Classic Gear Live is back with vintage technology display at PLASA Show

Visitors to this year’s PLASA Show (1st – 3rd September 2024, Olympia London) can once again get up close to vintage technology used by iconic recording artists and theatre productions, courtesy of lighting designer and LSi journalist Rob Halliday, and Chris Hewitt of CH Vintage Audio.

In a special area of the show named after the popular, long-running LSi column, archive equipment will be showcased via a display of vintage consoles and fixtures. Additionally, a range of guest experts set to join Halliday and Hewitt on-stand throughout the event to share memories of tech-gone-by.

Kit set to be displayed includes:

• The custom Cadac mixing console created for Starlight Express in 1984, which pioneered the computer-controlled VCA mixing approach followed by all theatre shows since.

• The Strand Galaxy lighting console, which is the first to be fully restored by a Galaxy restoration project led by members of the team who first created the console for Strand in 1980. Furthermore, PLASA Show will see the formal handing over of this console to its new home at Rose Bruford College in London.

• The automation control console from the original 1986 production of The Phantom of the Opera.

• The OptiKinetics Solar250 projector, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

• The Zero88 Sirius lighting console, which introduced generations of users to memory control at an affordable price, to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Zero88.

• The Whole Hog lighting console, which will be controlling a selection of contemporary moving mirror lights including the Martin 518 and the Claypaky Goldenscan.

• The return of Vari-Lite Artisan VL2 and VL4 lighting fixtures from last year’s PLASA Show.

The neighbouring display by CH Vintage Audio will include treasures from the rock’n’roll archives, such as a fully-functioning Allen & Heath (A&H) 28 channel mixer, as used by Pink Floyd during their Live at Pompeii and Dark Side of the Moon shows in the early 1970s.

A large selection of Pink Floyd’s PA from the same period will also be on display, along with gear used by legendary artists such as David Bowie, whose Ziggy Stardust PAS rig from 1973 is also confirmed to make an appearance.

Visitors can also hear from – and speak with – visionary professionals who helped this history unfold, including:

• Pioneering sound designer Martin Levan who will talk about sound design – then and now – with fellow sound designer Gareth Owen, in one of our dedicated seminar sessions.

• Neil Rice of OptiKinetics, will talk about the Solar250 projector and lightships in general.

• David Bertenshaw of Strand will talk about the creation of Galaxy and the process of restoring and preserving classic lighting consoles for the future.

• Andy Voller will explain the pioneering Vari-Lite system.
• Allen & Heath founder Andy Bereza who will be on-hand to reminisce and demo the restored A&H mixer

Find Classic Gear Live at the rear of Olympia London during the PLASA Show on stand D55.

Don’t forget to sign up for your free PLASA Show ticket by 30th August!