Public Service Broadcasting is one of the more interesting and inventive bands in
the UK right now, and Colour Sound Experiment was delighted to supply lighting and
LED screen to a series of recent UK concerts supporting the release of their
Sputnik/Korolev EP via lighting designer Francis Clegg.

Clegg, part of creative visual design and programming collective MIRRAD, produced
a lighting design for the short but popular and much anticipated UK tour which
followed on from summer festival work. A completely new live show concept was
evolved for this, with production based on the Brixton Academy gig … and adaptable
to fit the other venues.

The band plays instrumental music, taking samples from classic public service
information films, archival footage and propaganda material … to (in their worn
words)’teach lessons of the past through music of the future’ with a satirical and
humorous edge!

Visuals are fundamental to the performance, and with no chat between songs and
no lyrics as such, this is the main communication between band and audience.

Up until this tour, PSB had been using small projections screens that resembled old
TV sets, but to fill the space and enlarge the idea for Brixton, Colour Sound was
asked to supply two 5 metre wide LED screens made up from their proprietary 6mm
BT product, mounted in custom wooded surrounds that rounded the edges. These
stylishly integrated with the original screens and were revealed by a mid-stage
kabuki drop at the top of the set.

Some other elements of retro techno-clutter, like old TV sets scattered around and
a scenic “sputnik’ satellite which sat centre stage all helped make the environment
look quirky and fun.

The lights were hung on seven flown trusses, all angled differently and with an
assortment of drop bars – Clegg avoided anything linear to introduce more depth to
the picture.

The rig included 18 x Clay Paky a.LEDA K20 LED wash fixtures fitted with B-Eye
lenses, chosen for their versatility including the pixel effects which can be produced
with the individual pixel control. They were joined by 18 x SGM XC-5 strobes – part
of a recent purchase by Colour Sound – and eight Robe Pointes, also chosen for
their multi-functionality.

Twenty-four ProLights DIAMOND7 small LED wash units were arranged in two fans
above the Sputnik and on top of these were various generics and blinders arranged
around the floor.

There was no front truss, but front side lighting included some ETC Source Fours on
stands plus a few fresnels on the deck for foot-lights.

Clegg controlled everything via an Avolites Sapphire Touch supplied by MIRRAD.

He was joined on the tour by a great crew from Colour Sound including crew chief
Simon Robertson, technician Stu Barr and Dave Cattermole who tech’d the LED
screens.

Clegg has worked with Colour Sound on several previous projects and was very
pleased to have them involved with this one, “The crew are great, the level of
service is always, excellent, the gear is in good condition … and everyone is
friendly and helpful’ he concluded.