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Martina McBride and Bandit Lites Wake Up Laughing
Bandit Lites is currently on tour with country music superstar, Martina McBride. Just prior to the tour’s kickoff, McBride released her ninth album, ‘Waking Up Laughing’, which she solo-produced. The tour opened April 12th in Kansas City, MO and will wrap up on August 17th in Springfield, IL. It also features country music newcomers, Rodney Atkins and Little Big Town.
A four-time CMA vocalist of the year, McBride has earned more than 16 million in album sales, garnering several number ones and 20+ top 10 singles to date. Her long list of signature hits include ‘Independence Day’, ‘Wild Angels’, ‘A Broken Wing’, ‘Blessed’ and ‘This One’s for the Girls’, among others.
Lighting designer Abigail Rosen Holmes worked with production designer Tom McPhillips of Atomic Design, Inc. to develop the tour design. “Tom McPhillips’ fabulous set design was the great starting point,” Holmes explained. “Martina is also very involved in the creative process. She has a very good eye and a real knowledge of what works for her, which makes it a huge pleasure to work with her.”
Holmes suggested that a key component to the lighting design was working with McPhillips to create a set that coordinated with the lighting scheme. McPhillips chose the Barco MiTrix panels because they are reasonably see-through, so lighting can work behind and through them. He explained that the recent advances in LED, like video scrims, strips and pixel blocks, that can be used as integral set elements and not just as a screen plus set pieces, has renewed his enthusiasm for video.
Holmes incorporated Lycian 1271 Starklites, Lycian M2 spots, Martin MAC 2000 Washes, Vari*Lite 3000 Spots, Martin Atomic 3000 Strobes, Vari*Lite 500Ds, Coemar Infinities, and Star Strobes to the overall design. Lighting is being controlled by two grandMAs and NSPs. McPhillips added: “Thanks to SetCo in Nashville who built the stage, MooTV who were the video vendor, and Bandit's ability to integrate the lighting into the set, the build and set up process was a breeze, and with Abbey Holmes doing her thing with lights and video quite stunningly, it became one of my most enjoyable set design experiences ever.”
Bandit crew for this tour includes lighting director Trevor Ahlstrand, crew chief, Chris Hallman and technicians Aaron Swetland and Kenneth Moore.
18th July 2007
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