News / Lighting man Liam taken on tour by Scouting For Girls
A JUNIOR lighting technician who works at Mareel has been taken on tour by chart-topping indie band Scouting on Girls after impressing them at their recent Lerwick show.
Nineteen year old Liam Brannan was shocked to be invited to work on the group’s one-month UK and Ireland tour after presiding over the lighting desk at their Mareel gig last month.
Scouting For Girls frontman Roy Stride told Shetland News that they approached Liam at short notice after their usual lighting technician was unable to make their mainland dates.
Liam has now joined Scouting For Girls’ 26-show tour and his first show will be at Glasgow’s 1,300 capacity ABC venue tonight (3 November).
He will be in sole charge of the light show on stage on every date of a tour which will also include two gigs at London’s famed Palladium.
Liam, who started off as a volunteer with Shetland Arts when he was at school before moving up the ranks, said it was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
“It’s going to be tough but I think will come out the other end with a lot of experience,” Liam said. “I’m very nervous and a little excited!”
Stride said the band only learned after their Shetland gig on 26 October that they needed an emergency lighting technician for their impending tour.
“Liam did the Shetland gig and our front of house guy, who does the sound, came up afterwards and he was just like ‘Liam’s lights were amazing tonight’,” Stride said.
“He’s been on the road for like 25 years and is rarely impressed by anything.”
The singer and musician added that Liam showcased a natural talent for live lighting that takes him to the next level.
“Lighting is like a talent. The best lighting guys have got rhythm and are musical – that’s what make lights work really well.
“Anyone can learn to push buttons, but what Liam’s got is the thing which really differentiates between a great lighted gig and an average one.”
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