Brown Note Productions and High Scream join forces for one of the best shows at this natural wonder

Colorado-based Brown Note Productions recently fielded 120 impression X4 Bar 20s and 12 JDC1s from the GLP catalogue to help provide a riveting backdrop and enhance the natural wonder that is the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The show they were brought in to stage was a fast-moving, high-octane performance by South African DJ/producer Black Coffee, with the dance music icon joined by LP Giobbi, THEMBA and DJ Holographic in a non-stop extravaganza.

Situated south-west of Denver, at an elevation of 6,500 ft, the amphitheatre itself is a 9,525-capacity, sloped, all-seated venue with an illustrious history since opening in 1941.

Working to a set designed and project managed by James Dutton of High Scream, Brown Note Productions has over the past 16 years produced over 1,000 events at Red Rocks, ranging from concerts and films to private events, according to its president, Ryan Knutson. For this production, GLP solutions formed the major part of a lighting design that was piloted by Chris Thoms.

At Red Rocks, the fundamental rules focus on scale and feasibility, notes Ryan Knutson: “What makes a great design truly stand out is how it is planned from a deployment standpoint. For this project, my team ensured that this would be efficient and quick, allowing the design team to work on-site with the full rig in real-time.”

The timing of the builds was crucial in providing the designers, programmers and artists with sufficient time to fine-tune the performance within the venue. “In this instance, it was an amazing deployment for an astonishing design,” he says.

From a technical perspective, careful consideration of light placement and the required trim heights to achieve the desired look were key, since most of the audience views the stage from above, says Knutson.

The success of this show was largely due to the LED fixtures from GLP – a manufacturer with whom Brown Note has been associated for the past decade, building up a substantial inventory along the way. “Their solutions impacted the overall show design, delivering constant waves of light and linearity. The functionality of the GLP fixtures, combined with the creative design, programming and operation, has made this show one of the most successful design-to-reality projects we have had at the venue,” Knutson states.

In conclusion, Ryan Knutson says: “We have had the privilege of working with many talented artists and dedicated crews year after year. We are incredibly grateful to our teams for their unwavering commitment, which has enabled us to maintain high standards of production quality and consistency throughout the years at Red Rocks.”

As to the Black Coffee show in particular, he adds: “Many of us consider this one of our favourite designs to help produce. I would like to thank the Black Coffee and High Scream teams for this opportunity. It was a very rewarding experience for both myself and our team.”