces for her “Warmer in the Winter Christmas Tour” in his creative workshop in Utah. He will serve as media server and content director for that trek as well.
Ingrid’s ‘80s
Ingrid Michaelson is on her “Dramatic Tour” with Lighting director Jason Hartwyk at the helm. The only piece he’s carrying on the ‘80s themed show is an LED sign displaying Ingrid’s name. “It’s a bit of a challenge, being that are playing a myriad of different sized venues with different levels of in-house production,” Hartwyk explains. “I’m using house rigs everywhere creating the show daily, with whatever I have to use.”
Diving into Baby Shark Live!
Robb Jibson of design firm SoMidwest dove into the content creation pool with the Baby Shark Live! tour. The fully immersive concert experience — inspired by the hit children’s song — kicked off its 100-city North American run in October. “I’ve been steering the SS SoMidwest toward content creation, and this marks the first project that we didn’t do any of the lighting,” Jibson says. “We collaborated with some amazing directors, lighting, scenic, choreographers and costume designers to create an amazing show.” The live event consists of 65 minutes of custom animation of motion scenes and backgrounds — and baby sharks, of course — which interacts with the kids and parents.
All in the Family
It was a family affair at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival for two nights in Dallas recently. Production designer Dave Maxwell and Clapton’s lighting director Ethan Weber were assisted by the Wade family. Eric Wade served as Crossroads lighting director, bringing in twin sons Brandon Wade as lighting programmer and Aaron Wade as media server programmer/tech. The seniors at Oklahoma University Fine Arts are majoring in — of course — lighting design.
The proud father boasts, “Brandon’s first tour right out of the gate was lighting crew on Paul McCartney. Not a bad gig for your first one! He recently went out all summer as lighting director on Nelly, TLC and Flo-Rida; did Usher shows with me and went on the last Saudi Arabia trip as a WWE programmer. Aaron toured with Miranda Lambert last year and has been programming content for Usher for me. He also programmed lighting and content for the WWE Hall of Fame TV show. Both worked with Top Rank Boxing as well. It’s really cool seeing my sons stepping right in and doing incredible work.”
Meanwhile, Troy Eckerman has pulled his progeny into the production as well. After working Farm Aid with LD Jason Robinson, he hoofed it to Houston to illuminate the Houston Astros’ baseball stadium in their team colors for the World Series playoffs. But for a small corporate tour he designed called “Service Now,” his son Caleb Eckerman is working as a programmer/operator. “I did teach him everything,” Eckerman assures. “He has been working at Fellowship Church in the Woodlands, TX. And he learns his own shortcuts along the way. But the most impressive part is that he has a good eye for lighting. And understands how it works in your favor and then sometimes not in your favor.”
44Designs Doubles
Jeff Lavallee and 44Designs doubled their space moving into a new 12,000 square foot facility this summer in Goodlettsville, TN. And they were still able to work with alt-rock band The Used for the Disrupt Festival touring set. “Inspiration was drawn from their album artwork, so we worked with content creators and fabricators to make an animated show opening like no other,” Lavallee notes. “It was made complete with a plastic, vacu-form molded heart with a lighted heartbeat of its own.”
Quick Cues
LD Ben Everett is wrapping up Maggie Rogers’ Heard It In a Past Life tour.
LDs Nathan Alves and Seth Jackson of Darkroom Creative are excited to provide creative direction, production and lighting design for contemporary Christian singer Lauren Daigle’s 2020 World Tour.
LD Paul Turner is back with Robin Thicke, supporting Fantasia’s tour — which was designed by LD Michael Apostolosis and operated by lighting director Ryan Williams.
LD Ryan Campbell is back out again with City and Colour as designer/director, kicking off in Canadian arenas Nov. 19, with worldwide dates running 2020-2021.
LD Carl Burnett is on a quick U.K. run in November with British musical duo Lighthouse Family.
LD Jon Weir is lighting Christian rock band MercyMe on their “Imagine Nation Tour,” hitting U.S. arenas until Thanksgiving.
LD Nesta Garrick is touring the U.S. with Common Kings. In December, he boards the “Welcome to Jamrock” reggae cruise hosted by Damian Marley, serving as the production designer, lighting and visual designer for five days on the ship. Next trip: Mexico with Stephen Marley.
Send Debi Moen holiday greetings – and info of what you’re planning for the New Year – in time for the December issue. Reach her at dmoen@plsn.com.
