Anniversaries always bring unforgettable moments, especially when it comes to an iconic band like DI-RECT. This summer, more than 50,000 fans filled De Kuip Stadium for three nights as the band from The Hague celebrated 25 years of music with an unforgettable show.
DI-RECT’s extensive musical repertoire was on full display for fans to enjoy, not only by listening but by watching as well. Like the band’s songs, the concert production was diverse.
The show began with a soft, intimate atmosphere, with lead vocalist Marcel Veenendaal and guitarist Frans "Spike" van Zoest performing on a diamond-shaped 360° stage. Later, the performance shifted to a full (non-360°) stage as the energy built up, incorporating symphonic parts with an orchestra on tiered risers behind the band, as well as a vibrant rock atmosphere featuring two massive video walls and a powerful lighting rig.
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Leading this dynamic production was Leon Driessen, together with his team from LD Company, using five ChamSys MagicQ MQ500M Stadium consoles.
Three of these consoles were used during the previsualization phase: one to control the Disguise GX3 video server, and the other two to manage the lighting in a multi-user programming environment.
The ChamSys multi-user function was fantastic, allowing us to program with two operators working on the same cue list simultaneously. While one focused on defining the overall look and atmosphere of each song, the other handled the effects and accents, such as build-ups and drum riffs. At times, we even programmed two songs simultaneously within the same show file. It was invaluable that the ChamSys system allowed us to connect multiple previsualization setups to a single project, explained Driessen.
Once at De Kuip Stadium, the design team expanded its capabilities by adding two additional MQ500M units. These consoles were used to control the show’s extensive video content. (In addition to the two massive video walls, the production featured video elements displayed throughout the stage, often projected onto lighting fixtures).
“We used the ChamSys DMX Merge feature to integrate all video content into the console from the servers”, said Driessen. “This allowed us to map video across the washes and LED strips. Since all consoles were connected within the same network, we could control all cues from the main lighting desk and switch seamlessly between video and key lights”.
The show was programmed using a timeline combined with manual cues. “Each song was programmed on a timeline, but the endings were handled manually”, explained Driessen. “That gave the band the freedom to extend songs during the finales, and with DI-RECT’s vast repertoire, letting each track evolve naturally felt almost inevitable”.
