NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – While 2017 was certainly a banner year for RCA Records Nashville recording artist Chris Young, with his seventh studio album Losing Sleep debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and his induction into the membership of the Grand Ole Opry, the Grammy-nominated artist has kicked off the new year with a massive sold-out arena headlining tour.
Lighting designers Chris Lisle of Chris Lisle Lighting Design and Mike Stanley, Production Manager, crafted the “Chris Young Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour” rig with a lighting package provided by Bandit Lites. They collaborated to create a hybrid of Young’s 2016 lighting design, which consisted of two overhead trusses and upstage torms loaded with Robe Pointes, Ayrton MagicPanels, Martin Atomic Strobes and Elation CuePix Blinders, and 2017’s floor pack that utilized the torm components alongside and blasting through a pyramid of video panels.
“Now the rig has evolved, combining the two designs, and adding in some more fire power overhead with a midstage truss, nearly doubling the fixture count from the original rig,” Stanley said.
Bandit Lites is supplying over 150 fixtures including MagicPanels 602 which extend the video product out in addition to providing effects and beam looks. The rig also utilizes MAC Viper Profiles, VL 3500 Washes, Elation CuePix WW2 blinders, Martin Atomic 3000 Strobes and Robe Pointes, which Stanley notes as being road worthy and an aspect of the rig since 2014 saying, “The Pointes are a hard fixture to beat.”
A new addition to the rig is the dynamic Clay Paky B-Eye K20, a fixture Stanley saw in action over the summer, and was blown away by the kaleidoscope effects.
“I’m running them in shapes mode, and the built-in macros combined with the effects are awesome,” he said.
The B-EYEs also provide one of Stanley’s favorite moments in the show, albeit it lasts only seconds, proving that he doesn’t need long to make a statement.
“In one of the rocking songs in the set, the stage is blacked out besides the B-Eye’s in a linear scroll with the kaleido rotating, a cue that has always been a strobe effect in the past,” Stanley said before adding, “There’s also a ballad toward the end on the set that’s primarily backlit with the Vipers asymmetrically that’s simple and it looks great.”
With the first six weeks of the tour sold-out, thanks to the excitement and demand from fans, Chris Young has already announced a second extension of tour dates into September, including the Platinum-selling entertainer’s first-ever hometown headlining show at Bridgestone Arena.
“This entire production is a testament to the passion and excitement that Chris Young and his team instill in every aspect of the tour,” said Bandit’s Business Development Officer, Brent Barrett. “We at Bandit are very proud to be along for the ride, and having known both Chris and Mike for years, I know that any project with them is going to be a triumph.”
“There’s a high standard that comes along with the Bandit name,” finished Stanley. “I know the first time the rig rolls on the floor for rehearsals, it is going to work. That high standard follows through with support, too. Project Manager Matt King and tech guru Jake Tickle in the Nashville shop always knock it out of the park no matter the time or day of the week.”
In addition to Bandit gear, the tour also includes two Grand MA2 Lights, three NPU’s and a catalyst driving content provided by CLLD.
Designers – Chris Lisle and Michael Stanley
PM/LD – Michael Stanley
Lighting Chief – Andrew Jacoby
Lighting Techs – Mark Scherer, Joey DiLeo
About Bandit Lites, Inc.
Bandit Lites is a global leader in the entertainment lighting marketplace. From touring productions to fixed installations, Bandit Lites has a full staff of highly trained professionals to deal with all types of lighting needs. Bandit’s global presence will insure seamless transitions no matter where your next show takes you. More information available at www.BanditLites.com.
About Chris Young
Recently inducted as a member of the iconic Grand Ole Opry, Chris Young achieved another milestone in 2017 with the release of Losing Sleep, his second consecutive studio album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart. At the age of 32 the RCA Records artist has ten No. 1 singles and seven albums to his credit, including the 2x Platinum single “I’m Comin’ Over,” the Platinum-certified Neon and 2015’s Gold-certified I’m Comin’ Over, which earned multiple ACM, BBMA, CMA, CMT, Grammy and RDMA nominations and scored three consecutive chart-topping singles. A prolific creator, Losing Sleep is Chris’s third project in less than two years and the title track is his eighth No. 1 as a songwriter.
Named “one of his era’s finest traditionalists” by the Associated Press, Chris has quickly become an international ambassador for country music, performing to packed houses around the world including the sold-out C2C Festival in the UK. With a hit-packed set that highlights his ten chart-toppers — including back-to-back No. 1s “Losing Sleep,” “Sober Saturday Night,” “Think Of You,” and “I’m Comin’ Over” — and seventeen Gold/Platinum certified projects, he’s headlining the Chris Young Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour, with more than 40 arena and amphitheater dates on the books including his first hometown headlining show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
For a full list of tour dates and more information, visit chrisyoungcountry.com.