The tour features ‘a smorgasbord of styles’
USA - Bandit Lites provided the lighting for Dave Koz’ Christmas tour, featuring Jonathan Butler, Melissa Manchester, Michael Lington and Chris Walker. Koz’s tour and newest album, Gifts of the Season, features a smorgasbord of styles, ranging from an electronic rendition of Winter Wonderland, a whimsical It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas as well as an emotional Mary Did You Know and powerful original song from Koz, A Prayer for Peace.
“As we sat down to begin concepting the production design, we knew that it needed to be versatile in creating moments for each of the emotions that the band is creating audibly,” explains lighting designer Erik Parker of Chris Lisle Lighting Design.
To create the moments, Parker knew the rig would need to be outfitted with well-rounded fixtures that would also integrate with the video elements as they would all share a truss. Coupled with that flexibility would be the need to fit the entire production into a single truck and bus trailer.
Parker crafted an expansive look utilising just three fixtures: The GLP X4S on the upstage and downstage edge lighting the backdrop, the band and some extra flash, Martin MAC Auras on the side to light the band and the main workhorse of the rig, the Elation Smarty Hybrid.
“The band is some of the best musicians, the artists were incredible, and I think we were able to truly bring the music to life,” Parker says. “We programmed as a team; I programmed a few songs along with Chris Lisle, Terese Fensler and Landon Bloss. I think by opening it up for interpretation from all of us, we were able to get the most from the overall design.”
Bandit Lites vice president Mike Golden comments: “Erik Parker and Chris Lisle designed a beautiful rig and the programming Erik and Terese put together is absolutely stunning. I encouraged Erik to try the Elation Smarty for this tour and every time I walked by during the programming I was impressed with the distinct looks and colours on display. Brian Foisy handles production and his attitude and demeanour reflects that of the entire organisation.”
(Jim Evans)

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