Long Marston Airfield in Staffordshire

Busy Leeds-based rental house Zig Zag Lighting (North) supplied lighting equipment and design for all six buzzing arenas and the VIP tent at the sizzling GODSKITCHEN Global Gathering event at Long Marston Airfield in Staffordshire.

Avolites consoles were used exclusively for site-wide lighting control – incorporating at least one of each of the popular Pearl 2000, Sapphire 2000, Diamond III and Azure 2000 models. 

Six arenas, 75 DJs, 25,000 happy people, 15 hours of kicking dance music and temperatures peaking into the searing nineties all collaborated to produce a fantastic atmosphere at the event, organised by GODSKITCHEN, leading gurus of dance and youth culture.

High Profile DJs appearing included Judge Jules, Fergie, Tall Paul, Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, Amin van Buuren and many more, with dance groovers Chicane playing live in the main arena.

The Zig Zag team of 12 included Neil Hunt - hands-on company owner. They were contracted for the event by Leeds-based production company Logistik. The event was production managed by Mike Farmer.

In all, over 1300 feet of trussing was rigged on 41 points by rigger John Lockwood, under the supervision of crew chief Robert “Griff” Griffin.

Avolites in Control

Zig Zag own several Avolites desks. Neil Hunt reckons they’re the business, specially for events like this, where flexibility and programming speed is at the essence of creating a spectacular show in a time pressured environment. “Avo are definitely the best desks available for live and spontaneous operating” he states, adding that on-board programming facilities like the Shape Generator really come into their own in terms of timesaving.

Exciting lighting at dance events, combined with the music, can and does elicit great audience reactions as the evening builds to a crescendo.

At Global Gathering, the main (GODSKITCHEN) arena featured a Diamond III, programmed and operated by Patrick ‘Paddy’ Sollitt. Arena 2 (Tidy Trax) was controlled by a Sapphire 2000 programmed and operated by Damian Courage; Arena 3 (Babooshka) had a Pearl 2000 run by Pete Bramwell; Arena 4 (Helter Skelter and Club Sidewinder drum ‘n’ bass) saw a Pearl 2000 operated by Andrew Hanson; Arena 5 (Sidewinder UK Garage) featured another Pearl 2000 with Bob Mills operating; and Arena 6 (Session Musik Magazine) utilised the third Pearl 2000 onsite, piloted by Gareth Lonsdale. The VIP area lighting was run from an Avolites Azure Shadow. 

Across all arenas, the Avolites consoles controlled a huge and diverse selection of fixtures – both moving (over 210) and conventionals.

Ian Aindow, Glen Silcox and Jim Allison providing relief lighting operation throughout the site throughout the night.

The Diamond III was controlling the main dancefloor lights. The trusses were all toned with colour changers and looked well cool! The CFs were zapped around relentlessly for 15 hours in the unbelievable temperatures and humidity – fixtures and all consoles proved totally reliable in this exacting operating environment.

Through Line to the GODS

Avolites enjoy an on-going relationship with top club GODSKITCHEN following the supply of an Azure 2000 console for the lighting installation (designed by Carl Dodds, installed by Audio-Tek) at their flagship CODE venue in Birmingham.