In 2020, legendary trio Rascal Flatts announced a farewell tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Due to Covid, that tour was never able to proceed. Now the multiple CMA-award winning band is back to celebrate 25 years with the Life is a Highway Tour. With a lighting system designed by Lüz Studio and provided by Bandit Lites, the 21-date tour kicked off in February to sold out crowds across the country.
The return to the road has been met with incredible enthusiasm, both from the band (comprised of Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney, and fans, as well as their long-time team on the road. Lighting Director Andy Knighton had spent 18 years with Rascal Flatts when the farewell tour was cancelled. “I felt like it ended very abruptly and non-ceremonially,” he said. “It is good to come back and have some closure…let’s hope there is more!”
“This is a special tour to be a part of as 25 years is no small feat,” said Bandit Lites Client Representative Allen Deneau. “The band jumped back in like they never left and seeing Andy back in the seat he occupied for nearly two decades is awesome.”
Bandit Lites supplied more than 250 fixtures including Chauvet Maverick Storm 1 Hybrids, Claypaky Midi-B FX, Elation Protron Eclypse strobe, Follow-Me System, ACME Pixel Line 500, ACME Pixel Line 1000, ACME Pulsar S2, Vari-Lite VL3600 IP, and grandMA2 light console for control.
“The music of Rascal has a lot of variation,” said Lighting Designer Matthieu Larivee. “There are some drama pieces, power ballads, rock songs, pop songs; therefore, the lighting design had to be very flexible to support all those genres of music. This tour is also a celebration of 25 years of music, so we must connect with the audience.”
To connect with the audience, Larivee utilized two V trusses to bridge the stage with the audience. Floor carts designed by Bandit’s team were loaded with ACME Pulsar S2, a collection LD Knighton referred to as “the garden of lights” due to the 48 units aligned together to bridge the band and video screen.
“With the two faces, they can light up and then create unique graphical effects that does not feels too repetitive,” said Larivee. “It was also impactful because to their location on the set: behind the band and not too high. The design of the pods by Dizzy Gosnell, Jake Tickle, and Andy Knighton was unique because it made it feasible for this tour: easy to setup every day and very clever.”
“It’s always a pleasure working with Matthieu and the team at Lüz,” said Deneau. “Watching a concept become a reality and finally seeing it in action on tour is always fun and rewarding. As always, I think the Bandit team is absolutely knocking it out of the park. Project Manager Craig Richter did a great job prepping the rig and the road crew, Andy Knighton, Billy Willingham, Tala Bell, and Zach McQueen have been nothing short of amazing. This tour is quickly coming to a wrap but I am very much looking forward to the next go around with the Rascal Flatts team.”
The Life is A Highway Tour continues into spring, with the 25-year celebration culminating in Rascal Flatts announcing their new collaboration project, Life is a Highway: Refueled Duets. The album will be released on June 6th.
Further information about Bandit Lites, Inc.: www.BanditLites.com
