Council & Public Events · Sunshine Coast

Working With Sunshine Coast Council

The Noosa Sound & Style Festival is Sunshine Coast Council's premier summer music event, with three stages and two days of continuous programming. The previous year's lighting was a hodgepodge: each stage had its own contractor, colour temperatures were inconsistent, and the overall visual language felt disjointed. We came in with a unified strategy: one rig design, three stages, consistent colour palette, and a single operator (wirelessly) managing all fixtures from a central console positioned to see all stages simultaneously. The main stage got full moving-light coverage: ten intelligent fixtures on three separate layers (backlight, sidelight, key light) so we could sculpt light around each performer without creating harsh shadows or blinding the audience. The secondary stages got simplified rigs (six fixtures each) on the same colour palette so the festival felt visually cohesive across all three spaces. We also designed a dedicated VIP viewing area lighting—warm ambient uplighting on the perimeter, subtle accent lighting on the bar and lounge areas—so that private experience felt intentional and premium without overshadowing the main event. Crucially, we trained two local operators so they could support future festivals independently. That's the sustainable outcome: we didn't just light one festival; we created capability the council could rely on for years. The festival sold out early in 2026, and feedback consistently highlighted the "professional" and "well-lit" atmosphere. That matters because good stage lighting doesn't just look nice—it makes the entire experience feel more legitimate and intentional, which justifies premium ticket pricing and higher vendor sales.