i-Pix supplied a special package of BB4, BB7 and BB16 LED fixtures to Electric Fly Productions, show and lighting designers for the main stage, 4 arenas and 2 outdoor terrace areas at the 2009 Global Gathering dance event. This was staged at Long Marsden Airfield in Staffordshire, UK.
Electric Fly's Nick Jevons wanted to use specific fixtures for certain special effects. "I approached i-Pix because I could think of several areas that were ideal for their very high quality homogenised light output - which doesn't even resemble an LED fixture - and they came to the party with great enthusiasm," he elucidates.
i-Pix Chris Ewington says, " Nick is one of the most innovative lighting designers and his work is always interesting. Our products have all been developed after careful and considered end-user feedback, so events like this present great opportunities to continue that communication".
The BBs were omnipresent across the site!
The largest tented arena was Global/Carl Cox, and this featured 14 BB7s hung on the main over-stage lighting truss, some on drop bars, for additional dynamics and to fill the gaps in between columns of LC 2140 screen. They were used for washing the stage and audience, their distinct flower like appearance also adding to the scenic ambience of the stage.
The Tool Room Knight/Random Concept tent saw a classic rave lighting design based around Cyberlights. BB7s were positioned all across the two level stage pointing directly at the audience for crowd illumination and burn out - a task for which they were perfect.
"The sheer brightness of the BBs alone is amazing," says Jevons, "It can cut right through anything, so we can break things down in layers and have pure LED looks which contrast beautifully with strobes, incandescent sources and moving lights. Even just a few units are great for making dark, smoke filled spaces a really intense experience and adding another dimension".
In the Spectrum/Polysexual arena, 11 BB4s were installed, one in each of 6 upright trussing sections onstage and 5 on the downstage edge of the stage - again used for audience blinding and pulsing effects - with massive impact. Eleven BB4s was all it took to immerse the stage and dancefloor with massive saturated blocks of light and colour.
The Bedrock tent was a long clearspan marquee with an apex roof and another double level stage. Four upright towers were again the most expedient method for rigging lights at the stage end, with a BB7 on top of each one pointing forward and firing down the length of the tent.
Over in the GODSKITCHEN Arena, Electric Fly built the 2009 GODS world touring "Boom Box" projection structure. Headlined by the amazing David Guetta, the DJ platform was in the centre of the Boom Box, flanked by 2 dance podiums - all contained within the structure that's clad with white projection scrim and also internally lit. The DJ and the dancers were lit with i-Pix Satellites - the small but powerful 'brick' style fixture being easily concealable and rig-able in any environment.
Rocking it up over in the Tuborg Live terrace area under a saddlespan roof, were 4 BB16s utilised to provide dense side-stage wash coverage for the bands. This proved the ideal solution for producing lots of illumination and no heat - despite the small stage and the proximity of the fixtures to the performers. Another 4 BB4s were focussed to highlight the distinctive lip of the structure.
An additional 12 BB7s made an appearance on the Saturday night main stage for headliners Orbital, as part of their 'floor specials' package. The band's lighting designer Jonny Gaskell has been touring these throughout the summer, supplied by Neg Earth. Friday night main stage headliner's Prodigy (LD Andy Hurst) contributed to the BB count with 24 BB4s integrated into their 'festival specials'.
Yet more BB7s - another 12 - were utilised by the site's main lighting contractors HSL, for a spectacular set concept they designed and built for Steve Angello's main stage set. This happened at sunset after a glorious Saturday, and BB7s were specifically picked as a fixture comfortably able to compete with the sun in terms of output and daylight impact!
i-Pix BBs continue to be a favourite LED lightsource for festival and concert LDs worldwide. i-Pix has just launched a new wide angle version of the BB7 to add to its growing and highly versatile range.