India - German fibre network specialists, Optocore and BroaMan, have announced the appointment of Comcon Technologies as their new distributor throughout the Indian subcontinent, with immediate effect. The origins of Comcon date back 40 years, with the company today specialising in the design, supply, commissioning and support of solutions for audio and video applications across a vast range of markets. Based in New Delhi, the operation also distributes test and measurement products and leading connectivity brands including Neutrik and Belden. “Their specialised fiber opt
USA - Lighting designer Marc Janowitz from E26 Design loves creative challenges and collaborations, so the current Chronicles of a Diamond world tour by Black Pumas energised his imagination and united the talents of the FOH lighting team as programmer Meagan Metcalf and lighting director Alyssa Milione worked closely with him to create a great look for the band. The lighting kit had to fit into one truck, a galvanising resource boundary that provokes invention and thinking out of the box, so Marc crafted an aesthetic for the band utilising the smart integration of lighting and a
USA - From the 17,000 spectators at the sold-out festival to a record-breaking 33.5m remote viewers, TikTok’s In the Mix festival showcased the performance, dependability, and application flexibility of Cohesion. Presented at Sloan Park in the Phoenix suburbs, In the Mix featured an impressive line-up. The team from ATK Audiotek, a Clair Global brand, deployed a Cohesion system to optimise every performance, even as the elaborate design of the production presented intriguing challenges. Enabling the audience to focus on the 360° stage at the centre of the stadium required
USA - Disguise is partnering with UK House to bring a virtual production studio to SXSW for the first time. Visitors to the venue at Downright Austin can hop on a motorbike from the UK to the US in an immersive experience created in partnership with the UK Advertising Exports Group (UKAEG). Visitors will also experience first-hand how a commercial can be filmed using a virtual production studio in the Accelerator course taster for advertising along with other special events and talks. “Disguise sits at the intersection between technological innovation and creative storyt
UK - On Friday, 8 March 2024, Adlib is hosting an open day in celebration of International Women’s Day. The open day is tailored for young women who are navigating their professional development journey. This year's theme, Inspire Inclusion, aims to provide insight into our industry through the perspectives and achievements of women already established within it. The day will feature short film screenings and women-led panel discussions, in a relaxed and inclusive setting. Adlib’s experienced female staff members will be available throughout the event to engage in conver
USA - Florida’s Pensacola Christian College (PCC) has unveiled the transformation of its Dale Horton Auditorium, thanks to a collaboration with All Pro Integrated Systems and Elation lighting. All Pro Integrated Systems, a Sweetwater company based in Pensacola, spearheaded the project, seamlessly integrating a new LED lighting system that elevates the overall experience for both performers and audiences alike. Pensacola Christian College is celebrating its 50th year of service in the Florida panhandle. The 3,500-seat Dale Horton Auditorium, a spacious multifunctional space with
UK - Dark winter nights in the northern English city of Leeds were brightened by a series of ‘magical’ animations recently, when visuals were projected onto the façade of The Queens Hotel driven by tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers. The elegant architecture of the historic hotel - which has hosted notable guests including Princess Grace of Monaco, Cary Grant and Nelson Mandela - served as a huge canvas for the projections, which were designed to give audiences a glimpse through the doors of the hotel during the winter season. The project, entitled <
Slovakia - Show designer and director Martin Hruska wanted to create a sense of spectacle coupled with edginess and idiosyncrasy for Slovak rap star Kontrafakt’s two much-anticipated, high-profile New Eras concerts which were staged at Prague’s O2 Arena. Kontrafakt was celebrating two decades at the cutting edge of rap, so Martin, the artist and event producers Mafia Records were on a mission to “present the biggest and most memorable show possible” in that venue, explained Martin, outlining his ambitious visual aesthetic for which he also leaned heavily into Kinesys autom
Korea - Singer-songwriter Younha celebrated 20 years since her stage debut with concerts on 3 and 4 February at the 15,000 capacity KSPO Dome in Seoul, formerly the Gymnastics Arena for the 1988 Summer Olympics. Titled Twenty, the concerts were among the first large-format popular music events to feature immersive sound, with Yamaha AFC Image creating a thrilling, three-dimensional soundscape delivered by a total of 210 x Nexo STM line array elements comprising nine clusters of STM M48/B112 with M28 down-fills hung across the front of the stage, supplemented by three centra
USA - Pensacola-based All Pro Integrated Systems selected 12 Ayrton Huracán LT long-throw LED moving head profiles and two MDG ATMe hazers for a recent technology upgrade in the Dale Horton Auditorium at Pensacola Christian College. Both brands are exclusively distributed in North America by ACT Entertainment. Pensacola Christian College was founded in 1974 to provide a Christian-traditional liberal arts education. Named for the founder’s father, the Dale Horton Auditorium is the home of the college’s fine arts events, recitals and other programs. “The auditorium is a
Denmark - SGM Special Projects, a group within SGM Light specialising in creating custom lighting solutions, is a core group comprised of key personnel in Product Management, R&D, and Customer Service. The group is experienced in developing state-of-the-art products for demanding lighting professionals and has a vast prior background in both project management and lighting design. SGM Light’s ability to deliver custom solutions is made possible by utilising in-house software engineering, extensive rapid prototyping facilities, full photometric lab, as well as a diverse netwo
Columbia - Bogotá’s Movistar Arena staged the 2023 Red Bull Batalla World Final, celebrating the creativity, importance, and popularity of freestyle rap culture in Spanish-speaking communities. The event was fully loaded with energy and excitement and lit by Madrid, Spain-based lighting designer Edu Valverde from design studio Experiencias Visuales. Edu utilised over 200 Robe moving lights to realise an eye-catching show design for the tournament which was attended live by a 14,000-capacity audience and streamed worldwide. On Edu’s lighting plot were 105 x Robe MegaPoi
UK - TAIT has confirmed partnership agreements with industry groups LIVE Green and Music Sustainability Alliance to support the industry-wide mission to advance sustainability awareness and learning. The Music Sustainability Alliance (MSA) is the hub for the music industry to learn, innovate, and collaborate to advance sustainability in the music business. They provide community, science-based solutions, resources, best practices, and tools for operational change across the industry. This month, MSA hosted the Music Sustainability Summit in Los Angeles, supported by Billboard
Austria - Gerdon Design, based in Mainz, Germany, specialises in show, content and lighting production. In late 2023, the team at Gerdon Design were approached to work together with client, Revolution Event, on the upcoming Nukranox Festival, a celebration of hardstyle music, which was to be held in December 2023 at an arena venue in Salzburg. “Revolution Event had come up with an idea for an immersive festival experience,” recalls Marek Papke, CEO at Gerdon Design. “They wanted to take a holistic approach and provide a narrative for the upcoming show and future shows in th
UK - Newcastle University Business School (NUBS) has embarked on a comprehensive refurbishment and modernisation initiative, including the high-profile St James’ View event space. The objectives were to create a space with a high-spec aesthetic finish incorporating the latest hybrid meeting capabilities - a distinct improvement on the original twin projectors and drop-down screens with a podium. Newcastle University Audio Visual Department consulted with Audiologic on the design and equipment specification for this space based on previous hybrid teaching solutions. GVAV won the
The Netherlands - As part of the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), electronic music fans partied the day away at the combined Dockyard Festival x Mystic Garden Festival ADE 2023 in the Havenpark in Amsterdam on Saturday 21 October. Think! AV supplied and set up lighting equipment for several of the areas at the festivals with the company's Niels de Feij managing the light project. He also created the light design along with YES! Your Event Support's Itai Joosten who also worked as the technical producer. The Dockyard Festival x Mystic Garden Festival ADE offered revellers the ch
Slovenia - Comedian and TV personality Lado Bizovičar set lofty goals for his live show Slovenska Muska A-Ž (A-Z), in which he went through the entire Slovenian alphabet, linking it to a recording artist (A for Avsenik Ensemble), or genre (R for rap) to reflect on the state of music in his country. Like the star and his many guests on stage, the production team that supported this show at the sold-out Arena Stožice in Ljubljana aimed high, creating a 360-degree stage and working with hang points that reach 34m. And just like him, they delivered a spot-on performance, thanks to
Italy - Indie group Pinguini Tattici Nuclear (Tactical Nuclear Penguins) played Reggio Emilia’s RCF Arena, Europe’s largest outdoor concert venue to a crowd of 80,000. Supporting the pulsating, upbeat music of this six-member Italian pop band, which takes its name from a Scottish beer, was a vibrant light and video show by Ombra Design that featured 120 Chauvet Professional COLORado PXL Bar 16 motorised battens, imported by Zalight and serviced by Agora. Designing for Pinguini Tattici Nuclear’s entire 11-date tour run, Ombra Design created looks that were as big and e
India - DirectOut has announced that Sonic Evolution will be its new official distributor for the Indian market. "We are very excited about the partnership with Sonic Evolution," says Luca Giaroli, chief solution officer at DirectOut. "This collaboration will allow us to expand our reach in India and bring professional audio solutions to an even wider audience. We are confident that Sonic Evolution, with their passion for audio and commitment, will be a valuable partner.” "We at Sonic Evolution are excited about the opportunity to serve as the official distributor of Dire
UK - London welcomed 2024 with its biggest ever New Year’s Eve fireworks, lights and drone show on the banks of the Thames River. Lighting Designer Tim Routledge returned for a second year to light the giant London Eye Ferris wheel, choosing laser-source Claypaky Skylos fixtures to deliver spectacular beam effects from each of the Eye’s 32 pods. The festivities featured more than 12,000 fireworks, 600 drones, 430 lights and a varied soundtrack of songs and voice-over clips. Attending the huge party were 100,000 lucky ticketholders while millions around the world watched on BBC
Turkey - Martin Audio has strengthened its global reseller network with the appointment of Atempo as its new Turkish distributor. Established in 1985 from a base in Ankara, with offices in Antalya and Istanbul, it today has more than 145 personnel and provides full technology packages across all market segments. The addition of Martin Audio to their distribution portfolio is a significant step, according to co-owner and CEO, Volkan Konuralp. “We have recognised the constant improvement of the brand and development of the Martin Audio portfolio since their acquisition by Focusrit
UK - Production Futures has announced that Talks, a feature of the organisation’s On Tour events, is to be developed as a podcast and YouTube platform. The new format will feature a series of live-streamed, recorded discussions with a variety of production industry experts covering a range of topics, all of which will be designed to provide a valuable resource for young people interested in careers in the sector. The initiative will be launched on 12 March when lighting designer Tim Routledge will join a Q&A session chaired by Production Futures’ Hannah Eakins in an online
UK - Racquet Studios, a Sussex-based operator in the realm of virtual production, celebrated a successful student open day with East Sussex College at their Eastbourne facility on 22 February, offering more than 120 attendees from a range of creative courses a ‘deep dive into the transformative world of virtual content creation and filmmaking’. The event, which was hosted in partnership with Canon Cinema EOS Cameras and Croatian specialist manufacturer, stYpe, illustrated the evolution of virtual production, highlighting its significant advantages over traditional filmmaking
