i-Pix at Global Gathering, UK

i-Pix supplied a special package of BB4, BB7, and BB16 LED fixtures to Electric Fly Productions, the show and lighting designer for the main stage, four arenas, and two outdoor terrace areas at the 2009 Global Gatheringdance event. This was staged at Long Marsden Airfield in Staffordshire, UK.

Electric Fly's Nick Jevons wanted to use specific fixtures for certain special effects. "I approached i-Pix because I could think of several areas that were ideal for their very high quality homogenized light output -- which doesn't even resemble an LED fixture -- and they came to the party with great enthusiasm," he says.

Chris Ewington, of i-Pix, says, "Nick is one of the most innovative lighting designers and his work is always interesting. Our products have all been developed after careful and considered end-user feedback, so events like this present great opportunities to continue that communication."

The BBs were omnipresent across the site. The largest tented arena was Global/Carl Cox, which featured 14 BB7s hung on the main over-stage lighting truss, some on drop bars, for additional dynamics and to fill the gaps in between columns of LC 2140 screen. They were used for washing the stage and audience, their distinct flower-like appearance also adding to the scenic ambience of the stage.

The Tool Room Knight/Random Concept tent saw a classic rave lighting design based around High End Systems Cyberlights. BB7s were positioned all across the two level stage pointing directly at the audience for crowd illumination and burn-out.

"The sheer brightness of the BBs alone is amazing," says Jevons. "It can cut right through anything, so we can break things down in layers and have pure LED looks which contrast beautifully with strobes, incandescent sources, and moving lights. Even just a few units are great for making dark, smoke filled spaces a really intense experience and adding another dimension."

In the Spectrum/Polysexual arena, 11 BB4s were installed, one in each of six upright trussing sections onstage and five on the downstage edge of the stage -- again used for audience blinding and pulsing effects -- with massive impact. Eleven BB4s was all it took to immerse the stage and dance floor with massive saturated blocks of light and color.

The Bedrock tent was a long clear-span marquee with an apex roof and another double level stage. Four upright towers were again the most expedient method for rigging lights at the stage end, with a BB7 on top of each one pointing forward and firing down the length of the tent. Over in the Godskitchen Arena, Electric Fly built a boom box projection structure. Headlined by David Guetta, the DJ platform was in the center of the Boom Box, flanked by two dance podiums -- all contained within the structure that was clad with white projection scrim and also internally lit. The DJ and the dancers were lit with i-Pix Satellites -- the small brick-style fixture being easily concealable and rig-able in any environment.

Rocking it up over in the Tuborg Live terrace area under a saddlespan roof were four BB16s, utilized to provide dense side-stage wash coverage for the bands. This proved the ideal solution for producing lots of illumination and no heat -- despite the small stage and the proximity of the fixtures to the performers. Another four BB4s were focused to highlight the distinctive lip of the structure.

An additional 12 BB7s made an appearance on the Saturday night main stage for headliners Orbital, as part of the duo's floor specials package. The band's lighting designer, Jonny Gaskell, has been touring these throughout the summer, supplied by Neg Earth. Friday night main stage headliner's Prodigy (with lighting designer Andy Hurst) contributed to the BB count, with 24 BB4s integrated into the acts festival specials.

Yet more BB7s -- another 12 -- were utilized by HSL, the site's main lighting contractor, for a spectacular set concept the company designed and built for Steve Angello's mainstage set. This happened at sunset after a glorious Saturday, and BB7s were specifically picked as a fixture comfortably able to compete with the sun in terms of output and daylight impact.

i-Pix has just launched a new wide angle version of the BB7 to add to its range.