Iconic electronic and synthpop band Human League completed another much-
anticipated and totally sold-out European and UK tour which culminated in a major
homecoming at Sheffield Arena, proving that their music and string of foot-tapping
hits from the 1980s and 1990s as well as their newer work continues to entertain
fans – both original and new.
Colour Sound Experiment was delighted to be back working live with the band as
lighting and video supplier for the “Very British Synthesizer Group” tour, working
closely with show designer Rob Sinclair and lighting director on the road, Chris
Steel.
The set for the 2016 one was again created and evolved by Rob and band manager
Simon Watson, and has been hailed as one of the best looking to date.
This one started with the concept of high risers explains Rob. He and Watson
discussed and developed a few ideas before settling on three chevron shaped high
risers which are clad with LED screen and mirrored by a similarly zig-zag shaped
screen above.
For some additional dynamics, the screen – Colour Sound’s proprietary BT-7 – starts
as one complete piece at the top of the show and then splits in half horizontally
after the first few numbers with the top section, flown on two trusses, lifting up to
form a header “crowning’ the stage for the remainder of the set.
Video content was stored on a Catalyst media server owned by the band, while the
production and commissioning of content from various artists was co-ordinated by
George Sinclair.
Chauvet Rogue R2 LED washes were the base wash lights, dotted all over the
trusses and on the floor.
Robe BMFL Spots were the main hard-edged fixtures, with 18 in total, eight upstage
at the back of the risers for dramatic blast-through effects with the rest on the front
truss, primarily for key lighting and specials.
Four Rogue R2 Spots on the back truss boosted the lumen power to the rear and six
Robe MMX Spots on the deck – their small size making them ideal for these
positions – added a layer of low level cross light.
Also on the riser floor were eight Clay Paky Stormy strobes and all these combined
to give Steel a dynamic and practical toolbox of fixtures to work into the show,
together with – naturally – three follow spots for Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and
Susan Ann Sulley, who are The Human League.
Steel’s console of choice was a ChamSys MQ80 which he likes for its small size and
flexibility for running this lively pop-tastic show.
They had just one day of production rehearsal ahead of the first gig in Llandudno,
Wales, before which Steel and Rob did some pre-visualisation to ensure they were
ready to roll.
Joining them on the road from Colour Sound was a great crew chiefed by Sam
Campbell and including Kester McLure, Toby Lovegrove and Dan Williams.
They visited a mix of clubs, theatres and concert halls varying in size and
accommodating up to 1500 / 2000 people.
