LED ProLights, for Coldplay's European “A Head Full of Dreams” Stadium Tour – a new series of concerts from the Brit rockers', to promote the band's seventh studio effort.
Starting in Nice, France on May 24, the tour continues across Europe, featuring the highest production values – state-of-the-art lighting, pyrotechnics and audience Xylobands (wristbands featuring flashing lights synchronize with the music).
To develop the concept and lighting design for a world tour, Paul Normandale chose to return to an old challenge: “I need an IP-rated illuminator, similar to a Blinder, reliable and easy to install” , explains Paul. “Often in stadium installations the equipment is exposed to prohibitive conditions and even for this Coldplay tour, most of the venues hosting us do not have coverage. We therefore wanted to choose and use robust and weatherproof devices. In the past, we had many units that required specific covering and/or back-proofing.”
“The ProLights ArenaCOB4 provide a reliable answer to all these problems,” continues Paul. “Plus, they offer some very interesting programming variations – as individual cells can be controlled and programmed separately within a single projector, which is definitely not usual for a Blinder.”
In Paul's design, 60 ArenaCOB4 in FC (RGBW) version provide the top and side lighting for the band, together with another 25 ArenaCOB4 in HALO (Warm White) version, replacing the traditional Blinder DWE.
The ArenaCOB4HALO, provide, at full power, the effect of a classic Blinder, combined with a beautiful amber glow at low levels, synonymous with the heat of a tungsten DWE source.
IP65 housing, optional magnetic lenses, individually controllable LED cells and an intelligent rigging system allow lighting designers to use this fixture as a building block – offering a wide range of creative possibilities.
Coldplay tour lighting director Graham Feast says: “This fixture is sure to become a mainstay in the Lite Alternative fleet. We produce a growing series of outdoor events each summer and it has been fantastic to work with a brand that responds so positively and quickly to real market needs."
Under the risers, LumiPix 16H LED bars are mounted. Each bar, 1 meter long, is made up of 16 high-efficiency 12W RGBWA+UV LEDs capable of offering a color range ranging from tungsten white, characteristic of the previous unit they replaced, with the addition of a complete range of color both on stage and for in-camera shots.
Finally, to give the band, in some moments of the show, an almost phosphorescent glow, 60 StudioCOB UV LEDs were introduced. With a variety of optional lenses to change the beam angle depending on your needs, they replace fragile traditional UV projectors, with a more robust solution ideal for stadium installations.
Neil Vann comments: “This range was developed in response to feedback from some of the world's leading lighting designers and directors, including Paul and Graham, and it's really fantastic to see these amazing results. I'm very happy that these luminaires provide the performance that designers demand and deserve, while being able to rely on a price that can fit their creative concepts on the budget."
Once the tour completes the European leg of the tour in July, Coldplay will head to New York for the first of a series of US dates, where Upstaging Inc. is providing lighting for the tour USA.
LED ProLights offers designers the best solutions with high performance, using innovative technological solutions that offer creative and reliable tools. Highly efficient production methods are used, ensuring the ideal balance between quality and value for professionals looking to maximize the return on their investment.
