Crystal Sound lights up the Main and Lake Stages with JDC Burst 1, Matrix Eye and impression X5
For decades, DAS FEST in Karlsruhe has ranked among southern Germany’s largest open-air events, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each July to the city. The 2025 edition took place from 24–27 July and, despite variable weather, attracted more than 243,000 festival-goers. Including the pre-event “Das Fest am See,” the total attendance climbed beyond 268,000. The line-up featured national and international acts such as 01099, Amy Macdonald, Clueso, Faithless, Grossstadtgeflüster, Max Giesinger & friends, and Zoe Wees, all of whom kept the crowds in high spirits.
Long-standing partnership with DAS FEST
Crystal Sound has been involved with DAS FEST since its earliest days. “We’ve been looking after DAS FEST virtually since the beginning,” recalls Jonas Goldschmidt, event technology specialist at Crystal Sound. “Today, we are responsible for audio, lighting, rigging and backline on the main stage. We also handle the DJ stage and continue to support the ‘Fest am See’, which takes place a week earlier, showcases regional bands and preserves the festival’s original spirit.”
GLP innovations JDC Burst 1 and Matrix Eye for the Main and Lake Stages
This year, Crystal Sound deployed GLP 32 JDC Burst 1, 32 Matrix Eye 4 and impression X5 units on the main stage, with a further twelve Matrix Eye 2 fixtures on the Lake Stage. For Goldschmidt, investing in the JDC Burst 1 and the new Matrix Eye LED blinder range was an obvious move:
“One key factor for us is the IP rating. We service many open-air festivals throughout the year, where rain is always a possibility. With those GLP fixtures we don’t have to worry about water damage,” he explains. “Equally important was the ratio of output to weight and power consumption – and in this regard, the new Matrix Eye series really won us over.”
In day-to-day use at DAS FEST, the fixtures proved just as impressive. “We often used our JDC Burst 1 units as strobes, but thanks to their RGBW plates, they also deliver a powerful eye-candy effect,” Goldschmidt continues. “They framed the LED wall perfectly and gave the stage a clean visual contour. The same applied to the Matrix Eye LED blinders, which allowed us to channel emotion and colour directly into the audience.”
The impression X5 also turned out to be a versatile tool: “It works brilliantly as side lighting, cutting through with its strong, colour-accurate LEDs. With its wide zoom range, it’s simply a wash light that every operator enjoys using.”
Goldschmidt adds that all GLP fixtures are highly versatile yet straightforward to operate, with a clearly structured menu system that simplifies everyday handling. He also praises the communication with GLP as professional, uncomplicated and always on an equal footing. The iQ.Mesh system, he notes, has been a particular asset, enabling maintenance even in hard-to-reach positions: “That’s a real advantage during live operations.”
With decades of festival experience, a well-rehearsed crew and modern GLP lighting technology, Crystal Sound delivered striking visual moments across the stages of DAS FEST 2025 – ensuring that Karlsruhe’s intergenerational festival once again became a memorable experience for its audiences.
