Lighting designer Dom Smith is using an Avolites Diamond 4 console to control his entire lightshow for the current Athlete tour. The band’s second album "Tourist" takes their distinctive quirky guitar sounds to new heights, while their loyal and ever-growing fanbase continues to ensure that their live shows are sold out wherever they go.

Smith has worked with Athlete since April this year. He was originally suggested for the gig by Bryan Leitch of lighting rental company Siyan, who are also supplying the kit. He was also one of the first LD’s to start using Avo’s most powerful current console, initially specifying it for the Cooper Temple Clause tour in 2003.

Having now worked extensively with the D4 for the last 2 years, he knows the board inside out and his feedback has been invaluable to Avolites. "First and foremost I love the flexibility of the D4" he states "And the fact that I can put whatever palettes and memory playbacks anywhere I want, anytime. It has immense power and still retains that great Avolites tactility" When Athlete embarked on this leg of their tour with full production, there was never any question about which console Smith would be using. He was given a loose design brief for Athlete … in that the tour would feature video (designed by Julian Hogg) and therefore needed to incorporate a 16:9 aspect ratio screen into the set and stage look. Other than that, he had a free rein to create a visual concept that would look good and be adaptable for a variety of venues.

The video is used for very specific sections of the performance, so Smith wanted to conceal the screen during its ‘down’ time. He had already started heading toward a clean but plush theatrical vibe with the lighting and stage visuals, and then decided to mask the screen - when not in use - with a pair of centre parting, gathered, silvery-grey velvet tabs. These take light and colour beautifully as well as looking luscious, opulent and dramatic. The grey was chosen for its light-friendly properties and also because it resembles the predominant hues of the album artwork.

While he wanted to preserve a clean stage look, he also needed to get lights onstage at different heights and depths. Bare trussing towers weren’t a real option, so instead he had four different sized onstage towers clad with scenic flats covered in the same velvet material. This adds a third layer of depth and dimension to the stage.Two vintage 1980s petrol pumps are the other distinctive scenic pieces. They were requested by the band, taken from the somewhat random collection of images on the album artwork. The pumps were sourced by ever-resourceful tour manager Joe Sanchez from a pig farm in Linconshire. They were rescued from their rotting state, gutted, re-conditioned and made tourable. They now stand proudly onstage, internally lit with PARs.

The two truss lighting rig consists of 24 SGM Giotto CMY fixtures, 12 on the back truss, 6 on the towers and 6 on the floor. These are the heart of the rig. The front truss features 5 Robe ColorWash 575s used as fillers and 7 ETC Source Fours, used for precise key lighting on the four band members. There’s also six 8-lite Molefays on the front truss for big audience looks. Illuminating the upstage drapery are 13 hidden Pixelline 1044s, 7 up and 6 down. Lighting the scenic panels are 8 SGM Palco M3 moving yoke LED cyc lights.

Also onstage are four 20-lite halogen blinders with ChromaQ MS scrollers on the front to create big looks, and there’s 7 visible Pixelline 1044s with diffusers on the front, resembling ultra-bright strip lights and used as rich colour washes. The lighting picture is completed with four half mirror balls. All these fixtures are controlled via the Diamond 4 "The console is very responsive and reliable" comments Smith "It’s a joy to operate". He also finds the ability to apply multiple attribute timings a huge asset. "Apart from that, the service and client support from Avolites is incredible" he says "They’re hugely knowledgeable about what LD’s want, and really care about their products".

Avolites’ Steve Warren says "Having seen 4 D4 shows in quick succession, I think there’s a theme of enthusiasm coupled with the use of new technology, to create a fresh style that’s common to the new wave of young LDs like Dom Smith" Siyan also has 2 Diamond 4’s out on Coldplay with LD Nick Whitehouse and is also supplying the current Bloc Party tour where LD Craig Allnutt is using a D4. Dance guru Mylo has just competed a UK tour with LD Ian Tomlinson using a D4, and lighting supplied by Liverpool-based ADLIB Lighting.