NeonBlack’s CYFARTALWR/EQUALISER to illuminate Cardiff Music City Festival
Friday 27 September 2024
NeonBlack, part of the creative team behind The Sphere in Las Vegas are set to dazzle visitors and residents in the Welsh capital when they bring a groundbreaking public art and lighting installation to the city as part of the Cardiff Music City Festival.
The whole façade of the Hugh James & School of Journalism, Media and Culture building in Central Square will be transformed into a dynamic, music-responsive, visual spectacle which will run from the evening of September 27th to October 20th.
Promising to be a festival highlight – CYFARTALWR/EQUALISER – will use advanced LED control technology to create a real-time ‘graphic equaliser’ on the building’s facade.
This innovative project is designed to react to the sounds of the city and a specially-curated Welsh music playlist, put together by BBC 6Music DJ Huw Stephens.
“We are thrilled to host such an innovative and captivating installation as part of the Cardiff Music City Festival,” said Cardiff Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke. “CYFARTALWR/EQUALISER will not only showcase the incredible talent of the Welsh artists whose music will soundtrack the experience – it will light up Central Square, welcoming people to the festival and celebrating Cardiff’s remarkable creativity and vibrant cultural scene.”
NeonBlack, has a legacy of crafting emotive concert experiences globally. Founded by production designer Dom Smith from Brighton, CYFARTALWR/EQUALISER is the work of Wales-based lighting designers Paul Johnson and Jon Barker. Their work on the Sphere in Las Vegas, a marvel of modern engineering and design, has set new standards for immersive entertainment.
“CYFARTALWR/EQUALISER is a celebration of the vibrant interplay of life in cities,” said Jon Barker, Project Lead at NeonBlack. “Using advanced LED control technology, it transforms the building into a dynamic light canvas and produces a real-time, music-responsive light show that invites viewers to see urban structures as dynamic and interactive. It’s a visual and auditory experience that mirrors the city’s rhythm, blending the rigidity of buildings with the fluidity of music and light. We’re really excited to bring the project to Cardiff and to be part of the Cardiff Music City Festival.”
The Cardiff Music City Festival launches on Friday, September 27, and is a three-week celebration of music in Wales’ thriving capital city.
Supported by the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council, the festival aims to attract thousands of visitors with a diverse lineup of emerging and iconic artists, music industry talks, and mind-blowing installations. The festival transforms Cardiff into a city of music, with events taking place in established and unconventional venues across the city, celebrating artists who push the boundaries of music production and performance.
Targeted at city dwellers, music tourists, and art enthusiasts, CYFARTALWR/EQUALISER continues NeonBlack’s exploration of creative technology’s role in transforming public spaces.
Event Details:
- Location: Hugh James & School of Journalism, Media and Culture building, Central Square, Cardiff, Wales
- Dates: September 27th to October 20th, 2024
- Times: 6:30 PM to 11:59 PM daily