LIAM GALLAGHER: DOWN BY THE RIVER THAMES One of the most recognisable figures of British music dives headfirst into the world of livestreaming with a unique performance on a barge on London’s River Thames, 43 years after Sex Pistols’ famed silver jubilee boat trip. TPi’s Jacob Waite reports…
Creativity thrives under constraint and a 21st Century pandemic is no exception. While in-person audiences in the UK are currently on hiatus, the industry has turned its attention to crafting livestream performances for musos in lockdown. Although the consensus is that virtual experiences are not a long-term replacement for the energy and excitement of live shows, the possibilities to create interactive experiences are endless. With no audience to contend with, the goalposts of a live gig are constantly shifting – filming locations are now more diverse than ever before. Over the past six months, TPi has spoken to the teams involved in broadcast performances from caves, forts in the middle of the sea and tour bus workshops. The latest artist to toss his navy woollen hat into the ring is rock ’n’ roll star, Liam Gallagher – performing on a barge sailing down London’s River Thames. Tour Manager, Ben Pomphrett served as Event Producer and Production Manager, Davey Murphy handled project management, supervising the budget, logistics, crew welfare and health and safety of a live performance on a barge. Their trusted choice of vendors comprised Neg Earth, Transition Video, Forest of Black, MelodyVR, Red TX, EPS Events, Skan PA, All Access Staging UK, Rock-it Cargo, Fly By Nite, John Henry’s, Pearce Hire, Port
Of London Authority, Livett’s Of London, Helicopter Film Services and Headline Security. Lighting and production design was devised by Dan Hill and Chris ‘Squib’ Swain of Cassius Creative. The duo worked closely with the artist, management and the on-site production crew to devise the visual aspects of the show on board the barge. “The idea of a performance on a moving barge came from Liam,” the duo began. “He was keen to keep this looking very raw and focus on exactly what it was – an almost impromptu, guerrilla-style performance that wasn’t about usual show technology or making this feel overtly design led with overbearing lighting or video effects.” A far cry from Sex Pistols’ silver jubilee boat trip in 1977 and the beer-proof consoles of his last arena tour, Down By The River Thames was presented with Hollywood-style aerial shots. “A lot of the initial references and discussions came from old punk performances, Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Beatles’ iconic Savile Row rooftop performance,” they explained. “We wanted to retain the authenticity and rawness of those shows and their focus on the music, performance and natural look of the location. It was a really refreshing change in direction from the technology led 26