UK and Asia – After the death of Charlatans drummer Jon Brooks in 2013, The Charlatans have finally come together again to celebrate his life and passion for music with a new album, Modern Nature. On drums, they recruited three temporary drummers: Stephen Morris of New Order, Gabe Gurnsey of Factory Floor and Pete Salisbury of The Verve. The album release in January preceded the tour of the UK and Asia (Tokyo, Taipei and Osaka). The 15 gig tour over three weeks kicked off at the O2 Academy in Bristol on 3rd March and ends in Osaka, Japan on 25th March. The Charlatans’ lighting designer Andy Liddle appointed Hawthorn to provide the band’s lighting and projection requirements for the entire tour.

As part of the staging of the gigs, projections form a major part of the effects being used in conjunction with the lighting package. Liddle specified two large Christie 14K projectors sitting atop an 11 foot projection tower to be transported to each venue. The projectors were chosen because of their sharp imaging qualities and mobility to create ease of installation on site by lighting technician Ewan Cameron. Video artist Dan Tomb has created content to be projected onto a 9x5m Harkness Translite Midnight projection screen behind black scenic gauze manufactured by Hawthorn at the rear of the stage.

The lighting package specified by Liddle includes Clay Paky Sharpy’s and Aleda B-Eye K10s, as well as SGM P5 RGBs controlled and run from an AVO Tiger Touch PRO desk on Titan V.8 software. Liddle stated: “It's been great working with Hawthorn again. They've supplied virtually all The Charlatans Tours since I started working with the band in 2003, as well as tours I've designed for New Order, the Chemical Brothers, OMD and more recently LAROUXs UK and European Tours. The whole team there are second to none; their 'Right First Time' attitude and attention to detail coupled with Mick Freer and Dave Slater’s level of support meant when Dan, Ewan or I have wanted to change or add equipment on the tour, it's been there at load-in the next day.”