LONDON – Entec Sound & Light has worked for Britpop band Blur and their LD Dave Byars since 1990, when the emerging band were a small support group. Their production matured in the 2000s, and Entec has been with them all the way. Entec recently supplied audio and lighting for various elements of Blur’s recent shows, culminating in the band’s gig in London’s Hyde Park coinciding with the Olympic Closing Ceremony.
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LONDON – UK rental and production company Entec Sound & Light supplied audio and lighting for various elements of ‘Britpop’ superstars Blur’s recent shows, culminating in the band’s gig in London’s Hyde Park coinciding with the Olympic Closing Ceremony.
Entec has worked for Blur since 1990. Back then, they supplied a small lighting package to LD Dave Byars, who wanted to create a distinct identity for the emerging young band doing a support tour. Byars has worked for Blur since then.
These most recent shows were production managed by Ian Chip Calder and tour managed by Craig Duffy.
Says Entec Lighting project manager Noreen O’Riordan, “Blur has been one of our most creative and interesting clients over the years, and it’s been an amazing journey – and one we are proud to have been involved in – to see them grow into the international phenomenon they are today.”
Entec supplied lighting and sound systems for UK warm up gigs at Margate, Plymouth and Wolverhampton, a lighting floor specials package for two Scandinavian festivals, and on the audio side, a FOH control and full monitor rig set up for the two Scandinavian dates and Hyde Park.
The lighting rig for the three UK dates comprised VARI-LITE 3000 Spots, V*L 2000 Washes, Martin Atomic Strobes, 2-lite Moles, i-Pix BB7 LED floods used for low level side washes, together with 16 of the new i-Pix i-Line battens, all controlled via an Avolites Sapphire Touch.
Entec also supplied Andy Emmerson and Tom Crosbie as crew.
The 2-lite Moles, Atomic strobes, BB7s and the Sapphire Touch went to Scandinavia, and the Sapphire Touch – supplied directly from Avo – was hooked into the full rig at Hyde Park, enabling Byars to weave his magic.
Says Byars, “It was really lovely working with Entec again and getting back into their unique vibe. Everything was spot on as usual, and they couldn’t have been more helpful despite the spec changing almost daily – and hourly – at some points!”
There have been numerous memorable Blur moments for Entec Lighting over the years, recalls O’Riordan, especially in the early days when serious cutting edge creativity – and a lot less budget – characterized the designs which were never short of inventive.
All aspects of their productions matured during the 2000s as Blur became established as leading innovators both musically and visually, all the time keeping their sights firmly focused on the benefits of high production values.
Characteristically, The Hyde Park show featured a stage set modelled on the famous Westway road – a London landmark hugely significant in Blur’s history. This was designed by Kirsty Durman, built by Frenchy at Steel Monkey and independently lit by Vince Foster.
Photo: Liam Halpin
