eclipse battles the weather at RedFestDXB
Published: MEA
UAE: RedFestDXB has taken place annually at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre since 2014, with eclipse Staging Services and Stage FX providing A/V and lighting solutions, among other equipment, for the most recent edition. However, the weather would wreak havoc.
Severe winds were forecast and would eventually lead festival organisers to postpone the second day and evacuate the site during the last afternoon. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries to personnel involved in the event, however setbacks were experienced.
Taking every precaution possible prior to setup, eclipse started to load-in earlier than usual, while its HSE manager, Manu Abraham and Tom Warneke, eclipse’s project manager for the event, collaborated to put together a comprehensive wind management plan. The plan covered details such as the highest level of rain and wind that the setup could withstand and the emergency protocol. This was communicated to all organisers and suppliers.
‘Thanks to a truly incredible effort by the entire eclipse team, we were able to go from a destroyed stage and event site to an event showing zero signs of incidents within four to five hours,’ recalled Mr Warneke. ‘This could only be achieved with the dedication, skill and expertise of over 100 of our staff and the extensive resources of the eclipse Group, alongside a steadfast desire to put on the best show we could. I could not be prouder or more thankful of our world-class team.’
The LED screen was damaged beyond repair by the weather and an emergency video crew was deployed by eclipse to its warehouse to put together two new IMAG screens from 9mm LED screen not in use. Video and playback control was then rerouted to this new configuration. The video department had also provided a USC comprising 5m x 4.2m x 7.2m hangs with a 1.2m x 13.8m banner, formed from 9mm LED and driven by a Green Hippo TAIGA V4 media server with another as back-up. Live video was fed from a five-camera production unit with jib.
‘We took our time in order to ensure everything we turned on appeared safe and were fully ready for touring productions by 10:30am,’ noted eclipse’s head of audio, John Parkhouse. ‘A number of the visiting productions commented on how impressed they were that we had even been able to deliver the show, as they saw what happened the previous day.’
The audio solution included 32 d&b audiotechnik J-Series speakers for the main PA, supplemented by 16 J-Subs and six J-Infras for the ground based sub array, while eight V-Series cabinets provided side-fill. Additional V-Subs were flown behind the main arrays to enable extra low end control in the arena. Amplification was by way of six D80 touring racks and a further six individual D80 amps. Three Lake LM44 processors, two Cisco switches and two d&b DS10 network bridges for AES digital PA feeds were also implemented.
During the evacuation, the audio crew adhered to the safety protocol laid out, covering as much of the equipment as possible. Following the storm, systems were checked, breakages were rectified and the system was re-flown and re-patched.
On the lighting side, eclipse head of lighting Craig Ralph and his team installed a rig consisting of main spot and wash beam elements, using Wysiwyg to get the system up in just three hours. Added precautions, such as strapping the lighting towers to the roof of the structure, were taken in lieu of the weather reports.
eclipse’s power department supplied three 350kva synchronised generators to power the stage, as well as two 200kvas and a 500kva for the F&B stands, VIP grandstand and other areas. Stage FX, which had provided equipment at previous RedFestDXB instalments supplied a range of their special effects equipment and was able to cover and protect its kit ahead of the storm.
‘Despite the turbulent weekend weather that wreaked havoc across the country and had forced a communal decision to push back the festival’s second day, the eclipse team really shone through, highlighting the fact that we can provide an entire technical setup for large scale events to the highest standards,’ said eclipse general manager, Martin Lubach. ‘I am extremely proud of the entire team, grateful that there was no one hurt and that we were able to end the weekend by delivering an incredible show.’