USA - Sphere opened to the public on Friday 29 September in Las Vegas. Two of the venue’s signature features – its 160,000 sq. ft interior LED display plane, and its 580,000 sq. ft. exterior, the Exosphere – are powered by technologies from 7thSense.
At 16K x 16K resolution, Sphere’s interior LED display plane is the highest resolution LED screen in the world. Soaring to a height of 240ft, and with over three acres of display surface, the screen wraps up, over, and around the audience to create a fully immersive visual environment. Behind the scenes at Sphere, 7thSense's new suite of products, collectively known as the Performer Range, collaboratively breathes life into the LED displays.
“Sphere’s LED displays redefine the meaning of immersive,” said David Dibble, CEO of MSG Ventures, a division of Sphere Entertainment. “On the interior, never has an LED screen combined this immense scale and field of view with this level of clarity, while the exterior is a dynamic canvas that has already become a new global landmark.
“7thSense has been a valued partner in delivering high-quality video playback solutions for MSG for over a decade, and we trusted the team to work closely with us and push their technologies even further to meet the unique demands of Sphere. The result is an experience that takes audiences from simply watching content on an LED screen, to feeling like they have been transported to new places.”
Richard Brown, CTO, 7thSense said, “With the opening of Sphere in Las Vegas, we are excited to introduce our new Per
USA - Main Light Tri-State has announced the appointment of Jerry Trotta as its operations manager. Jerry brings with him a wealth of industry experience having worked as a logistics manager at 4Wall Entertainment for the past 10 years.
Michael Cannon, CEO of Main Light, says, "Having Jerry on board is a significant asset for Main Light. His deep-rooted industry experience, combined with his unique ability to connect with clients, aligns perfectly with our vision. We're confident that Jerry's transition from production to our dry hire model will further enhance our commitment to providing personalized and top-notch service to our clients."
John D’Amico, and Miguel Ortez will be joining the Main Light Tri-State team alongside Jerry. John and Miguel will work in tandem managing logistics and Main Light Tri-State’s upcoming trucking division.
South Africa - DWR Distribution and MA Lighting are to present a workshop tailored for technical crew and volunteers based at Houses of Worship. Australian lighting designer Jarrad Donovan, consultant for Hillsong Australia, and MA Lighting's Luke Chikkala will take part.
Attendance is completely free, but booking is essential. The dates are 22 October in Johannesburg, Durban (25) and Cape Town (27).
Born into a Christian family, Jarrad attended the Salvation Army in Sydney, Australia, where he managed lighting setups for a diverse array of events, including camps, conferences, and youth gatherings, utilizing equipment ranging from parcan rigs to moving lights. His journey continued when he joined the Hillsong Hills Campus in
“This is my first visit to South Africa and I am very excited,” says Jarrad. “I have a passion for lighting and production in churches and using my skills and gifts to create an atmosphere to best suite that particular church. I want to empower churches to make the right decision for their venues and use my experiences to help guide them as best I can.”
Luke Chikkala serves as technical support with MA Lighting. Also a Christian, he understands the technical requirements in Houses of Worship, while possessing extensive technical expertise. Luke is renowned for delivering intensive training sessions to top lighting designers worldwide.
Delegates attending the workshop can look forward to exploring practical case studies involving churches of various sizes and will be provided with insight into how Hillsong e
Germany - Echelon Festival, one of Germany's foremost techno and house music festivals, was illuminated with an impressive display of Prolights fixtures. This event took place at the historic Ehemalige US Kaserne, a former NSA Satellite Tracking Station, and showcased a line-up of top-tier techno and house music artists, captivating a throng of dedicated electronic music enthusiasts.
Revolution Rental designed an innovative lighting setup at the festival's Main Stage, elevating the overall experience for both performers and attendees. An array of 130 Prolights fixtures, including the LumiPar 12IP, LumiPar 7IP, Solar 27Q, and Solar 48Q, was suspended, crafting a visual spectacle that harmonized seamlessly with the musical performances.
"The essence of Echelon Festival has always been pushing boundaries and delivering an unforgettable experience. Prolights fixtures played a pivotal role in accomplishing this mission. Their exceptional versatility and unwavering reliability enabled us to craft a luminous masterpiece that not only complemented the extraordinary music but also transformed the entire festival into a visual marvel," declared the Revolution Rental team.
Argentina - A facility named after a living legend must uphold the highest standards of production. Such is the case with the Héctor Cavallero Auditorium, at the Argentine Business University (UADE) in Buenos Aires.
Providing a practice and exhibition room for students of the Bachelor of Performing Arts, the facility is named in honour of Cavallero, current director of the Bachelor of Performing Arts at UADE. Héctor Cavallero is among the most renowned theatre producers in the history of Argentina. Bringing Michael Jackson to the country and inaugurating the shows at Campo Argentino del Polo with Luciano Pavarotti, are just two of his many accomplishments.
With a total space of 500m2, a stage of 80m2, and 190 seats, the new facility at UADE lives up to the challenge of doing justice to this legend, thanks in part to a collection of Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by NASH Ingeniería.
Fifty-four Chauvet Professional luminaires were selected for the lighting system. Included in this group are LED pairs, moving heads and followers. The sound equipment, projectors and automated audiovisual recording cameras were also renewed, which places this theatre at the same level as those most demanding European and North American auditoriums.
In total, six Maverick Force S Spot units were installed, along with six Rogue 1 BeamWashes, eight Ovation E-160WW ellipsoidals, eight Ovation F-145WW Fresnels, 12 COLORdash Batten-Quad 12 linear fixtures, 12 COLORdash Par H12IP pars, and two Ovation SP-300CW followspots.
The auditorium’s fixtures are
South Africa - There is a very special community living in Brixton, Johannesburg who regularly come together to bridge the gap between social groups with the emphasis on love, art and compassion, all with the aim of creating the kind of neighbourhood people want to call home. Throughout the year they present various events like their Youth Day Fashion show, a rally called Feast of the Nations, workshops and even things like watching movies on the tennis court, braais in the street, and reserving half an hour every Tuesday to pick up rubbish in the area.
In early September, the community of Brixton, Johannesburg celebrated the third annual Brixton Light Festival. The SOS Charity Fund sponsored the wages of 12 crew members who worked tirelessly to make the festival a reality, while DWR contributed Robe lighting fixtures to create mesmerizing special effects and illuminations on the iconic Brixton (Sentech) Tower.
Gearhouse Splitbeam, led by managing director Alistair Kilbee, played a pivotal role as the primary technical supplier, who provided equipment at a significantly reduced cost.
In 2023, the festival's theme, Where the Waters meet the Light, pays homage to Brixton's geographical location along the Witwatersrand watershed. Depending on which side of this watershed line rainfall occurs, water journeys either toward the Indian Ocean or the Atlantic on the opposite side. This thought-provoking theme has sparked the creativity and imagination of both community members and artists, serving as a source of inspiration for the event.
Mark Schae
USA - LD Ignacio (Iggy) Rosenberg has become another early adopter of GLP’s new impression X5 IP Bars, having successfully commandeered 136 units from PRG for Karol G’s recent 13-date American stadium tour.
Part of a multidisciplinary design collective called Lightswitch, which specialises in visual design for live entertainment and architectural projects, the lighting designer first became involved with Karol G several years ago. “After two tours with her we were invited back to design the lighting on her Mañana Sera Bonito stadium tour,” he says. “It helps I’m originally Argentine, so there is a language and cultural bridge that helps the design process and transfer of ideas.”
Karol G’s reputation has grown quickly since winning the Colombian version of The X Factor back in 2006, and later being awarded a Latin Grammy for Best New Artist in 2018. Her music genre being described as ‘reggaeton and Latin trap’, the release of her fourth album, Mañana Sera Bonito, earlier this year gave her the distinction of being the first woman to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with a Spanish-language album.
Such demand inevitably led to her undertaking her first stadium tour, playing venues of up to 50,000 capacity.
Working with production designer Travis Shirley, Iggy Rosenberg confirms that the lighting design required a number of theme changes: “Karol really knows what she wants to see and how her show needs to propel her energy into the crowd.
“There was a request for strobes – and we
The Netherlands - The inaugural edition of Deviate Festival took place on Saturday 26 August at Abbey Hotel Rolduc in Kerkrade. With a number of techno heavyweights on the bill, the sound and lighting had to be spot on. SL Productions’ Glenn Weckseler was on hand to help put together an optimal setup that included many products by Infinity, Showtec, DAP and Showgear.
For this event, the Deviate organisers managed to secure names such as Héctor Oaks, I Hate Models, Klangkuenstler, Lee Ann Roberts and Patrick Mason, among others. The location chosen to host the event was the Unesco-listed Abbey Hotel Rolduc.
The main stage was built in the courtyard with SL Productions putting together a lighting setup with more than 100 fixtures that covered the entire 104-metre length of the Rolduc building. There were 60 Infinity B401 Beam moving heads that combine fast, precise movements with on-board effects and 2 fast-moving Infinity iW-741 RDM moving washers. These were accompanied by 52 Showtec Helix S5000 Q4 washers that offer five separate control sections per fixture, giving them even more versatility.
Six Showtec Booster Pro splitter/boosters ensured the integrity of the signal and everything was connected with more than 200 DAP XLR cables that totalled approximately 2km in length. Everything was powered by Showgear distributors and a number of Showgear rain domes and covers were used to protect certain fixtures from the threat of rain. Designer Mitchel Hajdu from yourLD was in charge of the light show.
A second stage was also set up and this on
China - Wireless LED lighting manufacturer Astera has announced the creation of a new group CEO position with the appointment of Carl-Johan Sköld.
Carl-Johan will be based in Hong Kong and collaborating closely with both the German HQ and design centre and Astera’s Chinese manufacturing teams to shape the company’s medium term and future growth strategies.
With extensive expertise in long-term business development and strategy, Carl-Johan will outline some ambitious goals for Astera’s future, whilst also fortifying the brand’s current standing as a market leading lighting technology brand.
Astera’s sales director Sebastian Buckle commented: “It’s hugely exciting to have someone of Carl-Johan’s calibre onboard as our company moves to the next phase of its development. Carl-Johan brings great expertise, a huge enthusiasm for our industry and a brilliant track record of foresight and success, all of which will have positive impact on Astera going forward and we look forward to a long and productive relationship.”
Carl-Johan has already worked as a consultant for Astera for some time, and says: “Astera has many strengths and the key to developing any effective future strategies starts with these. The approach to innovation - based on thoughtful design tailored to the specific needs of multiple lighting professionals - makes Astera stand out in the market and provides a great basis for further growth.”
One key area in which Carl-Johan will immediately be concentrating his expertise will be intensifying Astera’s prese
USA - Verge Aero has unveiled the Verge Aero X7 drone at the 2023 UP.Summit, a gathering of innovative minds rethinking transportation. Drone shows are one application of the new technologies transforming mobility.
The Verge Aero X7 is a breakthrough product that delivers exceptional performances and smashes the barriers to entry into the drone show industry with a price designed to accelerate adoption, says the company. Now, almost anyone can create and perform drone shows with Verge Aero’s integrated, all-in-one drone show solution.
Venturing into the drone show industry has presented aspiring providers with a maze of mismatched hardware and software components creating disjointed workflows, at higher price points, making entry a daunting task. But Verge Aero, driven by a dedicated development team committed to making drone shows accessible to everyone, has flipped the script.
The introduction of the X7 is a testament to Verge Aero's seven years of innovation and dedication to building an-all-in-one drone show solution, streamlining workflows and democratising the drone show landscape. Designed from the ground up with ease-of-use in mind, the X7 integrates all essential elements for designing and performing sophisticated drone shows into one user-friendly system.
This unified approach drastically increases efficiency, making owning a drone show business an attainable dream for many more enthusiasts.
“As Verge Aero moves forward, we are not just advancing technology but also driving access to the industry, creating community wit
USA - In a historic night of volleyball and music, Proteus Lucius profile moving heads and Proteus Rayzor 1960 wash effects from Elation Professional, supplied by TMS, illuminated the stage for a captivating post-match concert by country music artist Scotty McCreery.
The event took place on 30 August at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, as part of the Volleyball Day in Nebraska celebration.
The University of Nebraska is known for its passionate support of its women’s volleyball team and the event drew an astounding crowd of 92,003 spectators. It marked a significant milestone for the world of women's sports and, according to the University, broke three records: Largest Volleyball Game Attendance Ever, Largest Attended Women's Sporting Event in the U.S., and Largest Attended Women's Sporting Event in the World.
Production company Theatrical Media Services (TMS), based in Omaha, has a long-standing relationship with the University of Nebraska that dates back to 2013 when the University’s basketball teams opened up Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. TMS provided pre-game and in-game lighting for the games and later provided lighting for a volleyball season at Bob Devaney Sports Centre.
TMS played a key role in illuminating the historic Volleyball Day concert by providing the lighting setup and Patrick Bressman of TMS played an integral part in crafting the layout. He explains that TMS also provided a truss structure for the occasion, which, under typical circumstances, would have featured a vinyl roof covering. However, due to sight line
The Netherlands - Prolights EclPanels TWC were successfully used in the creation of the new DRM Multimedia Lounge in the Zandvoort circuit. The main objective of this project was the transformation of a space into a multimedia lounge, which could ‘combine the emotion of Formula 1 racing with the possibilities offered by the most advanced technologies’.
For the lighting of the room, DRM Showtechniek has chosen to rely on Full AVL, Prolights distributor in the Netherlands. Full AVL supplied a set of EclPanel TWC, softlight LED known for their versatility in lighting, adapting perfectly to each specific need of the room. When the lounge is used as a meeting room, the EclPanels ensure intense and uniform light. Instead, when the room is not used as a workplace, these panels can beautify the environment, adapting their colour harmoniously to the general style of the room, thanks to the integrated FullSpectrum colour range.
The Full AVL team highlighted: “Prolights EclPanel TWC panels represent the top of innovation in lighting. Their ability to reproduce brilliant, dimmable colours makes them ideal for meeting a wide range of needs and environments. Thanks to their uniform and homogeneous light distribution, these panels ensure that every corner of the lounge is perfectly illuminated, both during meetings and live streaming sessions."
UK - The Architect is a celebratory and stirring immersive theatrical experience, taking place entirely on a London bus. Commemorating the murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence 30 years on, and inspired by his ambition to become an architect, the show uses performance, music and spectacle to explore the lives of black Londoners, imagining the potential of uninterrupted black lives and the hopes, ambitions and dreams that accompany this.
The lighting for this special project was designed by Chris McDonnell, who approached White Light, a d&b solutions company, to supply her lighting equipment.
Unlike more traditional pieces of theatre, The Architect sees its audience members board a London double-decker bus which then travels to different parts of the city, as well as back and forth through time. So how did Chris approach such a different production? She explains: “Whilst this show is incredibly ambitious, I was actually given quite a practical brief.
“The priority was for the various sections of the bus along with the locations we visited to have enough light and coverage so that the audience could see the action as it took place across the ever-darkening evening. The various locations include the bus stop, Well Hall Road, General Gordon Square as well as the actual bus itself so we also had to ensure each location felt distinct. One of the biggest factors I knew I’d have to face was how I could practically light these various places; in regards to what fixtures would work, how these would be rigged and how we would be able to control them
Italy - More than 70 Claypaky lights were used to illuminate the inaugural Eurovolley match at the Verona Arena. The project was conceived by Mequadro Service’s lighting designer Andrea Coppini and the company owner Emanuele Mazzi, with support from Claypaky product specialist Alessandro Melegaro.
The event marked the return of top sporting events to the temple of Italian opera, which was transformed into an open-air sports stadium in less than 24 hours. Emanuele Mazzi explained how the idea for this rig came about: “We were asked to include something awesome for this unusual event. In addition to illuminating the field, we put together lighting effects on the stalls and the audience, and created beams visible from afar to make the Arena look even more impressive.”
“To create these effects, we chose the Skylos and the Arolla Aqua," Andrea Coppini continued. "We saw these lights at Claypaky's headquarters, and we were immediately impressed by their innovative features, perfect for creating a unique, memorable event.”
“It is also an honour for Claypaky to be present at this event," Claypaky product specialist Alessandro Melegaro underlined. "It was a challenge to install our products at this prestigious venue, which will definitely bring out their unique features in terms of quality of effects and beam power.”
The lighting was installed and designed for the event by Mequadro Service, and the lights were provided by the AED Group.
Spain - Lightware Visual Engineering has announced significant changes to the operation of its Lightware Iberia office, effective from this month, further strengthening Lightware’s presence in the Iberian region.
Donald De Witte, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the ProAV industry, will take on the role as regional director Spain and Portugal for the Lightware Iberia office. De Witte joined Lightware as the director global partner strategy in May 2023, bringing with him over 25 years of experience gained while working as a business development manager at Cisco, where he specialised in collaboration services.
Lightware has had a successful presence within the Iberian market since 2017. Thanks to the consistent growth in the region, the company has decided to establish a dedicated office to serve the Iberia market. With a commitment to further expand its excellence and provide exceptional AV solutions and support to its valued customers in the region, Lightware has set its sights on assembling a dedicated team and recruiting additional ProAV experts in the months ahead within the region.
Lightware will take part in the BITAM exhibition in Madrid from 22 - 23 November. Where it will showcase its Taurus TPX product line, capable of extending USB-C signals up to an impressive 100 metres. Additionally, a range of other live event-related products will be demonstrated.
USA - ADJ has appointed Image Marketing as its manufacturer’s representative for Southern California.
Image Marketing was founded by Bob Rufkahr in 1980, and since then has represented some of the most prominent manufacturers in the AV and lighting industry.
The company offers a variety of services tailored to meet the needs of their dealers and manufacturers. Since inception, Image Marketing's mission has always been to represent quality products from manufacturers and to act as a conduit between manufacturer and dealer with the end goal being to ensure that both entities achieve sales and profit growth. Today, Image Marketing is led by Bob’s son, Tony Rufkahr.
“At Image Marketing, we are thrilled to partner with the ADJ Group and represent ADJ, Eliminator Lighting, Avante Audio, Accu-Cable and Accu-Stand in Southern California,” comments Tony Rufkahr. “The range of innovative solutions ADJ offers will provide tremendous value to our clients and their customers from San Diego to Los Angeles.
“Throughout my career I have always tried to take the fundamentals that my dad, brother and uncle taught me - things like doing the right thing and going the extra mile - and pair them with modern business practices. Old school meets new school, if you will. And I think this approach integrates perfectly with ADJ, a company with a rich heritage but also a clear vision for the future.”
Tony and his team at Image Marketing will work closely with Ted Molina, who is a member of ADJ USA’s internal sales team, with a particular responsibil
South Africa - Rental and production company Sound Stylists has invested in 24 Robe Painte moving lights, the first part of an order that has been delivered via South African Distributor DWR, with more to follow soon.
The new moving lights join around 300 other Robe luminaires in the Sound Stylists inventory and will be used on their diverse mix of corporate shows and events.
Owner and founder Kevin Glover explained that they are in the process of consolidating and rationalising the lighting kit as work has steadily returned after the pandemic.
They specifically wanted a compact LED fixture with shutters, and “something bright, reliable and with plenty of features to service indoor venues with a headroom of around 6 or 7m”, a size and level that constitutes a lot of their work.
They have also enjoyed a long history with Robe, purchasing the original ColorSpot and ColorWash 575 units when DWR became the distributor in 2006 which, approximately 16 years later, are still working and occasionally used.
Also, older and somewhat more active is a set of Robe ColorSpot, ColorWash and ColorBeam 700 luminaires. Apart from these, there is plenty of newer Robe kit in the warehouse including Pointes, miniPointes, LEDWash 600s and LEDWash 300s. The Pointe stock has recently been boosted with 12 more units as they are “such an ultimately useful fixture.”
Kevin mentions the need for solid backup and after-sales service which is assured when working with DWR. “It’s absolutely second to none! Not that I am expecting any issue with the R
UK - The original Sugababes made their moving O2 homecoming on 16 September. The 15,000 fans in attendance on that Saturday night not only eagerly embraced that chemistry, they expanded on it as well, creating a warm, emotional glow that transformed the entire arena.
Ed Warren felt the energy too. “I just loved how the whole thing came together,” he recalled. “It wasn’t just the lighting, but also the choreography, the music, the lasers, the confetti - and most of all, the beautiful harmonies of the three iconic singers.”
As the show’s lighting and stage designer, he supported the stars’ performance with a production that reflected the redolent moods that ran through every song in their 90-minute set.
Running his Colour Sound Experiment supplied rig on his ChamSys MagicQ MQ500M Stadium, Warren created myriad looks that ranged from flashy disco-like specials to soft, contemplative washes in his impeccably crisp timecoded show.
“The entire show was programmed to timecode; the only live busking I did was for key lighting the performers,” he said. “I worked very closely with Matt Sharp and Pete Thornton from More Eyes in the time leading up to the production to coordinate light and video.”
Part of the evening’s magic came from the classic Ed Warren mirror ball. At one point in the show, the only light in the arena came from the beams reflected off the massive ball hung over the audience. “We also had a one-meter mirror ball over the B stage,” said Warren. It played a huge part in making the moment special.
T
USA - Joshua Schultz wasn’t overly enthused about lighting a show against a large, deeply rippled curtain background for his client, Turnpike Troubadours when they performed at New York’s historic Beacon Theatre. That quickly changed, however, when he saw how this billowy background played off against light.
“I was sceptical, but I quickly fell in love with having another canvas to incorporate looks onto, said Schultz. “Too many times having just a black backdrop deadens the stage. This curtain added another dimension.”
A big reason why the curtain worked magic for this Top 20 country rock band from Oklahoma can be found in Schultz’s inspired colour mixing. Overlaying light in subtly different shades of the same colours, he created deeply nuanced and redolent monochromatic looks that beautifully complemented the music and the venue.
“I like to think in many different shades of a particular colour palette at each venue,” said Schultz. “Someone once told me that they liked how ‘way out’ of the mould my lighting was with this look. That was odd to me a first, because I’ve never really thought of it that way. This is just naturally how I go about programming. I like to evoke feelings from the crowd, whether it be by creating a shade of colour to set the mood for a certain song or painting a room and including that space in the band’s performance.”
This was clear for all to appreciate at the Turnpike Troubadour’s Beacon Theatre show. Relying on a rig anchored by 54 Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by Squeek Light
USA - Lighting designer Kyle Kegan of Voyage Productions enthusiastically embraced a full grandMA3 platform for lighting control whilst DJ duo Two Friends delivered two hi-energy sets in the Sahara Tent at the 2023 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.
Kyle, who works with many high-profile international clients, adapted the lighting design and showfile he had created for Two Friends’ recent tour to work with the Sahara Tent production lighting rig, collaborating closely with Michael Sheck who was the LD and helped program the show.
Their show was based around the same spaceship DJ booth designed by Kyle and built by Dark Moon Design for the tour, complete with over 3,000 LED pixels across 24 DMX universes all running through their grandMA3, plus some onboard practical lights.
All of this was integrated with Coachella’s house rig which was coincidentally and conveniently based on five concentric circular trusses in the roof, comprising a perfect overhead match for the 360-degree spaceship! The approximately 300 moving lights on the house rig were supplied by Aspect Lighting, and the house design also featured multiple LED surfaces that were fully utilised by VJ Richie Sanchez.
“Coachella was interesting in so many ways, a major one being how we were able to reshape and reprogram the show so quickly and efficiently due to the flexibility of the grandMA3 software,” explained Kyle.
He and his Denver based design studio had used time during Covid to really start drilling down into the grandMA3 architecture, and over the last co
UK - When Entec Sound & Light was asked to provide technical services for Afrobeats legend Wizkid at the near 63,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it found itself making one of the first deployments of the new weatherproof impression X5 IP Bar from GLP in a concert setting.
The Nigerian Made In Lagos star became the first African artist to headline a concert at London’s largest club stadium. But it was his LD, Shepherd Lowrey, who had specified GLP battens.
Expecting to see the older impression X4 Bar 20s, he discovered Entec had gone a step further and lined up the next-generation impression X5 IP Bars: “What a pleasant surprise when I arrived to a rig full of X5 IP Bars… like stomping the gas pedal of a Porsche 911!” Referring to it as “the spice”, he adds: “It provides that little sizzle of excitement.”
Entec project manager Patch Cleaver had been confident he could source these from Impact Production Services (IPS). Taking up the story, Cleaver states: “We hired 60, and we were able to make up the difference with [GLP impression] X4 Bar 20, bringing the total to 150 X4 Bar 20s and X5 IP Bars.”
Lowrey’s rider also included quantities of GLP’s JDC1 hybrid strobe and JDC Line 1000, which, like the impression X4 Bar 20s, came straight from Entec’s inventory. They provided 42 of the former and 80 of the latter.
The IP65-rated, linear LED batten features 18 powerful 40 W RGBL LEDs, a wide zoom range, and the new GLP iQ.Gamut colour calibration algorithm that creates perfect white spectrums with excellent
Hungary - The Sziget Festival celebrated 30 years in 2023, earning its place as one of Europe’s largest, most popular and diverse music and cultural festivals which is staged annually in August on Óbudai-sziget (Old Buda Island), a leafy green 108-hectare island on the Danube just a stone’s throw from central Budapest.
Robe moving lights had a big presence this year across three major performance areas - the Main Stage, the massive FreeDome Tent and the dropYard rap stage - as well as on some of the other venues around the site that hosted over 1,000 performances on the ‘Island of Freedom’ as it’s known for the duration.
Headlining the Main Stage this year were a host of internationally acclaimed artists like Imagine Dragons, David Guetta, Billy Eilish, Florence + The Machine, Lorde and Macklemore, plus a plethora of other top level artists, together with events all over site from wild dance parties to alternative arts, pubs, cocktail bars, chill out zones, seminars dedicated to current hot topics like AI and climate change; workshop areas and places where charities and NGOs could showcase their work and campaigns.
Production lighting for the Main Stage was designed by Mark Kontra, part of the team from rental specialist Colossal which supplied all the lighting kit for this area.
The Robe count here this year was over 160, with 42 x Fortes, 8 x iForte, 64 x Pointes and 56 x ColorStrobes. Four BMFL Spots running on four RoboSpot systems were available for those requesting it, which were Florence & The Machine and Lorde. Imagine
Switzerland - Follow-Me has partnered with Swiss company cast Switzerland SA. Formed in 2009 and established as an independent trading company in 2021, cast Switzerland SA has two locations in Switzerland to provide sales and support to both the Swiss German and Swiss French regions.
Managing director Michel Vuilleumier and business development manager Swiss German area, Peter Häusler, head the team at cast Switzerland AG. With his extensive background in lighting and technical operation, Häusler approached Follow-Me seeing the advantage in Follow-Me systems for both designers and operators, merging art and technology for follow-spot and tracking solutions. Luca Idone (Swiss German) and Lionel Métraux (Romandie) strengthen the team for cast with their technical knowledge and support in assisting all customers.
Follow-Me systems give you full independence and creative flexibility with manual and automatic tracking. The Follow-Me product range allows for growth within the scope of manual tracking right through to full auto tracking. Follow-Me is fixture independent: it can control any manufacturer’s type of moving light via Art-Net, sACN & PSN to integrate with motion control. Furthermore, for auto tracking in some immersive audio applications, the OSC protocol can be implemented.
Follow-Me account manager Zoë Castle states: “When developing business partners around the world we look to work with commercial specialists with technical abilities and good connections to all areas of the entertainment industry. Peter and his team at cast Switz
Italy - The Tones Teatro Natura, a former quarry in Crevoladossola provides stunning scenic surroundings for concerts and other performances. Work on this distinctive venue, which is located in the former Cava Roncino, began in 2020 during the pandemic lockdown. The permanent open-air site, which is a project by Tones on the Stones, opened in July 2022.
Surrounded by the roughhewn quarry, the beauty of Tones Teatro Natura was on full display during a recent concert by the CM Orchestra, an ensemble of 60 musicians with a repertoire that crosses various eras and styles. Enriching the occasion was the guest of honour, Mario Biondi.
Accenting the scenery were the colours of a refined lighting design by Nicolò Damiani of MG Service, using Chauvet Professional fixtures distributed by Zalight. Service was provided by Marco Gervasio and the team at MG Service.
“I used the Rogue Outcast 1 BeamWash to create colour and atmosphere across the stage, positioned edge-on to the orchestra,” said Damiani. “There was no possibility of hanging, so we had to use resident structures, marble blocks, at a height of only 3.5 m. The Outcast is really a great product; I found myself very happy with it especially for two features: the zoom has a fantastic range, and at such limited heights it was very useful to have such a wide zoom.”
Damiani was also impressed with the fixture’s colour mixing capabilities, particularly how this made it easier for him to light the many moods covered by the CM Orchestra.
“I was really struck by their mixing; when, at t