CHAUVET Professional Helps Luz Studio Create Vibes for Billy Strings

	Supporting the transcendent design is a 52'-by-26' 8mm pitch video wall that covers the entire backline. Photo: Jesse Faatz

Matthieu Larivee and his team of production and video designers at Luz Studio, along with LD Roger Grant, are supporting Billy Strings night after night on the his current 33-date North American arena and amphitheater tour.

"Billy Strings' shows are unique," says Larivee. "It's not your regular Blue Grass show by any means. It's more like a mix of Grateful Dead and EDM. The show is an all-improv show. There are no setlists. There are six looks within our virtual and real lighting rigs that correspond to the show's six chapters. The crew decides which chapters they will use each night, and then stick to that chapter for a period of time, punting within that world. Those colorful worlds are defined within each chapter with lighting and video. So, it becomes cohesive, while still being very psychedelic and trippy."

Supporting the transcendent design is a 52'-by-26' 8mm pitch video wall that covers the entire backline. With content created by Luz Studio, the wall immerses with an endlessly deep panorama of changing images, many of which create a 3D effect evoking the feeling of traveling through space.

Above the stage are a series of UFO-like circular structures that shine, while projecting light down on the performers. These structures mirror their virtual counterparts that appear at times on the video wall. "We have designed those pods with Roger and made sure that we were using the same layout with the digital ones," says Larivee. "Automation was also done within the screen, minimizing the rigging, truck space, and budget."

Lighting Billy Strings and his bandmates from those pods is a collection of 40 CHAUVET Professional Outcast 1 BeamWashes. "The BeamWashes are positioned in the center of the PODs, so they can't be seen," said Larivee. "Only the UFO looking lights are visible, but the BeamWashes are critical to setting the mood on stage with their downlighting."

Other CHAUVET Professional fixtures in the rig, which was supplied by Bandit Lites, includes 20 STRIKE Array blinder-strobes, and ten onAir Mini Panels. "The STRIKE units are our audience lights on the DS truss," says Larivee. "The Chauvet Air Panel Mini IP fixtures are also positioned one the DS. They're great compact footlights."

Working with their lighting rig and the video content, the design team is creating a show that seamlessly blends evocative images and a stunning rainbow of colors.

"In this show, there are extended 15-minute songs with crowds dancing and following along musically more than looking for a hit tune," said Larivee. "Therefore, it's ok to become trippy and follow the vibe that is going on stage."