Robe looks to the Horizon

Staged at the Fellows Oval sports ground on the University of Canberra campus, Horizon 2020 was part of orientation week for the Australian National University Students’ Association (ANUSA). Technical production, event specialist and rental company, Elite Event Technology, equipped its main stage with a lighting rig featuring Robe fixtures and a d&b audiotechnik sound system.

As there were no video elements, lighting was important to the visual impact of the show. The stage was set up the day before the event, allowing time to rig the lighting and sound and for Elite Event Technology’s Blake Watkin to pre-programme the night before the concert. The stage had 6.5m of headroom, with four Elite Event Technology production trusses flown below. The lighting rig was based around a festival lighting spec created by Jake Ploss, lighting designer for headline act, Club Sport. Ploss consulted with Elite owner Darren Russell, modifying the design to make it practical for the event and fit the 14m-wide truck stage.

Six BMFL WashBeams were used for subtle key lighting and special effects. A total of 16 BMFL spots were distributed around the other trusses with 16 of the 24 Pointes, with the Pointes set up on the floor. The other eight Pointes, which were part of Club Sport’s floor package, were wheeled onto the stage on mobile tank bases with some strobes. All of these were controlled through a grandMA2 light console.

As well as the d&b system for the concert, Elite Event Technology also provided all of the stage risers and backline, along with crowd barriers.

Watkin operated the lighting for all the bands except for Club Sport and was full of praise for the BMFL spots, which allowed him to highlight the band’s performances in bright daylight. ‘They are the only light that can cut through and register in any colours during daylight,’ he commented. ‘You simply can’t beat BMFLs for this.’