UK - LD Vince Foster specified 12 James Thomas Pixelline LED battens for the current Sugababes tour directed by Paul Domaine. The Pixelines are mounted vertically in pairs along the bottom deck of the set - which Foster also designed - and ensconced into the cladding to emphasize its architectural lines.

Foster has been a keen fan of Pixellines since the fixtures were first launched, and initially used them for Massive Attack's 2003 tour. He also used them recently for an MTV special at Hammersmith Apollo, starring N-E-R-D featuring Justin Timberlake, and has specified them for the upcoming Phil Collins tour.

The Sugababes tour is being operated by Stephen Abbiss, The Pixellines are used simply, sparingly and often subtly for effects in specific songs. For 'Caught In A Moment' they create blue liquid effects, mimicking the video content for that number. They also throw an electric blue 'pool of water' effect across the forestage, while the girls perform on the walkway of the set's top deck.

For the funky, poppy 'Round Round', which brings the set to an up-tempo conclusion, the fixtures are used in white, with Pixel 'dots' flying up and down their length on the beat. The Sugababes is a tasty show in terms of visuals. The stage is framed at upstage by three portrait format LED screens showing material generated by a Catalyst digital media server, operated along with all the other lighting fixtures, by Abbiss from a Wholeog II console.

Lighting equipment was supplied by Neg Earth, video by XL Video and sound by Canegreen.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)


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