Philips Vari-Lite Keeps Grammy Award-Winning Evanescence in the Spotlight

	Evanescence performs at Wembley Arena

Philips Vari-Lite fixtures formed the baseline luminaires for a series of four British arena concerts by multi-million selling American rock band Evanescence.

Lighting designer Dan Hardiman, Live Magazine's Lighting Designer of the Year 2001 and 2005, has specified VL3000 Spot, VL3500 Spot, and VL3500 Wash luminaires for the four Evanescence performances.

"I've specified Vari-Lite fixtures for all Evanescence shows in the past 14 months because they're the only fixtures that can deliver the same effect regardless of venue, which was essential for a tour that has ranged from clubs to stadiums, and everything in between" says Hardiman. "The VL3500 Wash fixtures sheer power combined with a flat-field zoom and sensitive shutter have enabled me to wash the band with saturated colors in all environments, regardless of stage size. The band does not like strong keylight, so I have to keep things fairly moody yet still seen, and balance this with the light show. The show is fairly theatrical, with intensive moving light effects to compliment the dynamics, so I ride their intensity throughout to ensure that the stage atmosphere remains moody and backlit, but with the performers still visible."

The tour kicked off at Nottingham's Capital FM Arena on Monday, November 5, before heading to the Manchester Arena (November 6), Birmingham's NIA (November 8) and London Wembley Arena on Friday, November 9.

The music in the show has strong contrasting elements, which include lead singer Amy Lee's soaring angelic vocals, the crunchy guitars, the haunting piano sections, and the ethereal orchestral accents, so Hardiman says it's important that the light show reflects the juxtaposition between these.

"The VL3000 Spots have always been my preferred projection fixture, due to their incredible zoom range, and myriad of useful gobos. The VL3500 Spots enable me to match the looks of the VL3000 Spots, but with the added shuttering avoiding light spill onto the backline. These projection fixtures are used for aerial effects, stage projection, and audience projection. The massive zoom range enables me both to highlight individual performers accurately from high trims, and to project onto both backdrop, and the entire arena audience."

Hardiman, part of UK-based THC Design, has travelled as lighting designer with Evanescence for the entire current world tour, which has taken him to Australia, Asia, the USA, South America, and Europe. Hardiman's other credits include Moby, Goo Goo Dolls, and McFly.