British poet John Ruskin once declared ‘you get what you pay for.’ Although his quip has been repeated often over the past two centuries, it isn’t always true. A beautiful case in point is Pol’and’Rock, a three-day event held at the Czaplinek-Broczyno Airfield that bills itself as “the largest free festival in Europe.”
Inspired by Woodstock, Pol’and’Rock drew over 800,000 fans this year for the 30th edition of the festival. Those fans didn’t have to pay a penny to attend, but they were treated to a priceless festival experience.
Just in terms of sheer diversity, the event was jaw dropping. Artists from almost every imaginable popular genre, from Nu Metal and Alt Rock, to Classic Rock and Hip-Hop performed on the Festival’s two stages. Among them were international acts like Guano Apes, Clawfinger, Modestep, Flogging Molly and Motionless in White, as well as Polish stars, including COMA and T. Love.
Supporting their performances was, what can aptly be described as a “million dollar light show,” designed by Jacek Chojczak and the Green Beam Design team. At the center of the massive main stage (it measures 80m x 20m with a 21m trim) was a stunning automated RGB ring that captivated the crowd by changing positions throughout shows. Thanks to its half rounded stealth filer the ring was visible to fans from every angle.
Animating the ring with bold colors, intense output and dynamic light angles was a collection of 48 CHAUVET Professional Maverick Storm2 BeamWash fixtures, which were supplied by ATM System Sp. z o.o.
“We know that as a lighting and project designer, Jacek Chojczak loves washes that are powerful on long distances, which made the Maverick fixtures (10,000 lumens output), ideal for this application,” said Jan Jarząbek, of LTT the Polish distributor of CHAUVET Professional fixtures. “Thanks to its powerful output, the Storm 2 BeamWash is effective even in very large venues. This helped the ring stand out for the entire crowd.”
Drawing on the color rendering prowess of the Storm 2 BeamWash’s 12-zone pixel mappable outer ring, which includes 19 45-watt RGBW LEDs, Chojczak unleashed a kaleidoscopic wonderland of colors throughout the festival. At times, he covered the entire stage and the two large video walls that flanked it in evocative monochromatic palettes, while at other moments he switched to beautiful two-color combinations. Taking things to another level, he also washed the massive stage and its borders with multiple hues.
Although not as massive as the main stage (it consumed eight megawatts!), the second stage was also alive with color and movement throughout the festival, courtesy of its 36 Rogue Outcast 1 BeamWash fixtures. Fans who moved from one stage to the other during the festival found plenty of entertaining options along the way with demonstrations and learning sessions, all making for an unforgettable experience.
That experience brings to mind another famous phrase that has been echoed over the years. It is one that best sums up the Pol’ And’ Rock Festival – The Best Things In Life Are Free!
