The very first Oppikoppi was held in 1994 and has become a tradition ever since. Thousands camp out in the bush and enjoy an enormous line-up which now features well over 120 different bands, DJs and artists. International acts included Bullet for my Valentine, Enter Shikari and Babylon Circus.
Theo Papenfus and his crew from Stage Effects are no strangers to the dust and tough terrain at Oppikoppi, but each year as clock-work, they have been there to create new stage plans and fresh sequences while fitting into a tight budget.
On the main stage, also called Wesley's Entertainment Emporium, Theo specked 19 MAC 600 Washes, 12 Robin 600 Beams, eight MAC 2000, eight Atomics, three 8-cell Molefays and 24 Par64. "The kit all behaved," commented Papenfus. "The 600 Beams overpower and were used constantly."
On the James Phillips stage were 12 Robe REDWash 3-192 LEDs, six Robin 300E Spot and six Robe 700E AT Spots, all controlled on an Avolites 2004 Pearl. Also included was the LSC Optical Splitter.
For the ninth year, Stage Effects asked Ni-Lou Breytenbach from Lightship Productions to work alongside them. Ni-Lou lit most the bands on the main stage besides the international acts who had their own LDs. He also ensured seamless transition between consoles.
(Jim Evans)
