HSL rocks with Prodigy at Download

26 June 2012

UK - Lighting and visuals rental company HSL supplied a substantial 'specials' package - including 170 moving lights, custom metal ribs inset with LEDs and a Kinesys automation system - for The Prodigy's hell-raising headliner performance at the 2012 Download festival, staged at Donnington Race Track near Derby.

The band's show visuals were designed by Andy Hurst. As it was also the band's only UK festival appearance this summer Hurst wanted to do something on an epic and grand scale.

HSL's Mike Oates project managed with HSL's Tim Fawkes working as system and console tech on-site, and also assisting Hurst with the WYSIWYG pre-programming, completed in HSL's dedicated visualisation facility at their new warehouse in Blackburn.

The backbone of the rig was 16 custom 8m high curved 'ribs' which were all individually outlined with LEDs, flown across the full stage width on three staggered upstage trusses. The idea being to add depth to the whole performance space.

These trusses were flown on Kinesys beam trolleys so they could be tracked upstage during the day and concertina'd together, saving as much space as possible and not encroaching on all the other daytime stage activities.

During the changeover just before Prodigy made some serious noise, they were tracked downstage and into place with 2.5m separation between each truss.

Hurst spec'd 96 of Robe's new Robin LEDBeam 100s which were dotted all over the ribs and used for fast zappy, punchy tight beam effects. He also utilised 63 Clay Paky Sharpies for zip-zapping around the stage and lots of zany movement.

Forty eight Atomic strobes were spread all over the ribs, and 16 Robe LEDWash 600s were positioned on the downstage edge of the deck - where the band like to concentrate their high octane performance - for front lighting.

Downstage, five triangular pods made from 30cm trussing and hinges were flown on 10 Kinesys 20m-a-minute Liftket motors. A JTE PixelLine picked out the edge of each triangle and they were also loaded with three Sharpies each. When they first lowered in it was like a Space Invader moment as they appeared to battle with the band!

In addition to all this, Hurst also used the lights available on the festival 'house' rig.

For control, HSL supplied two Road Hog Full Boars run in full tracking backup in combination with six DP 8000 processors.

Says Hurst, "The design was created as a one off for Download festival. I wanted to fill the stage top to bottom as well as give the space a distinctive set architecture. The ribs gave an industrial look and created a great deal of depth ... due to the fact the band performance area is only 17ft deep from the down stage edge of the stage.

"Everyone at HSL and my lighting crew worked really hard to get this show in, up and running with no rehearsals, which was a great achievement in itself."

(Jim Evans)