When Italian group Måneskin rocked their way through Europe with their Loud Kids Tour Gets Louder shows, they were backed by a highly technological lighting system that could morph into multiple different shapes to convey story and structure. At the heart of the lighting rig were Vari-Lite VL10 BEAMWASH luminaires, which were used to beam bright vivid colors and pastels onto the stage and as powerful followspots.

During each show, operators manually utilized the pan and tilt functions on each of the VL10 BEAMWASH fixtures, highlighting each member of the band as well as washing the stage with dynamic lighting states. All the other parameters of the VL10 BEAMWASH were controlled by a lighting console, allowing the team to program the lighting in advance using timecode.

The lighting was the creation of Milan- and London-based lighting design company Blearred. “The long throw of the beam and the great output of the fixture make it an excellent choice for use in larger venues,” says Blearred founder and Måneskin lighting designer, Jordan Babev. “We were blown away by the bright lighting output of the VL10s. Even in large venues, the fixtures are able to produce vivid, powerful beams of light.

“The fixture is easy to handle when used as a followspot and they are relatively lightweight and easy to maneuver, which made it much simpler for our operators to follow the action on stage. The fixture is capable of producing a wide range of colors, including vivid, saturated colors as well as more subtle pastels and hues. It really offers us versatility.”

Blearred was asked by Måneskin’s Exit Management team, the production design team at Lemon and Pepper and the promotion team at Vivo Concerti to create the lighting solution for the tour, which visited North and South America and Japan before returning to Europe.

“The band wanted to deliver a show that told a story through the lighting, rather than using LED screens with video content,” says Babev. “In terms of imagery and colors, we wanted to create a visually striking and cohesive look for the entire tour. We drew inspiration from the band's music and aesthetic, as well as the stage design, to create a color palette and visual style that would complement the show perfectly.”

The VL10 BEAMWASH luminaires were supplied by Rome-based rental house Agorà s.r.l.