What is now known as “the old K3’ exited their career as the most successful girl
band in the history of Benelux finishing a 122-date sold-out concert tour that
finished on 8th May at Antwerp’s Lotto Arena, having sold over 450,000 tickets in 6
months … complete with lighting design and video content delivered by leading
Belgian visual design practice, Painting with Light, led by Luc Peumans.
Concluding a remarkable 17 year career of music, TV, movies, musicals and
numerous other associated projects, Karen Damen, Kristel Verbeke and Josje
Huisman double headlined the show with … “the new K3’ – Marthe De Pillecyn, Hanne
Verbuggen and Klaasje Meijer – who were selected by a national TV competition in
Belgium in late 2015 …. to ensure that the K3 concept, managed by production
company Studio 100, continues to thrill and delight their enthusiastic audiences.
The set for the “K3 presents K3’ tour was designed by Stefaan Haudenhuyse from
Studio 100 and took K3’s heart-shaped branding as a starting point, with a massive
scenic heart onstage, which at Peumans’s suggestion, was developed into a light
box.
Built by Amsterdam based Invent Design, multiple pixel controlled LED strips were
fitted inside making it very versatile and able to change colour, texture and
appearance. With this being a tour, Peumans also made sure that it was practical to
build, break-down and transport.
Lighting and video equipment was supplied by PRG and all of the production
including set, sound, staging, wardrobe, etc. travelled in 6 trucks.
Traditionally K3 has always appealed primarily to pre-adolescent children, and this
has been reflected in the look and feel of the show since Painting with Light has
been involved. However this time, with the changeover, and to evolve the whole K3
phenomenon further, the brief was to make it more stylish and mature … but
without losing any of the playfulness and fun!
Painting with Light and Studio 100 collaborated closely to ensure the video content
had a certain presentational style and flow as well as being harmonious and
consistent with this more streamlined vibe.
Lighting was designed by Peumans and directed on the road by Niels Huybrechts.
Using around 90 moving lights – a mix of PRG Best Boys, Clay Paky Sharpy Washes
and Vari*Lite VL3500 Q-Spots – were installed on a series of overhead trusses, and
the approach was to mix the disciplines of live show and TV lighting, with lots of
drama, colour and excitement helping to deliver a great looking show for the
increasingly diverse and mixed audience of K3 fans – old and new.
Twenty-four SGM Q7 RGBW LED strobes and 25 Chauvet STRIKE-4 LED blinders
were dotted around in the roof for audience illumination.
Two Concept Vi-Count hazers were also run by Huybrechts via his grandMA2 full
size console, supplied to the production by Painting with Light.
The lighting picture was completed with three Robert Juliat Victor 1800W follow
spots located in the house positions.
