2degrees set to light up Auckland Harbour Bridge to music chosen by the public via Special Group
To celebrate Auckland’s 175th anniversary 2degrees is transforming one of Auckland’s most iconic landmarks into a giant interactive lightshow, moving to music tracks chosen by the public via Special Group.
For the first time in its 56 year history the Auckland Harbour Bridge will be lit up by over 2 kilometres of LED lights which are all hooked up to the power of Google Play Music. Just go to the website, playthebridge.co.nz and choose from over 30 million songs.
The dynamic light show is synched to the music, bringing the tracks to life in a spectacular way. The performances can be watched via live stream on any mobile or device, or can be watched in person at several great vantage spots around the harbour (with the music coming through your mobile device).
Says Trent Harnett, head of marketing communications, 2degrees: “This is a brilliant example of just what you can do with mobiles now – Kiwis from anywhere in the country, and the world for that matter, can play the Bridge and see it come to life on their mobile or device.”
Lighting up the country’s biggest bridge and syncing the light show to music has been an incredible technical feat. The light equipment, over 1,000 LED light tubes with almost 50,000 light bulbs, were shipped from Sydney. For a week, bridge lanes were officially closed in the early hours of the morning to allow Sydney based lighting company 32 Hundred Lighting, to climb the bridge and install the lights by hand.
Special Group has worked very closely with NZTA, ATEED, Google, Samsung and music labels Sony, Warner and Universal to make this happen.
Says Michael Redwood, managing partner, Special Group: “From the various council and transport agencies to the team who carried the 1,000 LED lights up the Bridge, it’s been a real team effort.”
Says Tony Bradbourne, creative partner, Special Group: “Our current campaign for 2degrees introduces leading new phone plans that reflect the different ways we are using our mobiles these days. That’s why the plans have the best data offering in the market. Play the Bridge just takes this to a whole new level.”
Says Rob Jack, creative partner, Special Group: “This has been a huge challenge for our digital team and production partner Gladeye. But exactly the type of collaboration we enjoy.”
The 2degrees Play the Bridge will light up Auckland City Harbour every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from 8pm until 11:30pm for a seven week period from 12 March until 25 April.
4 Comments
Very disappointed. – just went to Birkenhead to see the lights and they were off
Were you disappointed by the lights being off, or by Birkenhead?
@Wendy, not good happens on the Shore.
Try driving over to the city. It may take three hours in the traffic but the view from Wynard Quarter was epic.
I think they couldn’t afford to light up both sides of the bridge.
The lights were cool. They didn’t feel matched up to the music though.