Grammy-award winning musician, Chance the Rapper, has praised Robe’s Michael Apostolos during his past US tour, which featured an eye-catching lighting show.
The duo formed a partnership during throughChance’s management team four years ago, when Apostolos started as LD, with the latter now working as Robe’s Creative Director, the career trajectories of both have soared.
Apostolos introduced Robe moving lights during Chance’s Be Encouraged tour, specifying 30 BMFL Spots, 4 BMFL WashBeams and 56 LEDWash 1200s as well as 8 CycFX 8s for the tour, all supplied by rental specialist, Solotech.
The lights were positioned across five overhead ‘finger’ trusses, fanning out from upstage centre and along the deck upstage of the band risers. The LEDWash 1200s formed the “backbone” of the show explained Michael, with virtually every cue, programmed into the grandMA2 console, and some meticulous programming ensured that each LEDWash look was unique and interesting.
BMFL Spots were the major profile fixture, while the WashBeams were used for specials and surprises in this colourful, high-impact performance, while the CycFX 8s were used to add low backlight to the band and help create highlighting moments delineating the musicians on stage.
Apostolos also designed the set, based around a large upstage curved LED screen, bringing a clean and elegant look to the stage. This was framed by two proscenium ‘light boxes which added further colour and definition, including light boxes with opaque frosted plexi to diffuse colour blasts within.
Both IMAG and playback video footage appeared on the screen with the lighting in a series of carefully choreographed sequences and cues, which captured and embraced the numerous moods and vibes throughout the set. Michael used BMFL Spots on the last tour and “loved their output and versatility.”
Michael’s Programmer and Associate Designer on the tour was Elliot Little, the two have worked together before and enjoy a great imaginative workflow. Bob Zegler was the Video Director, with content created by OJ Hays and 4U2C. While Production Manager Jeff Kicklighter kept everything in-check during the tour.
