|
|
|
|
|
   |
|
| An Avolites Pearl 2008 console has been
touring the summer festivals with Firefly Solar, the UK’s first fully mobile,
reliable solar power solution for the outdoor events industry, based around the
Orion solar powered generator. The console was specified by Firefly’s production manager Andy Mead and lighting designer Doug Currie to control all lighting on the Firefly Stage throughout its extensive summer festival tour, which started in May and has included Glastonbury, Shambala in Northamptonshire, Lovebox, The Secret Garden Party, Retrofest in Scotland, the Loop Festival in Brighton and many others. Firefly puts high production values at the top of its agenda along with the utilisation of solar energy. Mead explains, “We’ve been working with a number of different companies and organisations over the years to find high end, low energy technologies with which we can work for live events”. |
 |
| The Firefly Stage was based around a 40ft wide
S2000 Saddlespan structure for which Firefly supplied all the necessary
technical production and crew in a fully self-contained package. The stage also
used other structures including an 18 metre geodesic dome and a 30 x 20 metre
big top. The versatility of the rig offers great flexibility in the choice of
structure. Lighting included 20 of the new EasilyLED Beamcans – the carbon neutral PAR can for the 21st century – a 38W homogenous LED lightsource offering maximum energy efficiency via its unique “throttling” technique, and designed to run on solar, battery or mains power. |
 |
| Also on the rig was the world’s only daftDATA
KillerLED flood, a 4.5K equivalent LED light source in panel format with full
colour mixing facilities, ideal for effects like texting as well as chases,
strobing and washing large areas with rich saturated colours. These were joined by 6 Martin Professional MAC 250 Entours, 2 MAC 600s and 8 custom LED low voltage Birdies. All of this, the Turbosound PA, the band backlines and anything else needing electricity had to run off the 63A power supply provided by the Orion. The Pearl 2008 was originally specified by Chris Crockford of EasilyLED in consultation with Doug Currie. Currie wanted a rock ‘n’ roll style desk that was easy to use, and fast and practical to programme in multiple act situations. The Avolites’ Pearl is the world’s favourite festival lighting desk, and one of the most ‘buskable’ consoles on the planet – so it was an obvious choice. Mead comments, “We’ve been very happy with the Pearl, it’s been the perfect control solution, the support from Avolites has been fantastic”. |
 |
| A very wide variety of performers took to the
Firefly stage over the summer including a proliferation of gypsy, folk and ska
bands, The Young Blood Brass Band, Hayseed Dixie, UK Beat Box, Champion Beardy
Man, Rachael Unthank & The Winter Set and Four Good Men which included members
of pop superstars Wet Wet Wet and Simple Minds. The 2008 tour – which was trucked around the country using UK produced bio fuels made from recycled cooking oil - has been a massive success, and next year, along with the S2000, Firefly will tour a larger 60ft wide S5000 Saddlespan structure. About Firefly/Orion Firefly Solar is a carbon neutral, not-for-profit community based organisation from Brighton, UK, dedicated to reducing the carbon footprint of the events industry. Orion is the first fully mobile, reliable solar generator of its type, offering up to 63A (15Kw) of mains voltage power. Orion is powered entirely by the sun. It’s battery backup system keeps it running through the night and it’s completely silent. |
 |
|
|
|
Avolites Ltd |
|
Date of issue : 6th September 2008 For more press info. on Avolites, please contact Louise Stickland on +44 (0)1865 202679/+44 (0)7831 329888 or Email ‘louise@loosplat.com’. For more product and general info, or to contact Avolites direct, call +44 (0)208 965 8522 |
