FREDERICK, MD – Will drive-in concerts fade away now that COVID-19 restrictions are easing? Anyone who automatically responds “yes” to this question might want to drop by the Frederick Fairgrounds on a weekend night this summer. There they’ll find a large drive-in stage rocked to its rafters before a large appreciative audience by the likes […]
FREDERICK, MD – How long will the COVID-19 lockdown last? Like everyone, Aaron Kovelman can’t answer that one. But there’s one thing the Director of Design and Production at Showtime Sound LLC is sure of: the company he works for will continue to bring safe, socially-distant entertainment options to people for the duration. Showtime Sound […]
MARION, IL – Under normal circumstances, Kyle Upchurch doesn’t have to think much about the area directly in front of the concert stage, as it’s filled with fans. His goal as a designer is to create the kind of immersive looks that pull fans into the performance on stage. But during a pandemic, every rule […]
MEMPHIS – When he was busy touring with the likes of Jinger and Devil Driver, Wes Youngblood immersed himself in creating searing intense looks to match the thrashing sound of his clients. Of course, that all came to a screeching halt when the pandemic hit, but on October 21, Youngblood got to flex his design […]
WICHELEN, BELGIUM – The drive-in movie, an 87-year old American cultural icon that had long ago been pushed to the edge of obscurity, experienced a well-documented global revival in 2020 as people sought safe, socially distant forms of entertainment in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been very evident throughout Europe, as drive-in theatres […]
GLENMONT, NY – “A Teenage rock and roll spree,“ that’s how Richard Linklater described his cult film Dazed and Confused. How right he was. Iconic songs pop up throughout this coming of age classic, giving it a unique rhythmic power. This quality made the ‘90s movie an ideal twin-bill partner for Pink Talking Fish on […]
BUTLER, PA – When done right, backdrops can do more than mark off the boundary of a stage, believes Chris “Thumper” Hathaway. Weaving forms and colors together in a flowing swirl of imagery and imagination, they create an organic feeling that connects fans to a band’s music, especially when it’s of the raw, heartfelt variety […]
The days are long, sometimes lasting 20 hours, and the work is tough, setting up and taking down a concert rig in one day, often with no real power tie-ins or FOH positions. When it’s all done, the overnight accommodations are usually modest small-town motels with nothing in the way of extras. Still, this North […]
VENTURA, CA – Most people call the beautiful 65-acre site just off the Ojai Freeway the “Ventura County Fairgrounds.” Officially, though, its name is “Seaside Park,” a reference to its location on the Pacific Ocean. It’s a setting that makes for magnificent views, but the winds blowing in off the beautiful sea can play havoc […]
MT. PLEASANT, PA – Familiar, comforting sights have often been obscured in the haze of the pandemic, a time of broken plans and lost connections. But like every crisis, the current one is also a great revealer. Forcing people into unfamiliar paths, it can lead to new, unexpected discoveries, which, even when seemingly insignificant, can […]
SAINT-OURS – Driving over an hour on the highway, headed northeast from Montreal, motorists find themselves at Parc Bellerive, a secluded, peaceful expanse of green on the banks of the River Richelieu. Time seems to stand still here. Being far enough away from the big city, the clear and fragrant night sky is free of […]
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC – Social distancing: it not only affects where and how people sit at public gatherings, it also has a pretty big influence on the way lighting designs are put together for outdoor events. Daniel Thibault appreciates this first-hand. The owner of Life Is Art Studios, Thibault created the lighting design for No Parking On […]