The Darkness

British rock band The Darkness, known for their flamboyant stage presence, falsetto vocals, and chart-topping hits like I Believe in a Thing Called Love, has elevated their live performances to new heights with the implementation of a Follow-Me 3D remote follow-spot system on this Spring’s UK tour called Dreams on Toast.

Formed in 2000, The Darkness gained widespread acclaim with their debut album Permission to Land in 2003, and have since built a reputation for theatrical, high-energy live shows that blend classic rock sensibilities with over-the-top performance elements. With frontman Justin Hawkins’ remarkable vocal range, the band has continued to captivate audiences worldwide. The Follow-Me 3D SIX system, supplied by CEG and deployed by Zigzag Lighting, has become an integral element of the band’s stage production, particularly enhancing the visibility of Hawkins’ signature acrobatic performances and audience interactions.

The system has proven essential in capturing the band’s dynamic stage presence that has made them favourites on the live circuit for over two decades. Follow-Me 3D is an automated performer tracking solution that transforms standard lighting fixtures into precision follow-spots without dedicated operators at each light. Unlike traditional follow-spots, Follow-Me 3D allows designers to dynamically assign any of the fixtures in the rig at any time, to follow performers in real-time. David Garcia, Lighting Designer for The Darkness, and Production Designer/Video Director Eric Cathcart, both of Bigtime Lighting Design, have integrated the Follow-Me 3D system as a foundational component of the tour, with Tom Rawlinson serving as Crew Chief and Follow-Me technician.Other lighting crew members on the tour include Gareth Lonsdale, Louis Thornton, and John Richardson.

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