When lighting designer Vince Foster heads out on tour, there’s one constant at FOH: a Hog console. For Jamiroquai’s latest tour, Foster is running the show on ETC’s newly released Tour Hog, part of the next-generation Hog family. With more than 30 years of experience on Hog platforms, Foster continues to rely on the console’s intuitive workflow, adaptability, and rock-solid reliability to deliver dynamic performances night after night.
A Natural Evolution
Having first adopted Hog in the early 1990s, Foster witnessed firsthand how the original Wholehog reshaped moving light programming.
“Before Hog, we were using generic desks that weren’t built for moving lights – it was difficult and impractical,” Foster recalls. “The Wholehog revolutionized programming, particularly with the additions of encoders, palettes, push buttons, and a user-friendly interface. It made life a lot easier.”
That early innovation laid the groundwork for what Hog has become today - and for Foster, the transition to the new Tour Hog feels like a natural evolution.
Built for the Modern Tour
Jamiroquai’s current tour is powered by the Tour Hog’s modern hardware and expanded capabilities. With 64 universes built in - along with its next-generation siblings, the Stage Hog and Flex Hog - the console is fully equipped to handle medium to large-scale productions without additional processing hardware.
For Foster, the hardware refinements stand out immediately. “I love the movable screen, the backlit and user-defined buttons, and the color-coded faders,” he explains. “The extra screen real estate and software improvements make it even more powerful.”
Durability and ergonomic flexibility are critical on the road, and the Tour Hog’s design reflects the realities of touring life - built tough, yet adaptable to individual programmer preferences.
Ready for the Unexpected
If there’s one thing that defines a Jamiroquai show, it’s spontaneity. Set lists often arrive just minutes before showtime, and the band frequently improvises mid-song. There’s no time code driving the show - everything happens live.
“This show has no time code, and Jamiroquai often loops or improvises mid-song,” Foster says. “Hog’s contents window allows me to jump between cues in a non-linear fashion, so I can adapt instantly to whatever the band is doing. It’s perfect for spontaneous programming.”
The console’s intuitive patching system, comprehensive fixture library, and auto-menus also allow Foster to move quickly- whether swapping fixtures, adapting to festival rigs, or building looks under tight time constraints.
Three Decades of Trust
After more than 30 years behind a Hog console, Foster describes his connection to the platform simply: “It’s like a comfortable pair of slippers - I can almost program it with my eyes closed.”
While every production brings its own challenges, Hog remains a constant in Foster’s workflow. “Challenging sometimes, but on the whole I have a great experience running and using this desk - otherwise I wouldn’t have been using it for the last 30+ years. I’ve never used any other moving light desk. I like the desk, I like the interface, and it’s only gotten better.”
Designed for Creative Freedom
ETC Associate Regional Manager Matt Cowles sees Foster’s work as a perfect example of what Hog is built to do:
"We’re really pleased to see Vince Foster continue to trust Hog consoles for a tour as dynamic as Jamiroquai’s. Hog was built to give designers the freedom to adapt in real time, and Vince’s work is a perfect example of that vision in action. His creativity and the console’s flexibility come together to deliver great shows.”
Three decades on, Hog still gives Vince Foster the flexibility for spontaneous shows - helping ensure every performance is a success, no matter the stage or the scale.
Photography: Sarah Clausen.