A NIGHT OF A MILLION LIGHTS, WELL ALMOST!
By Bruce Schwartz (Electrosonic SA Entertainment Lighting Manager)
Rave type events in South Africa are few and far between. So, when Armin van Buuren - DJ Magazine’s top-rated DJ - brings a large budget one-night-only world tour event to our country, it’s sure to be a spectacle. Having kicked off in November 2013 in Amsterdam, Armin Only: Intense – his all-night electronic dance event - will continue its journey to over 20 destinations to all corners of the world, from America to Australia, to Africa to Asia.
The concept and vision of this world tour is inspired by Intense, Armin’s latest album. Armin Only is a concept that started in the early days of Armin’s career. Since the first editions in the early millennium years the show has grown and come to life. Armin explains: “Unlike today, now that it’s all based on short sets and quick highlights, it used to be all about the long sets, the musical trips. That’s what Armin Only is all about – taking clubbers on a 6 hour plus journey into music. Through the Armin Only: Intense shows, I can tell them the full story of my Intense album – in fact of everything I’d like to say.”
With every new world tour expectations grow; so Armin and ALDA Events have teamed up with famous theatre director Jos Thie and event director Sander Reneman (owner of 250K). These two creative minds teamed up with the Intense crew, resulting in a completely unconventional and fresh approach to an electronic dance music show. Armin elaborates: “At heart Armin Only will always be a DJ set, but to make it more interesting for the crowd, I’m going to try and make the live moments real, like you would witness them in a theatre!”
The Armin Only: Intense crew arrived on South African soil in the second week of June 2014 with a mission: to move boundaries. In Johannesburg they met up with Stuart Andrews, Lighting Operations Manager of Gearhouse SA - the “one-stop-shop” technical supplier. Along with Gearhouse’s men on the ground, Robert Grobler and Herman Wessels, the grand plan was executed: getting 555 intelligent lighting fixtures into every corner of the Coca-Cola Dome’s massive stage, and setting up the AV. Part of the challenge was leading the mass of power and data cabling from under the stage, to behind the LED Backdrop, around the Screens, over the audience, and finally backstage to distros and processing. Gearhouse rose to the occasion and had the job done within a load-in time of only two days!
Twenty DMX universes distributed on a redundant fibre network from a Grand MA2, with a second Grand MA2 for backup. One of the unique features was a matrix of 60 x Martin MAC 101 fixtures flanking the massive 21m x 6m LED Backdrop. Amassing so many little fixtures allowed the crew to create a wall of light that literally blasted into the crowd, or created subtle pixel mapping effects.
This show had beams … LOTS of beams! There were Robe Pointes and Clay Paky Sharpies all over the set. At the best of times it’s difficult to compete with the sheer power of all these beams, but inspired programming by the Armin Only crew brought out the best in the workhorse Martin MAC Vipers. Break-up gobos, which usually let through so little light, were also used, but in this case there was more than enough to totally dazzle the audience. The trusty Martin Atomics, along with the moving lights’ mechanical shutters and irises, were given a thorough work-out throughout the evening.
After an hour of warm-up Armin took the ravers on a four hour journey. This included a combination of live singing, drum and guitar solos, trampoline artists, and a huge balloon drop. Armin then surprised and delighted fans with an hour-long, old school set on vinyl, playing inside the Front of House (FOH) area among the technical crew. This not only brought him really close to his fans, but also drew in his whole crew. As he started the vinyl set his entire crew descended on the crowded FOH area, and proceeded to dance on the tables: quite a sight for the throngs of fans pushing against the crowd barriers.
The quality of equipment, the ability of Gearhouse to supply a full technical service, and most importantly the talented, hardworking men and women behind the scenes all goes to prove that South Africa’s technical event industry ranks with the best. This may be Africa … but we are world class!
Many thanks to Stuart, Robert and Herman for their support in this article. Thanks and huge respect to Gearhouse Crew Bosses Peter Abrahamse, Acacio Lacita and George Majola on an excellent job. Well done!
Lighting Equipment List (excluding trussing, power, etc.):
- 72 x Martin MAC Viper Profiles
- 67 x Martin Atomic Strobes
- 120 x Martin MAC 101
- 23 x Varilite VL3000 Spots
- 19 x Varilite VL3500 Spots
- 54 x Robe Pointes
- 68 x Clay Paky Sharpys
- 96 x LEDForce 18 RGBW LED Par Cans
- 4 x BB4 LED Wash Light
- 24 x Molefay Blinders