Lighting

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01 August 2024

Europe - Turkey is a thriving market, especially for Luci Della Ribalta (LDR) which, thanks to the synergy with distributor Atempo, has managed to create a strong foothold in the country and for LDR products to be chosen for a number of prestigious installations in recent years.

These include the Cultural and Artistic Centre of the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye in the Etimesgut Municipality, a multifunctional cultural centre where as many 70 units of LDR's Nota PC 1200 have been installed thanks to Atempo.

Most recently, Atempo has concluded work on the State Theatres – Sehitkamil Stage project, located in Gaziantep, where 24 LDR Alba PC250 W 3200K, and 48 LDR Arpa PC150 3200K LED luminaires have been chosen and installed.

The project was designed by Atempo and construction of the building began in 2021. The project was orig

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01 August 2024

USA - The Adam Hall Group is further expanding its international sales network with the appointment of ATS-Pro as the exclusive distributor for its lighting brand, Cameo.

ATS-Pro is a division of Activate The Space. Under the leadership of CEO Christopher Pelzar, ATS-Pro focuses on the distribution of LED lighting fixtures. “Professional lighting technology – along with how it’s used – spans many areas, and the American market expects quality products and first-class service,” says Pelzar. “With the combination of Cameo lighting solutions and the excellent support from ATS-Pro, Cameo will stand out from the competition in all targeted verticals.”

Markus Jahnel, COO of Adam Hall Group, adds: “We are delighted to have found an experienced distribution partner for Cameo in ATS-Pro. Christopher Pelzar and his team have been familiar with

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31 July 2024

Spain - To celebrate their 25 years of musical success, the Spanish duo Estopa is embarking on a tour that is setting new benchmarks in every city they visit. Beyond their distinctive musical style and engaging stage presence, the tour's standout feature is its impressive stage design, which showcases an extraordinary lighting experience crafted by Juanjo Beloqui and supported by equipment from Fluge Audiovisuales and Stonex, the Spanish distributors of Claypaky.  Claypaky fixtures are playing a pivotal role in delivering this visual spectacle.

After a successful tour across the United States and Latin America, Estopa is now bringing their anniversary celebration to Spanish cities including Valencia, Sevilla, Madrid, and Bilbao. From the grandeur of Civitas Metropolitano to the Ciudad de las artes y las ciencias in Valencia, the tour is offering audiences a

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30 July 2024

France - Robe’s new iBOLT made its French debut in grand style at a recent Monumental event at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Laon Aisne in the Hauts-de-France.

Monumental is an interactive music and visual live experience concept imagined and presented by DJ, music producer and live experience innovator Michael Canitrot.

He has styled a series of these bespoke performances which are staged in and around some of France’s most striking landmarks. Built in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Laon Cathedral heritage site is one of the most important and stylistically unified examples of early French Gothic architecture.

The event’s lighting was designed by Mikael (Mika) Trochu who specified the six iBOLTS, rented from Dushow, which were positioned in an arc around the DJ booth, so they were right at the epicentre of th

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30 July 2024

UK - Celestial, the Somerset-based drone show artists, lit up the skies above The Secret Garden Party in Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire, on Saturday night as part of the That’s Show Business spectacle with its drone show, Creativity Unchained.

The show was ‘a collaborative effort with Secret Designs and was a powerful ode to the freedom of creative expression, urging a break from the impact of consumerism on artistic expression and calling for a return to the roots of pure, untainted creativity’.

The drone show used vivid imagery, such as skulls, dollar signs and a phoenix rising from the ashes to underscore its message that creativity should have no bounds, winning over the attention of the festival goers. The show, spanning 130m wide and 70m high, featured an impressive 504 choreographed drones.

Celestial were invited

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30 July 2024

Germany - With the Opus X4 Profile, Cameo has introduced its most powerful LED moving head to date. The new top model is a spot profile moving head with a 1,400-watt LED white-light engine which generates enormous light output of 50,000 lumens and provides powerful spot and gobo projections – even on the biggest stages.

Its little brother, the Opus X Profile, has already made impressions in the past with its 750 watts in countless live, TV, and theatre productions. The Opus X4 Profile now marks the next stage in Opus development: the combination of a 1,400-watt LED engine, 193mm front lens, and particularly large 5°–55° zoom range enables equally flexible use as a spot and as a profile moving head. At the same time, the X4 Profile is only slightly larger and heavier than the X Profile, despite its large leap in performance, and is still just as flexibl

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30 July 2024

UK - Avolites has announced the return of an Avolites original employee - Rebbecca Cadd - as one of its Titan trainers and training co-ordinator for the UK.

Rebbecca initially worked for Avolites some years ago and has since worked for other lighting console brands in the UK.

Avolites’ MD Paul Wong says, “Rebbecca’s extensive relationships with UK users and companies, as well as her knowledge of Avolites, makes her ideal to ensure that Avolites can satisfy the increasing demand for our training.”

Rebbecca comments, “I’m delighted to be re-joining the Avolites family, particularly at a time when there is such a programme of positive change and investment. The product roadmap excites me as I can see where this is all heading and I’m looking forward to being on this re-invigored journey.”

Sales director Ron Carrington add

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30 July 2024

Europe - Obsidian Control Systems has achieved considerable success with its popular Netron line of DMX/RDM Splitters and Ethernet to DMX gateways and now offers ‘the world’s first IP66 range of data distribution devices for entertainment applications’.

Available now are a six-port EtherDMX Node (EN6 IP), a six-port DMX/RDM Splitter (RDM6 IP), and an eight-port managed POE Switch (NS8 IP).

The Netron IP66 range, which was recognised at 2023 PLASA Show 2023 with an Award for Innovation, blends the proven chassis and connector technology of Elation’s IP65 Proteus range of lighting fixtures with the Netron data platform. Utilising a custom-designed sealed chassis and die-cast body, impact resistant paint, IP ports and touch controls, the Netron IP66 range provides reliable data distribution for any location that requires dust and moisture protec

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30 July 2024

UAE - Creative Technology APAC has recently increased its stock of Ayrton fixtures, adding 30 Argo 6 Wash fixtures to its existing inventory of Ayrton Diablo LED profiles.

The general manager Marcus Lim explains why the company decided to invest in Argo 6 Wash: “We were looking to expand our stock of wash fixtures with an IP65 rated unit and, after some internal evaluation against other similar products, we found that Argo 6 Wash was the best fit for our market segment. It’s a good all round wash light, with an added plus point of offering a pixel map option. We also like the weight, size, lumen output, and of course the IP rating.

“In addition to this, we have a long working relationship with the local distributor for Ayrton, Total Solution Marketing, and we know we can rely on their service and support over the lifetime of the products.”

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29 July 2024

USA - Hootie & the Blowfish are currently on their 43-city Summer Camp With Trucks tour, taking fans on a musical journey through 29 years of Hootie & the Blowfish hits, sprinkled with covers of classics by the likes of R.E.M. and Led Zeppelin

Dates have included Michigan’s Pine Knob, where 14,000 fans packed the amphitheatre earlier this summer.

There is even a point in the show where the set takes on an outdoorsy appearance with frontman Darius Rucker and the band singing in front of a campfire. That flourish, like so many other visuals on this tour, is part of a lighting and production design by Kevin Northrup and Will Lowdermilk of Silver Bullets Design.

Drawing on the performance features of over 100 Chauvet Professional fixtures, supplied by Special Events Services, Northrup and Lowdermilk have created a multi-layered

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29 July 2024

Europe - ETC has announced the launch of season two of its podcast series, On Headset. Offering a glimpse into the fascinating realm of theatrical lighting design, this immersive audio experience invites listeners to join real-time programming sessions with renowned lighting designers as they craft the visual magic of major productions.

In season two, also known as The Paule Project, listeners will embark on an educational journey with internationally acclaimed lighting designer Paule Constable and programmer Will Frost, as they share lightly curated recordings of headset conversations during the tech rehearsals of the National Theatre's production of The Normal Heart. This i play, depicting the 1980s HIV/AIDS crisis in New York, serves as a perfect case study in theatrical lighting, providing valuable insights into the creative pr

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29 July 2024

USA - Country music singer-songwriter Alexandra Kay is out on tour with a lighting system provided by Bandit Lites. With her 2023 release All I’ve Ever Known, Kay used her lyrics and powerful vocals to weave stories fans can relate to and identify with. In addition to the album debut at #1 on the iTunes Country Charts and #1 on the iTunes All Genre Chart, Kay is featured on Jelly Roll’s Leave the Light On single from the summer’s hottest blockbuster film, Twisters.

Lighting designer Corbin Alvae drew inspiration for the lighting from All I’ve Ever Known. “When I was working on this design, I had to go into her shoes and feel the emotions she was feeling. That’s when the concept came about: something hard hitting, but visually appealing that fit her style in a way that made her fans feel even more of the emotion

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26 July 2024

South Africa - Designer Chris de Lancey from Immersive Show Technology was asked to create a stunning architectural lighting scheme for the Union Buildings in Pretoria, to help celebrate the recent South African presidential inauguration.

Chris chose to work with Robe Esprite moving lights and one of the new Robe iBOLTS, which were applied with great effect together with projection mapping of the South African flag onto the building.

Cyril Ramaphosa was inaugurated as South African president and leader of a national unity government made up of representatives from four major parties – the ANC (African National Congress), the DA (Democratic Alliance), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA).

The final inauguration events are organised on a tight timescale once the actual election results are confirmed and certified

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26 July 2024

USA - Close collaboration between a lighting and video team is always essential. Anyone who’s been a part of an arena show where lights and screens flow seamlessly together can appreciate that. But the fine points of this relationship take on an extra level of urgency when the sun starts setting on an outdoor broadcast production.

This point was driven home to Emmy Award winning lighting designer/director Jon Kusner on 6 June, when he lit the grand reopening of the Michigan Central Station, a 90-plus minute event that started in the early evening, and featured stars like Eminem, Diana Ross, Jack White, Big Sean and Jelly Roll, as the sky darkened.

The tallest railway station in the world when it opened in 1914, the 230ft-high Beaux-Arts building was abandoned in the 1980s; its decaying façade quickly becoming emblematic of urban decay. Today, its

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25 July 2024

Benelux - LSC Control Systems has announced the appointment of Controllux as its new exclusive distribution partner for the Benelux region (Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg). The Australian manufacturer, which was acquired by Czech Republic-based Robe earlier this year, has been designing and manufacturing innovative lighting and power control solutions for more than four decades.

Controllux is a long-established and well-respected presence in the Benelux region’s entertainment market. A full-system integrator and distributor, it represents a broad range of professional lighting brands including Robe, ETC, Astera, ARRI and Prolyte. Operating across the theatre, television & film, entertainment and architectural lighting markets, the company has become a one-stop source for professional lighting expertise and systems integration solutions.

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25 July 2024

UK - Shangri-La - a festival within a festival that is entirely dedicated to creativity, arts, and underground and independent culture - has been a special area at Glastonbury for many years now. It is where the NowHere stage is located and where fans of electronic music feel like they’re in a club. For the lighting set-up, designer James R. Dickson from Elixir Lighting opted to use the Cameo OTOS H5 and ZENIT W600 SMD.

“The NowHere stage is very different from the festival’s other stages. Everything here revolves around electronic music and creativity,” acknowledges James R. Dickson, who – together with his company Elixir Lighting - is responsible for the lighting design, operation, and provision of lighting technology on the medium-sized stage. “Our job was to create a nightclub in the middle of a green field. To do this, we put the lights on t

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25 July 2024

Germany - Prolights products illuminate the Church of the Holy Spirit in Bielefeld, a modern octagonal structure with slender columns and coloured stained-glass windows, which has undergone a significant technological renovation.

This project aimed to improve and expand the media usage possibilities within the church, with a particular focus on the lighting setup. The new lighting, designed by the Schröder & Partner design studio under the guidance of project manager Jan Wöhning, introduced a versatile and innovative lighting system that enhances the architectural beauty and liturgical symbolism of the church.

“The church mainly had obsolete lighting technology, which we replaced with more modern LED technology, promoting energy efficiency. The church also asked us to emphasise the colours of the liturgical year (green, red, purple) through c

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24 July 2024

UK - Currently running at the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End, Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder! is an award-winning musical comedy which follows Kathy & Stella - hosts of Hull’s least successful true crime podcast. However, when their favourite author is killed, the pair find themselves thrust into a thrilling whodunnit of their own.

The show features a lighting design by Peter Small who approached White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to supply his rig, having previously done so for the show’s Bristol and Manchester run. For the London production, an addition to the rig included the Macula remote follow-spot System - distributed in the UK by Sound Technology - making the show the first in West End history to use this new technology.

Kathy & Stella arrives in London following its previous sell-out r

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24 July 2024

USA - In late 2016, Intelligent Lighting Creations (ILC) of Arlington Heights, Illinois, made a pivotal investment in Elation's first-generation Proteus series of IP-rated lighting. The acquisition of the IP65 Proteus Beam marked the beginning of a transformative journey.

Scott Falbe, who founded ILC over 30 years ago, recalls the early days when outdoor lighting meant wrapping indoor fixtures in rain gear. “Initially, it was all about covering indoor fixtures in domes or plastic so we could use them outdoors,” he says. “Eventually we invested in some of the early IP-rated fixtures like the Elation Level Q7IP PAR light. Then, when Proteus hit the market, it fundamentally changed the way we do outdoor shows.”

ILC became a shop known for its outdoor accoutrement and was the first to embrace the Proteus line, debuting it on the Lightswitch proje

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24 July 2024

UK - People arrived at the Bethel Convention Centre in Birmingham early for Zimbabwe-born gospel worshipper Eleana Makombe’s Grateful Concert in June.  Coming from across the UK, they waited outside in line for over two hours. For them, patience was a virtue, something that would make the time pass easier.

Blessing Bero, production and lighting designer for the African star’s widely anticipated show, was still sourcing gear just two days before load-in due to circumstances beyond his control.

Bero, who is a Zimbabwean based lighting designer with Events Evolution, responded to this pressure-packed situation with calm. Working his industry contacts, he was hooked up with SJ Grevett of DMX Productions.

“DMX Productions did an amazing job under pressure,” said Bero. “Their people were extremely helpful, as was the crew at the conventi

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23 July 2024

UK - Ben Stephen has joined the Lamp & Pencil team as head of projects & engagement.  Ben will oversee the upcoming expansion of the projects team as well as leading the customer facing aspects of the other facets of the business including training, sales & hire. 

Ben reinforces the existing team's wide range of skills, knowledge and experience and will expand Lamp & Pencil's existing work as an industry supporter through participation in many committees and other activities.

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23 July 2024

UAE - Dubai-based Spectrum Entertainment Services LLC has been an advocate of Ayrton lighting fixtures since its first investment in 2022 when it started building its stock with 100 Ayrton Cobra, 50 MagicBlade FX and 24 Zonda 9 FX units.

“The Cobra was an absolute must, especially for our outdoor events, in areas like AlUla in Saudi Arabia,” says Spectrum Entertainment Services LLC lighting designer, Andre Westraad. “The harsh outdoor conditions can be very tough on fixtures and we needed a solution that can handle all of the elements, plus being very bright and versatile at the same time.

“This year we began a search for a replacement for our workhorse profile fixtures. We also needed an upgrade in our LED Wash area as well. We had to keep in mind we need a product that is not just IP rated, but can take the punch when installed outside for

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23 July 2024

Ukraine - Popular rock band Karta Svitu launched their new album The Space of Important Things with a high-profile, hi-energy showcase gig at the Bel Etage venue in Kyiv, which was recorded for subsequent broadcast.

The show was directed by Mari Pogrebynska and Pavlo Zakrevskyi and included eye-catching lighting designed by Anton Semeniuk who utilised 32 x Robe Spikie moving lights, six ColorWash 575s and a BMFL Follow Spot controlled via a RoboSpot system among other lights, all supplied by lighting rental company, Alight.

Like everything in Ukraine, the show, production and entertainment industry has adapted to the realities of wartime, and while Alight has moved much of its equipment inventory to Poland for the moment – for obvious reasons – Anton explained that he was still very keen to use whatever Robe kit was available at the time

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22 July 2024

Spain - Estopa is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a tour that is making a mark in every city they visit. One of the highlights of the duo’s celebration is the impressive stage production, featuring lighting designed by Juanjo Beloqui and a team supplied by Fluge Audiovisuales. Stonex, Ayrton’s exclusive distributor for Spain, is also represented during the tour through the presence of Ayrton Eurus and Perseo fixtures.

Having toured the United States and Latin America, they are currently visiting Spanish cities including Valencia, Seville, Madrid, and Bilbao, filling stadiums and creating an unforgettable show with lighting tailored to each of the venues. From Civitas Metropolitano to Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia, this 25th-anniversary tour has reached new heights.

Included in the tour’s lighting fixture selection are 60