Live Design's fourth annual 31 Days Of Plots features one production per day during the month of December 2021, highlighting a different lighting design, from across theatre, concert tours, corporate events, live for broadcast, and more, as we wind down 2021 and head toward the new year.
Day 22 of 31 Days Of Plots 2021 features plots by lighting designer Cate Carter for the English rock band Elbow's UK tour. Originally scheduled for March 2020, this UK tour finally hit the road on September 1, 2021 and visited a mixture of clubs, theatres, and arenas, playing 21 shows across 14 cities.
"Promoting Elbow’s previous studio album, Giants of All Sizes, this is the first time we’ve used lasers as part of the band’s live production design. The band had been keen to work with lasers for a number of years and together we felt the music from the latest record provided the perfect opportunity to do so," says Carter, With seven musicians on stage and two guest performers (both openers, who later cameo in the main show) we built a 50’ wide, curved, tiered riser, provided by All Access Staging.
The tiered riser included positions for the string players, drummer, and the band’s keyboard player, Craig Potter —whilst also creating a walkway for lead singer Guy Garvey and positions for the guest performances," Carter explains. "In addition to staging the musicians, the decking provided ample positions for lighting fixtures and we outlined the curved structure with GLP FR-10 bars, to add visual impact and frame the band. Five steeply raked spine truss hung above the construction and these included Martin Mac Vipers, TMB Solaris Flares and BB4 lasers to create an imposing ceiling above the band and a palette of visual effects. The spine truss were backlit by JDC-1s, flown above the main rig and these were mirrored by JDC-1 fixtures on the floor, behind the risers, to backlight the set."
Carter concludes: "Lighting was programmed and operated by LD Franki McDade using an MA lighting MA2 full-size, whilst the lasers were skilfullly brought to life by Ivan Dokmanović. Lite Alternative provided lights and rigging, staging was delivered by All Access, and the lasers were provided by ER. Show design and creative direction by Cate Carter and technical production design by Mike Smith."
Lighting gear list:
13 Martin Mac Aura XB
18 GLP JDC-1
09 Thomas 4-light blinder
16 Thomas 2-light blinder
24 TMB Solaris Flare
33 Martin Mac Viper Profile
06 Matin Mac Viper Performance
26 GLP Impression FR10 Bar
05 ER BB4 lasers
04 ER Arc Regus Whitelight lasers
02 Robe Robospot system with BMFL Washbeam
Photos: Matthew Eachus / The Manc Photographer
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