Lighting up London on New Year's Eve

Without question, this is the biggest UK fireworks gig of the year. The Lord Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve (NYE) Firework Display is one of the most iconic events in the global calendar, watched by millions of people. As part of this spectacular show, lighting design plays a pivotal role in shaping the visual experience, enhancing the fireworks, and bringing the entire event to life.

The lighting for this event requires cutting-edge technology, flawless execution, and a robust wireless infrastructure to ensure the systems work seamlessly. AC-ET was proud to be involved in providing the essential wireless components for the lighting infrastructure, working with some of the industry’s top professionals.

The scale and complexity of the event

This high-profile spectacle demanded the highest level of precision and reliability. Failure wasn’t an option. At the heart of the lighting design was Tim Routledge, a BAFTA award-winning and Emmy-nominated lighting designer known for his exceptional work on large-scale events. Tim’s design for the NYE spectacular involved intricate lighting setups across key locations, including Queen’s Walk, the Waterloo Ferry Pier, and the iconic London Eye. His ambitious scheme required not only the right lighting fixtures, but also a cutting-edge wireless system capable of operating across vast distances and under challenging conditions.

Overcoming the wireless challenge

However, the design of the lighting system posed several unique challenges, especially in terms of connectivity. The London Eye, with its 32 individual capsules, was the centrepiece of the display. Tim specified Ayrton Mamba and Chauvet Strike-M lighting fixtures inside each capsule. However, there was one major obstacle: no data cables could be run between the capsules, which meant a versatile wireless solution was required.

With the control system stationed on Waterloo Pier - approximately 175 metres from the top of the London Eye - the team faced several technical challenges. Most notably, the wireless signal would need to pass through a volatile environment filled with smoke and debris from the fireworks. This made the requirement for a robust, reliable wireless solution even more critical.

The solution: LumenRadio Stardust and Aurora

North West-based Lights Control Rigging (LCR) - specialists in concert touring and live events - was tasked with providing the lighting system for the event. To meet the wireless demands of the project, LCR turned to LumenRadio’s Stardust and Aurora products - two industry-standard wireless DMX systems known for their reliability and flexibility. These products have been extensively used in large-scale productions and were ideal for this application.

Precision deployment and flexibility in antenna management

Given the height and movement of the London Eye, the antennas' positioning and real-time adjustments were vital for maintaining signal strength. Stardust's web-based user interface was essential for managing this. As the Thames is a tidal river, the antennas would rise and fall with the tide, impacting the wireless signal strength. So the flexibility of the Stardust system, with its real-time signal updates, allowed the team to continually optimise antenna orientation, ensuring excellent signal strength over the 175-metre distance, even as the tide shifted.

During the setup, the team was also mindful of the system's fail-safes. Using the Linking Key system, if the primary Stardust transmitter encountered an issue, the Auroras could automatically switch to the backup transmitter. This back up feature provided crucial peace of mind, ensuring uninterrupted performance even in the event of equipment failure. A successful test of the Linking Key during the rehearsal confirmed the system’s ability to seamlessly switch between transmitters, solidifying the setup’s reliability.

The results: A masterpiece of lighting and pyrotechnic virtuosity

On the big night everything went off without a hitch. The wireless system worked flawlessly, transmitting data to the lighting fixtures inside the London Eye despite the challenging conditions. Cobain emphasised the importance of these systems:

"The value of the LumenRadio Stardust and Aurora setup cannot be overstated. The performance of the system was absolutely critical to the success of the show. We had no issues, and the system worked as intended, delivering the spectacular lighting display without any dramas."

A technical collaboration that more than rose to the occasion

The success of the event was the result of a collaborative effort from top-tier lighting professionals, skilled technicians, and reliable technology providers like AC-ET. The wireless system - designed, tested, and executed to perfection - helped deliver a stunning visual experience that complemented the breathtaking fireworks display.

If you’re planning a major indoor or outdoor event where lighting is a significant part of the design, talk through your project spec with our lighting experts.

Call us on 01494 446000 or 0113 255 7666.

You’ll also find more information about our lighting team here.