Coldplay is one of the most popular and influential bands of the past 20 years. Formed in London in 1996, the band has gone on to release 9 studio albums, sell over 100 million records worldwide, and win numerous awards, including 7 Grammys. The band is known for their unique sound that blends alternative rock, pop, and electronic music, as well as their powerful live performances. One of Coldplay’s most iconic live experiences is their “Kubik” show.
What is the Kubik experience?
The Kubik experience refers to a special 360-degree stage setup that Coldplay has used for some of their concerts and tours over the years. The stage is made up of multiple triangular screens arranged in a cube-like shape, fully surrounding the band and audience. This allows for immersive visuals to be displayed on the screens and creates a feeling of being inside the visuals. Some key features of the Kubik stage:
- Triangular screens create a cube shape around the stage
- Immersive 360 visuals displayed on all sides
- In-the-round seating with audience wrapped around stage
- High-tech lighting rig suspended above stage
- Elevated catwalks connect the main stage to B-stages
The Kubik design provides a unique concert experience where the visuals envelope the audience and band. Coldplay first used this stage setup during their Viva La Vida Tour in 2008-2009. They brought back an upgraded Kubik setup for their A Head Full of Dreams Tour in 2016-2017. Most recently, they performed using Kubik on their Music of the Spheres World Tour in 2022.
What was Coldplay’s inspiration for the Kubik design?
According to Coldplay’s production designer Misty Buckley, the inspiration for the original Kubik design came from various sources:
- The art of MC Escher – specifically his impossible shapes and optical illusions
- 360-degree paintings by artist Jeffrey Shaw
- The book Flatland which explores living in a 2D world
- Cubist art and shapes
- Ray and Charles Eames’ multi-screen presentations
Buckley and the band were interested in creating a multidimensional experience that played with depth, perspective, and symmetry. The triangular screens concept came out of this idea and the desire to fully surround the audience with visuals. For Coldplay, the Kubik setup helps transport fans into the universe of the band’s music during their live shows.
How was the Kubik stage constructed and operated?
The Kubik stage setup consists of multiple highly advanced triangular video screens and requires complex engineering to construct and run during shows. Here are some key facts about the Kubik construction and operation:
- For A Head Full of Dreams tour, there were 56 triangular screens in total, each over 16 feet tall and weighing 2000 pounds.
- The screens were suspended from trusses in a cube formation around the main stage and catwalks.
- A hi-tech automated rigging system could raise and lower Kubik during set up and shows.
- The screens were made semi-transparent to allow for rear projection of visuals.
- A LED lighting system was integrated into the screens for dynamic screen lighting effects.
- The video content was controlled by an advanced media server system synced with the band’s audio.
- A team of engineers, projectionists and technicians operated Kubik from control rooms at each show.
The complexity of the Kubik system allows Coldplay to create immersive, dynamic, and synchronized video content to complement their performance. The unique staging continues to be one of the highlights of their live show production.
Notable Kubik Moments from Coldplay Tours
Coldplay has managed to create magical concert moments with the help of their high-tech Kubik stage over the years. Here are some of the most memorable performances and stage effects from Kubik tours:
Viva La Vida Tour (2008-2009)
- “Life in Technicolor” opening with hypnotic kaleidoscopic patterns.
- Blue butterflies emerging during “Viva la Vida.”
- Psychedelic rainbow visuals for “Glass of Water.”
- Lightning storms during “Strawberry Swing.”
A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016-2017)
- Karma butterfly animation for “Adventure of a Lifetime.”
- Galactic space scenes during “A Sky Full of Stars.”
- Bright, colorful patterns matching “Hymn for the Weekend.”
- Intimate acoustic performances on B-stages.
Music of the Spheres Tour (2022)
- Alien planet vistas during opening of “Higher Power.”
- Futuristic cityscapes for “Humankind.”
- Joyful animations during “My Universe.”
- Celestial visuals matching space theme.
What was the fan reaction to the Kubik shows?
Fans and critics have raved about Coldplay’s Kubik concert experiences over the years. Here are some common reactions that highlight the immersive nature and wow-factor of the shows:
- “It was like being inside the music!”
- “Coolest stage I’ve ever seen, felt like a full 360 experience.”
- “Amazing visuals all around you, you didn’t know where to look.”
- “The most immersive concert ever, it totally drew you into Coldplay’s universe.”
- “Impressive how the visuals and music came together perfectly.”
- “I felt like I was inside a Coldplay music video!”
Many fans have described Kubik shows as mesmerizing, surreal, and unforgettable. The unique perspective of being surrounded by the spectacular stage visuals creates an extra layer of immersion for the audience. For many, Kubik shows represent the ultimate Coldplay live experience.
The Evolution of Kubik Over the Years
Coldplay has constantly upgraded and innovated the Kubik stage design over the years to create new immersive concert experiences.
Tour | Key Kubik Features & Upgrades |
---|---|
Viva La Vida (2008-2009) |
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A Head Full of Dreams (2016-2017) |
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Music of the Spheres (2022) |
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It’s clear that with each new tour, Coldplay has managed to enhance the audiovisual capabilities of Kubik to offer fans a bigger and better immersive experience. They’ve expanded the scale and resolution of the system while incorporating new techniques like integrated screen lighting and wide-format projection. Fans are eagerly awaiting what innovations Coldplay will bring to the table next time they unveil Kubik.
Behind the Scenes: Kubik Production and Set Design
It takes immense coordination, technical mastery, and creativity to design and execute the Kubik live production for Coldplay’s massive tours. Here’s a glimpse behind the scenes:
The Production Team
Dozens of specialists work together to handle the various aspects of Kubik:
- Engineers handle technical design, construction, and operation.
- Projectionists run all video content and visual effects.
- Lighting designers integrate screen lighting looks.
- Creative directors craft the overall visual narrative.
- Set builders manufacture physical stage elements.
- Crew chiefs oversee screen rigging and automation.
It’s a major coordinated effort to synthesize all the moving parts into a cohesive live show.
Content Creation and Programming
All the animated visuals for Kubik are custom designed and programmed for each tour using:
- Cinema 4D for 3D animations and models.
- Adobe Creative Suite for 2D content.
- TouchDesigner for generative, interactive graphics.
- Disguise media servers to control on-site mixing and mapping.
Months of advance programming goes into crafting the perfect visuals to match the setlist. The team has to create content optimized for the triangular screens and high-res projections.
Stage and Construction Logistics
Building the Kubik structure requires extensive logistical planning:
- Kubik video screens break down into 700 individual parts.
- It takes 85 trucks to transport the full stage and production.
- Assembly takes 6-8 days at each tour stop.
- The structure requires 26 motors, 5 kilometers of cable, and 10 computers.
Meticulous coordination goes into the transportation, assembly, and testing of Kubik at each stadium along the tour route.
The Legacy and Impact of the Kubik Shows
Coldplay’s Kubik concerts represent a pioneering achievement in immersive live entertainment. Kubik has had a lasting impact on both Coldplay’s productions and the music industry as a whole.
For Coldplay’s Concert Experiences
Kubik has:
- Become a signature and expectations of their tours for fans.
- Allowed more conceptual, thematic shows tying into albums.
- Provided a flexible system to change setlists and arrangements.
- Enabled intimate acoustic performances on B-stages.
The band has been able to create new concert experiences tailored uniquely to each album era thanks to the creative possibilities of Kubik.
For the Concert Industry
Kubik has:
- Pioneered the scale of immersive video technology in concerts.
- Inspired broader 360-degree staging use across live music.
- Showcased the potential for multimedia narratives in shows.
- Acted as a model for integrated screen lighting and content.
From Beyonce to Justin Bieber, Kubik has influenced other artists to embrace surround video and create more involved concert theatricality.
Looking forward, innovations like VR, AR, and the metaverse could be integrated with future iterations of Kubik by Coldplay and the industry. The visual possibilities opened up by Kubik continue to be expanded.
Conclusion
Coldplay’s revolutionary Kubik stage design has redefined the possibilities of immersive concert experiences. Over nearly 15 years of touring, Kubik has allowed Coldplay to transport fans into the conceptual worlds of their music through groundbreaking 360-degree visuals choreographed to the performances. Driven by big creative vision and cutting-edge technology, Kubik has become synonymous with Coldplay’s live shows. The band continues to surprise fans by evolving the system with each tour production. With Coldplay not resting on their laurels, the future looks bright for more boundary-pushing innovation in the live concert sphere pioneered by Kubik.