NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – Bandit Lites has once again provided a lighting package for multi- Platinum entertainer Jason Aldean as he continues to take his 2019 RIDE ALL NIGHT TOUR to stadiums and amphitheaters across the country. Continuing to partner together since 2008, Bandit Lites has supplied nearly 250 fixtures including Martin MAC Auras, VL 3500 Washes, VL 3000 Spots, GLP X4 Bar 20, GLP X4 Bar 10, Chauvet Rogue RH1 Hybrids, Bandit Matrix 5×5 and Nitro 510C.
More details from Bandit (www.banditlites.com):
Lighting Designer and Creative Producer Nick Whitehouse collaborated with Jason Aldean’s Lighting Director Keith Hoagland to choose fixtures. Whitehouse, Kelly Sticksel and Brian Vaughan of Fireplay then forged the placement and design, refining it to craft a rig that worked both creatively and economically for the tour.
“Each fixture was picked for a specific purpose,” explained Whitehouse. “The VL3000s are a work horse spot and still my go-to after this amount of time; they do the heavy lifting from key lighting to back spotting to air effects. The Rogues were used to provide hits and air effects that complimented the video content, and the Nitros were for big color washes and hits!”
“All the gear together has made a great system,” said Hoagland. “Between the mark of the long standing VL3000 spot living next to the Chauvet Rogue RH1, you have a great balanced system to help accent what Aldean and the band do on stage.”
Aldean has been touring consecutively for over a decade, and Hoagland shared that this year’s system is a turn from what concert-goers have seen in the past, with the system arranged to accent the video-heavy portions of the show.
“The lighting system fits in and around all these screens to give large and hard-hitting accents to go along with Aldean’s powerful songs,” he said.
The large video screen required Whitehouse and the Fireplay team to configure how to get above said screen and find lighting positions. The solution was a large automated mega-pod, outfitted with 16 Chauvet Rogue RH1 fixtures surrounded by VL 3000 Spots and outlined with GLP X4 Bar 20s which dropped in and out when needed.
“This allows us to have some really great moments during the show,” Hoagland said. “It makes an awesome feature to have some lighting fun.”
“Even after fifteen years I still love the VL 3000s,” said Whitehouse adding, “for me the quality of light and the colors are a benchmark for all other fixtures and I know exactly how to use them and what they can do; these are my go-to.”
“This has been a fascinating tour to be a part of as it was designed and refined,” said Bandit Lites Vice President Mike Golden adding, “it could never have happened without a complete team effort. Nick Whitehouse delivered a very ambitious and powerful design and Keith Hoagland provided amazing input. Drew Brown was on top of every detail and guided us into a very workable solution. Between Nick and his entire team, the Aldean production camp and our dedicated technicians, the show is up and running like a beautifully fine-tuned machine.”
Whitehouse and Hoagland shared Bandit provided great service for the Ride All Night Tour with Hoagland adding, “The leadership and support we get from Bandit has always been above
par. I believe this comes from above, from Michael Strickland down to the tech loading the truck. It takes a team and Bandit Lites has been an amazing team to do this with. From working along with Account Manager Mike Golden and Project Manager Donnie Lockridge to watching our road crew assemble and maintain this system has been nothing but awesome. With crew chief Jonathan “Neppy” Houle as well as each and every one of the other four amazing crew members: Patrick “Magicman” Cowden, Scott “Cannon” Wesson, Trevor Drawdy, and Michele “Cookie” Saintey, I am very grateful and honored to have the team that supports what we do on the road with Aldean day and day out. Thank you Bandit Lites for all that you do for us.”
Kelly Sticksel – Lead Creative Producer
Nick Whitehouse – Lighting Designer and Creative Producer Dom Smith – Lighting Designer / Lighting Programmer
Brian Vaughan – Lighting Designer
Keith Hogland – Lighting Director
Josh Zangen – Production Designer
Fireplay is collaborative design and production studio. Our integrated team creates innovative spaces for the music and event industry around the world. Starting from breakthrough concepts leading up to perfect technical and production delivery we are a successfully defining a new model across multiple industries. www.fireplay.com
About Jason Aldean:
Aldean “has got this thing down pat” (UPROXX) as “he sells out stadiums and continues to bring his singles to the top of the radio charts” (Forbes). The ACM “Artist of the Decade” has ushered in more than four billion digital streams while selling over 18 million albums and 22 No. One hits. Aldean is only the second Country act in history to score four consecutive chart-toppers on the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart with his current album REARVIEW TOWN, with six of his previous LPs having achieved Platinum certification or better. He has sold more than ten million headlining tickets and is one of the first of few acts in the genre to sell-out multiple stadiums such as UGA’s Sanford Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, AT&T Stadium and Gillette Stadium. Aldean raised more than $6 million for charities across the country including Susan G Komen and his hometown of Macon, GA’s Children’s Hospital. He continues “giving his fans a performance to remember” (Desert Sun) throughout his 2019 RIDE ALL NIGHT TOUR with upcoming stops this week in Cleveland, OH, (8/09), Canandaigua, NY, (8/10) and the Boots & Hearts Festival (8/11). For more information and for a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit www.jasonaldean.com.
Images Todd /Chris Owyoung
