Entec supplies Blur for Astoria shows

A full lighting rig, motion control system, sound control, monitor system and stage set have been supplied to Blur for five performances at the Astoria in Charing Cross Road, London, by Middlesex-based Entec Sound & Light,.
Entec have enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with Blur dating back to the supply of their first ever lighting system to promote the band’s debut single 'She’s so high', back in 1990.
LD Dave Byars is one of the original crew members. He works tirelessly with band, management and record company executives to create a stage presence unique to every project.
Byars’ desire to achieve aesthetic harmony between the artist and stage setting constantly thrills audiences, and enhances the overall stage confidence that’s fundamental to every Blur performance
The Astoria was essentially a one off event, but Damon Albarn wanted a distinct visual vibe for the shows. His starting brief to Byars was to come up with an essence of Morocco and Devon - warm, inviting, peaceful, positive.
From this starting point, Byars designed both lighting and video (the latter supplied by leading UK live video specialists XL Video). He decided to take an ambitiously large rig into the Astoria to realise his ideas.
The first part of the show saw a false ceiling formed by a drape lacerated by a series of irregular triangular shaped holes, manufactured by Hangman. This was lit from above, sending dramatic, intense shafts and slices of light firing through to the band below.
Six numbers into the set, the roof flew out to reveal a 30 ft wide upstage projection screen. This featured various footage and effects for the rest of the show, including clouds, sunsets and assorted abstract patterns.
Byars incorporated a wide variety of fixtures into his rig. Up above the roof were 8 Clay Paky Stage Scans and 8 Vari*Lite wash lights, joined by 12 VL2202 Spots around the edge of the drape box truss.
On the front truss he used Martin Mac 300s and 600s, Source Four profiles and Molefeys with scrollers. On the floor was another eight MAC 250s, four MAC 600s and four Diversitronic strobes, and out-front, two x Pani 1202 follow-spots.
Byars also used 12 of the new James Thomas Engineering Pixelline 1044 LED battens, purchased by Entec specially for these shows, and now resident in their rental stock.
(GB)