UK - Georgia Browns in the town of Hindley, Greater Manchester is a destination sports and entertainment venue. Recently re-furbished and re-launched, and featuring a large media wall, the venue also hosts multiple additional screens showing a wide range of sports, as well as staging live bands, DJ sets and karaoke.
The team at Georgia Brown gave careful consideration to its technical needs, and having invested in its media wall through Richer Sounds, consulted with the company’s custom installation design team over the best way forward for its audio requirements.
Richer Sounds recommended an Optimal Audio system to deliver the venue’s requirement for background and party level music. Custom installation manager Tim Smith and his team designed the system in conjunction with the venue, and engaged experienced subcontractor James Mahon of Hi-Tech AV to install the system. Tim felt that for a large space like Georgia Browns, an Optimal Audio solution would reliably provide the necessary quality at high SPL to meet the all-round challenge.
The install was James Mahon’s first experience of the brand: “Right out of the box, you could tell they were going to be good. The build quality looked superb and the speakers duly delivered sound to match.”
Two Cuboid 15 and two Cuboid 10 passive on-wall loudspeakers were installed in the demanding areas of the room close to the stage, with a further eight Cuboid 8 units taking care of the rest of the space. A single Sub 15 and a pair of Sub 10 units were discreetly located beneath seating areas to de
Spain - Broadcast live for the first time in history from Seville, Spain, the 24th Latin Grammys trusted the Shure Axient Digital Wireless System and Shure software to enable quality audio for the biggest night celebrating Latin culture, passion, and music.
Shure Axient Digital Wireless was selected for its robust and reliable signal quality. Sound company Fluge provided 60 channels of Shure Axient Digital Wireless and 32 channels of Shure PSM 1000 In-Ear Personal Monitoring System, delivering consistent RF coverage over the whole venue.
“Shure PSM 1000 continues to be a consistently reliable piece of a complex live show puzzle, which demands both high-quality audio and rock-solid RF,” said Michael Bové, monitor mixer for Latin Grammys 2023.
The technical team relied on Shure software, including Wireless Workbench (WWB) and WAVETOOL by Shure. Diogo Nunes Pereira, RF coordinator for the event was able to monitor multiple cases where WWB operated various systems simultaneously.
The evening began with a performance of Rosalia singing a special version of the popular Se Nos Rompió el Amor, which received a standing ovation from the audience. Rosalia relied on a Shure KSM9HS capsule, joined by a group of palmeros and guitars who were supported by 13 Shure AD1 bodypack transmitters.
Alex Guessard, (FOH) music mixer said: “Within the rich and lively panorama of Latin Grammys performances, Shure Axient Digital seamlessly blends precision and passion. My focus was particularly captivated by the KSM9HS’s ability to perfectly capt
UK - ABTT’s popular Pyrotechnic Safety Awareness Training was a sell out in September 2023, and booking is now open for the 2024 course which takes place on 11January at The Elgiva Theatre, Chesham.
Equipment and devices used, demonstrated or viewed during the course include products from: Le Maitre: Pyroflash - ProStage II - Virtually Smokeless (VS) - Illusion - Skyhigh - Torch - Blakes - Viking - Theatrical Pyrotechnics - Wells - Ultratec - LunaTech - PyyroPak.
The course will provide candidates with an opportunity to keep ‘up to date’ with ‘considered best practice’ and familiarise themselves more readily with new and current regulations, alongside forthcoming UK/EU legislation.
The course will also serve as a refresher for technicians who have to produce certificates of awareness, to keep themselves ‘in date’. The candidates will also receive a comprehensive set of notes and subject to satisfactory completion of the course, will receive a certificate, signed by the tutor, and automatic enrolment with the Association of Stage Pyrotechnicians register.
UK - Prolyte is set to collaborate with long-standing partner Stage Electrics, one of the UK's premier Prolyte suppliers, for two exclusive campus events in Glasgow and Birmingham this January.
Prolyte and Stage Electrics invite industry professionals to join these insightful events, helmed by Prolyte's expert, Eric Laanstra. With over 23 years of expertise, Prolyte's seasoned product manager, promises a profound exploration into the intricacies of rigging, trussing, and staging.
The Glasgow event takes place 23 January 2024 at RCS Glasgow; Birmingham’s venue is MAC Birmingham on 24 January.
Both events will feature a comprehensive lecture, offering attendees profound insights into Prolyte's cutting-edge rigging solutions.
These events present an opportunity for those seeking rigging or trussing solutions for their venues or to learn more about their current Prolyte set up. Engage with industry leaders, delve into enlightening workshops, and broaden your understanding of Prolyte rigging.
Tickets cost only £10 and are available at www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/stage-electrics-19881521226
South Korea - The Starnetworks group has become the official distributor of Holoplot Matrix Array systems in South Korea. This marks Holoplot's first foray into the Asian live entertainment market.
“Our philosophy is to look at sound as both an art and a science,” says Su Keun O, CEO at Starnetworks. “This philosophy aligns perfectly with Holoplot technology, which is science-based, software-driven, and hardware-enabled, offering unparalleled sound experiences through sound control.”
The Starnetworks team had their first opportunity to witness the Holoplot X1 Matrix Array in action earlier this year at the ISE Show in Barcelona. “We were fascinated by how Holoplot could visualise sound dispersion and control the sound with such precision and the creative potential of this. Since then, we’ve discovered many more benefits of Holoplot technology with X1 and the new X2 covering all bases in terms of application type. Utilised as a stereo system it completely removes hot spots and unwanted reflections, allowing us to achieve very high-quality, enjoyable sound.”
The debut of X1 in South Korea happened at South Korea’s very own Lightroom. The first Lightroom project opened in London earlier this year, also successfully equipped with a Holoplot X1 system. Lightroom Korea opened in Seoul on 1 November, and serves as the second venue to host the highly acclaimed art exhibition, David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away).
“We are thrilled to partner with Starnetworks and bring the power of Holoplot audio
USA - The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS) in Arizona, has installed two Solid State Logic Origin 32-channel in-line analogue mixing consoles in July. The two new consoles are installed in Studio B at the main CRAS campus in Tempe and Studio B at the satellite campus in Gilbert, where students are first introduced to the signal flow and operation of large-format recording consoles.
“Students who enter our programme have access to both consoles,” says Robert Brock, director of education at CRAS. “On any given day, we're running the same class at both locations in parallel.”
The two Origins have replaced a pair of 25-year-old consoles that were used by CRAS teaching staff to instruct students on the concepts of audio signal flow and the features and functionality of analogue consoles. With those two older consoles at the end of their serviceable life, it was time to replace them, he says. “We didn't see any need to change the core concepts of the training, so it was just about what piece of equipment helps us illustrate those concepts well, that is new and that is going to be reliable.”
The staff did their due diligence, Brock continues, evaluating all the large-format analogue consoles currently on the market. Ultimately, having been teaching on four SSL consoles, two 4000 Series and two AWS 948s, in other rooms at CRAS for many years, they selected the newest large-format console from the manufacturer. “The Origin sounds good; it's a pro-level console,” he says. “It's an SSL - whether it’s a small interface or
Germany - The artist Alligatoah is not easy to pin down. He marries rap with catchy pop melodies, slips into ever-changing personae and has been delighting large audiences for years with his overall package. The theatricality certainly suits him, and in 2023, this phenomenon of German rap will continue with the latest leg of his Retour, which will introduce tracks from the current album Rotz & Wasser.
Christoph Schneider is responsible for the lighting design on this tour, which is promoted by ibb Booking and Boldt Berlin. He specified 46 GLP JDC1, 10 JDC Line 1000 and five impression X5 Wash to fulfil the artist’s vision.
“Alligatoah is a very creative person who is heavily involved in the show design,” states Christoph. “He designed most of the set himself, as well as the intro and choreography for individual songs. To complement this, I created the lighting design and programmed the show, further developing Alligatoah’s ideas and bringing the concept to life. This influenced, for example, the positions of the risers in the individual songs and the question of when everything stands still or when (and how much) it moves.” The artist himself made the prop selection for the individual songs.
In keeping with the musician’s passion for theatrics, the show is divided into three acts: Act 1 takes place in a parcel sorting office, Act 2 takes place outdoors, where the packages are delivered (including using illuminated drones), and Act 3 is set in a monochrome orange world, that initially doesn't bode well.
The show
USA - Shure received a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how US-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the US and abroad. Shure’s efforts in satisfying all the CEI’s criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.
In addition to Shure’s LGBTQ+ inclusive policies, the company has also implemented a specific employee resource group called the Pride VIBE (Values, Inclusion, Belonging, Equity). This group cultivates an inclusive environment where community members can celebrate their authentic selves to create a safe and welcoming culture for all associates, business partners, and customers around the world.
The CEI rates employers providing these protections to over 20m US workers and an additional 18m outside of the US. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine’s 500 largest publicly traded businesses and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.
The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility.
“For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role i
Australia/USA - RØDE Microphones has announced the acquisition of US-based pro audio pioneer Mackie from Transom Capital Group.
“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Mackie to The Freedman Group’s roster of iconic audio brands,” says founder and chairman Peter Freedman. “They are true legends, with a pedigree of live sound expertise that is simply unmatched. Today, RØDE and Mackie are both leaders in audio, and we share the same passion for creating innovative, high-quality products with a strong customer focus.
“With this acquisition, The Freedman Group is now a premier audio technology company offering world-class products to an even wider range of customers, from up-and-coming content creators to professionals working in live production and everyone in-between.”
Since 1989, Mackie has been a leading designer and manufacturer of pro audio products, including mixers and loudspeakers for home, studio and stage use. An integral player in the home recording revolution in the 1990s, Mackie quickly made a name for itself as an innovative brand with a focus on ‘built-like-a-tank’ quality and affordability.
“Mackie is one of the great success stories in pro audio and I have admired them for a long time,” says Mr Freedman. “My background is in live sound production. It’s something I have always been passionate about, ever since I saw Tom Jones at the Chevron Hotel in Sydney as a kid back in ’69 - my father Henry installed the sound system there, as well as many other venues across the city. Live sound is where I cut my te
Sustainable Theatre - Bristol Old Vic has installed solar panels on its roof as part of its commitment to sustainability. A redevelopment in 2019 allowed the installation to happen, which was carried out by Solarsense. Productions and operations director David Harraway said: "The phase of refurbishment we completed five years ago helped ensure our building was working hard to be as sustainable as possible, but this was a missing piece until now."
He explained that previous renovations have seen the building install LED lighting, a community greenhouse, automated building management systems and passive ventilation, which all contributed to the venue’s commitment to sustainability.
Stephen Barratt at Bristol’s Solarsense said: "We pride ourselves on a solution-focused approach to buildings like the Bristol Old Vic. Working around an entire theatre set that arrived at the same time as we did or keeping the noise down while rehearsals were taking place ensured the show came first. But it didn’t get in the way of what we achieved during installation and are achieving on historic buildings all over the UK."
Size Matters - A 2,000-seat theatre is being planned for Swindon on the site of a bus station, with the town’s current performing arts venue described as “too small” by the council’s arts boss. Swindon Borough Council has plans to demolish the bus station on Manchester Road and move it to the new Fleming Way bus park in 2025 as part of a £30m scheme. A new theatre is proposed on the site of the bus station.
Wyvern Theatre,
UK - The University of the Arts London (UAL) recently sought to update its audio-visual systems in classrooms at three key campuses. London-based integrator, Tateside, was approached directly to work on the project.
“The project encompassed classroom refurbishment works at South London-based campuses and a full installation at a further campus in High Holborn,” explains Joby Morris, audio visual and networks specialist at Tateside.
“We selected Tateside because it was clear from the start that they really understood our vision for using NDI and Dante to create learning environments that had the flexibility of AVoIP without the vendor lock-in of other protocols,” explains Tom Lynch, technical manager at UAL. “Also, as a London-based university, working with a London-based AV Integrator is super valuable and quite rare.”
The most significant part of the project was at UAL’s High Holborn site, part of the university’s Creative Computing Institute. Here, two newly refurbished classroom spaces required AV integration to improve the learning experience for both in-person and remote students. “The team at UAL are NDI visionaries and their campus systems are based around this flexible protocol,” says Jack Cornish, technical director at Tateside. “They were also keen on using BirdDog technology, so we also incorporated this into the solution too.”
In the larger of the two classrooms, the main display comprises a pair of Panasonic PT-VMZ71 Series projectors with Supernova Core 120” projection screens. A custom lectern from To
Germany - The 12th season of the annual Rocket League esports Championship took place in August 2023 at Düsseldorf’s PSD Bank Dome. The tournament marked its biggest season yet, with $6m in prize money up for grabs.
bright! studios - a visual design and technology studio based in Frankfurt - created engaging visual ‘hero shot’ content for the tournament using innovative show control software from Stage Precision.
“We were tasked with creating modern player introduction videos that were shown before each team to hype up the crowd,” explains Leon Herche, creative producer at bright! studios.
“The team at Rocket League used a completely new approach at this year’s tournament. We began by building different scenes in Unreal Engine and playing the content through LED walls. We used motion control systems from Marc Roberts and used the tracking data to create intense camera movement that couldn’t be done by hand. Stage Precision’s Shield plug-in was a crucial part of this process.”
The Rocket League 2022-23 season was divided into three splits: Fall, Winter and Spring, with each split hosting three regional events; an Open, a Cup and an Invitation. Teams of up to 16 earned points during the regional events and international majors to qualify for the Rocket League World Championship, which was broadcast across the world from the 8th - 13th August 2023.
bright! have been working with leading competitive games and esports organisation EFG - who are behind the Rocket League championship - for several years. The new vision fo
UK - As Optocore dealers fac365 end the year, they can reflect with satisfaction at having further helped to establish the company’s portfolio, notably Festival Box - not merely during the festival season - but for major international tours with bands like The Killers and Coldplay, with four Festival Boxes making up Coldplay’s control package and network infrastructure.
One major source for this success has been fast-expanding rental house, Solotech UK - which has a historic relationship with Optocore - supporting production with gear supplied from four warehouses spread across the UK.
“We have sold a large number of items to Solotech over the past two years,” confirm fac365 operations manager, Richard Newall, “most recently an M8 [MADI] package for a touring playback rig and X6Rs for their Control/Drive racks.”
In the north of England, prior to becoming part of the Solotech Group, Wigwam had become the first rental house adopter of Festival Box, while down south Optocore has long formed the backbone of the extensive delay network on the two-week BST Hyde Park event in London.
The device itself comes in two versions - the Grand (with 12 SFP ports) and Petite (with six SFPs) - Solotech now holding six Grandes and eight Petites across the group.
Robin Conway, Solotech UK’s senior account manager, comments: “Optocore continues to form large parts of Solotech returns systems in the UK - generally when specified by the client - and we are more than happy to roll it out in these instances.”
He reports that that the Pe
UK - Exterior lighting solutions provider DW Windsor has unveiled its Light Responsibly initiative to support and promote responsible lighting practices.
Announced at the LiGHT 23 Expo in London, the new initiative aims to provide lighting specifiers with the tools and guidance needed to eliminate light pollution, conserve energy, cut waste and help protect biodiversity. It consolidates several long-standing principles the British luminaire manufacturer upholds and underlines its commitment to delivering sustainable lighting solutions.
The initiative outlines five key areas where DW Windsor can assist lighting professionals, helping to educate key stakeholders and support considered lighting designs. It includes the adoption of precise optics and light shields, warmer colour temperatures, adaptive lighting controls, highly efficient LEDs, and the embracing of circular economy principles.
DW Windsor addresses these crucial areas through its product design, innovative technologies, advanced manufacturing processes and local supply chain. For example, several DW Windsor luminaires are now DarkSky Approved, meaning they don’t pollute the night sky.
Alan Grant, design and Development director at DW Windsor, explains: “Lighting has a significant impact on our lives and the functions of our urban spaces. When carried out responsibly, in line with best practices, good lighting can enhance the built environment while providing social, environmental, and economic benefits.”
Demonstrating how the initiative integrates more broadly across the
China - Located in Lujiang, within China's Anhui Province, the Shishi Zen Temple serves as a place of worship and to enhance both the vocal and musical experience, the Zen Temple made the decision to embrace cutting-edge audio technology. After conducting thorough research, they opted for the Martin Audio active MLA Mini array, complemented by Martin Audio's CDD series, as the basis for their new PA system.
The choice of the MLA Mini was based on its sound quality and its ability to optimise coverage, consistency and control of sound for a room's own acoustics, dynamics and the position of the listeners. This was particularly crucial as it ensured that both those near the Buddha statue at the heart of the Zen Temple and those worshiping at a distance could enjoy the same high-quality music and Dharma teachings.
The CDD series serves as an auxiliary system, delivering consistent sound coverage throughout the venue and delivering an enhanced listening experience to the audience. This ensures that every nuance of the music is conveyed with crystal clarity. Additionally, the CDD's versatility in installation allows it to seamlessly adapt to different settings, maintaining audio quality and reliability.
The Zen Temple demonstrated a deep respect for the characteristics of their environment during the sound system installation. Despite the temple's spacious layout and towering architecture, the Martin Audio system was meticulously modelled and tuned to deliver outstanding audio performance for various events, be it a grand Buddhist ceremony or an intimate
UK - Manchester-based dbnAudile has served as event technology providers for The Warehouse Project ever since the series of popular club nights debuted in 2006. This year, seeking a new linear lighting effect that could do more while ensuring operation in wet conditions, the company turned to Elation’s versatile Proteus Rayzor Blade.
The Warehouse Project, which runs from September through New Year’s Eve, features acclaimed DJs and musicians as well as less established artists, and is continually rated as one of the best dance/DJ club venues in Europe. dbnAudile handles audio, lighting, video and rigging for the project’s run, which has been held in the refurbished Mayfield Depot in Manchester since 2019.
Pete Robinson project manages the operation for dbnAudile and has served as lighting designer since The Warehouse Project’s inception. He explains that the 10,000-capacity former railway station is a significantly bigger venue than the previous location and therefore required upscaled production.
“Each year we try to find an upgrade or change in design to keep the look fresh and interesting and this year we were looking for something more interesting than the LED bars we’ve been using the past few years,” he commented, acknowledging head of lighting Dale Wilson and main room desk operator Colm Whaley as important collaborators on the project.
“The Rayzor Blades jumped out at us not only because they are brighter and punchier than the previous LED bars we were using, but with the strobe effect and sparkle feature we felt th
Denmark - Hip hop band, Suspekt, appeared in a one-off date at Copenhagen's 47,000 capacity National Parken Stadium in September. Suspekt is renowned for playing with cool lighting effects and Ayrton was delighted that its Zonda 9 fixtures were chosen for the dramatic lighting system that included 168 Zonda 9 Wash and Zonda 9 FX fixtures.
Zonda 9 Wash is the first luminaire in a new family of Ayrton products devised for stage lighting, equipped with a high-performance 40W LED source with RGB+W additive colour synthesis. The lighting was supplied by VIGSØ, Denmark, and the striking lighting and stage design was provided by Johnny Thinggaard of CMY.
Thinggaard elaborated on his choice of lighting: “The concert was a one-day event and the band's biggest show to date. I chose to use the Zonda 9 Wash because of its large light surface - I really like the way that the lamp provides such a great visual fill for this type of show. In fact, the entire show was based on the Wash style. Not a single gobo. For me, it is about creating space and emotions - and since this is a hip hop band, I didn't think profile lamps would fit the style. I also chose Zonda 9 as I needed a lamp that could light from a height of 20m all the way down to the floor. There is a lot of light in the Zonda 9 and it mixes colours really nicely.”
The strong and colourful design for the show and the rapping, hard-hitting style of the band required some strong, punchy lighting. Arraying the Zonda 9 Washes in 10 pods of four x three units, plus a row of 48 more on the floor upstage, Th
Japan - As one of Japan's top five film giants, Toei Tokyo is renowned for its comprehensive business in fields such as film, television, animation, manga, and music. At the end of last year, the company constructed Japan's largest virtual production hub, Toei VP Studios, marking the first independent operation of this type of facility by a film company in Japan.
Anticipated to reach full operational status in 2024, the studio showcases a state-of-the-art LED wall comprising AOTO LED panels and powered by Brompton Technology LED processing.
Toei VP Studios offers and practices efficient shooting methods, featuring the largest LED stage and one of the most experienced 16-strong teams in the country. The facility spans 640sq.m and utilises eleven 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors, along with 24 Tessera XD 10G data distribution units.
“We have chosen an LED video processor that is globally renowned for its stability,” says Junichi Higuchi, producer at Toei Tokyo. “As we explore new directions in visual production within the film industry, our need for more realistic rendering grows. Brompton Technology, which resolves issues such as colour reproduction, is precisely the best tool to fulfil this need.”
The LED wall is constructed using AOTO's RM series, with MXH series for the ceiling, which can be raised and lowered to adapt to various lighting environments. The screen spans 30m by 5m, boasting a 1.5mm pixel pitch, a low scan rate, a high refresh rate, and a frame rate of 144Hz, ensuring the delivery of vivid, crystal-clear visuals. Comple
UK - Following successful spoken word tours in 2019 and 2021 to promote his autobiography, in 2023 Status Quo’s Francis Rossi set out to do something a little different. Bringing anecdotes and acoustic versions of well-known songs to intimate venues throughout the UK, Francis Rossi Tunes & Chat has been the perfect task for the Yamaha DM3 digital mixing console.
Featuring Rossi with studio collaborator/guitar tech Andy Brook and a pair of electro-acoustic guitars, the two-part, 101-date tour visited 400-600 capacity theatres in many of the UK’s provincial towns and cities.
Long-term Status Quo Front of House engineer Andy May was asked to mix the shows, but his Yamaha PM5D - a veteran of many Quo tours - was obviously over-specced for this one. Instead he chose a Yamaha DM3, which packs a lot of technical punch into a tiny footprint, just right for mixing on house PA systems in smaller venues and travelling in the luggage hold of a tour bus.
“With the book tours, Francis found that he liked playing theatres, where audiences are smaller and closer,” says Andy. “Quo had previously also done the Acquostic tours, but they featured a bigger production with strings and other instruments. There seemed to be a demand for a show which combines conversation with stripped-back, acoustic versions of the songs.”
Having seen the DM3 at an event he was doing with Yamaha, Andy persuaded the company’s Tom Rundle and Tom Blood to let him trial one. “I immediately liked the way it looked and navigated,” he says. “It’s very easy to use -
UK - Production Futures, the organisation founded to create opportunities for young people to learn, train, network and develop real careers in every sector of the production industries, has announced a partnership with Cheshire College - South and West.
The arrangement sees the college’s programme leader for events and technical theatre, Angie Berwick, become Production Futures’ education ambassador, a role which it is hoped will lead the way to collaborations with a variety of education institutes across the UK.
Angie is well-placed to take on the challenge, combining as she does her Programme Leader role with more than 20 years’ experience of running her own events business. She will provide expert strategic advice to Production Futures on the needs of young people in education, as well as working with education providers to raise awareness of the opportunities within the production industries, helping them to develop job-ready talent when the time is right.
Production Futures chief executive, Hannah Eakins, believes that working directly with education institutions to maintain the visibility of the industry to government, parents and young people, has never been more important.
“A better understanding of, and closer relationship with, the education sector is key to our aim of ensuring that there is a consistent pipeline of talent entering the production industry. We’ve worked informally with Cheshire College as a partner for some years, but meeting Angie in person, and enjoying a lengthy discussion about improving the connectio
Switzerland - The Zurich Open Air Festival, held over three days in suburban Glattbrugg, features artists from an array of genres, from ballads to electronic beats, and hard rock anthems to indie tunes. Jazz, blues, and folk join the diverse mix for good measure. The artists on stage at this year’s (10th annual) rendition of the festival, included Robbie Williams, Zara Larsson, Bastian Baker, The Killers, The Chainsmokers and Paul Kalkbrenner.
The production design on the 2023 festival’s substantial main stage also embodied a very diverse range of creative inputs. Defined by two high towers, each with a large vertically-oriented video wall at its base, the towers were connected by horizontal rows of lights. Other rows of lights extended from each wall and sloped down to smaller stage left and stage right columns.
Contributing to the rich visual panorama was a collection of Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied and installed by FeedBack Show Systems & Service, which provided all video, audio, and lighting services on the main stage.
The spectator area around the main stage at this year’s festival was designed to resemble a rock concert arena. FeedBack Show System & Service’s rig accentuated this mood with its bold towering lighting displays, abundance of blinders for audience lighting, synchronised pixel mapped effects, and linear lighting arrange to extend the impression of the stage.
Key to helping in this effort were the rig’s 24 Color Strike M motorised fixtures. Drawing on the two ultra-bright white tube elements in the
UK - In its 25th year, live event production workers charity Stagehand, has launched the Christmas fundraiser, #I Love Live 3.
This year's campaign recognises the immense challenges faced by the live event production industry and aims to provide crucial support to UK-based touring and festival crews dealing with serious physical or mental ill health. #I Love Live 3 launched on Friday 1 December, with tickets available now.
Previous I Love Live events have featured Liam Gallagher’s Les Paul guitar, Glastonbury Festival tickets, and Dave Grohl's signed DW ICON snare drum, raising over £900,000 for stage crew impacted by the pandemic.
This year, #I Love Live 3 will see signed set lists from a star-studded line-up including Paolo Nutini, Prodigy, Nile Rodgers, Bring Me The Horizon, Duran Duran, James Bay, New Order, Natalie Imbruglia, Everything Everything, Blossoms, Wet Leg, Maisie Peters and The 1975, plus a drum skin from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Additionally, unsigned memorabilia from Michael Jackson’s This Is It tour, and a piece originally owned by Pink Floyd will be included.
Jonathan Higgs, frontman of art rock band Everything Everything, emphasises the crucial role crew members play in touring activities, stating: “Our crew are a vital part of our touring activities; we couldn’t do it without them. I’d encourage all live music fans to get involved and give back to the people behind the scenes.”
Lighting designer Tom Campbell of MIRRAD, who has worked with an array of high-profile bands, including Br
India - Gujarat’s Premier Navratri Celebrations organised by the Rotary Club of Bhuj reaches new heights, as Phoenix Networks deployed their Meyer Sound Panther line-array system for the first time for a public event.
The vibrant tapestry of Hindu culture is woven with a myriad of festivals, each celebrating different facets of life and spirituality. Among these, Navratri stands out as a radiant and joyous occasion, marking the triumph of good over evil; with the festival spanning nine nights dedicated to the divine feminine in various forms - each representing strength, wisdom, and prosperity.
This year, the Rotary Club of Bhuj in Gujarat orchestrated a 10-day cultural extravaganza at the Sandalwood Villa & Clubhouse Grounds in Mirjapar. Nestled in the heart of Gujarat, this sprawling venue, measures 550ft in length and 260ft in breadth, setting the stage for a celebration of music, dance, and devotion.
The gathering witnessed performances by renowned artists, including the dhol virtuoso Aslam Dafrani of Hanif-Aslam fame, and soul-stirring singers Firoz Ladka, Amber Desai, Yasita Sharma, and Pallavi Dabholkar.
Technical production of the event was expertly planned and executed by Phoenix Networks.
“This was the perfect platform for us to showcase the true potential of the Panthers as the Navratri Celebrations organised by the Rotary Club Of Bhuj is by far one of the most prestigious and grand events to take place in the entire region,” comments Animesh Mishra, director of Phoenix Networks. “The sheer expanse and scale of th
Greece - DirectOut and Audio & Vision have joined forces to establish an exclusive partnership for distribution in Greece. With this strategic alliance, Audio & Vision will now serve as the official distributor of DirectOut products in Greece.
Audio & Vision has established itself as a reliable provider of premium AV products and services in Greece since the beginning of their activities in 1998.
"We are proud to add DirectOut to our distribution portfolio in Greece," says Mr. Alkis Kotsifas, general manager of Audio & Vision. "With a 25-year track record in the professional audio, video and lighting solutions sector, we have been committed since the foundation of our company to provide our customers with the highest quality of products and services. We seek the best partners worldwide to achieve our goals, and our new partnership with DirectOut is a testament to our determination."
Audio & Vision acts across various sectors within the AV industry, including installation, touring, broadcast, and recording. By incorporating DirectOut’s innovative solutions into their offerings, they are equipped to meet the diverse demands of signal distribution, conversion, routing, and processing.
Lorenzo Sassi, business development manager, comments: "We are thrilled to partner with Audio & Vision in Greece. This partnership marks an important step for the future, and we are confident that our combined expertise will bring innovative and high-quality solutions to the Greek market."