Cosmo Wilson is packing his bags with double loads of Hawaiian shirts for two major outings this year: Judas Priest’s Invincible Shield Tour USA 2024 and AC/DC’s UK/Europe Power Up tour. “I have spent the last several months designing and preparing for Judas Priest’s tour and have been working on the AC/DC lighting design with Patrick Woodroffe, Terry Cook and the Woodroffe Bassett Design team,” Wilson says. “AC/DC hasn’t toured in nearly eight years; besides the show we did at the Power Trip Festival back in October 2023. To say I am excited is an understatement!”
Wilson wings it to London in March to start rehearsals and programming for the Judas Priest European tour but leaves before the U.S. tour starts in late April. “At that point, Martin Brennan takes the helm for me on Judas Priest,” the LD explains, “and I then start rehearsals and programming in an undisclosed location for AC/DC. Our first show is in Germany on May 17, and I will be in Europe until late August. I am definitely making up for the pandemic!”
Brennan and Wilson’s friendship goes way back. “He covered for me on an Iron Maiden U.S. run, when Maiden were the special guests on Ozzfest,” Brennan notes. “I am excited about running Cosmo’s show for him, seeing how he approaches a big metal band like Priest, and honoring his design in his absence.” The UK LD has spent many years as the LD for Iron Maiden, Jethro Tull, Billy Idol, and more, along with current client Squeeze since 2017.
Disney Princess, George Michael
Ruby Leigh is currently on The Life and Music of George Michael tour, as designer and director and onsite production manager. “Lots of hats,” she jokes, all of which she will hand over to Megan Alksninis while she heads out in March as Lighting Director with Disney Princess—The Concert Tour for designer PJ Peters. The show is described as “a celebration of the music of Disney’s iconic princesses performed by Broadway stars.” She notes, “It’s my first time turning over one of my designs to someone else. Very excited to do so.”
Designing Christian Tours
Tony Fransen reports in on his design of two tours in the Christian music market. Phil Wickham’s I Believe Tour is performing in churches and theaters across the U.S. this year. Lighting Director is Benji Treuil, and Lighting Programmer is Bryan Landry, who “is a new kid doing great things,” he says. The second tour is Brandon Lake’s Tear Off The Roof Tour, which plays North American arenas throughout the year. Lighting Director Alex Fuller is joined by another “new kid, doing great work” Programmer Aria Hailey, while Media Programmer Chris Herman is described as “fantastic.”
Horowitz Lights Pre-Grammy Gala
Bud Horowitz again had the honor of lighting the Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala. The celebration, held the night before the Grammys, took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. “I’ve been lighting this event since 1999,” he shares. This year’s show featured Green Day, Josh Groban, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Victoria Monét, Noah Kahane, Ice Spice, Mark Ronson, and Maluma. None of the acts brought their own LDs to the show, Horowitz says, which is typical for the party performances. “In all the years I’ done this event, I think that we’ve only had a couple of times that acts have brought an LD. They are usually in LA for the Grammys, not public performances.” Meanwhile, the LD continues doing shows with American stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, mostly in Las Vegas, but an arena tour with the artist is coming up in July.
Ameripolitan Music Awards
Jenni Crump designed and directed the lighting for the 2024 Ameripolitan Music Awards in Austin, TX. The award show, in its 10th year, was founded by artist Dale Watson to celebrate the best in honky tonk, rockabilly, Western swing, and outlaw country music. Musicians Ray Benson, Augie Meyers & Flaco Jiménez, Junior Brown, Reverend Horton Heat, Big Sandy, and Watson were among the legends to grace the awards stage Feb. 18 at the Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater. Crump, one of the in-house rotating LDs at the venue, says she also stays busy from September to April lighting corporate gigs in and outside of Austin as well.
I Love The 90s Tour
Jessica Sanders is helping some friends out for the I Love the 90s Tour which features big names in rap, hip hop, and R&B including Vanilla Ice and Montell Jordan. “It’s just a one-off where I’m LD’ing—but actually busking, though,” she says. In June, she’s going out as a tech for Nate Cromwell on Alanis Morissette’s The Triple Moon Tour, which also features Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Morgan Wade.
Limp Bizkit
Justin Wade is preparing for Limp Bizkit’s 2024 tour starting in March with their South American festival shows. “They’re pretty minimal on productions being one-offs, though. I’m all roles—designer, director, programmer,” he explains. “It’s a newer gig for me so I’ve been fairly quiet about it.”
Slash and Myles
Keith Hoagland of CKP Lighting says his busy 2024 sees him off and running by designing and operating Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators for The River Is Rising international tour 2024. The band is visiting 24 different countries between January-April, he notes.
Rock The Country
Mason Felps is working on the Rock the Country music festival featuring Kid Rock and Jason Aldean. The festival hits seven smaller U.S. towns for two days each, with a changing lineup that includes Miranda Lambert, Hank Williams Jr., Travis Tritt, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and more.
Open to New Opportunities
Madi Adams has had a change in plans and will now not go out with Hozier’s tour as reported in February’s Designer Watch. “I am open to new opportunities starting in the spring for design, directing, and programming,” she notes.
‘One Hat Now’
Update: Dave Boots, featured in December 2023’s Designer Watch column, retired from The Oak Ridge Boys after their final tour finished at the end of the year. While he’s also hung up his hat from the “production side of things,” he does have a new gig. “I’ve gone full time bus driving with artist Parker McCollum. Just one hat now!”
Share your news with Debi Moen at dmoen@plsn.com
