Avolites Pearl Expert for Frank Turner

8 October 2012

UK - Avolites' popular Pearl Expert lighting control console had provided a powerful, easy to use solution for a one off, career-defining Frank Turner gig at London's Wembley Arena.

Lighting designer Shaun Moore adapted his smaller music hall inspired lighting design for the Wembley Arena show. However this one-off gig presented a number of challenges as Moore explains, "The show was a one off, so it was load in at 5am and doors at 6pm. Programming was done over two days at Terminal Studios via the Avolites console using WYSIWYG. We also had a couple hours tweaking over night in my hotel room! Obviously I could have done with a production day, especially as the show was filmed for DVD. On the day itself we had just a few hours tweaking positions and programming."

Frank Turner, the Winchester based, folk/punk singer and guitarist, has been touring almost consistently since 2005. This was the biggest concert of his life and a DVD of the show, The Road to Wembley has just been released.

"I chose to use an Avolites Pearl Expert with Touch wing for Wembley," says Moore. "The new Titan software is really easy to use and update on the fly. In addition the back up and support I get from the Avolites team is excellent. I've been working with the Avolites console for most of my career, they're easy to programme and totally hands on."

Moore specified a varied rig and all dimming and hard power were provided by two Avolites Art 2000 T4 Racks and an Avolites Art 2000 T2 Rack. All production was supplied by Newcastle based Nitelites Ltd.

Koy Neminathan, sales director for Avolites commented, "The Pearl Expert offers exceptionally high-speed button response, which is particularly useful for busking with Timed Palettes. The split-roller enables designers to quickly recall up-to 20 playbacks on faders, with the Touch Wing displaying useful information during a live show. This can now be amended instantly with V6 of the TITAN software. The 20 sub-master playbacks on top of 60 preset/playback faders make a total of 80 - the most of any console in its class - ensuring that for Shaun, lighting a show like Frank Turner at Wembley, that the Pearl Expert offers all the instantly accessible playbacks he needs."

Shaun Moore will continue to design for the UK, November and December Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls Tour and Nitelites will continue to supply production.

(Jim Evans)