FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NASHVILLE, TN – [SEPT] – Country music superstar Jason Aldean is out on the road with a powerful lighting design that amplifies his rock-infused sound and high-energy performances. Bandit Lites is proud to supply the full lighting package for the tour, with design by Luz Studio’s Matthieu Larivée and lighting direction by longtime Bandit Lites family member Andy Knighton, who has been with the company for nearly three decades.
Knighton, who has also served as LD for Rascal Flatts, reflected on his long relationship with Bandit:
“Bandit Lites… more affectionately known as ‘my family,’ has been the engine that keeps me headed down the road,” said Knighton. “I’ve been with Bandit for 28 years, which has now become my longest and most continuous relationship. Bandit has provided me with a life – home, insurance, retirement – and through any turbulence in the industry or globally, they’ve always had my back. I’ll always return that loyalty.”
For Knighton, the key to success isn’t about one fixture or one cue – it’s about the people.
“Being the LD for Rascal Flatts and Jason Aldean, I don’t particularly rely on a single fixture… instead, I rely on the PEOPLE that make up the various Bandit departments,” he explained. “None of the fixtures matter at all unless the rig can get in and out quickly and efficiently – and that’s what we do at Bandit. When Bandit shows up with a badass prep, the rig flies up with minimal effort. The local crews love it when a Bandit rig arrives, because they’re familiar with our systems. The Bandit way allows any tech to immediately step in on a build without missing a beat.”
This tour represents the culmination of a strong collaboration across management and production teams, including:
- Manager (Maverick): Clarence Spalding
- Management (Maverick): Chris Parr
- Tour Manager: Jake LaGrone
- Production Manager: Earl Neal
- Stage Manager: Josh “Dude” Marcus
- Designer: Luz Studios – Matthieu Larivée
- Lighting Director: Andy Knighton
- Crew Chief: Billy Willingham
- Crew: Scott Wesson, Tala Bell, Matt Jones
- Bandit PM: Andrew Ellis
- Bandit Client Rep: Allen Deneau
Bandit Lites Founder Michael T. Strickland reflected on the long-standing partnership:
“Bandit has been with Jason since day one and are very proud of the relationship. Manager Clarence Spalding and I are old friends and go back to Exile in the early 80s. Jason is an amazingly talented individual and second to none in the field. Day to Day is handled by the impeccable Chris Parr, a true professional. Tour Manager Jake LaGrone, Production Manager Earl Neal and Stage Manager Josh Marcus are three of the finest people you will ever meet, and both are amazing in their jobs. All these great people are long-time friends without whom we could not function.”
The rig features a massive array of cutting-edge fixtures, including:
- 21 Tyler 10′ truss, 4 Tyler 10′ indexable truss, 2 Tyler GT 20° Gates
- 4 PRT 6 x 6 Lamp Bar Pods, multiple 12” truss segments
- 66 Ayrton Khamsin S
- 32 Chauvet Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash
- 37 Chauvet Color Strike M
- 18 Chauvet Colorado PXL Curve 12
- 20 Chauvet Strike Array 2
- 18 Elation Fuze Wash Z350
- 9 ACME Pixel Line 500 & 34 ACME Pixel Line 1000
- 21 Robe Footsie RGBW 2 (Wide)
- 12 Vari-Lite VL 3600 IP
With meticulous prep led by Bandit’s team and Knighton’s creative eye, the rig delivers stunning visuals that keep pace with Aldean’s powerhouse performances. “Continuing Jason Aldean is a spectacular ride,” Knighton added. “I get the best of both worlds – Flatts with their power ballads and Aldean with his rock personality. You get to see just how far you can stretch the fixtures’ capabilities.”
