Having given a farewell performance at the Amsterdam Escape in 1988, Dutch girl band the Dolly Dots are reprising their retirement with Sisters on Tour, a series of dates that see the Dollies performing songs and relating stories of their 1980s success – or ‘crazy circus’ as they call it – backed by a five-piece band led by musical director and keyboard player Sven Figee. A Yamaha Rivage PM5 digital mixing system is helping them to roll back the years.
Dolly Dots enjoyed a number of European dance/pop hits throughout the 1980s, a television series and a starring role in feature film Dutch Treat. Having gone their separate ways in 1988, the band members performed occasional reunion shows until the death of founder member Ria Brieffies in 2009. Now the remaining five – Angela Groothuizen, Angéla Kramers, Anita Heilker, Esther Oosterbeek and Patty Zomer (all now in their 60s) have reunited for one – last – tour.
Playing their best known songs, remembering Ria and relating stories of their 1980s success. Marc Hofstede of promoter Ambassadors of Entertainment asked CJ Otten of production company Max Power Rent to assemble a two-trailer production carrying sound, lighting, video and set, along with a nine-member touring crew.
Otten runs Max Power Rent with his son Max. Impressed by demonstrations of the Rivage PM5, the company had purchased two of the digital mixing systems in time for the originally planned 2020 Sisters on Tour dates. With those shows postponed because the Covid-19 pandemic, Max is now using one of them for the front-of-house mix.
‘We wanted a digital mixing system with 32-fader surfaces and three touchscreens that would be easily transported and consistently reliable throughout a tour,’ Otten says. ‘Rivage PM5 has a lot of advantages. Because the DSP engine stays on the stage, the control surface only weighs 42kg and it’s very compact, taking up little space in the hall and reducing seat kill. The large faders work great, it sounds great and it’s very straightforward to use.
‘I also like the way that larger configurations are possible by using an extra control surface with the same DSP. This is very useful for working quickly when several people are programming at the start of a new production.’
With age seemingly having little effect on the remaining Dolly Dots, their shows are being received enthusiastically by audiences who are happily reliving the band’s – and their own – youth, aided by Max’s mixes.
The fianl Dolly Dots show will take place in December 2022 at the Ziggo Dome, accompanied by The European Pop Orchestra, conducted by Guido Dieteren.
More: www.yamahaproaudio.com
