NEW YORK - The headline left no doubt about how the writer felt. “I saw Mumford & Sons live for the sixth time. They’re better than ever!” So, the story in one of the New York daily newspapers began. It’s a safe bet that fans who packed Madison Square Garden for one of the iconic English band’s three sold out shows this August wholeheartedly agreed with that assessment.
From the moment they kicked things off with “Run Together,” as over 20,000 voices sang along in unison, it was apparent that Mumford & Sons were packing an extra dosage of energy on stage. The same scenario is being repeated over and over again on the 25-city North American leg of their Prizefighter tour, which ended October 8 in California.
As is their wont, Mumford & Sons are pushing themselves in new musical directions on this tour. This exploratory boldness is matched by a vibrant and highly original production designed by Willie Williams of Rebus that is brilliantly lit by Cate Carter and tour lighting director, Tess Falcone. Like the music they support, the tour’s stage and lighting designs take a more rockish turn with their industrial “cages” and pryo effects while still remaining true to the band’s core identity.
Describing these critical elements of the design, Carter said: “The upstage wall was formed from 15 large ‘cages,’ each housing a collection of custom brass hallmarks inspired by a trophy cabinet in a locker room. Whilst these are primarily scenic elements, each cage also houses multiple lighting components, allowing us to create different lighting effects.
“We have custom WW LED tape integrated into each of the cages, illuminating the brass hallmarks and the cage structures themselves, whilst enhancing their form, and creating intriguing shadow effects on the backdrop,” she continued. “Lighting fixtures that are built into the top and bottom of each cage, are providing strobe and blinder effects for those moments when we want something hard-hitting. And finally, the pièce de resistance -- a hidden flame system concealed within the structure- allows us to quite literally set the back wall on fire at a key moment in the show.”
Adding a compelling dimension to the design is an automated cylindrical video screen and “chandelier” containing lighting fixtures that hang over the stage. The big cylindrical screen shapes the aura of the show, depending on its relative position to the stage, and whether or not it is displaying video content. Meanwhile, the ongoing interplay of the chandelier’s lighting and video content over the stage generates a dynamic energy of its own throughout the 22-song set.
Playing key roles in this vivid lighting design are the Color STRIKE M motorized strobe and STRIKE 1 blinder from CHAUVET Professional, which like the rest of the lighting rig, were supplied by Fuse. (TAIT provided staging and automation, Ox Event House did the scenic build, while Strictly FX, Y Lines and Perry Scenic also contributed to the production.)
A total of 30 Color STRIKE M fixtures and 44 STRIKE 1 blinders are used on the tour’s arena show, such as the three at MSG. For stadium shows, 28 extra Color STRIKE Ms and 16 STRIKE 1 units were added to the rig. “Both show formats had the same onstage design,” explained Carter. “For the stadium shows, we add a line of STRIKE 1 and STRIKE M fixtures along the wings as well as a FOH / Audience lighting package.”
Serving as the show’s “main strobe fixture,” the Color STRIKE Ms are positioned on lighting ladders stage left and right to frame the chandelier. There is also a ground row of these fixtures on a tech shelf along the upstage edge of the band riser. (For the Stadium shows, this line is continued along the wings. )
We utilize the Color STRIKE M both as strobe fixtures and also as a wash / FX light, with the colour plates,” said Carter. “The tilt function on these fixtures helps increase functionality as they can be used as a band backlight or flip over for adding dynamic effects to the scenic backdrop.”
As for the STRIKE 1, Carter said “It has been a long standing feature in Mumford & Son’s shows and is a key contributor to the look and feel of the lighting design. For this tour we use them around the top tier of the chandelier, emphasizing the circular construction, and we used them for accents and audience light. We have them on a ground row together with the STRIKE M’s behind the band riser, to create a warm, bright backlight. Also, we have the STRIKE 1 on the front truss to give us a row of crowd blinders. “
The role of crowd blinders is, without a doubt, critical at a Mumford & Sons show, but in keeping with this tour’s distinctive design, the team took a multi-pronged approach to audience lighting. “It’s important that the band can see the crowd in these moments and that the audience in turn feel like they are a part of the performance,” she said. “Whilst blinders are a useful tool for illumination, they quickly become tiresome on the eyes, and it can become a one-way conversation – as the band can see the crowd and not vice versa. With festoon and lots of warm white, gentle sources on the rig, we have many tools in our armory to illuminate the crowd and raise the ambient light level (when appropriate) without always reaching for the blinders.”
Creating an ambitious show that marched to its own aesthetic beat was the work of many hands. Williams and Carter made a point of thanking their colleagues: LD Tess Falcone, programmer Joe Lott, and lighting crew chief Jenn Dymond, as well as Erik Blombahl and Matt Ockendon from Rebus. Also involved were PM Shane Rawdon, stage manager Jason Fearnley, programmers Cian Westall, Kemal Canalp, Ben Thurston, camera director Michael Duque and head rigger Amos Carter.
A big show with a big crew? Certainly… and one joined together by an intrepid creative vision that begins with the band.
About CHAUVET Professional
CHAUVET Professional offers innovative professional lighting fixtures for the production and touring market as well as permanent installation in theaters, hospitality venues, cruise ships, clubs, television and architainment applications. For more information, please visit www.chauvetprofessional.com
Photo Credit: Laura Harvey
More News
Support USITT
For many 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, USITT included, donations are a lifeline. We are able to continue to expand our online offerings to our Members and to our industry thanks to Membership dollars and the generosity of our donors.