The lighting designers of musicians Jason Derulo, Dizzee Rascal and Chase & Status requested Claypaky Sharpy’s and A.leda B-EYE K10’s as key fixtures in the touring rigs at UK urban music festival Sundown.
Responsible for the mainstage festival rig was Mick Freer, Head of Concert Touring at production and hire outfit Hawthorn that provided the lighting, rigging, drapes, FOH control systems and followspots for Sundown’s main stage.
“Bobby Bascombe, Jason Derulo’s Lighting Designer, specified the 24 x Claypaky A.leda B-EYE K10’s for the flown rig, and 26 x Claypaky Sharpy’s in vector mode for the floor package,” said Freer. “Sharpy’s were also requested by Steve Bewley, Lighting Designer for Dizzee Rascal, and Chase & Status’ LD, Andy Hurst.”
Freer consulted Bascombe, Bewley, Hurst and the other visiting designers in the months leading to the festival to create a main stage rig that would accommodate the specific needs of the headline acts and provide versatility for other visiting artists.
“The lighting designers provide a festival/touring plot in their rider,” said Freer. “I then pick out the key elements that they want and incorporate them into the rig design. In this case the Claypaky Sharpy and A.leda B-EYE K10 were fixtures specified by multiple designers.”
Operating in three modes – wash, beam and FX – the B-EYE provides a range of creative opportunities for designers who are looking for versatility.
Freer commented: “Incorporating [the B-EYE K10] into the design provided the opportunity to create really crisp washes on stage as well as the chance to use the fixture in its FX mode displaying some great effects for the audience. They are ideal fixtures for a festival situation where you have big crowds, big acts and quick changeovers.”
The A.leda B-EYE K10 is notable by its honeycomb lens that allows light to be focused into a 4° beam light and then expanded into a 60° wash light at the touch of a button. The front lens then enables the light to perform in FX mode whereby designers can create kaleidoscope effects that ripple across the stage.
“Sundown Festival has a lot of quick changeovers and the Sharpy was fast and easy to put into place,” continued Freer. “Its small size meant we could also hide the fixture into backline set-ups which allowed us to create some great aerial visual effects. The fixture combines this power with a small physical footprint and a lightweight build.”
The Sharpy weighs in at 19kgs with a height of 49cm tall, making it a compact fixture with laser-like beams punching out 59,760 lux at 20m (5,100 footcandles at 65 ft), perfect for Sundown’s 40,000 strong crowd.