“Through music we may wander where we will in time and find friends in every century,” wrote American Helen Thomson Woolley. Though this groundbreaking author and educator lived almost a century ago, she would have undoubtably appreciated the timeless appeal of a Versengold concert if she were around today.
The chart-topping German band transcends centuries with the ease and grace of a gazelle blending traditional music with more contemporary folk songs, as well as dance and party tunes, all elevated by the artistry of lead singer Malte Hoyer.
The transcendent magic of Versengold is there for all to savor on the band’s current Nacht der Balladen (Night of Ballads) tour, which began on March 18th and runs all spring/summer, ending on November 4th at Barclays Arean in Hamburg. Focusing on the more lyrical and mellow songs in their catalog, the band is putting on a show that, in the words of one music critic “goes straight to your heart.”
Supporting this evocative music on its journey to the heart, is a richly textured and immersive lighting design by Yannik Klimas. Running his six-universe lightshow on his ChamSys MagicQ MQ250 Stadium, he is engaging audiences while reflecting the music with his deep colors, mellow effects, and crisp key lighting. For songs like the band’s hit “Das Bier ich in der Rechten trug,” when Hoyer connects directly to the audience, Klimas creates engaging crowd lighting. While with other songs, such as “Küstenkind,” which relate to the North Sea, Klimas relies on his lighting to create a more nautical mood.
The flexibility of his console’s MagicQ software has made Klimas’ life much easier on the busy tour,” he said. “I can program an entire show on a laptop at home without a console, which is very convenient, as is, the app that allows me to control the MQ250M from my cell phone.”
Another thing he appreciates about the console is its compact size. Weighing in at only 13kg and measuring 680mm wide by 416 mm deep, the console is easy for Klimas to take from show to show by plane.
Most importantly though, is the console’s power and flexibility. The bands give Klimas a great deal of leeway lighting the show. He notes that the 10 motorized faders, and 10 playback encoders open a wide range of creative options for him. The console is also making it easy for him to adjust to the needs of different venues. For example, thanks to the Cue Stack feature tracks very easy to navigate. The ease at which position pallets can be adjusted to fit specific venue configurations is also a great help.
Such flexibility is invaluable when you are lighting a band that not only crosses musical genres, but also travels through centuries.
