Miami. With technical production support from IPS, a stunning lighting design based on Elation equipment, and ACT Productions as the local production company, the second edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival in Miami was held.
This is an extension of the iconic Swiss music festival, which offered three days of world-class sold-out performances at The Hangar in Regatta Harbour in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood.
ACT Productions Chief Operating Officer, Barbara Goicoechea, commented: "The collaboration with IPS was excellent as always and our client was extremely satisfied. This year's show was absolutely magnificent, mainly thanks to the lighting used. We can't thank IPS enough for such an incredible job."
Adapted Design
The festival, which ran from February 28 to March 2, offered everything from vibrant headlining sets to intimate jam sessions. Lighting designer Bradley Solheim of Shine Lighting & Design, who is also lighting for Jon Batiste's tour, brought his design to the stage of the Montreux Jazz Festival. In collaboration with IPS's Michael Betancourt, the festival's lighting team was fully adapted with Elation equipment.
Solheim praised the collaboration: "I love working with IPS. They always provide professional service and communication, from the first pre-production calls to the show-day experience for each lighting designer. Their technical staff on site was first class and they take care of their equipment with care." IPS's Caleb Franke programmed and operated the lighting for artists without touring lighting designers, and ACT's Carlos Henao was the technical director. Sig Greenebaum was the director of the festival.
Eclectic artists, dynamic lighting
On opening night, Grammy and Oscar-winning artist Jon Batiste and co-owner of the festival took the stage with a vibrant band of 20 musicians and surprise guests. A late-night jam session featuring more than 30 artists, including Shania Twain and Lauren Jauregui, left fans wanting more. The excitement continued for the next two days.
Betancourt created a flexible and dynamic lighting system that complemented the variety of performances over the weekend. Solheim commented: "Michael Betancourt designed a fantastic, festival-style lighting system. Working with the height of the tent, they equipped it with a diverse range of Elation luminaires to achieve a dynamic and unique look throughout the set."
IPS, which also supported last year's inaugural event, provided lighting, LED video and broadcast cameras for IMAG and recording. They supervised the assembly for several days, starting with the assembly, the fixing of the goal posts above the doors (Global Truss) and the installation of the luminaires before Coper Productions installed the stage. Elation Team
Betancourt redesigned the lighting system using a range of Elation equipment that included 23 Proteus Lucius, 28 Proteus Rayzor 760, 12 Proteus Rayzor Blade L, 24 SŌL I Blinder, 6 Proteus Hybrid Max, 12 Pulse Panel FX, 2 KL Panel and 18 SIX+ PAR L. 2.9mm VS2 LED panels from sister company ADJ were also incorporated.
The PROTEUS RAYZOR 760 wash FX moving heads, located at the bottom of the stage, provided a bath of intense light, complemented by the PROTEUS LUCIUS profile moving heads for the main lighting and the full-color SŌL I Blinder effects for audience lighting. These, along with the PULSE PANEL FX dynamic strobes, mounted on the structures in the centre and upper part of the stage, provided dynamic light baths and visual effects. "The LUCIUS and HYBRID MAX fixtures delivered incredible aerial visuals that really contrasted with the wash effect of the 760s on stage," commented Betancourt. "The PULSE PANEL FX added soft visual lighting along with powerful blinding and strobing effects."
On stage, PROTEUS RAYZOR 760 was used for side lighting, while RAYZOR BLADE L linear lights on the edge of the stage, KL PANEL soft lights on C-brackets and PROTEUS HYBRID MAX moving heads on truss totems added layered effects and stunning visual lighting. Around the venue, SIX+ PAR L luminaires served as uplighting, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
Solheim stated, "As the workhorse of this team, the PROTEUS LUCIUS performed excellently overall, and its brightness was strongly felt, even with deep, dark color tones and saturation. I enjoyed the selection of gobos to achieve interesting and crisp textures in the air."
Brightness, beams of light and a touch of brightness
After using moving heads with discharge lamps on the 2024 Batiste tour to achieve a beam effect and edge-defined profile, Solheim found the PROTEUS HYBRID MAX to be an excellent replacement in terms of brightness, beam control and overall features. Plus, it was her first time using the PULSE PANEL FX, which she loved: "They're incredibly bright; I would love to have more time to experiment with all of its features and maximize its potential. For the short time I had to see them in person and integrate them into my show, they were amazing!"
The designer also praised the SŌL I BLINDERS, which he found extremely bright. "I love the classic look of a traditional polka dot and its ability to mix colors. It is a simple and effective luminaire." Betancourt added, "The SŌL I BLINDERS lit up the audience spectacularly, especially when Jon Batiste came down from the stage and joined the audience. It was an unforgettable moment."
The SparkLED backglow effect, exclusive to Elation, present in the RAZZOR series luminaires, is a feature that Solheim had never used before, but enjoyed very much. "I love it! It's a fantastic visual spectacle to use once or twice during a show."
An exceptional showcase in every sense
With exceptional performances, expert production by ACT, and stunning lighting design by Elation and IPS, Miami's Montreux Jazz Festival offered an experience worthy of its legendary Swiss namesake. The combination of world-class talent and top-notch technical execution proved that the Miami edition is more than just a spin-off: it's a world-class event in its own right.
