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07 January 2025

USA - There were many magical moments in Boston’s 7,200-seat Agganis Arena on 14 December as Christmas came early for music fans with the arrival of Teddy Swims' Deck The Hall Ball. 

Contributing to the special mood at the show was a balanced production from the team at Events United led by project manager/systems engineer Chase Clark, which drew on the bright output and colour rendering prowess of 82 Chauvet Professional fixtures.

Rachael Fahey, production designer for the concert, described how the fixtures were used. "When I design a show, I try to give our lighting designers a variety of tools to work with," she said. "Our light director Meg Fiske consistently does a great job working with these lighting rigs with amazing success."

Playing a key role in making the show come alive were 82 Chauvet Professional fixtures from Even

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07 January 2025

Columbia - Esteban Gil Arcila, professionally known as Esteban Tosta, has risen to become a well-recognised reference in the lighting design community of South America. Working alongside stars like Colombian singer Maluma, Esteban turns to Elation’s new lighting technology to fulfil his clients’ vision and create stunning visual experiences that enhance their performances.

“Every show we imagine is tied to the type of equipment we use,” he says, adding, “That’s why the constant innovation of brands, offering new equipment and fresh ideas, is key. This not only facilitates the design but also allows for testing and experimenting with new setups, which boosts confidence when integrating them into the riders.”

Early in his career, working for one of Medellín’s biggest production companies, Genesis Producciones, gave him the chance to wo

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07 January 2025

Europe - DJ and record producer David Guetta is an advocate of K-array’s sound solutions. Guetta first encountered K-array systems in an entirely unexpected way. “I organised a big party for my son, and they told me there would be a K-array sound system,” Guetta recalls. “I was a bit nervous because the space was huge, but I couldn’t believe how incredible it sounded. The clarity and power were astonishing.”

Impressed by the quality and innovation, Guetta was eager to associate his image with the brand, making it an integral part of his weekly residency at Ibiza’s Ushuaïa nightclub.

Working mainly with K-array’s point source Dragon range and Kayman and Mugello line-array loudspeakers, Guetta now includes a full K-array system on his weekly residency. “Every Monday, I use the K-array sound system for my events and e

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07 January 2025

Spain - Martin Audio is gearing up its ISE presence this year with The FlexPoint Pitstop Challenge, a competition to test your speed and skill in rotating the driver on its flagship FlexPoint loudspeaker, the FP8. The contestant with the fastest time recorded over the four-day event will be crowned ‘the ultimate speed champion’, and receive a prize package valued at £10,000, including 2x FP8, 2x SX112 and 1x iKON iK41.

Each model in the FlexPoint range – aside from the ultra-compact FP4 – features a multi-angle enclosure that allows seamless orientation in either portrait or landscape mode. Thanks to Martin Audio’s proprietary quick-release grille latches and captive release clamps, the FlexPoint driver can be effortlessly rotated 90° by hand, without any tools.

This design ensures quick adjustments in the field, a feature Martin Audio is

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07 January 2025

Spain - The OCA Alliance, the trade association supporting the AES70 standard for Open Control Architecture, is to host an event at ISE 2025. In partnership with the Audio Product Development Alliance (ADPA) – an association dedicated to improving the knowledge and skills of professionals involved in the development of audio products, from concept to delivery – the OCA Alliance is holding a product development meet-up on their stand 7-E260 at 2pm on Wednesday 5 February, 2025. 

Interested parties are invited to learn more about how the incorporation of open standards such as AES70 into their products can help get their products to market faster and appeal to a wider audience. It’s also an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow professionals and exchange ideas and insights. To enrol, register your interest here by 17 January 2025: https://ocaalli

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07 January 2025

China - Wharfedale Pro has welcomed Marko Jovanović to its International Application and Solutions team. Based in China, Jovanović will support local customers while contributing to the team's global strength.

Jovanović has extensive experience as a live sound engineer, specialising in FOH and stage monitor mixing for events and festivals in Eastern Europe before continuing his career in China since 2015. His expertise in live sound engineering includes system design for large-scale events and also encompasses his role as head of dept for the world's largest immersive audio system in Shanghai.

"Marko's experience will be a great asset for us here at Wharfedale Pro," says Danny Clarke, sales director. "With his extensive European background and expertise in immersive audio, he brings a wealth of knowledge that will greatly strengthen our global sup

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07 January 2025

Festival Finances - Glastonbury Festival has reported that profits more than doubled last year, as it faces criticism for being too "corporate". The festival brought in £5.9m in pre-tax profits for the year to March 2024 – up from £2.9m the year before. During the same period, the event also donated £5.2m to charitable organisations including Oxfam, Greenpeace and WaterAid.

A spokesperson for the festival said "successful, dry Glastonburys in both 2023 and 2024" had helped to "rebuild the event's vital financial reserves". The spokesperson said it also allowed them to "continue to support good causes and charities". Like many festivals, Glastonbury saw record losses during the pandemic, with the event called off in 2020 and 2021, "costing the festival millions", said the spokesperson.

In The Courts - A cyber hacker has pleaded g

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06 January 2025

USA - Sphere Entertainment delivered the Sphere New Year’s Eve Celebration presented by Lexus – a custom Exosphere content show to ring in 2025 on the world’s largest LED screen. This included a celebration of major cities around the world as different time zones approach midnight, culminating with Sphere serving as Las Vegas’ official countdown to 2025 as part of the destination’s citywide New Year’s Eve fireworks show.

And immediately after the clock struck midnight, Sphere showcased content from Afterlife Presents Anyma The End of Genesys, which played inside Sphere on New Year’s Eve. The Celebration also featured a festive Lexus activation and art from XO Artist UON Visuals.

“Sphere is a global landmark, and we’re excited to be sharing New Year’s Eve with our fans around the world through our Exosphere show,

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06 January 2025

UAE - Netherlands-based manufacturer ELC Lighting has announced the appointment of Sonic Evolution FZC as the new exclusive distributor for both its brands, ELC and Green-GO, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Based in Sharjah, Sonic Evolution FZC is now set to provide both of ELC Lighting’s award-winning product ranges – the ELC range of DMX-over-IP lighting control products and the Green-GO family of digital wireless intercom solutions – to its customer base throughout the UAE.

A distributor of specialist technologies for the professional production industry, Sonic Evolution was set up just last year by India-born Dr. Rajesh Khade (an actual medical doctor, as well as a drummer and live sound engineer) and his partner Arnold Coelho (an audio and mechanical engineer) to provide targeted technical solutions to entertainment production professio

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06 January 2025

Poland - Australian manufacturer LSC Control Systems has welcomed Prolight, a well-known provider of professional lighting equipment and services, as its new exclusive distributor for Poland.

Founded in 1996, Prolight has built a leading position in the Polish market and is now looking forward to providing its customers with access to LSC’s innovative range of power and data management products, all of which are designed and manufactured in Melbourne, Australia.

As well as representing a portfolio of leading brands in the fields of lighting, multimedia, and stage technology, Prolight provides services including maintenance, installation and training.

Kacper Rzeczkowski of Prolight believes the LSC range brings important synergies to its offering. He says: “Since its acquisition by Robe Lighting, awareness of LSC in Poland has significantl

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06 January 2025

India - As it marks 33 years in the live event sector, rental solutions company Mowzz Entertainment has made significant investments in new technology, with L-Acoustics’ K Series loudspeakers and the first Celto Acoustique IsoRay system in India.

"From its inception, Mowzz has only partnered with globally reputed brands for its inventory – be it loudspeakers to backline and anything in between. We’ve consistently set the benchmark for quality and performance in everything that we’ve done over the past 33 years; and this year proved to be the perfect time for Mowzz to leap into a new era of performance excellence,” states Zakir Alladin, founder-director of Hyderabad-based Mowzz Entertainment.

Prakash Savio, partner and head of technical production at Mowzz Entertainment adds: “A strong commitment to superlative performance and reliability,

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06 January 2025

Denmark - Travel up the Jutland peninsula to Denmark’s northwest coast and you find one of the country’s largest and most popular amusement parks, Fårup Sommerland. The park showcases a popular light festival each autumn, Lysfald, which this year ran for 16 days in October and attracted over 12,500 guests per day.

Pivotal in ensuring that the lighting installation ran smoothly were Netron EN6 IP nodes, award-winning data distribution devices by Obsidian Control Systems that played a critical role in managing the large-scale, synchronised lighting display.

Fårup Sommerland is home to seven roller coasters and the country’s largest amusement park water park. Four years ago, in collaboration with AV solutions provider Profox, the park sought to extend its season into the autumn by creating a new attraction – an immersive, park-wide li

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06 January 2025

India - PP Sound Light Productions delivered the soundscape for Mumbai’s India Cocktail Week with technologies from Meyer Sound, DiGiCo and d&b Audiotechnik.

“India Cocktail Week is a celebration of sensory experiences, and sound plays a crucial role in amplifying the audience’s connection to the event. Our goal was to deliver an immersive and consistent audio experience across the expansive festival grounds, ensuring every attendee enjoyed impeccable sound quality, regardless of their location,” says Prasad Parkar, founder-director of PP Sound Light Productions.

India Cocktail Week (ICW) returned for its fifth edition on 30 November and 1 December 2024 at Mumbai’s Jio World Garden.

A vibrant community platform, ICW has long established itself as more than just a festival. It is a melting pot where spi

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06 January 2025

Spain - Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi is the largest indoor arena in Spain, but even this sleek 18,000-capacity venue couldn't contain all the energy and excitement generated by the 19th edition of the annual Los 40 Music Awards held there this November.

First there was the music: with 17 international artists performing 40 songs, the ceremony celebrated virtually every facet of Latin and urban music. There were also the awards presentations – and this year an extra dimension, as Los 40 served as a telethon, partnering with The Red Cross to raise money for those affected by the 2024 Spanish floods.

Designer Alain Corthout with help from operator Timothy Demets supported the various dimensions of Los 40 by serving up a range of lighting looks that were equally at home pulsating to the music of performers like Rauw Alejandro, Ana Mena, Lola Índigo,

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06 January 2025

Mexico - The newly inaugurated Potosí Arena stands as a symbol of innovation in support of culture. With a capacity of over 20,000 people, this venue is set to host concerts by national and international artists and various sports and cultural events. The governor of San Luis Potosí, Ricardo Gallardo, officiated the opening of this new space, which is expected to boost the city's tourism and economic appeal after 23 years without a venue of this scale.

The construction of the Potosí Arena took approximately 22 months and involved more than 4,000 tons of steel. This arena was designed and built entirely by engineers and architects from the University of San Luis Potosí, making it a testament to the ingenuity and capability of its local talent.

The lighting system installation played a key role in the arena's opening, combining advanced technology

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06 January 2025

UK - Blue Thunder Sound provided full production for the London Film Music Orchestra concert at St Paul's Cathedral, using over 200 lighting fixtures, including 102 Prolights Smart Bat units.

Blue Thunder Sound strategically placed the lighting fixtures to enhance the architectural features of the cathedral, minimising cable runs by employing wireless signals for lighting and audio control. The setup focused on achieving stunning stage effects without the use of haze machines, utilising the power of the Smart Bat to create an immersive visual experience that highlighted the historical beauty of the structure.

"The Prolights lighting system played a crucial role in transforming St Paul's Cathedral into an immersive space, emphasising every architectural detail with extraordinary precision," commented the Blue Thunder Sound team. "Thanks to the flexibi

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06 January 2025

USA - The McAllen Holiday Parade presented by H-E-B helped kick off the festive season in South Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. This nighttime holiday parade featured over 60 illuminated floats, 38 larger-than-life character helium balloons, 16 school bands and dance teams, and appearances by international and local celebrities.

The 2024 theme, Noche Mágica (Magical Night), was hosted by TV personalities Mario Lopez and Julian Gil, with special guest appearances by players from the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders.

This year’s parade drew over 265,000 attendees along the 1.5-mile route, with over a million more television viewers. It began at the McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, where spectators of all ages filled the stands for an evening of entertainment.

When approached for the project, Jeff Krebs, presi

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06 January 2025

Germany - Founded in Ibiza in 1973, the international club brand Pacha has had a presence in Munich’s city centre since 2000. As is the case for its other sites around the globe, the Munich venue regularly hosts world-famous DJs from the techno and house scene including Sven Väth, Fat Boy Slim, DJ Hell, and Carl Cox. Naturally, given the club’s status, its audio system is of the utmost importance.

Munich-based TAPS Media has been responsible for Pacha’s sound technology for two decades and was recently involved in an upgrade to the venue’s system which relied on Coda Audio’s HOPS (high output point source) range of loudspeakers.

The TAPS team, led by managing directors Alexander Mayr and Manfred Heilmaier, installed a comprehensive system comprising six HOPS12i-Pro three-way dual 12” units, eight HOPS8i two-way dual 8”, and three G15-S

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06 January 2025

South Africa - Lifted – Let the Blind Sing returned by popular demand this season, playing at the South African State Theatre in the capital, Pretoria, with video mapped imagery driven by tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers.

The production and visuals have been designed by Wilhelm Disbergen – a multi award-winning production designer designing theatre productions for more than 20 years – who was appointed to deliver a dynamic visual backdrop for the show. The staging features a white cyclorama with suspended plastic corrugated sheets that are painted white, adding visual texture and an unusual projection surface, onto which Disbergen is projecting content using a 12,000 lumen Panasonic PT-RZ12K laser projector.

Zakhele Mabena, band leader and composer on many of the biggest theatre musicals staged at the South African

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06 January 2025

USA - Diana Kesselschmidt is creating a captivating setting for the Winter Village at Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan this season with a richly coloured lighting design at the popular attraction’s 17,000 sq.ft ice skating rink.

PRG supplied over 100 Chauvet Professional fixtures, including 95 Colorado 2-Quad Zoom LED Wash lights, and eight Ovation E-260WW ellipsoidal units for this transformative display.

“In addition to performance, weather resistance was key to selecting fixtures,” said Kesselschmidt, of Diana K studio. “The fixtures are out for an extended time in New York City. Also, all the cabling to the towers gets loaded in about a month ahead of time, before the deck is put in, so there is no access to those cables once the deck is in place. Some years we focus outdoors during a hurricane. Many years I have focused on full weather g