22 September 2008
With 72 Robe fixtures coming to the party, a list of South Africa’s finest Afrikaans musicians and the charisma of the organisers 94.7 and Rapport, Raw Rocks had no alternative but to astound. Hosted for the second consecutive year at Sun City’s Superbowl, Raw Rocks proved to be even bigger and better than before and is predicted to become an annual celebration on the events calendar.
“The biggest difference between this year and last year was the quantity of lights that we supplied,” commented Kevin Glover from Sound Stylists. “Last year there was almost no budget for lighting and therefore we created a look and feel with the amount we had available. This year we decided to add value by putting in a wide variety of lighting and utilizing the trussing and LED elements that were put in for a function that took place directly after Raw Rocks.
Sound Stylists supplied all the lighting, truss structures, F.O.H mixing console, (mixing console and monitors), all backline, a 6m x 4.5m truss screen, Christi Roadster 16k 16 000 ansi lumen projector, Folsom Screen Pro, Sony Anycast Vision Mixer and 3 x PD170 Camera’s for the event.
The set comprised of two box truss towers lit by approximately a 70 LED parcans on either side of the main video screen. The 575 Robe fixtures were primarily applied for beam work from the floor and the 700’s flown in the rig
While Sound Stylists focussed on the rigging and set which was designed by Wayne Sproule of Pendragon Design, they called on the creative flair of one of South Africa’s most avid Lighting Designers, John Roughley (JR). “I was keen to do the work, it’s a nice show and a lot of fun,” commented JR. “Kevin has great people. We are only as good as the teams who support us and the crew need to be applauded for their creative input.”
JR programmed over a five day period using MSD.” We ran two Arkaos Media Servers, used two Case Controllers one to run the servers operated by Clint Fowler and the larger one for the intels and an Avolites Pearl expert to run the LED parcans and generics operated by Adrian Skinner!” “I’ve been running Arkaos for over two years now and it is very powerful software. It’s the best package around as far as I am concerned, when it’s time to upgrade hardware it’s easy and cost effective” he said.
Having an entire Robe rig at his disposal, JR commented on the performance of the fixtures. “The 575 Washes are the best 575 washes on the market, no doubt about that. The 700 Wash and Spots are both excellent fixtures and I’m very happy with them. They are great work horses guaranteed, I have run them for 24 hours a day sometimes 3 or 4 days at a time.”
Kurt Darren interrupted to sing YMCA. He, in turn, gets Whackhead from 94.7 to do the actions to the song. More than just a concert, JR said that Raw Rocks was an Afrikaans Cultural musical event which attracted an audience of around 4 000 guests between the ages of 12 and seventy years of age. Patrons revelled in the music of Theuns Jordaan, Kurt Darren, Karen Zoid, Chris Chameleon, Nadine, Ddisselblom and Eden. They were also entertained by the 94.7 Rude Awakening Presenters who interrupted Kurt Darren’s set and made him sing YMCA!
Money made from the concert is to be donated to Tapologo Aids Hospice in the North West Province and The Rapport Education Fund.
Lighting Equipment List:
2 x ZR24/7 Haze Machines
2 x ZR33 Smoke Machines
2 x Jands DD6-2 Optical Isolater 6 x 5 pin XLR
2 x Martin 1.4 Optic Isolated DMX
4 x Strong Super Trouper 3kw Follow Spots
6 x Robe Spot 575E AT
6 x Robe Wash 575E AT Zoom
12 x Robe Spot 575 AT
12 x Robe Wash 575 AT
12 x Robe Spot 700E AT
12 x Robe Wash 700 E AT
72 x JB Systems LED Par64
1 x Avolites Pearl Expert Lighting Console
2 x Martin Case
2 x Arkaos Servers
12 x ADB Warps
12 x ADB 2K Fresnels
4 x Martin Atomic 3000 Strobes
Audio Equipment List:
16 x Nexo PS15 c/w Lab Gruppen Amplifiers
1 x Yamaha PM5D
1 x Digico D5
1 x TC M6000
12 x Audio Technica AEW T4100 Hand Held Transmitters c/w 6 x Audio Technica AEW R5200 Dual Receivers and an assortment of Audio Technica Instrument Microphones
1 x Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier c/w 4 x 12” Cabinet
1 x Marshall Guitar Amp
1 x Ampeg SVT 4 c/w 8 x 10” Cabinet
1 x Yamaha Maple Absolute Drum Kit
Video Equipment List:
1 x 16K 16 000 Ansi Lumen Projector
1 x Folsom Screen Pro
1 x Sony Anycast
3 x Sony PD170 Video Cameras
