Elation Professional supported the British Music Embassy (BME) stages at this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) conference and festival, held in Austin, Texas.
In collaboration with the Academy of Live Technology (ALT) at Production Park, luminaires from the Elation REBEL and PULSE series illuminated a diverse lineup of artists, while providing the next generation of lighting technicians with valuable hands-on experience.
Showcasing UK talent and training tomorrow’s live events professionals
The British Music Embassy promotes British music internationally, offering emerging artists high-profile exposure and meaningful career opportunities. Its SXSW stages are renowned platforms that have launched artists who later achieved global success, including Amy Winehouse, Sam Fender, and The 1975.
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The Academy of Live Technology offers specialist degrees and training for those aspiring to work in live experiences. With campuses at Production Park (Wakefield, UK) and Rock Lititz (Pennsylvania, USA), ALT provides students with real-world experience alongside world-class production facilities, supported by Elation’s cutting-edge lighting technology.
REBEL, PULSE, SŌL
As an ongoing partner of ALT and Production Park, Elation supplied a creative lighting package for the BME stages at this year’s SXSW, delivered from its US office. The setup included REBEL WASH, REBEL LINE, REBEL DARTZ, and REBEL PROFILE fixtures, alongside PULSE PANEL, PULSE PANEL FX, and PULSE BAR luminaires, as well as SŌL BLINDER units and MAGMA PRIME TOUR hazers.
Collaboration at the core
Ant Forbes, Studio & Production Manager at Production Park, led a professional production crew supported by ALT students from both the UK and US campuses to build and operate the BME stages at SXSW.
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Elation’s support has been fundamental in delivering the British Music Embassy stages at SXSW. Access to high-quality, industry-standard lighting allows us to create a professional and dynamic environment for every artist and audience member. Elation’s fixtures are not only reliable and versatile, but they also provide the creative flexibility to adapt to a wide range of performances across the programme. Partnerships like this are essential; without Elation’s continued backing, it would not be possible to deliver a showcase of this calibre, said Forbes.
Hands-on learning for ALT students
A key part of the ALT student experience is the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with professional lighting equipment, bridging academic theory with real-world application. Emma Cook, Director of Student Support & Experience at ALT, highlighted its impact:
“We are grateful for Elation’s continued support. Providing students with hands-on access to industry-standard lighting equipment is essential, equipping them with the skills and confidence they need to step directly into the live events sector. From supporting the British Music Embassy stages at SXSW to supplying equipment for student projects, this partnership plays a vital role in developing the next generation of live events professionals and shaping future talent”.
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Celebrating student talent and technology
Bradley Nicholson, Lead Lighting Designer for the BME stages, praised both the student talent and the equipment used. His team included Thomas Skinner as ALT Stage Lighting Designer and Operator, along with Archie Baxter (ALT UK) and Presley Thurlow (ALT USA).
“These students tackled every challenge thrown their way, and I can honestly say I was impressed with every aspect of their work, from build to derig”, he said. “I look forward to seeing what they go on to achieve in their undoubtedly successful careers”.
Nicholson said his creativity flourished this year, partly thanks to designing with the new REBEL series.
The REBEL DARTZ delivered impressive output, creating striking beam effects both on stage and over the audience. The REBEL WASH 4 and 12 flooded the space with light, while pixel effects added extra visual appeal. This year in particular, the addition of a downstage front light bar, combined with CTO filters in the REBEL PROFILE, lit the performers perfectly and allowed me to focus on creating more refined looks while ensuring they remained clearly visible.
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SXSW: a global hub for creativity
Renowned for networking, cross-industry collaboration, and launching emerging artists, SXSW naturally attracts lighting design professionals eager to discover new talent and cutting-edge technology.
Terese Porterfield, lighting designer for Alanis Morissette, attended the event and shared her impressions: “I had the pleasure of visiting the BME stage and seeing some of Elation’s latest luminaires. The REBEL luminaires offered flexible programming and very smooth colour mixing. I was impressed by their output and can easily imagine using them in the future when I need a compact yet powerful show with plenty of options”.
Noah Connolly, lighting designer for August Burns Red, was also present and highlighted the design possibilities of the PULSE fixtures: “The PULSE PANEL FX brings architectural automation to smaller-scale touring. It’s great to have a fixture that allows parts of the rig to transform into something completely new. The integrated L-Track rigging on the PULSE BAR opens up interesting configuration possibilities with less hardware, making it ideal for complex setups in mid-size touring”.
Cole Sanford, lighting designer for Alpha Wolf, Dayseeker and Make Them Suffer, attended several performances on the BME stages and highlighted two standout elements of the evening:
The first are the PULSE PANEL and PULSE PANEL FX, featuring a seamless blend of two plates of segmented RGB zones within the main strobe area. They offer higher output than many competing fixtures, more features, and excellent performance in both small and large venues. The second are the REBEL LINE 16, luminaires with impressive capabilities. They enable highly creative effects thanks to their dual segmented heads with independent zoom and tilt. They also feature practical locking and connection mechanisms, along with well-positioned ports. They are easy to install and pair seamlessly with the more compact REBEL LINE 8. In addition, they incorporate a clever set of SparkX cold-white LED pixels, further expanding creative possibilities.
Overall, the collaboration that defines SXSW demonstrates how industry partnerships can elevate live performance while fostering future talent. By supporting both artists and emerging professionals, Elation continues to play a key role in shaping the future of live entertainment.
