Light fantastic – we reveal why one of the Solent forts was all aglow
Music set to be streamed on YouTube
ELECTRONIC act Pendulum recorded a secret DJ set on Spitbank Fort complete with huge laser show.
Details of the recording — set to feature exclusive new music — were revealed today as the hour-long set is set to be streamed on YouTube at midday.
It comes after the the band dropped its first tracks in 10 years – Nothing for Free and Driver last week.
The News revealed plans for a huge laser show in the Solent on September 14 but up until now only rumours swirled around Pendulum's involvement.
Details had emerged in an innocuous Queen’s Harbour Master notice to mariners warning of a ‘ pyrotechnics and laser display’ between 9.15pm and 10.15pm.
But today it can be revealed frontman Rob Swire was on vocals and DJing with founder member Gareth McGrillen, alongside guitarist Peredur Ap Gwynedd.
Spitbank Fort, a former naval defence turned luxury hotel — and one of three forts currently up for sale in the Solent — was kitted out with ‘world-class festival production’ for the performance.
A spokeswoman for Pendulum said there was a ‘full spectacular light show alongside a huge SFX set up including lasers, pyro and flames’.
She said the set was captured by director John Paveley by drone and handheld cameras, with others around the fort.
Pendulum DJ Paul ‘El Hornet’ Harding was stranded in Australia and live drummer Kevin ‘KJ’ Sawka was stuck in America due to Covid-19.
Last week The News tracked down a boat loaded with speakers at Gosport Marina and due to head to Spitbank Fort but all involved remained tight-lipped over its purpose.
Speakers, lights and amplifiers from five or six vans were loaded onto the fort’s boat as it went back and forth all day ahead of the recording last Monday.
Spitbank Fort and No Man’s Land Fort were both this year listed for sale at the price of £4m each.
They are both luxury hotels while Horse Sands Fort is now a museum.