USA - The second annual Montreux Jazz Festival Miami, an extension of the long-running Swiss music festival, brought three days of sold-out, world-class performances to The Hangar at Regatta Harbour in the Coconut Grove neighbourhood of Miami.
With technical production support from IPS and a striking lighting design built around Elation lighting gear, the event featured powerhouse sets from acts including Jon Batiste, Chaka Khan, Janelle Monáe, and La Descarga, among others.
ACT Productions returned as the local production company, with ACT director of operations Barbara Goicoechea noting: “The cooperation with IPS was excellent as always and our client was extremely happy. This year’s show was absolutely gorgeous, mostly because of the lighting that was used. We cannot thank IPS enough for doing such an incredible job.”
The festival, which ran from 28 February to 2 March, featured everything from high-energy headline sets to intimate jam sessions. Lighting designer Bradley Solheim of Shine Lighting & Design, who also handles Jon Batiste’s tour lighting, brought his touring design to the Montreux Jazz Festival stage. Working with Michael Betancourt of IPS, the festival’s lighting rig was fully adapted using Elation gear.
Solheim praised the collaboration: “I love working with IPS. They are always delivering professional service and communication from the first pre-production calls all the way through the day-of-show experience for an incoming LD. Their tech staff on-site was top notch, and they take great care of their gear.” Caleb Franke of IPS programmed and operated lighting for artists without touring LDs, and Carlos Henao of ACT served as technical director. Sig Greenebaum was festival director.
On opening night, Jon Batiste, the Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist who also co-owns the festival, took to the stage with a vibrant 20-piece band and surprise guests. A late-night jam session featured over 30 artists – including Shania Twain and Lauren Jauregui.
Betancourt created a flexible and dynamic lighting rig that supported the variety of performances throughout the weekend. Solheim commented: “Michael Betancourt designed a great festival-style rig. Working under a tent trim height restriction, they still loaded it with a diverse range of Elation fixtures for dynamic and unique looks throughout the set.”
IPS, which also supported last year’s inaugural event, provided lighting, LED video, and broadcast cameras for IMAG and recording. They oversaw the multiple-day setup, starting with rigging, securing goal posts over doorways (Global Truss), and hanging fixtures prior to Coper Productions bringing in the stage.
Betancourt redesigned the lighting plot using an array of Elation gear that included 23 x Proteus Lucius, 28 x Proteus Rayzor 760, 12 x Proteus Rayzor Blade L, 24 x SŌL I Blinder, 6 x Proteus Hybrid Max, 12 x Pulse Panel FX, 2 x KL Panel, and 18 x SIX+ PAR L. Also featured were VS2 2.9mm LED panels from sister company ADJ.
Proteus Rayzor 760 wash FX moving heads positioned on the downstage delivered a rich stage wash, complemented by Proteus Lucius profile moving heads for key lighting, and full-colour SŌL I Blinder effects for audience illumination. These, along with Pulse Panel FX dynamic strobe lights mounted on the mid-stage and upstage trusses, provided dynamic stage washes and visual effects.
“The Lucius and Hybrid Max fixtures delivered some incredible aerial visuals that really cut through the stage wash from the 760s,” Betancourt said. “The Pulse Panel FX added smooth eye candy along with powerful blinder and strobe effects.”
On stage, Proteus Rayzor 760s were used for side lighting, while Rayzor Blade L linear lights on the downstage edge, KL Panel softlights on C-stands, and Proteus Hybrid Max moving heads on truss totems added layered effects and striking visual eye candy. Around the venue, SIX+ PAR L fixtures served as uplights, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
Solheim stated: “As the workhorse of this rig, the Proteus Lucius performed great as a whole, and their brightness punched through, even with deep and dark colour tones and saturation. I enjoyed the gobo selection for interesting and crisp in-air textures.”
With standout performances, expert production from ACT, and a striking lighting design powered by Elation and IPS, Montreux Jazz Festival Miami delivered an experience worthy of its legendary Swiss namesake.
