A Red, White and True-Blue Celebration at the U.S. Embassy
- beau2985
- Aug 13
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 13
The U.S. Embassy in Canberra lit up this July for a spirited Independence Day celebration, held fashionably late and full of fun. Guests rolled in wearing cowboy hats, denim jackets, and stars-and-stripes flair - all ready to enjoy American BBQ, a blow-up “drive-in” screen, live music, and fireworks. It was Americana done playfully, and our team had a blast helping bring it to life.
From the moment guests arrived, lighting set the tone. And that's no surprise, given that we deployed a whopping 110 fixtures for the celebrations! Each entry was lit with fixtures galore, guiding guests toward the main celebration area. The historic CMR building became a glowing backdrop thanks to a 360-degree wash of FusionWash fixtures, while roaming skytrackers (Martin MH7), stage lighting (Strike M Strobes, FusionPAR's), and truss-mounted wash lights (Clay Paky K20's) brought energy and scale to the part in-tent, part open-air layout.
With the event spread across multiple zones (inside a marquee, out on the lawns, and within the CMR building) — we designed a layered PA system that kept the energy consistent no matter where you were. A combination of Adamson Spektrix Mains, QSC K10.2 delays, and Adamson PC 12's on S119 subs ensured clear audio for the band and speeches. Each zone received its own processing, including a separate mix for recording. Big thanks to Tyla Rodrigues and her band, who sounded phenomenal, and to Jack Hudson on FOH for his excellent mix and professionalism throughout.
To keep everyone connected to the action, we delivered full IMAG (live camera relay) to strategically placed screens around the complex, along with event recording. Our fantastic Blackmagic G2 Studio Cameras, controlled by our state of the art mobile video control, rig meant that those grabbing a hot dog outside the tent didn’t miss a moment on stage.
We were grateful to be afforded the opportunity to lean into the theme through lighting. The Americana car display was lit thoughtfully by our Astera Titan Tubes, Custom lighting scenes on the trees, rose garden, and fountain brought warmth and texture across the site. Even the giant John Deere tractor got a patriotic glow-up!
Teamwork behind the scenes helped make this one special. A big thanks to Michael, Kate and the embassy team for trusting us to bring the vision to life, as well as every guest who leaned into the spirit of the evening. We’re proud to have played a part in such a memorable night.
