LONDON - Soundstorm Festival has redefined the boundaries of live entertainment with the 2024 edition of The Big Beast stage. A monumental architectural and technological structure designed by US design studio Vita Motus; the stage featured the world’s largest outdoor LED screen and a gravity-defying floating stage. As the Middle East’s largest music festival, Soundstorm continues to attract global music icons, with this year’s lineup featuring Eminem, Muse, Camilla Cabello, and Linkin Park.

Founded by Heather Shaw, Vita Motus is a production design studio that focuses on creating unique concepts that blend artistic vision with advanced technology. Known for their inventive approach, the team has worked on notable projects such as the Quasar Stage at Coachella 2024 and the Electric Daisy Carnival’s Basspod Stage from 2016-2021, alongside numerous world tours. Their designs have also made an impact on television, with Shaw becoming the first female lead production designer for the MTV VMAs in 2022. 

Conceived by the concept of weightlessness, The Big Beast stage has been designed to appear as though it is floating effortlessly above the desert sands of Riyadh. At an awe-inspiring 160 meters wide and 34 meters high, the stage combines massive scale with paradoxical lightness, achieved through layered cubes cantilevered within a seamless LED wall - resulting in a surreal hovering effect that defies convention. Every element of the stage has been meticulously designed by Vita Motus to enhance its floating illusion. The perforated metal skin reduces visual weight, making the structure feel lighter and almost translucent at night. Advanced engineering, such as load distribution through internal trusses and invisible anchoring points, allows the massive structure to remain visually detached from its surroundings. 

The centerpiece of The Big Beast stage is its 5,000 sqm LED wall, with festival organizer MDLBEAST poised to shatter the curtain record of 4,159.7 sqm held by Adele In Munich. The seamless LED wall is supported by 1,055 sqm of custom perforated metal skin and 2,300 meters of DMX-controlled LED strips, delivering unparalleled visual effects. More than just a backdrop, the mammoth LED screen serves as a canvas that responds to the pulse of the visuals and music, creating a multidimensional experience. 

Vita Motus’ cubic architecture draws inspiration from the festival’s gamified theme, blending hyper-realistic landscapes with glitch effects that transition into pixelated 8-bit designs. This interplay between digital realism and retro nostalgia transforms the stage into a dynamic interactive experience that captivates audiences and amplifies the festival’s theme. 

Vita Motus founder Heather Shaw has made history as the first female production designer for Soundstorm, highlighting the festival’s commitment to female representation and fostering inclusivity. Her groundbreaking achievement sets a bold new standard for creativity and innovation in the region’s cultural scene.

The Big Beast Stage symbolises the innovation and visionary spirit of Saudi Arabia. More than just a performance space, it is a living spectacle, merging visuals, sound, and effects in perfect harmony. Towering above the desert, it challenges traditional stage architecture, cementing its place as a defining symbol of Soundstorm 2024 and a benchmark for the future of live entertainment.   

Organized by MDLBEAST, Soundstorm 2024 took place from December 12-14 in Riyadh, featuring the world’s biggest artists and cutting-edge stage design that pushes the boundaries of creativity.

For more information, vitamotus.com

Article Sourced from LDI/Live Design