News Archive for August 2016
Scorpions Rock with Robe
31/08/2016 - Production News
Europe – German rock legends The Scorpions celebrate 50 glorious years of being ultimate heroes of heavy metal. 2015 actually marked the anniversary of their formation, but insatiable public demand and a band that clearly love the buzz and drama of hard rocking live performance they have simply not stopped touring!
Ashly Gear Provides Affordable, Powerful and Simple Sound Reinforcement for Historic Event Space
31/08/2016 - Project News
USA – Far from being just another event space, Community Courtyard has a history and aesthetic reaching back to 1850. It was then that a carriage works and livery stable laid its foundation in Plattsburg, Missouri. In the century that followed, the lovely brick building became a roller skate factory, a car dealership, and a cabinetry shop, but in the 1980s it fell into disrepair. Inspired by its beauty and cultural significance, a local non-profit raised the funds necessary to turn it into a community event space. After two years of extensive renovations, Community Courtyard opened in the late 1990s. Until this year however, users had to bring their own sound reinforcement systems to their events. Kansas City A/V integration firm Advanced Sound & Communication changed that with a system centred on an Ashly Audio Pema 4250.70 combo Protea matrix digital processor and four-channel amplifier.
Metric Halo Gear for Down Under Future-Soul Act Hiatus Kaiyote
31/08/2016 - Production News
Australia – In the remarkably short time that it has been a band, Hiatus Kaiyote has managed to create and record two critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful albums, each of which earned a Grammy nomination in the category “Best R&B Performance.” The band formed in 2011 in Melbourne, Australia and has ever since been producing path-breaking soul music infused with the ethos and attitude of indie rock. For their latest album, Choose Your Weapon, the members of Hiatus Kaiyote relied heavily on their home studio and the Metric Halo 2882 mic-preamp/converter/interface that connected their heartfelt performances to the world of ones and zeros with warmth and personality worthy of such an intuitive band.
A Magical Weekend with Ayrton
31/08/2016 - Production News
Europe – Working with the Ayrton MagicDot-R luminaires proved to be a rewarding and pleasurable ‘Weekend’ experience for Litecom’s designer, Mikkel Samuelsen, at the recent Weekend (WKND) Festival.
Chauvet Professional Makes Friends at Frendly Gathering Festival
31/08/2016 - Production News
USA – The Frendly Gathering is to music festivals what the nearby Ben & Jerry’s company is to ice cream makers: iconoclastic, slightly eccentric, wildly creative and flower child sweet. How else to describe a music festival started by two champion snowboarders to commemorate “Frends Crew,” a group formed to take the ego out of the sport? (Hence the removal of the “I” from the word friends.)
Taking It To The Bank
31/08/2016 - Production News
USA – The “Kill The Lights” tour has been killing it on the road. Headliner Luke Bryan and tour mates Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch have been on the road since February with the second year of the tour, which began in 2015, with well over 120,000 tickets sold this year alone. The tour’s success and Bryan’s status as “Entertainer of the Year” award winner from both the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and the Country Music Association (CMA) made it the perfect concert choice to inaugurate the new US Bank Stadium, the NFL’s newest venue and home to the Minnesota Vikings.
L-Acoustics enjoys a birds eye view of the UK
31/08/2016 - Production News
UK - In 2011, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds released their debut album and embarked on an understated tour of theatre-size venues. Since then the band hasn’t stopped and 2016 has seen it embark on a world tour, with an L-Acoustics audio system provided by Britannia Row Productions.
LumenRadio’s technology offers wireless reliability in Hollywood
31/08/2016 - Business News
USA – Hollywood-based Innovative Dimmers provides equipment which is expertly tailored for the unique requirements of entertainment lighting professionals. Their partnership with LumenRadio makes Innovative Dimmers products more versatile than ever and their wireless options gives gaffers and lighting artists rigging solutions they have never even dreamed of.
Fineline Supply Duran Duran Special Show in Eden
30/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Bristol-based lighting and visuals rental company Fineline supplied lighting, video and rigging equipment plus crew to Duran Duran Live at Eden with BBC Music Day, staged at the Eden Project in Cornwall. The special concert was the finale of the BBC’s 2016 Music Day – a nationwide celebration designed to unite different generations and communities through music.
Garth Brooks Returns to New York with Bandit Lites
30/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Garth Brooks returned to the Big Apple for the first time since 1997 for a two-night history-making performance at Yankee Stadium with lighting provided by Bandit Lites. The legendary artist was the first country musician to hold a concert on the baseball field, where tens of thousands gathered to see the best-selling solo album artist of all time do what he is best known for: putting on tremendously entertaining concerts.
GLP X4 Bars Form Backdrop to First Theatrical Lighting Rig at Shakespeare’s Globe
30/08/2016 - Project News
UK – Opened in 1997, Shakespeare’s Globe is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan Playhouse in London where many of Shakespeare’s plays were performed.
Renewed Vision ProVideoPlayer 2 Takes Video Playback to New Heights for FlyOver America
30/08/2016 - Project News
USA – Located at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN, the FlyOver America virtual flight attraction has been thrilling visitors with its cutting-edge technology, breath-taking visuals and sensory immersion since opening to the public this April. Setting the stage for the main ride, Renewed Vision’s ProVideoPlayer 2 (PVP2) software is powering playback for FlyOver America’s informative and engaging pre-boarding video experience.
Elation ACL 360i Back Wall for Luke Bryan “Kill the Lights” Tour
30/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Wanting to get back to a bigger lighting look for country music star Luke Bryan’s current “Kill the Lights” tour, lighting designer Justin Kitchenman of FadeUp Design Group created a spectacular upstage wall of lighting effects using 100 Elation Professional ACL 360i narrow-beam LED fixtures.
200 Powersoft Amplifiers Power Massive Outline PA Rig for Pope Francesco and 2.5m Pilgrims
30/08/2016 - Production News
Poland – Such a grand scale event as the recent World Youth Days, held in the former Polish capital city of Kraków, required a sound system to deliver the words of worship, clearly and intelligibly, to the vast crowd of 2.5 million pilgrims from all around the globe, gathered on the 1,200-acre site of Brzegi’s Campus Misericordiae.
The Rigging Shop (TRS) Appointed Kinesys Distributor in Australia
30/08/2016 - Business News
Australia – UK-based automation specialist and manufacturer Kinesys has appointed The Rigging Shop (TRS) as the exclusive distributor for its products in Australia and New Zealand.
First Robe Spikies in Africa
30/08/2016 - Production News
Namibia – The first Robe Spikies to be purchased on the African continent have gone to Windhoek, Namibia-based rental company Mikel-Jes which purchased eight units from Robe’s distributor DWR in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Bandit Inventory Expands with Martin Sceptron Purchase
30/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Bandit Lites’ massive touring inventory continues to grow with the addition of Martin’s VDO Sceptron 10. The linear LED video fixture provides easy setup, configuration and allows lighting designers a wide variety of looks for both indoor and outdoor looks.
Avolites delivers pop-up festival versatility at River Stage Weekends
30/08/2016 - Production News
UK – The National Theatre's (NT) River Stage Weekends festival has returned to London's Southbank, with chief lighting designer Huw Llewellyn choosing an Avolites Tiger Touch II and Fader Wing running the latest Titan v10 to deliver versatile, power-packed control across the month-long programme of weekend takeovers.
Ampco Flashlight Rental Sends dLlive on Soulwax Tour
26/08/2016 - Production News
Europe – Belgian electro rock band, Soulwax, has embarked on a summer tour of Europe with Allen & Heath dLive digital mixing systems and a ME personal monitoring system to manage FoH, monitors and recording.
Penn Elcom Adds More Choice and Colour
26/08/2016 - Equipment News
Penn Elcom’s super-cool LED rack light – the RADM-23 Raclite – has proved so popular that the flightcase, loudspeaker and 19 inch rack manufacturer has launched an RGB version so that clients can vary the colour of their rack lighting.
Spikie Makes UK Debut
26/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Robe’s new Spikie fixtures – small, super-fast LED WashBeams – made their UK debut on a lighting rig designed by Paul Griffiths of Firebird Events for a UK sales conference staged in the Champagne Suite at the Novotel West London.
Coconut Groove Band Rocks the Carolinas with DL32R
26/08/2016 - Production News
USA – For 20 years, the Coconut Groove Band (CGB) has performed a huge repertoire of well known songs, ranging from easy listening to soul, R&B, Americana, rock, pop-you name it. Until recently, they relied on a 12-channel, analogue, powered mixer, and to some extent it did the job. "The old mixer was a workhorse," recalls guitarist/vocalist Rick McClanahan, "and it had effects, but it was big and heavy. We use powered speakers, so carrying around a powered mixer was wasteful. More important, we wanted to expand and move into the future. For example, I've always wanted to record or shows in multitrack, and I've never been able to do that."
Cadac expands mix system for IBC16 “Big Screen Experience”
26/08/2016 - Event News
The Netherlands – Cadac, is once more an official IBC sponsor, providing all of the audio networking and control for the IBC “Big Screen Experience” at the convention. This year’s proprietary MegaCOMMS audio network comprises the company’s flagship CDC eight-32 console, two of the latest CDC six medium size consoles, a compact CDC four:m console, a CDC MC Router and six CDC I/O stageboxes.
W-DMX controls P5s over 1km in Tulove Grede
26/08/2016 - Production News
Croatia – To mark the first anniversary of the passing of Pierre Brice during Winnetou Festival 2016, a memorial service took place in Croatia at the peak of the massif Tulove Grede.
Alcons Pro-Ribbon Immersive Experience returns to CEDIA 2016
26/08/2016 - Event News
USA – Following a highly successful debut at the 2015 CEDIA home technology show, Alcons Audio returns in 2016, again with the popular Alcons Pro-Ribbon Immersive Experience.
Audiologic and AUDAC go Separate Ways
26/08/2016 - Business News
Leading provider of professional audio-visual equipment, Audiologic, has announced that it is to conclude its arrangement with audio solutions brand AUDAC (whose portfolio includes Caymon and Procab accessories) with effect 1st October 2016. As Audiologic seeks to consolidate an already burgeoning portfolio, both parties have reached a mutually held view that the time is right to pursue an alternative course. The companies agree that Audiologic's partnership with AUDAC has been a fruitful one and both move on strengthened by the experience. Audiologic remains fully confident in its ability to satisfy every aspect of its customers' requirements, drawing from the widest possible range of technologies and offering solutions to meet every scale and budget."
Yamaha CIS Products Ensure Tempio del Popolo is Delivered on Budget
26/08/2016 - Project News
Italy – Modern audio technology means that regional venues are increasingly able to be truly multifunctional, with high quality systems that can be used for film screenings as well as live performances and presentations. Yamaha Commercial Installation Solutions (CIS) products are ideal for such ‘hybrid’ systems, including one in a new venue in southern Italy.
Elation Professional Welcomes David Martin, Key Account Manager South UK
26/08/2016 - People News
UK – Elation Professional has announced that as of 15th August, long time lighting professional David Martin has joined the company as key account manager serving the southern UK. David is a familiar face to many in the industry, having developed a wealth of relationships over his 27 years in the lighting and audiovisual industry.
White Light Supplies New Lighting to Royal Shakespeare Company
26/08/2016 - Project News
UK – The Royal Shakespeare Company is one of Britain’s most renowned theatre companies. Based in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, it is dedicated to producing the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries as well as developing new work from living artists. The RSC has three theatre spaces: the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, the Swan Theatre and the recently-opened Studio Theatre at The Other Place. Wanting to replace the existing tungsten units in their main Royal Shakespeare space, they approached White Light to supply them with the very latest LED lighting fixtures.
Van's Abbey Extravaganza Comes Alive with RG Jones and MLA
26/08/2016 - Production News
UK - When Van Morrison headlined the 20th Anniversary Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza – the annual event which traditionally follows the Glastonbury Festival – Martin Audio’s MLA Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array was on hand, just as it had been at the main Pyramid stage six weeks earlier.
Robe Gets Emotional with Twenty One Pilots
25/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Twenty One Pilots (TØP) are among the most exciting and original bands right now, and while they cross and defy genres and pigeonholes with glee and their reputation grows for delivering an emotive high energy live show. These are crafted with love by many talented individuals into a ‘must see’ phenomena and real-world social experience.
Big House Sound Goes Big with Adamson
25/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Big House Sound, Inc. located in Austin, Texas, has been a successful regional production company for more than 26 years. The company started with a few Adamson Systems Engineering boxes in 1992 and as their business has grown, so has their relationship with Adamson.
Bandit Lights ‘Carnival of Madness’ with Shinedown
25/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Hard rock band Shinedown recently wrapped their Carnival of Madness tour with a lighting package provided by Bandit Lites. The tour included performances by Bandit client Halestorm, Black Stone Cherry and Whiskey Myers and featured the Shinedown’s most recent album Threat to Survival, which topped Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums chart and included the hit single, “Cut the Cord.”
L-Acoustics Kara takes Innovative Production Services to the top
25/08/2016 - Production News
Australia – Founded in 1997 by school leavers Brendan Sadgrove and Jeremy Koch, Sydney’s Innovative Production Services has developed into one of the leading technical production companies in New South Wales and the eastern seaboard of Australia. This year the company moved into the top tier of audio rental companies when it invested in an L-Acoustics Kara system and X-Series speakers, a move which has paid immediate dividends.
Panasonic Delivers Wide Range of Audio-Visual Solutions and Equipment for Staging the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games
25/08/2016 - Production News
Brazil - Panasonic Corporation, the Official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, announced the full line-up of equipment and wide variety of solutions the company provided to support the staging of the Games.
Splendour in the Grass: SGM IP65 fixtures bring artwork to life at Australia’s biggest Music + Arts Festival
24/08/2016 - Production News
Australia – Yet again, SGM fixtures have participated in Splendour in the Grass. The sold-out festival operated for four days and nights with over 30,000 festival goers each day. Besides having a star-studded music programme, the festival also places a lot of emphasis on the artistic experience of the festival.
ETC announces global office expansion plans
24/08/2016 - Business News
UK and USA – Since its inception 40 years ago, ETC has come a long way. Now a global leader in the manufacturing of lighting and rigging technology, ETC employs over 1,000 people, across ten countries, in facilities totalling more than ten football pitches in size. In recent years, the company’s growth has been particularly remarkable; to keep pace and to allow for future developments, a global office expansion programme is underway.
Lenny Sasso Gets Colour On with Chauvet Professional at Union Transfer
24/08/2016 - Production News
USA – For the first 122 years of its existence, the distinct looking building on 11th and Spring Garden Streets in the City of Brotherly Love was never an entertainment venue. Its new owners were quick to make up for lost time, however, when they converted the former farmers’ market turned Reading Railroad luggage handling station into Union Transfer, a red-hot music hall devoted primarily to emerging and cult-hero indie rock acts. Less than two years after opening in 2011, the site was featured in Rolling Stone’s "Top 20 Venues in America" and hailed by the BBC as "one of the hottest venues on the US East Coast."
Mojo Barriers Supplies BoomTown Fair
24/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Hampshire’s Matterley Estate once again played host to the fully immersive BoomTown Fair, which this year welcomed an increased capacity of 60,000 music lovers and saw the addition of over 80 street venues. Mojo Barriers expanded on its inaugural year supplying BoomTown Fair, by supplying 600m of kit, which was installed across the entire festival site. Mojo’s barriers were installed at all festival stages, including The Lion’s Den, The Jolly Dodger and Sector 6, a new district introduced to the 2016 event.
New look Premier League studio kicks off with LED Creative
24/08/2016 - Production News
UK – As part of the recent update to the Premier League television studio, lighting specialists LED Creative partnered with JHD Designs to add decorative highlights and bespoke illuminated sculptures to the set.
Japanese Psychedelic Rock Band Digs Audient iD22
24/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Artistic, psychedelic rock foursome, Bo Ningen has recently added an Audient iD22 USB audio interface to their recording set-up. Lead singer, Taigen Kawabe’s initial reaction to the new arrival was surprise at “the clarity and honest sounds from the iD22,” later adding, “I would say the mic preamp surprised me the most. It’s super-clear and can capture such a wide range of frequency.”
The Knight of Illumination Awards 2016 reveals shortlist for Concert Touring and Events
24/08/2016 - Event News
UK – The judging panel of the Knight of Illumination Awards 2016 Concert Touring and Events category has announced its shortlisted designers for the highly-anticipated ceremony next month at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith.
Elation Lighting on Dierks Bentley’s Somewhere on a Beach Tour
24/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Dierks Bentley is hot. Not only has the country artist’s latest album Black debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard and Top Album Sales charts this summer, he’s been selling out his Somewhere on a Beach tour at nearly every stop and has recently added a second leg that will have him out on the road through October.
Edinburgh Tattoo Upgrades Projection
23/08/2016 - Production News
UK – The spectacular large format projections that have graced Edinburgh Castle for the last 11 years creating a dramatic and dynamic backdrop for the iconic Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo season have just become hugely brighter and even more visible with a new video projection system specified by digital artist Ross Ashton from The Projection Studio.
Robe BMFLs Rock Roskilde Arena
23/08/2016 - Production News
Denmark – Customer service is a core value for any lighting designer visiting the 17,000 capacity Arena Stage at Roskilde Festival, one of Europe’s leading music events, and this year production lighting designer Sune Verdier used 40 Robe BMFL Spots at the heart of the rig, which he co-ordinated for the fifth year.
Nashville Celebrates 4th July with Bandit Lites
23/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Nashville once again held one of the largest Independence Day events in the country, as even with a dismal forecast, event organizers for Let Freedom Sing July 4 in Music City estimated than somewhere between 125,000 to 150,000 turned out to honour the nation’s birthday along the river front. Bandit Lites was proud to once again work with Chris Lisle Lighting Designs to provide lighting for the celebration.
Nashville Icon Buddy Miller Settles Down with ATC 45 Monitors
23/08/2016 - Project News
USA – Buddy Miller is a Grammy Award-winning producer, songwriter, guitarist, and engineer. After getting his start in the late 1970s in New York City and Austin, he moved to Nashville and went on to produce dozens and dozens of big and small name talents, including Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, and Robert Plant. When he’s not on the road, Miller spends some of his days working out of his home studio with his wife, the talented singer-songwriter Julie Miller, who long complained that the studio monitors they used sounded unpleasant – until at last Miller found ATC monitors. The ATCs combine the accuracy and detail needed for mission-critical audio work with the joyful listening experience craved by lovers of great music. Building on three years’ success with ATC SCM25As, Miller recently upgraded to ATC SCM45As, which deliver greater bass response via two low-end drivers and greater high-end clarity with ATC’s made-in-house SH25-76S tweeter.
Chauvet DJ Intimidators Add Zest to Melbourne’s Spice Market
23/08/2016 - Project News
AUSTRALIA – In the heart of the central business district of Australia’s second largest city lies the popular Spice Market bar, ultra lounge and nightclub. Offering an eclectic programme of DJs, live performances, and award-winning food against a stunning backdrop of Indo-Asian design, the chic nightspot draws a diverse cross section of people. Recently, in hopes of continuing their long-standing success, owners Geremy and Dean Lucas decided to update and renovate their unique establishment, whilst adding a new dynamic visual spice. Designer Sohail e. Najafi of Najafi Design Group, helped them accomplish this goal with a new comprehensive theatrical and effect lighting system that featured approximately 30,000 pixel-mapped LEDs and DMX controlled flying automation, all supported by Chauvet DJ Intimidator Spot LED 350 moving fixtures.
PRG XL Video Supplies Screens for Cambridge Folk Festival 2016
23/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Working with the Cambridge Live Trust and its production manager, Andrew Keightly, PRG XL Video has continued its long-running relationship with the Cambridge Folk Festival.
MLA Rocks One of Japan’s Biggest Festivals
23/08/2016 - Production News
Japan – One of the biggest music festivals in Japan, Rock In Japan Festival 2016, took place recently at the Hitachi Seaside Park, in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki. Organised by Rockin’On magazine, over two weekends in August, it featured seven stages. Martin Audio’s premium MLA Muilti-cellular Loudspeaker Array was installed on its main Grass Stage, as well as other featured stages, such as Park Stage, and Sound of Forest, courtesy of MSI Japan.
RG Jones' MLA Excels on the Thames at Unique Henley Festival
23/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Henley Festival is an annual, five-day boutique experience, celebrating the best of international and UK music, art, food and comedy in a quintessentially British location.
BioTek Sound Designer Version Now Available
23/08/2016 - Equipment News
USA – Tracktion Corporation has announced the release of a major update to its popular BioTek Organic Synthesizer virtual instrument. BioTek’s new Sound Design edition allows users to dive deep into the inner workings of this immersive instrument. Utilising the all new Acktion! Engine, BioTek now provides unprecedented control with extensive modulation and modifier capabilities. In addition, the instrument’s uniquely creative and visually stunning front panel macro controls allows to users to build their own synthesiser from scratch.
dLive Manages 45th Anniversary Concert for Ecuadorian Diva
23/08/2016 - Production News
Ecuador – An Allen & Heath dLive digital mixing system was employed for monitor and live recording duties at the recent anniversary concert of Ecuador’s renowned singing star, Paulina Tamayo.
MDG is theONE for Adlib
23/08/2016 - Production News
UK - MDG’s theONE, the award-winning, touring dual haze and fog generator, has been snapped up by Liverpool-based Adlib to strengthen its ‘complete package’ offering to production managers and lighting designers.
Philips Showline SL BEAM 300fx Illuminates Tenth Anniversary of Pop Meets Classic
23/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – Philips Lighting has announced that the Braunschweig Symphony Orchestra has celebrated the tenth edition of its 'Pop Meets Classic' concert with Philips Showline SL BEAM 300fx LED luminaires playing a crucial role in the dazzling spectacle.
Broad Line-up of Innovative Products from Elation Coming to PLASA 2016
22/08/2016 - Event News
UK – Join Elation Professional 18th - 20th September at Olympia in the heart of West London for our most impressive line-up of PLASA products ever. Elation will have on hand at Stand C40 an unprecedented line-up of new cutting-edge innovations for entertainment lighting that includes the new Fuze Series of dynamic LED wash lights, ZCL Series of high-output LED effects, and DTW Series of variable white LED lights.
500 BMFLs for Singapore National Day Parade
22/08/2016 - Production News
Singapore – Lighting designer Mac Chan was part of the team led by creative director Beatrice Chia who made every Singaporean burst with pride on their 2016 National Day Parade (NDP) and this year, for the first time, the event was staged at the new National Stadium. With a live audience of 50,000, a TV audience of around five million plus a few more million tuning in to the live internet stream, there was plenty of pressure on everyone to deliver.
S+H Adds Production Value for Wales' National Eisteddfod
22/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Drapes and special effects specialist S+H Technical was asked by creative production design practice Scott Callaghan Art Production, run by Sid Scott & Alison Callaghan in Cardiff, to provide large quantities of their RGB LED starcloth to the high profile National Eisteddfod of Wales, this year staged in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.
CLASSIXX Goes Retro With Rogue
22/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Music critics sometimes struggle to describe the sound of CLASSIXX, a production duo made up of childhood friends Michael David and Tyler Blake that achieved widespread acclaim in the early 2000s as remixers for groups like Phoenix and Yacht. Going beyond standard banger-style electronic music, the twosome weave an extraordinary blend of house, funk and indie influences into their work – all while managing to sound captivatingly retro without being sentimental.
Philips Showline strobe lights pack a festival-sized punch for Wilkinson Live at Parklife
22/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Philips Lighting has announced that 40 Philips Showline SL NITRO 510C LED strobes have delivered maximum impact on chart-topping British DJ Wilkinson's packed out live performance at Manchester's Parklife festival.
Elation Platinum Series Movers and Effects for MLB All-Star Bash 2016
22/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Prior to Major League Baseball’s 2016 All-Star Game on 12th July at Petco Park in San Diego, an All-Star Game FanFest took place the week leading up to the annual Midsummer Classic. One of the FanFest’s most popular events was the MLB All-Star Bash where top acts Akon, Fall Out Boy and DJ Vice performed beneath a lighting rig that included Platinum Series moving heads, ACL Bar 360 LED effect lights and Colour Chorus Series LED battens from Elation Professional.
Renowned Australian Venue Installs dLive
22/08/2016 - Project News
Australia – Situated on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, The Events Centre is regarded as the area’s premier performing arts and conference centre, and recently underwent an audio upgrade including the installation of Allen & Heath’s flagship dLive digital mixing system.
Yamaha RIVAGE PM10 Stars at Switzerland's Biggest Music Festival
22/08/2016 - Production News
Switzerland – Throughout 2016, Yamaha’s flagship RIVAGE PM10 digital mixing console has been seen on an increasing number of events and tours, giving engineers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the state-of-the-art system. In late July it was specified by Swiss rental company Hyperson SA for Paléo Festival Nyon – Switzerland’s biggest music festival – where it was the star of a show which also featured several other Yamaha digital mixers.
Creating a Scene at Cannes Lions
19/08/2016 - Production News
France – DesignScene, a UK- and US-based creative design and production specialist in live events, was recently commissioned by Lighthouse Creative Works, NYC, to design, realise and deliver an innovative and technical production for an exclusive party for Live Nation at the 2016 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
QuadCores in control at SugarCity: NL
19/08/2016 - Project News
The Netherlands – SugarCity, located in Halfweg, a small industrial town half way between Amsterdam and Haarlem in Holland, is the new venue for corporate events such as product launches, TV shows and photoshoots. It also hosts a network set-up with the Visual Productions’ QuadCores, B-Stations and DIN rail DMX splitters for control of the venue's ambient lighting.
Positive Reply for Maestra
19/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Event production specialist Maestra London delivered the full technical package to Gruppo Peroni for a one day conference ‘Reply Exchange’, working with event producer Toria Richardson. The event was staged by Italian IT giants Reply SpA at London’s 155 Bishopsgate venue.
Chauvet Rogue R1 FX-B Added to Bandit Inventory
19/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Bandit Lites recently added the new Chauvet Rogue R1 FX-B to its massive touring inventory, making Bandit the first in the world to take these revolutionary fixtures out on tour. Using a row of five individually controlled heads, the FX-B is a sensational new addition to any designer’s tools.
Chauvet Battens feature RGBA-Lime LED Colour Mixing
19/08/2016 - Equipment News
Chauvet Professional is spreading rich vivid colours to more places. Following its popular Ovation E-910FC RGBA-Lime ellipsoidal, the company is raising the bar in colour wash and cyc lighting with the introduction of the first Ovation batten style fixtures. Like their ellipsoidal forbearer, the new Ovation B-2805FC and Ovation B-565FC battens feature an RGBA-Lime LED system that creates bolder, more vivid colours and brighter whites.
LMG Touring Supplies Elation ACL 360i for G-Eazy and Logic “The Endless Summer” Tour
19/08/2016 - Production News
USA – LMG Touring has supplied a full lighting package including over 200 Elation ACL 360i beam effect fixtures for rappers G-Eazy and Logic’s co-headlining “The Endless Summer” tour. G-Eazy’s production designer Sooner Routhier developed the design concept for G-Eazy’s set. She comments: “We needed a small, lightweight fixture that we could use to populate a series of pods upstage. Management wanted to see a wall of lights behind G-Eazy that could create a lot of EDM style effects and the 360i ACL fit the bill perfectly.”
ETC ColorSource shines at Edinburgh Fringe
19/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Every August, the world’s largest arts festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, takes over Scotland’s capital. Thousands of performers take to hundreds of stages to present shows for every taste. C venues is back for its 25th year, creating and curating more than 20 theatre, performance and exhibition spaces at pop-up venues in and around the city centre. This year, C venues’ visiting designers and technicians are using some of the latest products from ETC for a vibrant and packed programme of theatre, circus, cabaret, musicals, dance, comedy and children's shows.
CPL Makes LED Screen Investment
19/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Event technical production specialist Central Presentations Limited (CPL) has invested in 80 square metres of new ROE Black OnyX 3.4mm LED screen plus ROE LED strip product, both of which are going directly onto a job in London and will then be available from the West Midlands-based company’s rental stock.
dot2 for Lock, Stock & Barrel: “There is nothing average”
19/08/2016 - Production News
UAE – The Lock, Stock & Barrel in Dubai was inspired by the trend of casual, industrial and live music venues all over the world. Spread over two floors and with more than 800 square metres, it focuses on live music events and sports with two bars, a live music stage and eleven screens.
PLASA 2016 Hosts Essential Dante Training Seminar
19/08/2016 - Event News
UK – One of the key audio networking protocols, Audinate’s Dante, is an essential part of audio solutions ranging from huge, multi-console festival and multi-zone club systems to the simplest of retail background music applications. PLASA 2016 features a unique, free opportunity for audio professionals to learn more about Dante, with a training event hosted by Kieran Walsh, regional manager, global support services at Audinate.
DPA Microphones Help Film Director Make His Long Form Debut
19/08/2016 - Production News
France – August 18th, 2016: DPA d:screet SC4060 and 4071 miniature microphones and d:dicate 4017 shotgun microphones were recently employed to great effect during the making of a Près de Moi (Close To Me), the first full length feature film from the Award-winning director, Alex Guéry.
Evans Audio Visual Staging Supply Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
19/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Evans Audio Visual Staging supplied PA systems, video screens and a bespoke ‘Bristol’ sign to the 2016 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Europe’s largest hot air balloon event, 11th - 14th August 2016.
RG Jones' MLA Compact Creates High Impact at Olympic Stadium
18/08/2016 - Production News
UK – When the annual Müller Anniversary Games took place over two days at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stadium recently, the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, came face-to-face with Martin Audio’s own medal-winning MLA loudspeaker system, provided by rental partner and leading contractor, RG Jones Sound Engineering.
Robe Makes Hyperjump at MIRA Festival
18/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – Robe lighting was a technical partner in the 2016 MIRA digital arts festival, staged for the first time in Berlin. The event focuses on the intersection between electronic music and live visuals and presents a selection of invigorating collaborations, special projects and the opportunity for artists working in all areas of music and visual arts to imaginer works that can be enjoyed and appreciated by all.
Meyer Sound Lyon Provides Scalable Solution for Twenty One Pilots World Tour
18/08/2016 - Production News
Twenty One Pilots puts on the kind of live show that has to be seen to be believed. Singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun emerge from backstage in ski masks. They crowdsurf on a platform while playing drums. Joseph crawls through the crowd inside a giant red hamster ball. Dun does a backflip off of Joseph’s piano. Joseph climbs the stage to nerve-wracking heights, singing all the while.
A Major Recommendation for LivePipe
18/08/2016 - Equipment News
Hoffend LivePipe hoists – Engineering Product of the Year at the 2016 ABTT Trade Show – are now shipping for installation from Hall Stage dealers.
Philips Lighting Appoints New Head of Entertainment Lighting
18/08/2016 - People News
USA – Philips Lighting has announced the appointment of Philips executive Colin Kavanagh as the company's new head of its entertainment lighting business.
Allen Systems Group Changes Name to ASG Technologies
18/08/2016 - Business News
USA – Allen Systems Group, Inc., doing business as (dba) ASG Software Solutions, a global provider of technology solutions, has announced its transformation to ASG Technologies Group, Inc. dba ASG Technologies, effective immediately. Building on 30 years of industry expertise, the new name represents a renewed focus on agility in product development, sales and customer service to better serve today’s fast-paced enterprise market. ASG Technologies is dedicated to supporting the customer’s bottom line with a comprehensive product suite that empowers them to grow their business as a digital enterprise.
Avolites Ai Media Servers Enable Miami-Based DMDs7udios to Power Through a Wide Range of Complex Projection-Mapping Projects
18/08/2016 - Production News
USA – From the inside of a DJ-fuelled dance party to the outside of an awe-inspiring, massive new museum, Avolites Ai media servers have the power to transform interior and exterior spaces to meet the technical and emotional needs of any project. DMDs7udios, the Miami-based leading user of Avolites Ai media servers in the US, has deployed Ai S8 and R8 media servers on a number of recent projects that underscore Ai’s power and flexibility.
Bandit Lites World HQ Grows
18/08/2016 - People News
USA – Bandit Lites, the world’s foremost concert lighting company, has added to its corporate headquarters with the hiring of Kathy Tanner and promotion of Shay Simpson.
DiGiCo's S21 makes a flying start on Lukas Graham tour
18/08/2016 - Production News
Worldwide – Hugely popular in their native Denmark and with success in recent years in Europe, four-piece pop-soul band Lukas Graham has enjoyed a recent rise to global success, with their single 7 Years hailed by Billboard magazine as one of 2016’s biggest global hits. Their current world tour is proving equally successful, as is the extremely compact DiGiCo S21 mixing console they carry in their travel kit.
JHS launches new website
18/08/2016 - Business News
Worldwide trade distributor JHS & Co. Ltd. has launched its brand-new website.
Elation Lighting for Dave Mathews Band 2016 Summer Tour
18/08/2016 - Production News
USA – As one of the most successful bands over the last 25 years, the Dave Matthews Band has a string of hits to their credit with over 30 million in record sales worldwide. The popular jam band is also known as a must-see summer touring act and this year are playing amphitheatres and select arenas across the US beneath a rig that includes Elation Colour Chorus Series LED battens and SixPar 200 LED Par lights.
Provetec invests in first L-Acoustics K2 system in Chile
18/08/2016 - Production News
Chile – Provetec is one of Chile’s leading technical production companies, working on vast array of key events across the country. Earlier this year, it made a major investment in an L-Acoustics K2 loudspeaker system, the first of its kind to arrive in Chile.
dLlive Manages Sound For Russian Opera Star
18/08/2016 - Production News
Russia – Allen & Heath’s dLive digital mixing system was selected to manage audio requirements at the concert of world-famous opera baritone, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, who was performing in Barvikha Luxury Village concert hall in Moscow.
DirectOut relaunches popular EXBOX.BLDS MADI redundancy switch
17/08/2016 - Equipment News
Connectivity specialist DirectOut has given its popular EXBOX.BLDS MADI redundancy switch a complete face-lift in order to bring the EXBOX range into line with the rest of its new-look portfolio. The revitalised EXBOX.BLDS will be shipping in the next few weeks.
Kinesys Moves It for Chris Brown tour
17/08/2016 - Production News
Europe – Chris Brown’s recent “One Hell of a Nite” UK and European tour featured a production design by Tom E. Marzullo from Out Of Our Minds Creative Services, LLC, developed in collaboration with Christie Lites’ Robert Roth and Robert Achlimbari from staging specialist All Access. The design included two lighting pods which were moved using a Kinesys automation system supplied by HSL from Blackburn, which was also the tour’s lighting and rigging vendor.
HSL Supplies Earth Wind & Fire
17/08/2016 - Production News
Europe – HSL supplied lighting and rigging to Earth Wind and Fire’s recent UK and European tour which included a closing headline slot on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury 2016 as the second show.
DPA Microphones Amplifies Multimedia Collaboration During The Scheherazade Project
17/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Described as a multimedia song cycle inspired by the legendary Persian queen, storyteller and feminist icon Scheherazade, “The Scheherazade Project” is a curated concert that will debut at the New York Electro-Acoustic Music Festival (NYCEMF). The performance, which features the works of critically acclaimed string quartet PUBLIQuartet in conjunction with indie rock duo HOLLANDS and visual artist Amy Khoshbin, spins the collection of tales from the classic “One Thousand and One Nights.” During the project, PUBLIQuartet will utilise DPA Microphones’ d:vote 4099 instrument microphones for Violin and Cello.
Bring live programming up to speed with ETC's Eos v2.4 software
17/08/2016 - Equipment News
A lighting console is an extension of the programmer’s brain, requiring quick, intuitive access to pre-recorded content and live-modification tools. ETC’s Eos family consoles have always provided powerful, customisable lighting control for any environment. With the recent v2.4 software release, that control becomes even more dynamic, with a fader-configuration overhaul and new display options.
Yamaha Digital Mixers are in the Eye of the Storm
17/08/2016 - Production News
UK – A user of Yamaha digital mixing consoles since being founded in 2006, London-based Storm Events has recently celebrated its tenth anniversary by increasing its inventory of QL5, QL1 and TF1s, which are ideal for the diverse array of events that the company supports. Two of the most recent saw Yamaha consoles mixing the sounds of safari and sport.
New Elation Lighting for Brit Floyd “Space and Time Continuum” Tour
17/08/2016 - Production News
USA and Europe – Following a successful world tour in 2015, the world’s greatest Pink Floyd tribute band, Brit Floyd, is on the road again, touring North America and Europe beneath an updated rig that includes Elation’s hybrid Platinum FLX among other Elation fixtures. The 2016 “Space and Time Continuum” tour recreates legendary Pink Floyd music in an even bigger stage production than past Brit Floyd shows.
IP65 Lights and Wellingtons at Glastonbury
17/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Once again, the Glastonbury Festival rigs had the good fortune to be specified with SGM fixtures. NEG Earth was the general lighting contractor and has been for many years. On the main stage 60 Q-7s and 20 G-Spots shone on the stellar lineup that included Coldplay, Adele, Muse, Beck, Foals, ZZ Top, Tame Impala and Ellie Goulding among many others.
Yamaha and Nexo Connect at PLASA 2016
17/08/2016 - Event News
UK – Yamaha Commercial Audio and Nexo will be demonstrating the seamless connectivity of their products at PLASA 2016, which takes place at London’s Olympia from 18th - 20th September.
ITV Sport Gets the Ball Rolling for Euro 2016 with White Light
17/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Over the past 12 months, ITV Sport has commissioned White Light to provide the technical solutions on some of its most watched sporting broadcasts. These have included the Rugby World Cup, Champions League, Europa League and Formula E. WL was recently re-commissioned by Paul McNamara, ITV’s executive producer for major events, to provide the consultation for the technical design of the studio sets used on its coverage of Euro 2016. This entailed working on site in Paris to provide the lighting, video, power distribution and crew for both the interior and exterior studio sets.
Goldcrest Post Production chooses Avid Pro Tools | S6 for Dolby Atmos theatre
16/08/2016 - Project News
UK - Post-production house Goldcrest Post Production has chosen an Avid Pro Tools | S6 modular control surface for its newly-opened Dean Street Theatre 1, a purpose-built Dolby Atmos mixing theatre based in central London. Goldcrest’s Soho facilities are now home to three Pro Tools | S6 control surfaces that were supplied by Scrub, a division of HHB Communications.
Adlib Embraces the Blues with Joe Bonamassa Tour
16/08/2016 - Production News
Europe – Adlib again delivered lighting, sound, rigging and crew for the recent UK and European tour by amazing blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa and his band, which culminated with a headline show, also recorded for DVD, at the ‘Greenwich Music Time’ festival staged in the grounds of London's historic Old Royal Naval College.
BMFLs are the Talk for DJ Snake at Red Rocks
16/08/2016 - Production News
USA – French DJ and music producer DJ Snake fired up the crowds at the recent Global Dance Festival staged in the breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver, Colorado, while his lighting designer Steve Brody (known industry wide as ‘Brody’) took full advantage of Robe BMFL Spots, which were prominent among other fixtures on a house lighting rig for the event supplied by DSI Event Group, also based in Denver.
AlunaGeorge Dazzles with Bandit Lites
16/08/2016 - Production News
USA – AlunaGeorge, the electronic music duo hailing for London with one of the world’s most streamed songs, hit the American touring and festival circuit outfitted with gear from Bandit Lites.
L-Acoustics Kara: a Proven Performer at BergenPAC
16/08/2016 - Project News
USA – The Bergen Performing Arts Center, aka BergenPAC, a non-profit theatre in Englewood, New Jersey has seen and heard it all. Originally built as the Englewood Plaza movie theatre in 1926, the venue re-opened, after several iterations, in 2004 with its 1,367-seat auditorium hosting 200 shows a year by a diverse roster of performers, including Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, John Legend, Jerry Lewis and Willie Nelson. The facility is also home to dance, theater, voice and music classes offered year-round at The Performing Arts School at BergenPAC.
Jean-Pierre Willson Accents Aesthetics of Cape Town City Hall Concert Venue with Chauvet Professional
16/08/2016 - Production News
South Africa – It may be called “City Hall,” but the imposing honey-colored limestone building in the center of Cape Town hasn’t housed municipal offices since 1979. It has, however, witnessed plenty of history and culture in the ensuing decades. Nelson Mandela made his first speech here from its balcony after his release from prison in 1990, and icons from all musical genres have performed in its ornate Grand Hall. Given the building’s historic significance and beauty, it was understandable that lighting designer Jean-Pierre Willson of Unfazed Productions wanted to accent the palatial structure’s architectural flourishes when he created a design for “Africa Day eKapa!” an annual Africa Day concert celebrating the anniversary of the Organization of African Unity. To help him achieve this goal, the LD relied on a collection of Chauvet Professional Rogue fixtures supplied by Audiosure.
WI Adds some Magic Movement for Ehrlich Brothers
16/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – When the Ehrlich Brothers needed a bit of special production magic to move a giant set of scenic doors smoothly and horizontally on and off stage to top and tail the two acts for their incredible 2016 performance at the Commerzbank Stadium in Frankfurt, their production turned to Belgian automation specialist Wicreations.
10EaZy Upgrades Sound Level Measurement System Software to V2.6
16/08/2016 - Equipment News
SGAudio Aps’ has announced the launch of V2.6 software for its 10EaZy sound level measurement system, available via the 10EaZy website as well as its automatic update system.
White Light Supplies Gilded Balloon at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
15/08/2016 - Production News
UK – The Gilded Balloon is one of Scotland’s leading entertainment venues and one of the four largest at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Producing a critically-acclaimed showcase of theatre, comedy and cabaret, the Gilded Balloon has an international reputation and this year promises to be its busiest yet. For the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, White Light has been called upon once again to provide the lighting throughout all of its 14 venues and across 160 different productions.
Robe Adds Magic to Ehrlich Brothers Record Breaking Stadium Show
15/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – Taking the genre of illusionism into a completely new dimension, brothers Chris and Andreas Ehrlich who had already played to over half a million people on their “Magic – Experience Dreams” arena tour put on a special performance, “Magic – A Unique Stadium Show” at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt.
Chauvet Professional Helps Paragon 360 Modernise Council Road Baptist Church
15/08/2016 - Project News
USA – Anyone who left town and has been away from Council Road Baptist Church for a year or two would scarcely believe their eyes if they returned today to this suburban church outside of Oklahoma City. The church’s sanctuary, described by its pastor as having a “1980s style look,” with a big choir loft, cavernous balcony and plain walls, hasn’t merely been updated, it’s been totally transformed into a modern worship facility.
Elite Multimedia and Cour Design are setting “Nights on Fire” with David Nail
15/08/2016 - Production News
USA – MCA Nashville recording artist David Nail is known for his powerful lyrics with emotionally-charged vocals that have garnered him both Grammy and ACM Award nominations. Currently on tour in support of his fourth album Fighter, Nail and his production team are making their way across the United States bringing his music to fans in packed houses and festivals across the country. With a lighting design and unique playback system created by Cour Design, the production team needed a tour provider who understands the value of quality gear and support so they once again turned to Nashville-based Elite Multimedia.
Space Force lands at Aurora
15/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Aurora takes delivery of the new Chroma-Q Space Force – the innovative, viable, powerful LED alternative to conventional fixtures.
Elation’s ZCL Series of ACL-type Effects with Zoom Now Available
15/08/2016 - Equipment News
Elation Professional’s new ZCL Series of high-output ACL-type LED effect lights with zoom is now available. First shown at the Prolight + Sound trade show in April, ZCL Series fixtures combine a high-power RGBW multi-chip with a 4° to 44° zoom that gives dynamic effect lighting an added degree of flexibility. The high performance zooming collimator lens system produces a homogenised 4° colour-changing beam from each lens. Strobe effects and full-range electronic dimming with dimming curve effects add to the design possibilities.
Allen & Heath Selected for New Indonesian Mosque
12/08/2016 - Project News
Indonesia – Allen & Heath iDR-8 matrix mixer and Qu-16 digital rackmount mixer were installed in the recently inaugurated Taqwa Great Mosque in Kutacane in Indonesia’s Aceh Province.
Samsung’s Live @ 837 Concert Series Kicks Off with Pete’s Big TVs
12/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Pete’s Big TVs (PBTV) got the outdoor summer fun off to a big start in New York City at the kick off concert of Samsung’s Live @ 837 series. Having opened Samsung 837 this past spring, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. surprised the neighborhood with an early summer street concert featuring Gwen Stefani and Diplo. PBTV mounted LED screens on the façade of the building and awning and topped the performance stage with a LED dance floor.
Barco continues to grow visualisation technology footprint in Brazil with strong local support
12/08/2016 - Business News
Brazil – Celebrating more than 20 years in Latin America, global visualisation company Barco is strengthening its presence in Brazil with a growing deployment of advanced visualisation projects that support public health and safety, commerce and entertainment in the region.
PixelFLEX hits a Home Run at the 2016 MLB FanFest in San Diego
12/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Held in conjunction with its annual All-Star Game, the Major League Baseball FanFest provides fans with an opportunity to celebrate the players, the game and the community of baseball as a whole. This year, under a mandate from the new commissioner, the production team behind FanFest, BaAM Productions, was asked to re-energise the fan experience inside the San Diego Convention Center. Having worked with the event producers for the last 25 years, MSI Productions technical director Tom Bollard knew that one of the key elements to the reinvigorated design would be a truly immersive LED video entrance which he chose to bring to life with FLEXLite Plus 3.9mm LED video technology from Nashville-based PixelFLEX.
ETC on tour with The Trocks
12/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – This summer, the global phenomenon Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo stormed into Germany for two dazzling months, stopping off at Berlin, Cologne, Mannheim, Osnabrück and Stuttgart along the way. This award-winning American all-male drag ballet corps parodies the conventions and clichés of romantic and classical ballet. On their recent jaunt across Germany, besides their size 12 pointe shoes, the fabulous troupe added ETC equipment to their luggage.
Panasonic Rolls Out VC Platforms for Virtual National Trust Meetings
12/08/2016 - Project News
UK – Panasonic, the National Trust’s technology partner, has played a key part in supporting the National Trust’s video conferencing trial.
d&b announces new advisory board to develop strategic growth
12/08/2016 - Business News
Germany – Leading loudspeaker manufacturer, d&b audiotechnik, has announced the creation of a new advisory board which has been appointed to support the strategy implementation process at d&b. Areas of focus include the continuation of the internationalisation process, strengthening of the segment strategy with particular attention devoted to installed applications and structural company development on the growth trajectory path.
All That Jazz
12/08/2016 - Production News
UK – An acclaimed British lighting designer with many years of theatrical experience, Richard Lambert has enjoyed a fulfilling relationship with the Jazz Dance Company and its artistic director Robbie O’Reilly over the last three years. This summer, the company’s latest UK tour, ‘Unexpected Tales’ explored the light and shade of classic fairy tales and folk stories, as told through the exciting vocabulary of jazz dance styles, such as ballet and tap, choreographed by leading names including Kevan Allen and Nikki Trow.
Unusual Rigging provides wall to wall support for exhibition of The Ethics of Dust: Westminster Hall
11/08/2016 - Production News
UK - After six years of negotiation, Jorge Otero Pailos' artwork, The Ethics of Dust: Westminster Hall was unveiled to the public on June 29th. The artwork, commissioned and produced by Artangel for Westminster Hall, is a 50m long translucent cast of the Hall's internal east wall, revealing how the dust and pollution which have gathered over hundreds of years register a broader environmental history.
Nordlite Invests in GLP Impression X4 Bars
11/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – Event technology service provider Nordlite has expanded its rental fleet to include 60 X4 Bar 20. "You can no longer avoid the X4 Bars," says managing director Wolfgang Frahm. “They are being increasingly requested by our customers and it was time to reinvest again in GLP products. These lights are simply awesome, both the colours and the light output. They are particularly easy to install, and the increased demand for this fixture is understandable. "
DPA Microphones Continues to Deliver Fresh Sound for 11-Time Tony Award Winning, Hamilton
11/08/2016 - Production News
USA – When the smash hit musical Hamilton made its highly anticipated Broadway debut at the Richard Rodgers Theatre last year, sound designer Nevin Steinberg knew he was part of something special. Today, as Hamilton gets ready to celebrate its one-year anniversary on Broadway, Steinberg continues to rely on a selection of predominantly DPA microphones to bring the sold-out audiences to their feet each night.
ESTA Announces January 2017 Plugfest Event
11/08/2016 - Event News
USA – The ESTA Control Protocols Plugfest, an event where manufacturers and developers can test their products for interoperability with other manufacturers’ products, is scheduled to take place 20th - 23rd January, 2017, at the Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Solana in Westlake, Texas. The event is free to attend and everyone is welcome.
Radio City Music Hall Makes a “Spectacular” Upgrade with Meyer Sound’s Leo Family
11/08/2016 - Project News
USA – A new permanent Meyer Sound LEO Family reinforcement system has been installed at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall to support performances by the world-famous Radio City Rockettes, including this summer’s New York Spectacular and the Christmas Spectacular slated for this upcoming holiday season.
The ENTTEC Pixelator Mini
11/08/2016 - Equipment News
When the ENTTEC Pixelator appeared on the market, it changed the paradigm in regards to pixel control. In 2016, ENTTEC is again challenging the state-of-the-art with the release of the Pixelator Mini, a more compact yet still powerful pixel control solution. “The Pixelator Mini fills a void in the market; our Pixie Drivers are great for a couple of hundred pixels, and the Pixelator took us to new heights in large endeavors with 48 universes. However, our clients needed something that fits in between, and the Pixelator Mini is the ideal solution for them,” notes ENTTEC Americas general manager, Jeremy Kumin.
New Improved Chauvet Arena to Showcase Latest Chauvet Professional Fixtures at BPM | PRO
11/08/2016 - Event News
UK – This year’s BPM | PRO, which is to take place from 11th - 13th September at the NEC, Birmingham, will be the largest incarnation of the show to date. Once again, the central focus of the show will be the Chauvet Arena, which will be hosted this year in the larger and more impressive 16,000 capacity NEC Genting Arena.
PLASA AGM: Association Outlines Plans for next 12 months
11/08/2016 - Business News
Ed Pagett, formerly managing director of Panalux broadcast and event and current chairman of PLASA's board has led the organisation through very challenging times. In his speech Ed outlined the many changes that have taken place over the last year including bringing in a new managing director following the departure of former CEO Matthew Griffiths, and the de-merge from PLASA North America (which has now returned to its former name of ESTA) after four years. This development, said Ed, although not desired by PLASA, had brought fresh clarity and new opportunities for PLASA, but had also resulted in a financial fallout with the North American organisation that has yet to be resolved.
JBL Professional by Harman introduces the PRX800W high-powered PA System with Wi-Fi
11/08/2016 - Equipment News
JBL Professional by Harman has introduced the PRX800W high-powered portable PA system. Created by the industry leaders in loudspeaker technology, PRX800W features wireless control and sophisticated DSP, so live sound professionals and musicians can quickly set up and configure a system right from a mobile tablet. PRX800W also features class-leading power and a remarkably lightweight design that makes transportation easy. Thoughtfully designed from the ground up to deliver legendary JBL sound for demanding artists, PRX800W represents the next generation in controllable and portable live sound reinforcement.
Arena Group Tee off at Ricoh Women’s British Open
11/08/2016 - Production News
Continuing its long-standing relationship with the Ricoh Women’s British Open, Arena Structures once again provided temporary event structures for the Championship, which this year took place at the prestigious Woburn Golf Club, 28-31st July.
Four’s Company as Yamaha Heads for the Pro Show
11/08/2016 - Event News
UK – Yamaha Commercial Audio, Yamaha Pro Audio, Nexo and Line 6 will all have a significant presence at the BPM I PRO Sound & Lighting Show, which takes place at the Genting Arena, Birmingham NEC, from 11-13th September.
Turbosound Touring Sound family powers 8,000-strong Arise and Shine Miracle Conference
11/08/2016 - Production News
USA - An incredible Turbosound system of almost 100 loudspeakers was installed at Florida’s United Bank Center for the four-day Arise and Shine Miracle Conference to mark the end of 40-days of fasting by the Tabernacle of Glory church. The conference, which took place from 19th June – 31st July and concluded 28th July – 31st July at Bank United Center, is the second annual event hosted by the church which attracts attendees from all over the US and other countries such as Canada, France and the Dominican Republic.
Movecat LoCo LCS system distinguished at INDUSTRIEPREIS awards
11/08/2016 - Event News
The Movecat team has a new distinction to celebrate, its Movecat LoCo LCS load measuring system having been included the "BEST OF 2016" list at the INDUSTRIEPREIS awards. The INDUSTRIEPREIS awards recognise advanced industrial products of high economic, commercial, technological and ecological utility.
Elation ACL 360 Matrix Fills Many Roles at Europe’s re:publica Conference
11/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – Elation Professional’s ACL 360 Matrix moving head panel showed its versatility on the tenth edition of the re:publica Conference in Berlin, Europe's most popular conference on internet and society (think TED), which took place 2nd - 4th May at historic Station-Berlin in the heart of the German capital.
A decade of DiGiCo for Sound Stylists
11/08/2016 - Production News
South Africa – Ten years ago, Kevin Glover, owner of Johannesburg-based rental company Sound Stylists, visited Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt. Almost immediately after, he made his first DiGiCo purchase – a D5 Live. Since then, Kevin has enjoyed an on-going journey with DiGiCo, who are now represented in South Africa by DWR Distribution.
Evans Audio Visual Staging Invests in New Equipment
11/08/2016 - Production News
Evans Audio Visual Staging has recently invested in new LED displays, compact speakers and laser projectors.
Knight of Illumination Awards 2016 Theatre shortlist announced
11/08/2016 - Event News
UK – The Knight of Illumination Awards (KOI) Theatre judging panel has announced its eagerly anticipated shortlist for this year's ceremony, which will take place at London's iconic Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith on Sunday 18th September.
dLive Appears at Poland’s Jarocin Festival
10/08/2016 - Production News
Poland – A dLive digital mixing system recently appeared at one of Europe’s leading rock festivals, Jarocin Festival in Poland.
Yamaha Nuage Embraces Dolby Atmos – Version 1.8 Update Released with Full Steinberg Nuendo 7.1 Support
10/08/2016 - Equipment News
Yamaha has released the latest software upgrade for its state-of-the-art Nuage DAW system, featuring enhancements that make it an ideal environment for Dolby Atmos surround production and bringing it to the cutting edge of 3D audio.
Robe for Herbert Grönemeyer tour
10/08/2016 - Production News
Europe – The final leg of German superstar Herbert Grönemeyer’s maverick Dauernd Jetzt tour encompassed 12 shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with a variation of the acclaimed visual production design created by leading German LD Gunther Hecker at the start of the tour in 2015 featuring 96 Robe Pointes.
FIX8Group shortlisted for both the AV and ET Awards 2016
10/08/2016 - Event News
UK – Visual production specialist FIX8Group has been shortlisted for three awards at two of the Entertainment Technology sector's major awards ceremonies; the AV and the Entertainment Technology (ET) Awards 2016.
Two New ESTA Standards Published, Two Drafts in Public Review
10/08/2016 - Standards News
Two new ESTA standards were approved by ANSI and published in early August 2016 at tsp.esta.org/freestandards. These, and all of ESTA's American National Standards are free to download, courtesy of ProSight Specialty Insurance. ESTA's Technical Standards Programme relies on donations from the entertainment industry, so, please, if you find value in the tools ESTA is offering at no cost, consider becoming an Investor in Innovation with a donation of any size at tsp.esta.org/invest.
Turbosound’s Flagship Flashline Monitors Now Shipping
10/08/2016 - Equipment News
Turbosound has announced the shipping of its Flagship flashline Monitors range of two-way loudspeakers. Designed primarily as stage monitors, they also accommodate a wide range of portable speech and music sound reinforcement applications. The flagship range consists of four models: two 12” and two 15” models, the TFM122M and TFM152M switchable passive/bi-amp loudspeakers, and the TFM122M-AN and TFM152M-AN powered loudspeakers.
J&C Joel kits out Motiongate Theme Park’s theatre with SkyDeck
10/08/2016 - Project News
UAE – Dubai Parks and Resorts, the new ground-breaking $2.86 billion multi-theme park complex, is set to become the city’s hottest new attraction. At more than 25 million sq ft it will be the largest integrated theme park resort in the region.
NEXT-proaudio appoints a new distributor in Iran and Iraq
10/08/2016 - Business News
Middle East – NEXT-proaudio, the Portuguese audio manufacturer, has announced the appointment of Kish Pishgaman Co., as the company’s exclusive distributor in Iran and Iraq.
d&b audiotechnik announces extra seminars for September 2016 in London and Dublin
10/08/2016 - Event News
UK & Ireland – Two additional d&b Electroacoustics seminars will be held in London and Dublin. These events will take place on Wednesday 7th September at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and on Wednesday 14th September at The Leeson Lounge in Dublin. With only wait list spaces currently available on the d&b seminar and workshop programme in Gloucestershire, these extra sessions are a chance to secure a place at this valued industry event.
Tannoy lends major support to Pro Sound Awards 2016
10/08/2016 - Event News
UK – Leading loudspeaker manufacturer Tannoy, part of MUSIC, has confirmed it will be the headline sponsor of the third Pro Sound Awards, to be held at the world famous Ministry of Sound in London on 22nd September 2016.
Optoma launches new home entertainment projector for lights-on viewing
10/08/2016 - Equipment News
TV fans, gamers and those who love to watch films or live sports can now enjoy a super-sized cinema quality picture in their own home with the new Optoma HD27 projector.
Scrub opens central London’s largest demo facility dedicated to pro audio
10/08/2016 - Business News
UK – Scrub, a division of HHB Communications, has moved to 69 Wells Street in the heart of Fitzrovia, central London. This is a relocation to larger premises for Scrub, the UK’s leading supplier of pro audio technology to post-production houses. The two-floor facility is located on the north side of Oxford Street, on the corner of Wells Street and Margaret Street.
Giant Optocore / Broaman Networks Relay Pope’s Message at WYD
10/08/2016 - Production News
Poland – Billed as the biggest event in the world, two and a half million people are believed to have flocked to the 2016 World Youth Day (WYD), an international Catholic event focused on faith and youth, which this year took place at two sites in Kraków and Brzegi.
White Light Brings a Whole New World to the West End with Aladdin
09/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Disney’s hit new musical Aladdin recently celebrated its West End premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre, opening to critical acclaim on 15th June 2016. Now in its third year on Broadway and with productions playing in Tokyo and Hamburg, Aladdin will also open in Australia this summer. White Light has been called upon to provide the lighting equipment for this dazzling and hugely-anticipated production.
PR Live Boosts Team
09/08/2016 - People News
UK – Event technical production and rental specialist PR Live has expanded its team with the addition of three new key staff members who joined the south London-based company following extremely strong business during the first half of the year.
Introducing Ursa Straps – the Perfect Addition to the Radio Microphone Box
09/08/2016 - Equipment News
UK – Sound recordist Simon Bysshe and costumier Laura Smith have combined their knowledge and expertise to create URSA Straps, a unique range of low profile body worn straps designed to conceal radio microphone transmitters.
Robe Helps Keep the Flame for Miranda Lambert Tour
09/08/2016 - Production News
USA – US singer/songwriter and multi-award winning ‘Queen of Country’ Miranda Lambert is currently touring North America on her “Keeper of the Flame” tour, featuring 27 Robe BMFLs – 19 Spots and eight Blades – part of a completely new lighting design by Minneapolis-based Paul ‘Arlo’ Guthrie, his first for the artist.
New software for DICENTIS Wireless Conference System from Bosch – improved meeting continuity and flexibility
09/08/2016 - Equipment News
The DICENTIS Wireless Conference System is based on a Bosch Smart wireless management software, which ensures interference-free and highly flexible wireless conferencing using standard Wi-Fi technology. This technology frees users from having to search for the best Wi-Fi channel by automatically switching to the strongest channel without interruption.
Hippotizer V4 Taiga's run the 2016 Tony Awards in New York
09/08/2016 - Production News
USA – The Tony’s present a unique set of challenges, not least that the show comprises 15 experts from Broadway shows. Each of these ‘mini shows’ program and rehearse in the days before broadcast. With very little time to program on site, Peter pre-programmed as much as possible in VER’s New York offices using Hippotizer’s built-in Visualiser. A single Taiga running Visualiser was used to display ten outputs and 160 media layers onto the 3D model in real time, helping Acken and the creative team to program much of the show before even arriving in the theatre. On site, the Visualiser remained critical as a way to preview changes without disrupting ongoing rehearsals.
Sennheiser announces new series of Sound Academy courses
09/08/2016 - Standards News
UK – Sennheiser has announced three upcoming courses from the Sennheiser Sound Academy, which will be run in various locations in the UK in August, September, October and November: Wireless Mics Monitoring Essentials, D9000 Digital Wireless Mastered Seminar and Wireless Mics & Monitoring: The Master Class.
Renkus-Heinz Steers the Debate in Thailand's Thammasat University
09/08/2016 - Project News
Thailand – As one of Thailand's oldest institutions of higher learning, Bangkok's Thammasat University has long inspired its staff and students to honour the school motto and "be the finest."
Serious Stages at Electric Daisy Carnival UK
09/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Serious Stages designed and manufactured a custom-built scaffolding system along with bespoke specials to accommodate the impressive 1,200m₂ Crystal Village stage at Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) UK, Milton Keynes, 8th - 10th July.
Optoma gets Edinburgh Fringe Star Out of a Pickle
09/08/2016 - Production News
UK – James Veitch’s return to Edinburgh was averted from disaster as Optoma came to the rescue.
London Churches Enjoy The Benefits Of Yamaha CIS Products
09/08/2016 - Project News
UK – As houses of worship strive to improve the audio quality of their services and other hosted events, Yamaha Commercial Installation Solutions (CIS) products are the ideal solution for a market where ease of installation, cost-effectiveness, flexibility and simple operation are key requirements. Three London churches have recently begun enjoying the many benefits that CIS has to offer.
Paul Smith appointed JHS Operations Director
09/08/2016 - People News
JHS has announced that Paul Smith has been appointed to the newly created position of operations director.
Durham Marenghi and team get the Olympics off to a Bright Start
08/08/2016 - Production News
Early news from the Rio Olympics credits the technical team responsible for the highly successful opening ceremony.
Creative Directors
Fernando Meirelles
Andrucha Waddington
Daniela Thomas
Set Designer - Daniela Thomas
Executive Producer – Marco Balich
Lighting team
Durham Marenghi – Lighting Designer
Jennie Marenghi – Lighting team manager
Joyce Drummond – Associate LD
Nick Collier – TV Lighting Director
Andy Voller – Lead Lighting Programmer
Ross Williams – Lighting Programmer
Paulinho Lebrão – Lighting Programmer
Chris Henry – Followspot Captain (20 spots)
Equipment AGORA
Production Electrician – Nicola-Manuel Tallino
Lighting Manager – Giulio Rovelli
Production
Technical Producer – James Lee
Technical Operations Manager – Donna McMahon
Arial Technical Director – Matteo Tagliabue
Staging and Scenic Technical Director – Dave Williams
Technical Systems Manager – Carl Gosine
Main Suppliers for Lighting Equipment
Clay Paky
SGM
UK/LED
Doughty gets on board the Queen Mary 2
08/08/2016 - Project News
UK – On Thursday, 23rd June, the Queen Mary 2 returned to Southampton, remastered. Over the course of the luxury liner's refit, the interior and exterior had been fully transformed, offering those who step on board a first class experience at sea, where guests are treated to the very best in accommodation, dining and entertainment.
Elation EMOTION Digital Lighting for Season Finale of CBS’s Survivor
08/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Lighting designer Victor Fable has been incorporating digital lighting and graphics effects from Elation Professional’s EMOTION digital light on television shows lately and recently turned to the new generation luminaire for the 2016 season finale of the popular competitive reality television series Survivor.
Robe for SAMAS 2016
08/08/2016 - Production News
South Africa – The 2016 South African Music Awards (SAMAs), one of the highest profile events on the SA music calendar, was again staged at the Durban ICC Arena, broadcast live on SABC1 and enjoyed by an audience of 3,000. For the first time, lighting was designed by Robert Grobler who incorporated over 200 Robe fixtures on the rig which was supplied by Gearhouse South Africa.
Thomsun Hosting Adamson Training Seminar in Dubai
08/08/2016 - Event News
UAE – David Dohrmann, Adamson Systems Engineering’s technical director, Asia Pacific, is scheduled to present a Thomsun sponsored two-day technical training seminar and S-Series product demonstration in Dubai on August 30th - 31st, 2016. The announcement was made by Alok Ghurde from Thomsun.
The Best and the Brightest
08/08/2016 - Equipment News
With the introduction of the Ovation E-260WW, users no longer have to sacrifice brightness to enjoy the efficiency offered by LED technology. The brightest LED ellipsoidal on the market, the new Ovation fixture has an output that exceeds that of an HPL 750W ellipsoidal. Matching its industry-leading brightness with efficiency, the new Ovation fixture also has a 50,000-hour LED source life to lower maintenance costs.
Manchester’s Mainline Adds Allen & Heath dLive to Hire Stock Offering
08/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Manchester-based event supply company Mainline Show Productions has recently invested in an Allen & Heath dLive digital mixing system for its hire stock.
PRG XL Video contracted by Imagination to supply technology for Make the Future London and Shell Eco-marathon Europe 2016
08/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Working closely with Imagination’s production director, Matt Rose and production manager, Matt Francis, PRG XL Video supplied a range of key event technology including video screens and control systems, lighting and rigging, for Make the Future London incorporating Shell Eco-marathon Europe, which took place at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London.
CT Announces Acquisition of The Wireless Works
08/08/2016 - Business News
UK – Creative Technology (CT) has announced the acquisition of The Wireless Works, a specialist event service business based in Godalming, delivering radio communications, intercom and data services to the broadcast and live event markets.
EDC Spectacular with Enteetainment
08/08/2016 - Production News
UK – On behalf of Festival Republic, Dick Tee of enteetainment Ltd, was thrilled to be asked to look after the technical production management of the recent EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) show in Milton Keynes Bowl, working alongside his counterpart, world renowned production manager Jake Berry, who was representing Los Angeles based Festival producers ‘Insomniac’.
CT Announces Strategic Partnership with SBG
08/08/2016 - Business News
Creative Technology (CT) has announced a strategic partnership with SBG Sports Software (SBG). The partnership introduces the ‘Focus’ video adjudication (VA) platform to major sports events providing broadcast quality video resources for officials to refer to in their decision making process. Multiple ‘Focus’ systems, will be deployed in Rio during August, following its debut at the recent IAAF Diamond League Athletics event – the Müller Anniversary Games – which featured the return of Usain Bolt to London’s Olympic Stadium.
UrbanVoices connects sound and vision with L-ISA Live
08/08/2016 - Production News
France – UrbanVoices has been held in the French city of Nantes each July for the past six years and features a 1,000-strong choir of Nantes singers from seven to 89 years old. This is spectacular in itself, but this year the audience experience was further enhanced with the use of L-ISA Live, the latest sound reinforcement concept introduced by L-Acoustics founder Christian Heil.
Avolites delivers bespoke control system at new Las Vegas nightclub JEWEL
08/08/2016 - Project News
USA – The latest addition to the Hakkasan Group, JEWEL Nightclub inside ARIA Resort & Casino, has raised the Las Vegas entertainment bar once again, with an interactive lighting design controlled by a custom Avolites system of integrated control desks and Ai media servers.
Video Design paints a picture for Mumford & Sons
05/08/2016 - Production News
UK – For four years Alex Leinster and his team of video technicians have installed and managed a 1,000 square metres of LED screen and camera package for AEG’s highly regarded Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park concert season. The equipment supplied by Video Design has been slightly expanded this year: “We’ve added a 1.1-metre-wide vertical wrap around strip to the stage left wing to improve the view from the VIP area,” explained Leinster. This well-reasoned attention to detail illuminates the bigger question, what do performers actually do with this generous expanse of video screen?
Britrow and L-Acoustics make a Daisy chain with new KS28s
05/08/2016 - Production News
UK – A The Milton Keynes Bowl was once again the venue for the Electric Daisy Carnival this summer that attracted over 55,000 passionate EDM aficionados. For the fourth year running it was Britannia Row Productions that supplied all four stages: the main bowl arena with delays and also the three tent stages – the circuitGROUND, the cosmicMEADOW and the neonGARDEN. Each stage was rigged with an L-Acoustics loudspeaker system, predominantly K1s on the main stage with K2s being the main component at the circuitGROUND, the cosmicMEADOW and the neonGARDEN.
Zero 88 ‘In Control’ Photo Competition
05/08/2016 - Event News
Zero 88 has launched a competition offering one of its powerful and flexible FLX lighting consoles as a prize.
Sound and Light Get the BMFL Trend
05/08/2016 - Production News
Denmark – Sound and Light is a busy rental company based in the bustling port and university town of Aalborg on the edge of the gently rolling, lush countryside of Jutland, north Denmark, and a recent investor in Robe’s BMFL Spot moving light fixtures.
Firefly FloppyFlex LED Neon Tours the World with Coldplay
05/08/2016 - Production News
Worldwide – The spectacular stage set for Coldplay’s 2016 A Head Full of Dreams Tour is highlighted by the new, bright, RGB Firefly FloppyFlex flexible LED neon. Currently on a seven-city US stadium run, the tour began early this year in South America, then went to Europe, and will continue to Australia and New Zealand.
CPL Sweetens the Fudge Mix
05/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Production specialist Bright collaborated again with technical solutions expert Central Presentations Ltd (CPL) who delivered full technical design and production for a live hair styling and catwalk presentation event in Manchester for cult hair brand, Fudge Professional.
The Ambersphere family supports James Bay
05/08/2016 - Production News
Worldwide – The The James Bay success story has gone from strength to strength; the current tour still has six months to run as the European festivals of the early summer give way to a stint in Asia then on to the USA for an exploratory month. Liam Tully has been at the helm of the lighting design since 2014.
Protec Provides HQ Creative with the Biggest Show yet for NAS Sports Tournament Opening Ceremony
05/08/2016 - Production News
UAE – The main multi-purpose indoor arena at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex was the venue once again for the Opening Ceremony of the annual NAS Sports Tournament. Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, it was opened by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, president of the UAE Olympic Committee.
LD Gurdip Mahal and Gaffer James Tinlsley rock the house with intense effect as the battles commence
05/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Filmed in front of a live studio audience at a purpose-built arena in Glasgow, the team at the all new Robot Wars have brought a total ‘rock & roll’ feel to the cult classic.
Butch Allen Gives 98 Degrees Tour Big Looks with Maverick MK2 Wash
05/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Legendary designer Butch Allen, who is known almost as much for his flamboyant verbal style as his killer light shows, was characteristically unabashed when recounting the start of his work on the current 98 Degrees MY2K Tour. “This is one in a series of shows I've proudly designed with my friends at FACULTY Productions,” said the New York-born owner of Los Angeles-based Blame Funnel Creative. “Unfortunately, we had had very little time – I mean 48 hours – to program the entire thing. My lighting directors Andy Figueroa and Dan Norman sacrificed quite a bit to survive their first patented Butch Allen programming death march, but the end result was well worth it!”
Lab Gruppen PLM+ Powers Biggest Rock Band in the World
05/08/2016 - Production News
Italy – Just over a year ago, 1,000 musicians became a viral phenomenon by banding together to perform an epic cover of Foo Fighters’ ‘Learn to Fly’. The effort was part of a successful campaign to convince the world-famous rock band to perform in the city of Cesana, Italy. Just over a week ago the project, named Rockin’1000, returned again for a second incredible concert. The band’s 1,200 members took over Cesana’s Orogel Stadium for an open concert to a 14,000-strong crowd powered by Lab Gruppen’s PLM20K44 amplifiers.
Arena Group Acquires Hong Kong-based Ironmonger Marquees
05/08/2016 - Business News
Hong Kong – Global event supplier, Arena Group, has bought Hong Kong-based event production company Ironmonger Marquees, to create Arena Hong Kong, extending its Asian capabilities with a new office and hub in Northern Asia.
Elation Launches Fuze Series of Dynamic Wash Lights
05/08/2016 - Equipment News
Elation Professional has announced the launch of the new Fuze Series of dynamic LED wash luminaires. Using single-lens RGBW COB LEDs for an extremely homogenised field of light and offering a wide palette of colours, Fuze Series lights are ideal lighting solutions anywhere a wash of high-quality coloured light is required.
Stunning stability: Gravity rocks the Town Tower Festival in Straubing
05/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – The city of Straubing celebrated the 700th anniversary of its city tower with a large festival. On two prominent stages, Gravity stands ensured beautiful stability. “They did a great job and made our life easier,” says Michael Wittenzellner from the production company StereoMike.
A Megavision for Robe
05/08/2016 - Production News
Australia – Megavision is one of the Australia's leading rental, technical production and installation companies.
Turbosound deployed for Gentse Feesten
05/08/2016 - Production News
Belgium – A large Turbosound system of more than 70 loudspeakers recently provided flawless coverage for two stages of ‘The Gentse Feesten’, one of Europe’s biggest cultural festivals held annually across the city of Ghent. Splendit, the largest Turbosound rental company in the Benelux was commissioned to ensure consistent and controlled coverage of sound, on and off the site.
MIDAS PRO9 – Master of Ceremonies
05/08/2016 - Production News
Malaysia – The MIDAS PRO9 mixing console was recently used by Premier Echo Sound & Lighting for Malaysia’s 2016 Sukma Games opening ceremony which has been praised as ‘one of the most excellent ceremonies in the history of Sukma’ by the Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin. Kuching’s Sarawak Stadium was host to 45,000 attendees for a captivating show delivered by 3,000 performers, and was broadcast live on Malaysia’s TV1 on 23rd July 2016.
Hawthorn Constructs Drone Enclosure for Farnborough International Airshow
05/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Creative technical production company Hawthorn recently worked in collaboration with the prestigious Farnborough International Airshow and the UK Drone Show to create a custom-made drone enclosure to house all the action for this year’s UK Drone Racing Masters.
White Light Provides the Lighting for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
05/08/2016 - Production News
UK – In what is being regarded as one of the biggest productions in West End history, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child recently opened at the Palace Theatre to rave reviews. The play is the eighth story set in the Harry Potter universe and takes place 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As the leading lighting supplier to West End and UK theatre, WL was approached to provide the lighting for this hugely-anticipated production.
ModTruss is 'a dream come true' for The Crucible
05/08/2016 - Production News
UK – ModTruss, the industry-changing modular truss and winner of the ABTT Engineering Product of the Year 2015, has been used for the first time in the UK as a structural piece of scenery at Sheffield's Crucible theatre.
LED Creative adds its Alpha system to new look Eurosport studios
05/08/2016 - Production News
UK - Working alongside scenic designer Sarah Milton, Illumination specialists LED Creative help create the suite of ‘neon’ light boxes that populate the vibrant new set at Eurosport’s London-based studios.
OSRAM and Clay Paky acquire ADB operations to expand leadership in entertainment lighting
04/08/2016 - Business News
OSRAM is expanding its leading market position in the entertainment sector and has acquired certain assets from ADB TTV SAS and continue their business operations. The acquired business will become integral part of OSRAM’s subsidiary Clay Paky. ADB is a French company with a factory in Saint Quentin, which specialises in lighting for theatres and TV studios. The transaction was completed on 3rd August 2016. “With the acquisition of ADB TTV SAS’ business and the highly reputable ADB brand, we will expand our position in the innovation-driven entertainment lighting market”, said Hans-Joachim Schwabe, CEO of OSRAM's speciality lighting business unit.
HSL Lights Barry Manilow on Tour One Last Time
04/08/2016 - Production News
UK – The very final leg of Barry Manilow’s “One Last Time” farewell tour saw the legendary singer play arenas in nine cities across the UK, culminating in a show stopping performance at London’s O2, with lighting equipment and crew supplied by Blackburn-based HSL.
L-Acoustics' Kara Lets Blue Man Group's Colours Shine Through in Sunny Florida
04/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Blue Man Group, the performance company that has won an Obie, a Drama Desk and a Grammy Award nomination for its eccentric, percussive ruminations on the human condition, has popular productions in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Berlin and Orlando. One of the most highly attended has been in Orlando, where the production has been performing at the Blue Man Group Theatre at CityWalk at the Universal Orlando Resort since 2007.
Total Structures announces Kinesys-ready Pointman Hoists for the North American Market
04/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Kinesys automation customers have a new choice in chain hoists for their systems. After successful testing of several models, Total Structures has announced Pointman electric chain hoists have been approved for use with the Elevation drive system. Currently hoists are available in quarter-ton, half-ton and one ton capacities, with maximum speeds ranging from 40 to more than 70 feet per minute. All units have the added benefit of complying with the D8+ hoist standard common throughout Europe, offering a 10:1 design factor, dual brake assemblies, and over-travel limit switches.
Eighth Day Sound Continues to Invest in Adamson
04/08/2016 - Production News
Worldwide – Eighth Day Sound, headquartered in Highland Heights, Ohio, with offices in London, Sydney and Los Angeles, has taken delivery of an additional 120 Adamson E-Series and 72 S-Series loudspeakers. The purchase is designed to meet the growing demand for Adamson sound reinforcement systems worldwide.
Celebrating 40 years in business, Canford continues to innovate and is set to launch several new products and services at IBC 2016.
04/08/2016 - Event News
The Netherlands – Following strategic investment, Canford is launching its new fibre termination facility, which will be located at the company's Washington headquarters and promise a number of other product developments for IBC 2016.
Tim Routledge's Lighting Design for Take That at Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park with Support from PRG XL Video
04/08/2016 - Production News
UK – As part of the Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park series of live shows, Take That played a one-off outdoor show in the famous London park.
New Hybrid Range from Miltec
04/08/2016 - Equipment News
The new hybrid range from Miltec includes the 330 Mk1 and 440 Mk1. With features rivalling other fixtures currently available, these have already proved to be very popular.
Sapsis Rigging and ProPlus join IATSE Local 16 for Fall Arrest Training Class
04/08/2016 - Standards News
USA – Scott Price, ProPlus sales director at Sapsis Rigging, teamed up with IATSE Local 16 for Local 16’s annual Fall Arrest Training Session at the Moscone Center. ProPlus, the only full line of fall arrest equipment designed by and for entertainment industry professionals, provided an opportunity for the stagehands to learn proper harness choice, inspection and use.
Clarity in Pendragon Multi Sensory Centre
04/08/2016 - Project News
UK – The Pendragon Multi Sensory Centre in Northallerton, a specialist centre charged with making real differences to the lives of those with physical, mental and emotional difficulties, opened its doors for the first time on 4th July 2016.
dLive shows its Potential in German Theatre Festival
04/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – Allen & Heath’s dLive digital mixing system was recently selected to manage FoH duties at the 58th annual Bad Gandersheim outdoor theatre festival in Germany.
Powersoft Electrifies America’s Two National Conventions
04/08/2016 - Production News
USA – When the two national conventions were held to select the presidential candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties, Powersoft was on hand to electrify the events.
Nearly 850 Elation LED Lights for Newly Designed EDC Vegas Circuit Grounds Stage
03/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas is the holy grail of EDM events and America’s largest dance music festival. This year, Insomniac Events organised a spectacular 20th anniversary celebration that included a newly designed and expanded Circuit Grounds stage lit with a lighting package that incorporated nearly 850 Elation Professional LED luminaires.
GLP's GT-1 Picks Up its First Award
03/08/2016 - Event News
USA – GLP has celebrated its third major product award in two months, with rAVe Publications naming the new GLP GT-1 as the Best New Lighting Fixture on show at this year’s massive InfoComm AV integration show in Las Vegas.
Clay Paky Scenius Spot makes South American debut
03/08/2016 - Production News
Peru – The brand new Clay Paky Scenius Spot has landed in South America for the first time and is dubbed ‘fixture of choice’ by prolific lighting designer Mario Raez in the Peruvian staging of jukebox classic Mamma Mia at the Teatro Peruano Japones in Lima.
PixelFLEX creates heightened sense of visual excitement for Unbridled Eve
03/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Held on the eve of the Kentucky Derby, Unbridled Eve is a black tie-optional event which pairs a VIP cocktail reception and dinner with live entertainment provided by celebrity musical artists. Located annually inside the Galt House Hotel Grand Ballroom, Marcus Cambron and his team at Visual Productions have been creating the evening’s production design over the last 18 years working with a number of event sponsors. Knowing this year that the organisers wanted to capitalise on the performance capabilities of LED video, Cambron turned to Nashville-based PixelFLEX who provided him with FLEXCurtain HD LED video technology to create an energetic and dynamic visual experience.
Chauvet Professional Sets Stage at Moapa Madness
03/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Ordinarily, a travel plaza is a place where weary people go to recharge their batteries (both internal and in their mobile phones), grab a cup of coffee and have some forgettable food, but few things about Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza are ordinary. Located on Moapa Paiute tribal land less than an hour from the Las Vegas strip, this plaza has a 10,000 square foot tent housing one of the largest collections of fireworks in the western US. It’s also home to a “launch pad” located on a broad expanse of remote desert land, where customers can engage in pyrotechnic pursuits to their heart’s content.
Christie Q-Series Projectors perform at the heart of Arup’s winning audio-visual sculpture
03/08/2016 - Project News
UK – A quartet of Christie Q Series projectors have enabled a stunning ‘talking sculpture’ to be realised as part of a winning design installation at global engineering firm Arup that incorporated AV as a dynamic element. ‘Heart of Arup’ by DaeWha Kang Design – 2016’s successful entry of the annual ‘No.8@Arup’ competition – is a unique structure which incorporates Arup’s digital social network stream into a creative audio-visual installation. Christie’s Q-Series projectors are utilised to project multiple social media posts from Arup’s Yammer stream onto cable-suspended acrylic ‘leaves’ of the sculpture, which has been installed at the company’s spacious atrium area in London. This innovative concept takes the digital thoughts, expertise and insights of Arup employees from the virtual world and brings them into a visible reality.
Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas Sails with Elation Lighting and Video
03/08/2016 - Project News
Ovation of the Seas took its maiden voyage in April as the third Quantum class luxury cruise liner from Royal Caribbean International to feature an onboard Elation Professional lighting and video system. It follows the successful launch of Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, both of which sail with a full complement of energy-efficient Elation Professional products.
Technology and Innovation at the Heart of ibtm Events
03/08/2016 - Event News
Spain – ibtm world continues to provide a platform for both cutting-edge technology and leading innovation. This year will see the growth of the Innovation Zone as well as the introduction of a Technology & Event Services Zone on the show floor.
Tarm launches new website and shows new products
02/08/2016 - Equipment News
Since the joining of the Laserworld Group beginning of 2016, a lot of development has happened at tarm. Not only have several new laser systems been developed and launched, but also processes were streamlined and optimised.
WIcreations Are Electric
02/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Leading Belgium-based automations, engineering and scenic construction specialist WIcreations was asked by staging experts StageCo, working for Insomniac the production company, to produce key scenic elements of the main circuitGROUNDS stage at the 2016 Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) dance extravaganza in Las Vegas.
Robe Inspired for ECOT Graduation Ceremony
02/08/2016 - Production News
USA – The 2016 annual high school graduation ceremony for the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) – an online public community school – was staged at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, where around 12,000 people watched more than 1,300 students graduate.
The Design Oasis Adds Movement to Miss Florida Pageant with the Rogue R1 FX-B
02/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Beauty is big business in Florida, a state that follows pageants with a level of interest that is unmatched in all but a few places in the US. This year’s edition of the Miss Florida pageant generated over $1 million for host city Fort Lauderdale.
Felix Lighting Provides Clay Paky Lighting for 20th Annual Electric Daisy Carnival
02/08/2016 - Production News
USA – Felix Lighting helped Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) celebrate its 20th anniversary with a large complement of Clay Paky lighting fixtures at its flagship Las Vegas Motor Speedway venue.
APG Puts R&D First with New Engineer Hires
02/08/2016 - People News
France – APG, the French manufacturer of high end professional loudspeakers and inventor of the modular line array, has announced that it has hired two new engineers, thus reinforcing its core business. The announcement is in line with the objectives set by the company when it joined forces with Active Audio in April 2016.
PRG XL Video Supports Massive Attack and Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time Hyde Park
02/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Bristolian trip-hop band, Massive Attack headlined the opening night of the Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park festival on Friday 1st July. PRG XL Video continued its established relationship supplying lighting and rigging services to the festival, as well as working with video director Icarus Wilson-Wright to deliver a show fizzing with topical content and a novel use of their video screen technology.
Hearing protection revolutionised with launch of health and safety product for live event, studio and home use
02/08/2016 - Equipment News
ISOLATE by Flare Audio Ltd is a revolutionary new, patent-pending ear protector, a long overdue solution for any music and events professional who works in loud sound environments. The ear protectors rival traditional foam or flanged ear plugs and are also ideal for home and other commercial uses.
City Theatrical Launches RGBI QolorFlex LED Tape
02/08/2016 - Equipment News
City Theatrical has announced the launch of a new RGBI QolorFlex LED tape developed for professional lighting designers who often need deeper blue accents, backgrounds, and shadings in set lighting. City Theatrical’s RGBI LED tape alternates a 5050 RGB chip with a 450nm indigo chip, giving extra powerful, deep blue output.
dLive Goes Global With Above & Beyond
02/08/2016 - Production News
Worldwide – Globally-renowned trance group, Above & Beyond, has embarked on a worldwide tour specifying Allen & Heath dLive and ME systems to manage monitors. dLive was requested by monitor engineer, Tom Howat, who has toured with the likes of Paolo Nutini, Morrissey and Franz Ferdinand.
International Audio Group (IAG) announces the appointment of Darrell Huggins as Group CEO
02/08/2016 - People News
China – International Audio Group (IAG) has announced the appointment of Darrell Huggins (pictured) as Group CEO. Darrell will be based at IAG’s global headquarters in Shenzhen, China and will focus on strengthening the team and brand portfolio worldwide.
NEXT-proaudio powers Reeds Festival
02/08/2016 - Production News
Switzerland – Taking place in Pfäffikon, Reeds Festival presents some of the top international Reggae bands, such as Julian Marley & The Uprising, Bitty McLean, Desorden Público, Kalles Kaviar, Marla Brown, The Kinky Coo Coo's, Treesha feat Denham Smith & Soulions.
White Light Sees How the Other Half Loves in Two West End Venues
02/08/2016 - Production News
UK – Alan Ayckbourn’s marital comedy How the Other Half Loves recently stormed back into the West End at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. Revived by renowned producer Bill Kenwright, the play received rave reviews during its limited run at the venue. Such was its success that it immediately transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre where it is currently running until 1st October. As the leading lighting supplier to West End theatre, White Light was approached to provide the lighting for both productions.
PR Lighting ‘BWS’ Opens Doors for Focon at EDM Festival
01/08/2016 - Production News
Germany – Focon Showtechnic, the German distributors for PR Lighting, believe the Chinese manufacturer’s products have come of age following their successful outing at the recent Electro-Magnetic EDM festival in Völklingen, promoted by 4plus.
Aladdin Hamburg with TiMax wins LEA Best Show award
01/08/2016 - Event News
Disney’s first European roll-out of its Broadway smash hit Aladdin has won the prestigious LEA Show of the Year award for 2016. Sponsored by PRG, the award ceremony took place at the Frankfurt Festhalle in April, with other nominees including the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest in Austria.
Lemmon Productions Get The Pointe
01/08/2016 - Production News
Indonesia – Jakarta-based Lemmon Productions purchased 54 Robe Pointe multi-purpose moving lights, which started work immediately for broadcaster Trans7 on its popular live improvised comedy show, Opera van Java (OVJ)’s ‘Sahur Lagi’ show, which aired every night during Ramadan, drawing massive ratings.
MIDAS Delivers Audio Excellence with Perrone Sonido
01/08/2016 - Standards News
Argentina-based MIDAS and KLARK TEKNIK rental company, Perrone Sonido, has been conducting in-depth training with sound engineers to build on MIDAS’ presence in the country. The rental company, led by Carlos Maria Perrone, has just recently hosted a two month series of training seminars in the country’s capital of Buenos Aires.
New Clay Paky Spheriscans on stage with Vasco Rossi
01/08/2016 - Production News
Italy – Vasco Rossi is back, and he is in great shape. He kicked off his new summer tour with a zero date at the Lignano Sabbiadoro stadium on 18th June. The "unauthorised exclusive preview" announcement arrived in a post on Vasco's Facebook page. After the long 2015 tour that stopped off in Bari, Milan, Bologna, Padua, Messina, Florence, Turin and Naples, Live Kom 2016 arrived in Rome with a new, powerful, exciting show, a new line-up, and new stars on the stage: Clay Paky Spheriscans.
Yamaha TF1s Mix The Council of the European Union for a Global Audience
01/08/2016 - Project News
Slovakia – The Slovakian government holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2016, a role which rotates between member states every six months. Yamaha TF1 digital mixing consoles have been chosen for the vital role of mixing the local and broadcast audio for ministerial meetings, leader summits and press conferences.
ETC's first international Workshop a success
01/08/2016 - Event News
USA – Every two years in Madison, Wisconsin, ETC hosts Workshop, an educational event used to train and share new information with industry dealers, reps, and distributors. This summer, for the first time, the event was opened internationally. The week-long event started 12th July, and brought 313 dealers, reps, and distributors from 34 countries to the ETC headquarters. “Workshop is ETC’s best opportunity to bring our sales family together. This was definitely ETC’s most successful Workshop ever,” says Patti Tuttrup, ETC marketing events specialist.
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