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Los Angeles, May 16,
2006
One of the most-anticipated concert events of the year, Tim McGraw and
Faith Hill’s Soul2Soul II Tour, finds a grandMA console
controlling its considerable lighting needs. A.C.T. Lighting is the
exclusive distributor of grandMA consoles in North America.
Known as a real operator’s console, the grandMA is the
largest
console in MA Lighting’s range. Its three-color touchscreen
and
up to two external monitors make for an extremely comfortable
programming environment. Twenty motorized faders, a built-in keyboard,
mouse, mouse pad, trackball, and four-parameter encoders provide a
luxurious programming and playback surface. A.C.T Lighting is the
exclusive distributor of grandMA in North America. Upstaging is the
lighting company for the tour.
The Soul2Soul II Tour, which kicks off April 21 in Columbus, Ohio,
marks the first joint concert tour for the leading couple of country
music in six years. The tour, which is expected to play 70-plus markets
nationwide, promises all the hits and more from careers, which have
seen the sale of over 60 million albums and too many awards to count.
The concerts feature an in-the-round set design that puts fans closer
than ever to the concert action. “In-the-round shows are
always
challenging to light,” notes lighting programmer Troy
Eckerman.
“We chose the grandMA console because we had a good
experience
with it on the Paul McCartney tour and because it can control large
amounts of lights thanks to having 60 universes.
“For the Soul2Soul II Tour we use grandMA to control a
complement
of moving lights with multiple-focus capabilities along with
controlling other eliments such as roll drops. We also use the multi
programmer / playback features. It is great! During rehearsals I can
fix cues and adjust focuses while the operator is running the show from
the master console,” Eckerman continues. “The SMTPE
is very
easy; we just run the songs and hit the ‘go’
buttons. Drag
and drop editing is also great to have the grandMA’s
stability is
also a huge factor in our lives. I’ve been through days with
other consoles when they lock up and lose cue information --
that’s really dreadful at 5 am!”
The tour’s lighting roster includes 40 MAC 2K washes, 88 MAC
700s, 28 Wybron beam projectors, 64 ALC PAR 38s, 128 DWE PAR 38s, 128
32K Kino Flos, 128 55K Kino Flos, 48 Omni lights, 12 low- pressure
sodium vapors and 12 dousers, eight roll drops, and 32 Versatubes,
all controlled by the grandMA.
Wally Lees is lighting director for Faith Hill and Jerome Thompson
lighting director for Tim McGraw on the Soul2Soul II Tour. Roy Bennett
is the tour’s lighting and set designer.
“It is always a privilege to work with a completely
professional
team. This team of Upstaging, Roy Bennett, Troy Eckerman and Wally Lees
is as good as it gets. I know that they will use the
grandMA’s
advanced features to their advantage. They appreciate what this console
can do for them, and they will put together a great show. I
can’t
wait to see it,” commented Bob Gordon, President and CEO of
A.C.T. Lighting.
MA Lighting is
exclusively distributed by A.C.T Lighting.
A leading importer and distributor of lighting products, A.C.T
Lighting, Inc. strives to identify future trends and cutting-edge
products, and stock, sell and support their inventory. The company
provides superior customer service and value for money to all of its
clients.
For more information call 818-707-0884.
Copyright © ACT Lighting 2009. All rights reserved.
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