Little Simz has cemented her place as one of the UK’s most compelling and visionary performers on the touring circuit. Her latest live offering is a bold celebration of everything that has defined her career so far – a high-energy journey through her back catalogue and latest album, Lotus.
On stage, she’s joined by a stellar band of musicians, backed by a crew of backstage masterminds, and, naturally, a towering, automated set piece that makes a statement as unforgettable as the music.
Tour Director, Tom Bielby of Hit Different, oversaw the entire touring operation – from financial planning and logistical movements of the A party to accommodation, all production aspects of the show, and liaising with management and booking agents. “The first iterations of the design began quite early on. It was a long process to get to this point. It was important that we gave her an arena show that truly told her story and demonstrated that she belongs in arenas and beyond.”
Creative Director, Jeremy Ngatho Cole; Production Designer, Tom Taylor and Francis Clegg at TANCK provided the initial drawings, after which the team held round-table discussions about how the design should evolve. “We wanted an arena design that could be adapted to fit the smaller venues in Europe. Key to the success of the design was that the petals of the lotus could be removed or repositioned to provide the same cohesive look of the tour while using less infrastructure in the smaller venues,” Bielby explained.
The tour’s suppliers included Hit Different (production and tour management), TANCK (show and lighting design), Siyan (automation, lighting, rigging, video), Ox Event House (set and staging), Solotech (audio), Stagetruck (trucking), More Eyes (video programming and playback), Phoenix Bussing (crew and artist travel), STS Touring Productions (backline), Creative Technology (LED), Sarah’s Kitchen (catering), ER Productions (special effects and lasers), Production Park (production rehearsals) and BBM Clair (band rehearsals), among others.
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Words: Jacob Waite
Photos: Justin De Souza
