Lighting

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08 July 2025

UK - Sam Tozer, lighting designer and creative director of Plymouth-based Vision Factory, created the lighting for the Chase & Status Live Tour using a combination of Ayrton’s Domino LT and, taking centre upstage, over 100 Ayrton Rivale Profiles. “Ayrton is one of my go-to manufacturers,” says Tozer. “Their fixture range consistently delivers when it comes to reliability, feature set, and output. I’ve used their products across multiple projects.”

For this run of six exclusive arena shows across major UK cities, Tozer needed a lightweight yet punchy hybrid fixture to meet the demands of Chase & Status’s eclectic sound: “The Rivale Profile offered speed, beam strength, and versatility to create dynamic layers of light and texture throughout the show acting as the backbone of the rig and matching the energy of the band,” he says.

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08 July 2025

Germany - A colourful London bus is making its last stop for the time being in Neu-Anspach near Frankfurt. To mark the 50th anniversary of the Adam Hall Group, the restored tour bus of Paul McCartney and his band Wings has been presented to the public for the first time on the company’s campus.

The psychedelically painted double-decker bus in which the band toured Europe in 1972 will in future be on display as part of the company’s own Rock‘n’Roll Library in the Experience Centre at the Adam Hall Group’s German headquarters – and is symbolic of the company’s anniversary claim, namely: “Honouring the past, driving the future.”

The tour bus – a Bristol KSW5G, built in 1953 – was specially converted in 1972 for the European tour of Paul McCartney’s new band Wings. Instead of travelling by plane as usual, McCartney opted for a dou

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08 July 2025

South Africa - Johannesburg-based theatrical lighting rental specialist Splitbeam – part of the Gearhouse South Africa Group – has invested in new Robe Esprite Fresnels and Tetra2 moving lights to help service its busy, vibrant, and varied client base.

The 48 x Esprites were purchased with the HCF (High Colour Fidelity) LED engines installed and Splitbeam simultaneously bought the HP (High Power) Transferable Engines to have handy for swapping these out according to the show’s requirements, together with a set of PC lenses to offer a choice of Esprite Fresnel or PC.

The company is strongly ‘brand-agnostic’ explained managing director, Alistair Kilbee, so the investment was based on customer demands – lighting designer requests and technical rider specifications:

“These are the fixtures that people are asking for right now, so we

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08 July 2025

UK - White Light continues to expand its regional footprint across the UK, reinforcing its commitment to being the trusted partner for the performing arts, education, and leisure industries nationwide.

With a legacy rooted in collaboration and technology, WL has long been a fixture in London’s vibrant theatre scene. Today, that influence extends far beyond the capital. From the Lowry in Salford to Salisbury Playhouse, from Leeds Grand to Venue Cymru in Wales and Theatre by the Lake, WL is proud to support a growing network of regional venues with tailored, relationship-driven solutions.

Earlier this year, WL had the pleasure of partnering with Venue Cymru to deliver a brand-new lighting system tailored to their unique needs. Reflecting on the collaboration, Steve Cridge, technical & facilities manager at Venue Cymru, comments: “White Light’

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08 July 2025

USA - Integrated Production Solutions (IPS) has announced that veteran tour and production manager Henry Bordeaux has joined the company as the director of business development for the production division following a 24-year career on the road leading major international tours.

His resume includes tours and events with Fall Out Boy, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, Travis Scott, Tyler The Creator, Jennifer Lopez, Jason Derulo, Nick Jonas, Avicii, Yellowcard, and Nickelodeon, as well as numerous corporate events and U.S. presidential campaigns. Bordeaux has also worked with promoters and labels including Live Nation, AEG, Sony Music and Universal Music Group.

“IPS has always been about precision and professionalism,” Bordeaux says. “With its facility expansion and studio buildout, the potential here is massive. My goal is to help IPS step confidentl

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07 July 2025

Germany - The long-established Prolight + Sound trade fair/convention in Frankfurt is entering 2026 with a refined concept. At the heart of this realignment is a streamlined three-day format and a sharpened focus on the European market.

Following a comprehensive survey of exhibitors, Prolight + Sound 2026 will take place from Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 March. The streamlined duration was also endorsed by the show’s advisory board, which comprises industry experts and representatives of renowned companies and professional associations. As a key driving force, this body plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the event.

The goal of the new three-day format is to deliver “a more focused and high-quality trade fair experience for both exhibitors and visitors”. At the same time, the increased concentration on Europe a

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07 July 2025

USA - Matthieu Larivée and the team at Lüz Studio designed the production for Rascal Flatts' 21-city Life is a Highway Tour, which ran for three months this year in North America.

The tour covered the multi-award-winning band's 25-year career, one that has resulted in 16 No. 1 hits and over 11m concert tickets sold. When discussing the best ways to reflect the band's far-reaching achievements, the Lüz team took a slight step back from the immersive 3D video elements that characterise many of their designs and leaned more heavily on light.

"Given the nature of this retrospective tour and the band's rich history, we focused on lighting, which is timeless," said Larivée. "Their catalogue has some ballads, which need gobos or very subtle lighting chases; power ballads, which need powerful lighting swaps; and rock ‘n’ roll songs, which ne

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07 July 2025

Europe - Elation has welcomed Alistair Smyth back to the Elation family. Alistair has rejoined Elation’s European team as key account manager, where he will support the company’s distribution partners and clients across the Nordic countries.

A 30-year industry veteran and familiar face in the lighting world, Alistair brings considerable experience in customer service, technical support, and sales, including an extensive background with some of the most respected lighting brands in the industry.

“It’s great to be back among my friends at Elation,” Alistair shares. “In our little industry, some of us are lucky enough to travel the world, meet amazing people, and see technology used to its fullest. But there's no place like home – and I’ve come home to rejoin my family at Elation. Thanks to Marc and the extended team for the warm welcome

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04 July 2025

Mexico - Grupo ROA is a busy and creative event production supplier and equipment rental company based in Zinacantepec just west of the city of Toluca in Mexico State.

The company is run by entrepreneur and music enthusiast Rodolfo Oropeza, who runs several related companies and businesses located around a 10,000sq.m complex, land that has been in his family for many years.

Recently, the rental arm of ROA took delivery of their first Robe moving lights, with 20 x Fortes joining the inventory, followed by 48 x iPointes, part of a strategic investment by Rodolfo who appreciates the value and advantages of investing in a brand with high tech specifications.

Before making the decision to go for Robe, Rodolfo, by his own admission “more of an audio guy”, consulted with some lighting specialists, and the overall advice was to go for Robe.

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04 July 2025

UK - Lighting designer and operator Alec Morris of Anthrolight Productions turned to Obsidian Control Systems’ powerful NX2 lighting console for one of the most high-profile shows of his career: the filming of The Lamb Stands Up Live at the Royal Albert Hall, a concert DVD by guitarist and former Genesis member Steve Hackett. The sold-out performance, captured in October 2024, is set for release on 11 July 2025.

Morris, who has been lighting Hackett’s shows since the Foxtrot at 50 tour in 2023, has a long history with the Obsidian platform, dating back to his early days designing on Martin LightJockey and M-Series consoles. His transition to Obsidian came naturally after Elation acquired the console line.

The Royal Albert Hall performance marked a significant step up in scale and complexity, both technically and emotionally. “

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04 July 2025

The Netherlands - A lighting control system from Pharos Architectural Controls is creating an immersive experience for visitors at a new sustainable visitor centre at the heart of the Port of Rotterdam.

Portlantis is home to a permanent, interactive exhibition that brings to life the story of one of the world’s busiest and most innovative ports. The exhibition explores the port’s rich history while looking ahead to its future as it embraces sustainable, low-energy operations.

Comprising five stacked exhibition spaces offering views across the North Sea, the coastline and the port, the exterior of Portlantis is striking. Inside, the exhibits are brought to life with a single-universe Pharos Designer LPC (Lighting Playback Controller), specified by Ata Tech, who delivered the complete lighting and audiovisual solution.

The

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03 July 2025

USA - 3G Productions has acquired Main Light’s 70,000sq.ft location in Nashville as part of its ongoing initiative to expand into a coast-to-coast, full-service production and systems integration provider.

3G Productions has taken over Main Light’s Antioch neighbourhood building, its full inventory, and all seven employees, who have now joined the 3G team. The shop’s complement of industry-leading lighting equipment is broad and deep, including brands like Robe, MA, Ayrton, Martin, Elation, Chauvet, Astera, and Tyler Truss, among others.

“The Nashville market has been a key focus as we execute our strategy of growing into a national full-service production company,” says 3G Productions CEO Keith Conrad. “With the acquisition of Main Light’s Tennessee branch, we get a world-class production warehouse, an experienced team of experts in th

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03 July 2025

UK - When Dunottar School in Reigate set out to stage its most ambitious production yet - Shrek the Musical - theatre & AV manager Ted Swan knew he wanted to raise the bar. With a background in professional theatre and experience in the West End, Ted turned to White Light, a d&b solutions company (WL), to help bring a touch of theatrical magic to the school’s 480-seat venue.

Over three sold-out nights, the school’s production entertained audiences with a full-scale set, dynamic lighting, and immersive effects, all made possible through a carefully curated hire package from WL. The equipment included Ayrton Diablos, ETC ColorSource Spot V fixtures, Chauvet Cloud 9 foggers, Unique 2.1 hazers, and Magic FX Power Shot confetti systems.

“The kids are so talented - some of them have even performed in the West End,” said Ted. “I w

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02 July 2025

UK - Glastonbury Festival 2025 played host to the spectacular return of Arcadia’s Dragonfly. Towering above crowds in the Arcadia field, the 13m-wide sculpture is built around a repurposed military helicopter, transformed into a living, breathing audio-visual creature brought to life with projection, LED and lighting in harmony.

This year marked Hive’s first full deployment on the Dragonfly. The project - a collaboration between Arcadia, Cucumber Productions, Video Illusions and content creators Astral Projekt - pushed the boundaries of projection mapping and LED playback. At its core are Hive’s new Beeblade Nexus media engines and supporting suite of advanced software tools, designed for projects where creativity meets complexity.

The Dragonfly’s body - a decommissioned Sea King helicopter – presented a highly unusual projection s

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02 July 2025

Spain - The Pillars of the Earth, the musical adaptation of Ken Follett’s bestselling novel, has wrapped up an epic season at Madrid’s Teatro EDP Gran Vía. This large-scale production by Beon Entertainment brought together set design, music, and lighting to immerse audiences in a deeply emotional and architecturally rich Middle Ages - full of theatrical magic.

And, as you might expect, lighting was one of the show’s major stars, with a powerful lighting design entirely built around Ayrton luminaires. The lighting design, crafted by Felipe Ramos and Juanjo Beloqui with expressiveness and technical precision, created a wide range of atmospheres: from dark interiors and gothic cathedrals to sunlit medieval markets, dungeons, and majestic halls. The common denominator were the Ayrton luminaires, selected for their power, versatility, and reliabil

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02 July 2025

Germany - At the beginning of 2025, Patrick Rabus was tasked with handling the production design for a tour by Tim Kamrad, a young pop artist who is increasingly attracting attention with his electronic sounds and strong stage presence.

For almost the first month, Kamrad toured medium-sized venues in Germany. “The venues were deliberately kept intimate, but Tim’s presence has grown considerably since then – not least thanks to [his appearance as judge on German TV series] The Voice of Germany,” explains Rabus. “It wasn’t about appearing bigger than we are, but rather about shaping the stage in a way that does justice to his artistic ambitions and increased awareness – with depth, dramatic precision and moments of surprise.”

A key element of the design was a custom-made frame, accentuated with LED strips, that visually marked

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02 July 2025

USA - Christian radio station WJTL returned to Cherry Crest Adventure Farm near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on 17 May for WJTL Fest – ‘a day filled with inspiring music, fun activities, and uplifting moments’. Stray Production Services brought its new Paragon LED profile luminaires for the event, and Stray’s Jon Boyer handled the lighting design.

“Because the event is outside on a mobile stage, during the day, and without haze, I needed a fixture punchy enough to make an impact but also diverse enough that I could create an artistic show,” Boyer stated. “It proved an ideal event for our new Paragon fixtures.”

As Stray’s outdoor event roster continues to grow, the company invested in the multi-award-winning Paragon M earlier this spring, choosing it as the new workhorse fixture for indoor and outdoor productions.

“Som

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02 July 2025

Europe - ETC has announced the new RigPOV camera accessory option, compatible with multiple automated luminaires from ETC. The RigPOV camera attaches directly to a fixture, streaming live video from the rig to Eos v3.3 and other third-party control solutions.

Automated lighting product manager Matt Stoner says, “With RigPOV, users get a new point of view from their rig. This view of the stage helps inform the design process, while reducing the need to operate heavy machinery in the rafters or constantly run up and down stairs to see the stage from the balcony.”

RigPOV uses NDI technology for reliable video streaming and low latency. Compatibility with Eos v3.3 as well as third-party manufacturers makes RigPOV an ideal tool for programming as well as remote followspot operation.

Customers can now place a fixture order for High End Systems

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02 July 2025

USA - Phoenix Fan Fusion three-day event drew a record-setting crowd of over 130,000 fans who filled the Phoenix Convention Centre to the rafters. John Garberson and his 30-person team at Creative BackStage set up the lighting, sound, and video for two general session rooms and 30 breakout rooms.

“Set up took three days, but we were able to strike the event in five hours, thanks to our awesome team, which included Matthew Breg, L1/ board op; Tyler Coan L2; Michael Morse L2; and Maxine Kichler rigging,” said Garberson. “There was a lot of coordination involved in doing this quickly and efficiently.”

In keeping with this mission, Garberson took steps to save time throughout the set-up process. For example, he decided it was cheaper and faster to bring in a self-climbing roof system, rather than fly the production for the big rooms. He explained

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01 July 2025

Czech Republic - The Rock For People music festival celebrated its 30th anniversary in style with an impressive five-day event, an all-star lineup and an expanded capacity of 50,000 which saw a fully sold-out audience flock to the Park 360 site in Hradec Králové – a former military airfield dating back to the 1930s – approximately 100k east of Prague.

Technical production – lighting, audio, video, rigging – for the main KB and Tesco stages, plus the Europa 2 tent, as well as a number of smaller stages, was supplied by leading Czech rental company T Servis, which included over 300 Robe moving lights, around 75% of the total moving lights they brought to site.

Headliners included Slipknot, Linkin Park and Guns N’ Roses – the latter playing an extra show on day five – together with other rousing and standout performances by favo

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01 July 2025

South Africa - Lighting designer Oliver Hauser first saw Joseph in 2017, and he recalls leaving the theatre humming its melodies long after the final curtain. The spirited score and choreography, intertwined with themes of hope and forgiveness, struck a chord.

Eight years later, he had the opportunity to light the 57-year-old musical himself, collaborating with Pieter Toerien and LAMTA on a fresh production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - directed by Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander at Theatre on the Bay, Camps Bay, running until 13 July 2025.

“The sheer joy of working with such a fantastic cast and production team was what made it for me,” says Oliver Hauser from HLDesign, who jumped at the opportunity when Niall Griffin, responsible for the set and costumes, reached out

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30 June 2025

UK - With less than a month to go, the Fete stalls, Manor House and karting teams are all sold out, and Backup Tech’s Fabulous Village Fete is shaping up to truly live up to its name.

The Parish Council judges (LSi’s Claire Beeson, Stewart Hume from TPi, Chris Barratt from AAA, ABTT’s Elysia Moore and PLASA’s Peter Heath) are sharpening their pencils and refining their taste buds to pick the Best Fete Stall, Best Dressed Fete’r, Best Fete Stall Game, the Cake Off and Veg Off, plus winners will be declared for the Catching Flies (fly fishing) and Pheasant Shooting competitions.

There’s also the chance to enter the DJ Off, which is being held in memory of DJ Adam Fabulous and will be judged by DJ Asad, who will also be taking to the decks to entertain Fete-goers throughout the afternoon. Taking us into the early evening will be Fab Cab’s

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30 June 2025

USA - Speaking Rock Entertainment Centre has raised the bar for outdoor live entertainment in El Paso, Texas by installing a cutting-edge Elation lighting rig for its new outdoor stage. A cornerstone of the community’s live entertainment scene, the venue now features a 100% Elation lighting system designed to meet the demands of high-profile touring acts and large audiences.

Owned and operated by the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (Tigua Indians), Speaking Rock is renowned for offering free live music performances, even for big-name artists like Cypress Hill, Incubus, and Rieleros del Norte, where crowds exceeded 20,000. With a commitment to community access and premier performances, Speaking Rock is a cultural hub for music, entertainment, and celebration in the American Southwest.

Speaking Rock previously held events using its own non-IP-rated lighting bu

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30 June 2025

Canada - Claypaky lighting, including Arolla Profile HPs, A.leda B-EYE K20s and Mini-Bs, comprised the bulk of the fixtures illuminating Gala Dynastie 2025 at Montreal’s Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts. Omnison in Montreal supplied the luminaires to lighting designer Steve Wary of SW Design Lumière for the televised awards ceremony, which celebrated black excellence across Quebec's arts, media and cultural sectors.

“Gala Dynastie has been held every year for the past nine years, and the production has grown and the resources have evolved over that time,” notes Wary. “The creative aspect is very important to this event. Beyond the more conventional moments of an awards ceremony, there is always a big introductory show interspersed with several performances by artists. A live band is also present on stage throughout the eveni