The String Cheese Incident (SCI), a renowned jam band formed in Colorado in 1993, celebrated their 30th anniversary with an extraordinary series of New Year's Eve concerts that pushed the boundaries of live music lighting technology.

The band's 2024 performances featured a groundbreaking lighting design by veteran designers Michael Smalley and Chris Ruppel, who meticulously crafted a visual experience using cutting-edge Martin MAC lighting fixtures from Christie Lites.

What made these concerts truly unique was the innovative approach to stage lighting. The design team deployed 26 ultra performance fixtures, including six wash and 24 era fixtures, strategically chosen for their versatility and ability to create dynamic, textured visual experiences.

Key highlights of the lighting design included:

• Maximum flexibility in fixture selection
• Ability to create layered, organic lighting effects
• Pixel-level control for intricate visual presentations

The lighting design went beyond traditional concert illumination, focusing on creating depth, atmosphere, and visual storytelling. By utilizing innovative fixtures like the MAC series, the team could generate nuanced lighting that complemented the band's eclectic musical style—which seamlessly blends genres including bluegrass, rock, electronica, and psychedelia.

Smalley noted that their approach was about creating an immersive experience, saying the lighting needed to be versatile enough to support multiple sets and provide unexpected, dynamic visual elements.

The technological integration, including an intuitive computer-based system and MVR implementation, allowed for rapid setup and programming, demonstrating how advanced lighting technology can enhance live musical performances.