Red Bull Symphonic 2025: Bad Weather’s Bold Design at Montecasino Teatro with Martin Lights

Bold creativity met musical innovation at Montecasino Teatro in June, as Bad Weather delivered a striking visual design for Red Bull Symphonic Johannesburg. Across three sold-out nights, the genre-fusing event saw the worlds of orchestral music and Amapiano collide in spectacular fashion. And Martin Professional lighting fixtures, led by the MAC One, formed the core of the show’s immersive visual identity.

The production brought together Kelvin Momo, one of Amapiano’s most influential producers, with acclaimed conductor Adam Howard and the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra. Together, they reimagined Momo’s deep, soulful sound through the grandeur of a full classical ensemble.

Behind the breathtaking visual storytelling was Cape Town-based design house Bad Weather Productions, known for crafting emotionally resonant and technically precise stage environments. Faced with the challenge of balancing orchestral elegance with the raw energy of township-born beats, Bad Weather doubled down on flexibility, precision, and reliability. Their rig of choice: Martin Professional lighting fixtures, with a standout performance from the MAC One.

The Teams Behind the Tech

Behind the seamless execution of this genre-defying production were trusted partners who delivered both creative ingenuity and technical excellence. Bad Weather led the creative direction across lighting, video, and rigging, bringing emotional intensity to the stage and moving fluidly between orchestral delicacy and the high-energy drops of Amapiano.

Stage Effects, long recognised for delivering high-end production support to South Africa’s leading live events, supplied the full Martin lighting rig that anchored the visual design. Their technical expertise ensured a stable, responsive system that met the demands of a highly choreographed, musically complex show.

Building on Bad Weather’s creative direction, the lighting design made full use of the Martin Professional fixture family to capture the emotional dynamics of the performance. With the 48 units of MAC One BeamWash lights leading the visual charge, the rig delivered everything from delicate ambient tones to high-impact pixel effects, perfectly in sync with Momo’s evolving musical narrative.

The versatility of the MAC Aura XIPs, the power of the MAC Viper Profiles, and the punch of the VDO Atomic Bolds and Atomic Dots worked together to heighten the contrast between orchestral elegance and Amapiano intensity, creating moments that were as visually captivating as they were musically moving.

A Stage Built on Vision and Collaboration

Lighting was just one part of an ambitious creative process that took months of planning and close collaboration between Momo, Howard, the orchestra, and the design teams. Every note was pre-scored and choreographed—departing from Momo’s usual improvisational style—to allow the orchestra to interpret his deeply textured soundscapes.

 The Artists Who Lit Up the Stage

Beyond Momo and Howard, the Red Bull Symphonic stage became a platform for a powerhouse lineup of South African talent. Sipho Magudulela brought his signature energy to the performance, while Tracey & Bez Roberts delivered a captivating duet that lit up the stage. Babalwa M added soulful depth to the orchestral arrangements, and fan-favourite A-Reece brought the crowd to life with his genre-defying presence. Rising stars like MKeyz, Makhanj, and Thlogi M showcased the breadth of contemporary South African creativity, while Mashudu and Lebohang Masango each delivered standout performances that blended seamlessly into the event’s rich musical tapestry.

From Cultural Moment to Movement

What started as an experimental collaboration became a cultural milestone. Red Bull Symphonic didn't just blend genres, it elevated Amapiano into a space historically reserved for classical music. The impact has already been felt across South Africa’s music scene, with similar orchestral collaborations emerging and even academic institutions beginning to study the genre.

And for Electrosonic SA, seeing Martin MAC One fixtures at the heart of such a moment reinforces our belief in lighting as a storytelling tool where design meets meaning, and technology meets emotion.

Images courtesy of: Matthew Mitchell

For more on how Martin Professional fixtures bring stories like these to life, get in touch with our Entertainment Technology team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.