The Leeds/Reading stage 09

[ShadyBlueBell]

Watched Radiohead on the iplayer at Reading and the stage was amazing the lights where fantastic i wonder will Glastonbury have the Pyramid stage as good as this for the anniversary in 2010 this would add to a great experience who ever headlines the Pyramid.

[sifi]

I think the main stage at Reading is about the same size as the second stage at Glasto.

[Ed209]

Thats completely Radiohead's own rig. They had it for their tour last year. I actually think that might have been a reason why they played Reading this year and not Glasto, i know they were slightly annoyed that because their shows were in mid summer last year they were unable to show off the light show for the whole set. They wanted to do a gig in the UK completely in the dark with their rig. Its possible that the Pyramid couldn't accommodate it ... or the headliners were booked and any support slot on the pyramid is mainly in the evening light

a theory..

Edited September 2, 2009 by Ed209

[Ed209]

I think the main stage at Reading is about the same size as the second stage at Glasto.

[Paul ™]

I think the main stage at Reading is about the same size as the second stage at Glasto.

[Ed209]

It's actually the same stage they use.

[Sparticus]

gotta second this, the lights for radiohead were absolutely breathtaking. Get them on for the 40th anniversery, yes it's not cool to live on past glory but their headline slot from 97 is considered the best from that decade (I saw the video to the 2003 show and that looked fantastic as well).

[Alcatraz]

It's actually the same stage they use.

[scaryclaireyfairy]

not only is it radiohead's own lighting rig, it uses significantly less energy than traditional rigs.

here's the science bit:

Lighting the LED way

Posted by Richard - Tour Production Manager on 30 June 2008 at 5:13 pm

In 2003, the year of the last major Radiohead tour, the lighting system required an electricity supply of 600amps 3phase (that's 1800A). A kettle, being one of the larger consumers of power in the home, pulls between 8 and 12A.

Our road to what became, we believe, the first exclusively LED tour lighting system started with a conversation about generators at festivals and green field sites.

Traditional stage lighting utilises dimmers to turn things on and off. When they are not on, they use little to no power; when they are on at 100%, they pull their maximum power. A generator, therefore, has to be sized to provide the maximum power required instantaneously -- normally the big rock moment at the end of the show. Up until this point, generators are idling inefficiently, using fuel and producing carbon emissions.

I suggested that we cut out these fluctuating loads and concentrate on more modern moving light system. These types of lights are common place. Using a discharge lamp; lower in power consumption, the unit remains on all the time using mechanical shutters to turn them "on and off". The concept being with all the lamps on all the time, the power demand would be constant and enable us to use the generators more efficiently.

Andi Watson has been the lighting and visuals designer for radiohead since their club days, and has a reputation for innovation and attention to detail. It was his creative genius and strong support of the concept that brought him to suggest we go further and use LED. Back to a direct power demand system but using much less power at 100%.

The full system (including video) is exclusively LED and uses 140A 3phase (420A in total) when turned on fully. It's worth pointing out that LED lighting uses Red, Green and Blue LED's to make colours, with all 3 being on 100% to make white, therefore any colour effect only uses a percentage of the power. Traditional lighting uses a subtractive colour creation, with filters placed in front of a white source to remove the unwanted colour - therefore, in the case of red for example, using 100% of the power for a third of the light output.

LED stage lighting products have been around for a few years (Radiohead used one of the early units in 2003) but trying to find fixtures that would do all the jobs required was a challenge, resulting in a brand new light from iPix (www.i-pix.uk.com) and a never seen before lighting design.

Less power consumed and a visually stunning show. No doubt LED is the future. Technology is moving forward at a rapid rate, but LED's look and behave differently. Should we be striving to achieve the same result but in a low power form, or adapt to the products and use them to do new and exciting things?

Regardless, with smaller requirements alternative power sources can be considered. I wonder how big the battery would need to be.....

http://www.radiohead.com/themostgiganticfl...uthforsometime/

Edited September 2, 2009 by scaryclaireyfairy

[ShadyBlueBell]

Thats completely Radiohead's own rig. They had it for their tour last year. I actually think that might have been a reason why they played Reading this year and not Glasto, i know they were slightly annoyed that because their shows were in mid summer last year they were unable to show off the light show for the whole set. They wanted to do a gig in the UK completely in the dark with their rig. Its possible that the Pyramid couldn't accommodate it ... or the headliners were booked and any support slot on the pyramid is mainly in the evening light

a theory..

[ShadyBlueBell]

gotta second this, the lights for radiohead were absolutely breathtaking. Get them on for the 40th anniversery, yes it's not cool to live on past glory but their headline slot from 97 is considered the best from that decade (I saw the video to the 2003 show and that looked fantastic as well).

[Zacko]

The Pyramid with that set up would look simply amazing but I'm not so sure Radiohead would even be using it next year (assuming they tour at all).

Other artists like Daft Punk would have another stunning set up and perhaps U2 could park their "claw" in the middle of the Pyramid field...

[Ed209]

The Pyramid with that set up would look simply amazing but I'm not so sure Radiohead would even be using it next year (assuming they tour at all).

Other artists like Daft Punk would have another stunning set up and perhaps U2 could park their "claw" in the middle of the Pyramid field...

[Zacko]

Yeh I don't really feel comfortable with that kind of corporate bumming but if it means lower ticket prices for fans (which U2 are stating) due to lower costs then I'm all for it. Saying that, any of the band could probably pay for the tour several times over so it's probably bollocks.

Meh.

[When Jokers Attack]

Radiohead light show is awesome, I was thinking to myself when i was there that it is about the same size as the other stage.