Nothing excites the imagination quite like a tunnel. Mysterious passageways to unseen worlds that wait on the other side, these dark, uncertain subterranean paths have been the subject of fascination and legends since ancient times. What better setting to serve as an immersive backdrop for electronic music and rave artists? The organisers of the Listen Festival thought so, which is why they selected the three-tunnel complex under Marie Louise Square as one of the sites for their city-wide event. And oh, how right they were
Fans who crowded the tunnels to see international stars VTSS, Crystallmess and Mary Lake, along with local favourites like CJ Bolland and Nosedrip, got swept away by more than the music. Setting a mesmerising visual tone for the shows was a dramatic lighting design by the John & Jane team that accentuated the intensely raw aesthetics of the tunnel structure.
“This was the third year in a row that we provided sound and light for multiple stages of Listen Festival,” said Lowie Lesage, technical supervisor of the project. “Listen Festival is known for their unique locations. This year, having the festival take place in tunnels was a fun challenge. Our successful cooperations rely on good equipment and light and sound designs that match the venue. As well as working together to find the best logistical solutions.”
Helping the John & Jane team achieve their vision for the festival was a collection of CHAUVET Professional fixtures that included 36 COLORdash PAR H12IP washes, 12 COLORado Panel Q40 rectangular wash lights, 14 Color STRIKE M motorised strobe-washes and 16 STRIKE P38 blinders.
Tobias Allard, who served as the lighting designer-operator, along with operators Korneel Wilkin & Ward de Clercq, drew on the colour rendering prowess and intense output of the fixtures in their rig to create a seamless flow of compelling looks throughout the tubular festival space.
“We played off the length and shape of the tunnel,” Lesage said, explaining the design team’s strategy. For example, the team transformed moods by conjuring up a variety of intense monochromatic washes that seemed to fill the entire space. They also added dramatic flourishes by sending sharp beams of lights over the crowds one moment, before accentuating the tunnel walls with warm white blinders the next.
Although the tunnels, which are normally used for traffic, offered the design team a wealth of creative opportunities, they also posed some challenges. “As the tunnels were closed for traffic for a relatively short time before the festival, we had to make sure the load in would go as smoothly and fast as possible,” explained Lesage. “This made it necessary to preassemble most of the totems in our warehouse.”
