Between EDM and the Grateful Dead? This is how Billy Strings' tour is experienced, where the stage transforms into a chimerical space, worthy of a wild dream. Matthieu Larivée, along with his team at Lüz Studio and lighting director Roger Grant, create an atmosphere that defies reality on the North American tour of the Grammy winner.
Billy Strings' shows are unique. It’s not you regular Blue Grass show by any means. It’s more like a mix of Grateful Dead and EDM. The show is an all-improv show. There are no setlists. There are six looks within our virtual and real lighting rigs that correspond to the show's six chapters. The crew decides which chapters they will use each night, and then stick to that chapter for a period of time, punting within that world. Those colorful worlds are defined within each chapter with lighting and video. So, it becomes cohesive, while still being very psychedelic and trippy, said Larivée.
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Supporting the transcendent design is a 52-foot-by-26-foot 8mm pitch video wall that covers the entire backline. With content created by Lüz Studio, the wall immerses with an endlessly deep panorama of changing images, many of which create a 3D effect evoking the feeling of traveling through space.
Above the stage are a series of UFO-like circular structures that shine, while projecting light down on the performers. These structures mirror their virtual counterparts that appear at times on the video wall. "We have designed those pods with Roger and made sure that we were using the same layout with the digital ones", said Larivée. "Automation was also done within the screen, minimizing the rigging, truck space, and budget".
Lighting Billy Strings and his bandmates from those pods, as they play a genre busting mix of improv music is a collection of 40 CHAUVET Professional Outcast 1 BeamWashes.
The BeamWashes are positioned in the center of the PODs, so they can't be seen. Only the UFO looking lights are visible, but the BeamWashes are critical to setting the mood on stage with their downlighting, said Larivée.
Other CHAUVET Professional fixtures in the rig, which was supplied by Bandit Lites, includes 20 STRIKE Array blinder strobes, and 10 onAir Mini Panels. "The STRIKE units are our audience lights on the DS truss", said Larivée. "The Chauvet Air Panel Mini IP fixtures are also positioned one the DS. They're great compact footlights”.
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Working with their lighting rig and the mesmerizing video content, the design team is creating a show that seamlessly blends evocative images and a stunning rainbow of colors. At times, the choice of colors, like the music itself, transcends ordinary expectations with hues like jewel toned greens that typically aren't seen on a concert stage, all to help transport fans to a different plane.
In this show, there are extended 15-minute songs with crowds dancing and following along musically more than looking for a hit tune. Therefore, it’s ok to become trippy and follow the vibe that is going on stage, said Larivée.
Photo Credit: Jesse Faatz
