NOTRE DAME, IN – Garth Brooks has always loved to push boundaries, break records and, most importantly, entertain people. All those elements were on full display at Notre Dame Stadium where the second highest selling recording artist of all time took the stage Oct. 20 for a two-hour performance with a lighting package designed by Dave “Gig” Butzler and provided by longtime vendor Bandit Lites. This show served as the inaugural concert held at the facilities and simultaneously kicked off Brooks’ stadium tour.
More details from Bandit (www.BanditLites.com):
“Garth, in usual Garth fashion, went where no one has ever been before: the hallowed Notre Dame Stadium; the house that Rockne built,” said Bandit Lites Chair and founder, Michael T. Strickland. “This show served as the launch platform for Garth’s new, three year, all stadium tour. Leave it to Garth to do things that the fans love and that no one has done before!”
“Hello, Notre Dame,” Brooks said to the nearly 85,000 fans at the sold-out performance. “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. How ya all doing?”
Brooks took to the 360-degree stage that featured more than 300 lighting fixtures including Robe BMFL and BMFL Wash Beams, Chauvet Rogue Beam R2, GLP X4, VL 6000, VL 3500 Washes, X Bar 20, X Bar 10, Claypaky Spheriscans, Robe Robin 1200 LED, Elation Paladins, Martin Atomic LED Strobes, Phillips Nitro RGBW Strobes, eight Lyican M2 Longthrow Spotlights, and two grandMA 2 Full consoles for a control. The result was a rig that glowed as bright as the star shaped stage even amid the wintry conditions.
Bandit Lites crew consisted of Aaron Swetland, Cody Cheatham, Chuck Hastings, Steve Strickland, Patrick Cowden, Scott Wesson, Scot Sepe and Terese Fensler with considerable additional support coming from Bandit Lites Project Manager Don Lockridge.
The unforgettable performance was recorded and televised on CBS Television December 2 and showcased the magic that millions of people have come to know: there is nothing quite like a Garth Brooks concert. The television special brought together 8.9 million viewers where families witnessed the lights of 80,000 cell phone flashlights swaying in the stillness of the night as everyone sang along to “The River.”
Lighting designer Bob Peterson provided the television lighting design and direction with Bandit Lites supplying over one hundred additional fixtures including Robe Mega Pointes, Robe BMFLs, Robe Robin 1200 LED Washes and Lycian M2 Spots.
“Since this performance, Garth has sold out the first two stadiums: The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis and State Farm Stadium in Glendale,” concluded Strickland. “The demand for his infectious energy and fantastic show just grows every year. The fans are and always have been his number one focus. Garth delivers in a fashion and with an energy few can match. Bandit is so proud to be part of his family, and I am proud to call Garth a friend. Like everyone else, I always wonder ‘what’s next?’.”
