Elevating the Atmosphere at Digi Culture and Music 2025

Digi Culture and Music Festival isn’t your standard music event. It’s a curated fusion of sound, technology, art, and identity, celebrating creative experimentation across every medium. Set against the open grounds of Thoroughbred Park in Canberra, the 2025 edition saw artists, visual designers, and electronic music fans converge in a showcase of movement and imagination.

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Sidestage was proud to combine lighting, LED screens, and staging across multiple areas with a cohesive, flexible production design. The brief? Make it big, immersive, and artistically responsive - without compromising on functionality.

The centrepiece of the main stage was our innovative three-sided LED 'cube' - a commanding digital canvas that gave each artist’s set a distinct visual identity. Processed by Novastar VX1000's and pixel-mapped in Resolume, the cube was an immersive dynamic surface from multiple angles. 

Lighting design by the brilliant Andre Vanderwert merged classic dancefloor fixtures - Ayrton Ghibli, MAC Quantum Wash, and Chauvet Colour Strike M's - with piercing beams (Martin MH7) and wide washes (Fusion Wash QXLVIII) flown directly above the crowd. Operated via our GrandMA3 Light console, the system gave Andre full creative control for reactive, real-time transitions throughout each performance.

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Atmospheric layers were a must for a techno-heavy lineup. We delivered this through a mix of Look Solutions Unique 2.1 and Antari F7 hazers, alongside low-lying fog, creating a rich visual depth that let both performers and lighting truly shine.

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A 7.2m x 7.2m modular main stage formed the backbone of the platform, complemented by a custom riser that allowed patrons to dance behind the DJ—blurring the line between artist and audience. Crowd barriers and backstage service routes were integrated for safety and seamless changeovers, without compromising the aesthetic.

Rigging was managed through a flown F44/F45 box truss system, flown by EXE D8+ motors. Floor-to-ceiling drapes on the rear and eastern walls gave the space a polished, club-style finish while enhancing projection and lighting.

At the Open Air Stage, a pixel-mapped 8m Fusion BAR LED strip ran behind the DJ booth—giving operators the flexibility to match lighting with set dynamics in real time. The stage was anchored by architectural lighting and bold aerial sweeps from the ever-reliable Ayrton Ghibli.

The Traxxside Stage offered a smaller, more intimate AV setup featuring compact but punchy FusionBAR and FusionPAR fixtures perfect for those after a breather from the larger stages, without sacrificing atmosphere.

Around the site, festoon lighting and LED Duet Blinders were used to create a warm and inviting vibe across high-traffic zones, including entry paths, amenities, and activation areas.

To transform the venue after dark, two truss-mounted Epson projectors displayed a mapped digital mural across the venue’s entrance. This feature added a cinematic layer to the festival experience and set the tone for what lay beyond the gates.

Sidestage delivered power via LSC APS power distribution racks. Signal flow was handled via truss-mounted and trench-cabled runs—ensuring clean presentation and maximum safety.

A ten-person crew delivered over 160 hours of pre-production and on-site support, covering lighting, systems, and backline tech. All logistics—from freight to final load-out—were coordinated in-house by the Sidestage team.

Massive shoutout to Chris and the stellar crew from Purple Audio, whose Funktion-One systems gave the music the punch it deserved at every stage.

Digi 2025 was a festival built on collaboration—where artists, technicians, and designers all worked in sync to create something greater than the sum of its parts. For Sidestage, the goal wasn’t just to provide gear, but to help build an environment where bold digital storytelling could thrive.

For a festival driven by culture, identity, and innovation, it was an honour to help bring the vision to life from behind the scenes.