HARDY, one of country music’s hardest rocking singer-songwriters, is out on his debut arena tour with a lighting package from Bandit Lites. The Mockingbird & The Crow Tour, named for his highest charting album to date, merges his country roots and rock sound, to deliver music that rings true for his millions of listeners. The second leg of his tour kicked off in the fall and features Lainey Wilson and Dylan Marlowe.
Bandit Lites is providing more than 200 fixtures for the tour including CHAUVET Maverick Storm 1 Hybrids, CHAUVET Rogue R2X Washes, Chauvet Strike 4 Arrays, CHAUVET Strike M, CHAUVET COLORado PXL Bar 16 and VL 3600. Two grandMA3 full-size consoles provide control for LD Trevor Drawdy, who expertly layered in the lighting visuals to work with the tour’s other visual elements, such as pyro, video and I-Mag effects.
“The workhorse fixture in the rig is the VL3600, a very dynamic fixture with an outstanding quality of light,” he explained. “Second would be the CHAUVET Maverick Storm 1 Hybrid, used for punchy effects and its quick movement. I’ve been very impressed with the new Storm 1 Hybrid’s in the rig, it is a very versatile IP rated hybrid.”
CHAUVET Strike Array 4s work as the rig’s blinder, with the dimmer curve option supplying Drawdy to option to emulate a traditional conventional blinder. COLORado PXL Bar 16 provide pixel effects and eye candy while the Strike-M Strobes offer color wash, pixel effects and strobes. “PXL Bar 16 have the output to cut through the rig and provide some really awesome eye-catching looks,” said Drawdy. “I’ve enjoyed seeing them perform in the rain flawlessly.”
CHAUVET Rogue R2X Washes provide all the key light for the show down stage and side lighting and are what he shares to be the most important fixture in the rig saying, “I find the R2X to be the best choice for this job; it is very compact and bright with great color saturation.”
In crafting the looks for the show, Drawdy turned to the music, focusing on the emotion and energy HARDY conveys through his lyrics. “My favorite moment in the show is song called “Wait in the Truck,” he shared. “This moment is very striped down and minimalistic and is where the CHAUVET PXLBar16s really shine. They do the bulk of the work for this song and do it well. The PXLs are supported by the Strike Ms for punch and wash.”
“I began discussion with Trevor and Production Manager Matt Bevis in early spring and immediately I felt a positive vibe from the both of them,” said Bandit Lites Vice President Mike Golden. “There were some logistical hurdles to overcome, so Dizzy Gosnell jumped in to help smooth the process and I must say as a community effort it went together seamlessly. “I cannot say enough about the leadership of Matt Bevis and Trevor’s talent. This is an excellent team and a very family-oriented road crew. I look very forward to working them as HARDY continues his massive momentum into 2024.”
The entire HARDY entourage, from Manager Troy Johnson of Big and Loud, Tour Manager Taylor Watson, Production Manager Matt Bevis and Designer Trevor Drawdy were all at Bandit Lites Venue One for over a week in full production rehearsal, saving valuable time for everyone as they fine-tuned the show. Bandit VP of Technology and Innovation Jake Tickle worked closely with Trevor to ensure every aspect of his vision came to reality. The show then rehearsed at the Knoxville Coliseum for a week and launched the tour there.
“My experience with Bandit has been top notch! From prep to rehearsals at Venue One to getting the rig on tour, Bandit has exceeded my expectations,” says Drawdy. “Our Project Manager, Matt King, executed the packaging and all of the appropriate paperwork for the lighting rig, and I couldn’t be happier with his work on this project. We have a fantastic crew on the road and thanks to them I can focus on my job behind the desk and not worry about the lighting rig daily.”
HARDY’s tour continues into the fall. For more information about tickets and upcoming tour dates, visit www.hardyofficial.com/#tour.
Further information from Bandit Lites, Inc.: www.BanditLites.com
Photo credit: Tanner Gallagher
