John Legend’s ‘A Legendary Christmas’ tour crescendoed with an interactive snow finale that filled Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live with a large-scale snowfall effect provided by MagicSnow.
Simon Horn worked at Cream Weekender’s main Skyline Pavilion Stage, running the lights how for a mix of DJ stars on his ChamSys MagicQ MQ500 Stadium console with a Stadium Wing.
LONDON – After their epic 2018 co-headlining trek with Journey throughout North America, Def Leppard capped off 2018 with a 12-city tour of the U.K. and Ireland dubbed the “Hysteria & More” Tour. HSL assisted with lighting and rigging for the band’s longtime LD Kenji Ohashi.
MILWAUKEE – Raymix, a.k.a. Edmundo Gómez Moreno, was a NASA aerospace engineer before rocketing to fame on the electrocumbia DJ dance circuit. For Raymix’s mid-November show at the Rave Ballroom in Milwaukee, Juan Ocampo of High Frequency Productions provided 12 Chauvet Professional Rogue R2 Wash fixtures to complement the VJ’s video content.
NEW YORK – Tirso Lighting’s all-LED lighting package for Bar 151, an upscale lounge and performance space that Wahi Group opened in northern Manhattan, includes an array of fixtures from Elation Professional. Company owner Tirso Pelaez, who served as LD on this project, included Elation Dartz 360, E Spot III, ZCL360i, SixPar 200 and Protron 3K fixtures.
BIRMINGHAM, U.K. – British alt-rock band Nothing but Thieves followed a tour of the U.S. in September and October with more shows in the U.K. in November, supporting their fifth EP, “What Did You Think When You Made Me This Way?” which was released in October 2018. LD Steve Bewley used Claypaky Mythos 2 fixtures from LCR for the U.K. shows.
CHICAGO – Polar Express train rides, licensed and produced by Rail Events Productions since 2007, invite families aboard real trains around the country for an hour-long Christmas treat. The rides come complete with music and imagery inspired by the children’s holiday story, first published in 1985, and the 2004 movie. PLSN’s Kevin Mitchell discussed the multi-faceted challenges of lighting this holiday experience with LD Guy Rhodes.
LAS VEGAS – Central Live began as the worship band at Central Church, one of the largest churches in the U.S., based in the Las Vegas area. For one night each year, Central Church reaches out with an off-site worship experience that’s more like a celebratory concert than a formal church service. This year’s event, staged with a lighting assist from 4Wall at the Park Theater on the Las Vegas Strip, also launched Uncaged, the latest inspirational book from Central Church lead pastor Jud Wilhite.
MANCHESTER, NH – Events United, Tim Messina and Jon Martell helped transform Southern New Hampshire University’s arena on Dec. 20 with Manchester Christian Church’s annual “Christmas at the Arena” spectacle. The free event once again drew more than 6,000. The design team got a visual assist from Chauvet Professional Maverick, Rogue, Epix and Strike fixtures, as well as PVP X6IP LED video panels.
German electro duo 2raumwohnung performs at the Freilichtbühne in Zinnowitz using CHAUVET Professional Maverick and Rogue fixtures
HELSINKI, Finland – Sci-Fi rockers Starset, based in Columbus, OH, followed up a series of U.S. shows in early 2018 with a European tour late in the year. LD Rodger Pugh of Dveus Designs used Chauvet Professional fixtures and atmospherics including Vesuvio II RGBA+UV and COLORado Batten 72 fixtures to create the other-worldly looks for the band and its fans.
CHICAGO – City Theatrical products are currently being used for holiday performances and installations including The Polar Express Train Ride in Chicago, where SHoW DMX SHoW Baby 6 units are entrusted for transmitting 760 DMX channels of control to light a moving train and the platform it pulls into. The company also noted that its products are playing a key role in holiday visuals at St Michael’s Parish Church of Edinburgh, Scotland.