AUSTIN, TX – The Austin City Limits Music Festival returned to Zilker Park for two three-day weekends in October to showcase more than 130 rock, pop and hip hop artists on eight stages, including Outkast, Beck, Eminem, Skrillex, Calvin Harris and Pearl Jam. Clay Paky A.leda B-EYE K20 and Sharpy fixtures and grandMA2 consoles were on hand to provide lighting support and control for festival performers. A.C.T Lighting, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of Clay Paky lighting and MA products in North America. Eight K20s, supplied by LD Systems, were dedicated to each of two secondary headline stages and positioned in an upstage array across the rear truss.
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“Most of the rig was a lot of smaller fixtures, so we wanted something that would give a big, full color wash,” says Seth Jackson, who served as festival lighting designer and lighting coordinator. “There were no backdrops on these stages and, given the power situation, the B-EYEs were the perfect choice to fill the whole back picture. They really blasted through everything else, and the guys who did the overnight programming had time to dig into the features and use the multi-array tricks that come out it.”
In addition to the K20s, “massive amounts” of Sharpy fixtures were deployed on the two primary stages, says Jackson. “They were very prominent. I knew everybody was going to want them, and we put in a lot of fixtures so people didn’t need to bring their own.” Bandit Lites supplied the Sharpy inventory.
Full-size grandMA2 consoles were found “everywhere you turned” at the festival, Jackson adds. “It looked like an MA showroom! There were grandMA2s on every stage. We had two at every station, and sometimes the bands brought their own.” LD Systems and Bandit Lites furnished the popular consoles.
“Ninety percent of the artists use grandMA2,” Jackson reports, “and they bring their own show files. With grandMA2’s networking capabilities people can work on systems simultaneously: Two artists can program their respective shows at the same time or one can prep their show while the other is performing. It all works really great.”
He also gives kudos to the K20s. “They worked flawlessly. We just turned them on and they worked long days – maybe 19 hours a day. All the lighting designers really got into them and were very happy with the rig.
“Everybody wants to use Clay Paky lights and grandMA2s!” Jackson declares.
George Masek, A.C.T Lighting Vice President – Automated Lighting, commented “”It is a pleasure for to have the chance to work with Seth again. His designs are always innovative and he’s always thinking of ways to get more out of the luminaires. We’re also very proud to work with LD Systems this year providing the B-Eye fixtures and the grandMA2 consoles to them. They have been great partners for us.”
About A.C.T Lighting
A leading importer and distributor of lighting products, A.C.T Lighting, Inc. strives to identify future trends and cutting-edge products, and stock, sell and support their inventory. The company provides superior customer service and value for money to all of its clients.
For more information call 818-707-0884.
