Germany - Singer Helene Fischer hosted her annual Die Helene Fischer Show at the end of 2024, with a host of guest stars and a total of 21 separate LED surfaces all powered by tvONE’s Green Hippo Hippotizer Media Servers.

A total of nine Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 and two Hippotizer Tierra+ MK2 Media Servers were specified to run 21 LED surfaces, alongside two Hippotizer Play licences to manage the systems. The content primarily consisted of pre-rendered visuals, provided by Gravity Germany, which were designed for the multitude of performers.

“The video materials were delivered as individual loops, which were then programmed and assembled within the Hippotizer Media Servers,” says Christian van Deenen from trust.event group, which specified and supplied the Hippotizers. “Throughout the show, more than 1.5TB of data was played back, cons

USA - German DJ Bunt is touring with a "barrier-free" production design. "Bunt shows don't follow your typical format, where fans are barricaded off from the stage," said Tony Caporale, lighting designer for the current global tour, which ends later this month in Australia. "There are no boundaries. Bunt’s DJ booth is smack dab in the middle of the venue floor with the audience surrounding him. He wants to share the experience with the fans up close and personal."

Reflecting this philosophy, Caporale, of Infinitus Vox, creates a "perimeter of light" around Bunt and his fans. This, he says, "allows everyone to be in the moment with him from start to finish."

This openness has made it easy for the good vibes to flow between Bunt and his fans, but lighting an in-the-round DJ booth on a multi-city tour is not without its challenges. "We've had to retro

UK - Lighting designer Elliot Baines from Spiralstagelighting reached for some Astera PixelBricks to help create an imaginative, memorable, and high-value lighting effect for the London show of Canadian indie band Wild Rivers, a showcase gig at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire that was part of their 2024 UK tour.

Introduced to their tour manager Ben Pollard by Portsmouth, UK-based lighting rental company LiteUp, the brief was to create a homely and warm vibe onstage, whilst also impressing fans who packed out the London show, which was a great success.

Baines achieved results by using a careful combination of the 20 x Astera PixelBricks which were used as ‘specials’, the venue’s house lighting rig and the band’s own touring lighting specials.  

Wild Rivers were already touring a number of filament light bulbs on stands for additional

Switzerland - Clear-Com successfully delivered a high-capacity, secure communication network during the 2024 Street Parade in Zurich, one of the world’s largest techno music festivals. Partnering with MGM Audio AG, Clear-Com provided vital communication tools that helped ensure real-time coordination and operational safety across the event, which attracted over 920,000 attendees. 

The Street Parade spanned Zurich’s city centre, posing challenges for communication across large, densely populated areas. Clear-Com’s Gen-IC virtual intercom system, known for its IP-based capabilities, robust signal integrity, and flexibility, was deployed to support reliable communication for teams stationed throughout the city. 

Gen-IC played a key role in facilitating tactical coordination, including the ability to issue real-time announcements and updates fr

UK - Nugen Audio has announced the immediate availability of its new Reverb Map on the brand’s website. Inspired by the brand’s Paragon and Paragon ST reverb plug-ins, the Nugen Audio team created an interactive map of the world that pinpoints spaces with unusual acoustic characteristics.

From churches and subway stations to concert venues and tombs across the globe, audio enthusiasts, audiophiles, backpackers and those with a passion for interesting architecture, among other hobbies, now have a unique exploration checklist for their travels.

“Our team worked hard to put the map together, and we look forward to hearing from Nugen customers who manage to visit some of these locations,” says Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe, product specialist, Nugen Audio. “What better way to impose your audio fascination onto friends and family than by dragging them

Mexico - In designing the reality show La Casa de los Famosos, the Mexican version of Celebrity Big Brother, lighting designer Miki Molina uses innovative Elation lighting technology to transform the set into an impressive visual spectacle that blends aesthetics with emotion.

For Molina, whose career in film, theatre and television stretches to collaboration with giants such as Amazon, Disney, HBO, Netflix, Sony, Telemundo, and more, lighting design is not just technical but more akin to “painting with light”. His work on La Casa de los Famosos, which airs on TelevisaUnivision, has elevated the reality show to remarkable visual levels while tapping into the emotive facets of the show. 

Since beginning his collaboration with Endemol Shine Boomdog, Molina has worked to capture the key moments of the show through a desig

UK - Rag’n’Bone Man has been enjoying using KLANG-DMI, inserted into the DiGiCo Quantum 338 console for his latest What do you believe in? UK and European tour. Monitor engineer, George ‘Sol’ Solidakis, explains how KLANG’s technology, supplied by Britannia Row Productions in London, played a key role in delivering precise monitoring for the musicians, helping to maintain the energy on stage.

“My objective was to create intimate, natural-feeling IEM mixes, because the music covers a really full range, from quieter emotional songs to full on rock,” he says. “Rory (Graham, Rag’n’Bone Man’s real name) is all about making sure there is a real vibe and giving the audience an exciting time, so my mix has to reflect that energy too. My job as monitor engineer is to create an environment where the artists can perform and express themse

The Netherlands - A leading theatre organisation has chosen Unitour racks from LSC Control Systems to provide power management and dimming solutions. With five Unitour racks specified for its three auditoriums in Heerlen, Parkstad Limburg Theaters (PLT) is one of the latest performing arts hubs to adopt solutions from the Australian manufacturer.

PLT operates seven venues across the cities of Heerlen, Kerkrade and Sittard in the country’s south-eastern region of Limburg. Ranging in capacity from 120 to 1,100, these venues play a significant role in the cultural lives of the communities they serve. Across the organisation, PLT hosted almost 1,500 events in 2024.

Amid this busy environment, PLT’s head of lighting, Rob Debets, recalls his team looking for a “very flexible and reliable rack” when they saw the Unitour on the LSC booth at Frankfurt

USA - The Luckman Club, an exclusive lounge space at Soho House in West Hollywood, offers members a sophisticated bar and lounge with musical performances while serving as a venue for hosting events.

The management sought a sound system that could support a variety of corporate events, private parties, and more, all while seamlessly fitting into the room’s aesthetic. Pinnacle Audio, Video, & Lighting spearheaded the installation of the distributed 1 Sound system, resulting in an audio upgrade that prompted the Soho House operations team to say: "The sound quality is amazing. The form factor and the custom paint and fabric match our elevated aesthetic. The combination of both is exactly what we wanted as we elevated the space for our members."

For the two main lounge areas audio design, 1 Sound’s Cannon coaxials were the loudspeaker that fit t

USA - The NFL’s highly anticipated 2024 Christmas Day Halftime Show, dubbed the ‘Beyoncé Bowl’, during the Baltimore Ravens vs Houston Texans game on Netflix, showcased not only a breathtaking performance from Beyoncé but also innovative wireless technology, courtesy of Professional Wireless Systems (PWS).

This event required intricate planning and execution from all parties involved in the production. “The speed and scale of the Beyoncé Bowl were unprecedented,” says Jimmy Van Winkle, general manager, Professional Wireless Systems (PWS). “It was every bit the size and complexity of a Super Bowl Halftime Show, condensed into less than two months of preparation.”

Pre-production was a race against time, with confirmation only six weeks prior. The PWS team conducted a site survey to determine optimal antenna placement and gathe

UK - A new UK Festivals Data Map has been launched, mapping over 850 festivals that took place in England, Wales and Scotland in 2024, where music was a key part of the entertainment.

The free, publicly available UK Music Festival Resource is designed to be updated and help the industry count festivals, artists plan tours, and fans discover new events in their area.

Commissioned by retiring Association of Festival Organisers general secretary Steve Heap in partnership with EIF and LIVE, this UK Festival Data tool has been created by Chris Carey of FastForward Events, with funding from the Events Industry Forum (principal funder) and LIVE (supporter).

Launched on 14 January 2025, on the EIF website, the content will be monitored and updated by the Fast Forward Events team for the first three months, then its upkeep will transfer to th

UK - The Roof Gardens in Kensington, West London, has re-emerged as a social club, featuring a bespoke L-Acoustics professional sound system.

Perched 100ft above London's bustling streets, The Roof Gardens has been a constant in the city's ever-changing skyline for over eight decades. Now, with a renewed mission and purpose, this nearly acre-wide Art Deco oasis opens a new chapter. The Roof Gardens celebrates London’s modern diversity while honouring its rich history rooted in community and cultural evolution.

Tasked with bringing the audio vision to life was L-Acoustics certified provider, Marquee AV. Its challenge was to design a system versatile enough to complement the diverse areas of The Roof Gardens while maintaining the venue's aesthetic integrity.

The result is a technologically ambitious yet discreet and sophisticated installation

Germany - Carolin Kebekus – comedienne, singer (Beer Bitches) and actress – has been touring German arenas with her new programme, Shesus, since the beginning of September.

Contour Veranstaltungsservice from Bergisch Gladbach has for many years been the artist's tour supplier on behalf of Bühnenkunst Ulhaas & Co, and as such is responsible for the audio, lighting, rigging, logistics and, since 2024, also for LED walls and camera technology.

Contour has established itself as a respected provider in the comedy market and specialises in tailor-made solutions that meet the specific requirements of this industry. In order to place the artist as ‘Shesus’ in heavenly light, the Contour team is using, among other things, 50 GLP impression X5 Bar 1000, which were purchased specifically for the tour in summer. The lighting design

UK - Gateshead’s Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (Baltic) – a repurposed flour mill along the city’s scenic Quayside – stands as a premier arts and cultural venue in Northeast England.

Opened in 2002 as part of a local regeneration effort, the gallery has hosted work from celebrated artists including Yoko Ono and Anish Kapoor. Now, Baltic has worked once again with integrator ArtAV to showcase a bold new exhibition by British artist Hannah Perry. Utilising Genelec's 8330 studio loudspeakers, Perry’s work delves into themes of labour, motherhood, and class in an experience that is ‘as auditory as it is visual’.

A long-standing collaborator with Baltic, ArtAV specialises in integrating audiovisual components into artistic presentations. “Our focus is always to provide high-quality equipment that matches the vision of galleries and ar

UK - Inspired by the hit movie The Greatest Showman, Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular is an immersive production that opened its doors last October at the Empress Museum in Earls Court, London. Visitors are invited to explore a vibrant backstage world for an interactive pre-show experience before entering the 700-seat Big Top for a spectacular show where circus blends seamlessly with musical theatre.

Woodroffe Bassett Design (WBD) was tasked with the lighting design for the new production. It partnered with White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to provide the lighting equipment.

Come Alive! offers an immersive pre-show experience that gives visitors a peek behind the scenes of the Big Top, featuring secret performances and intriguing characters, all while enjoying delicious food and drinks. The m

UK - A new production of The Devil Wears Prada has hit the runway at the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End, fresh from its out-of-town previews at Plymouth Theatre Royal, with an original score and a dozen new songs by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick, and direction by three-time Tony Award winner, Jerry Mitchell.

The show’s lighting was supplied by PRG, a company with a long pedigree and strong tradition for supporting West End theatre, from its origins on Broadway to its current dedicated ambassadors, Jon Cadbury and Peter Marshall, who have been active in supporting West End and fringe theatres for many years.

PRG executive chairman, chief creative officer and founder, Jere Harris, worked hard to secure PRG as the lighting supplier for Bruno Poet’s sleek and elegant lighting design, simultaneously choosing

Portugal - The GQ Night of the Year party held in Lisbon dazzled attendees with an immersive audiovisual experience, using Christie projectors and displays, executed by ADLC Audiovisuais.

The annual GQ Night of the Year celebration brings together personalities from fashion, entertainment, and culture.

The Palacete, a 19th-century wing of the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Hotel, known for its elegant architecture, provided the backdrop for the occasion.

ADLC Audiovisuais, GQ Portugal’s and Vogue Portugal’s trusted AV partner for several years, managed the technical production of the event, ensuring that the evening’s visual storytelling matched the elegance and vibrancy of the occasion. ADLC worked closely with LightHouse Publishing, the advertising agency that created and managed the content.

Two Christie M 4K25 RG

Thailand - Universo Ferrari, an immersive exhibition showcasing the world of Ferrari cars, took place in Bangkok late last year. The event, which took place at UOB Live, Emsphere, showcased more than 20 models and offered Ferrari enthusiasts in Thailand an up-close and personal experience of limited editions, legendary classics, and the very latest F80, the most powerful road car to emerge from the Ferrari factory.

The exhibition was divided into a number of zones which featured different elements of the Ferrari story. It was important that the event audio matched the visual presentation, and Coda Audio was the preferred choice.

Audio rental and installation specialist, and Coda’s distributor in Thailand, Modern Solutions Plus, worked to support its client Perfect Duck, who had the agreement of Ferrari HQ to switch from its original rider choice of

USA - In keeping with its mission to foster ‘innovative creativity’ within the live event industry, the Conference Live at Lititz selects one young designer to light the main stage at its popular event every year. In 2024, that honour belonged to Tegan Rehbein. Working with a rig supplied by the 4Wall Entertainment team led by project manager Zack Spadaccia, she provided proof that The Conference made a good choice.

Anchoring Rehbein's rig were 246 Chauvet Professional fixtures. She drew on their performance features and bright output to paint the stage in an array of vivid colours, while filling the venue with dramatic aerial patterns and audience lighting.

Key to helping her create her engaging show were 48 Color Strike M motorised strobe-washes in full pixel mode. "Very early on in the design process I knew from the event organisers t

India - The sacred city of Deoghar, also known as Baidyanath Dham, stands as a pivotal religious destination in India, revered for its association with Lord Shiva. Nestled in the state of Jharkhand, this pilgrimage site is home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, making it a magnet for devotees from across the country.

The Shrawan Mela, an annual month-long fair held during July and August, brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to this holy city, culminating in a vibrant amalgamation of faith, culture, and celebration. This year, the festivities took on a spectacular new dimension.

Headway Kreations was tasked with conceptualising, designing, and commissioning a series of visual experiences across multiple sites in and around Deoghar.

Yogesh Choudhary, founder-director of Headway Kreations, comments: “We have been part of this industry for 17

USA - Located in the heart of Central Florida, Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) offers a supportive environment designed to help students succeed. As the fastest-growing college in Florida, serving 8,600 students annually and a 25:1 student-to-faculty ratio, LSSC is experiencing growing pains in its classrooms and campus facilities. The college recently upgraded the audio system in its multipurpose gymnasium by deploying amplifiers from LEA Professional.

The Everett A. Kelly Convocation Center is home to LSSC’s National Junior College Athletic Association volleyball programme. With seating for up to 1,100 spectators, the convocation centre also hosts local high school basketball games and tournaments. Outside of athletics, the facility can be transformed to hold events such as award ceremonies, banquets, and special events.

A key event each semeste

Canada - A lighting designer isn't always asked to create more light. Sometimes the client's request veers more toward darkness. Such was the case this December when Pierre E. Roy was called upon to light the holiday show Parapapam at la Maison Symphonique in Montreal.

Roy explained how it transpired: "At the request of the director, we held back on some brightness. He wanted the stage to be kind of dark – but not black – to make it dramatic. He also wanted to make the solo artists more prominent by having most of the stage a bit subdued. When the soloists weren't singing, the orchestra, and/or choir, became more prominent and brighter."

The darkness also created challenges when it came to key lighting a cast that included 30 musicians and more than twice as many chorists. Complicating matters further, the soloists often roamed the stage

UK - The holographic in-camera video effects seen around the London Eye during the BBC live broadcast of the New Year’s Eve Celebrations were created through the use of hologram effect projection fabric Hologauze.

The fabric was created by UK-based Holotronica to create what it describes as a “forced perspective illusion”. Hologauze is set a short distance in front of the camera, covering the full frame of the desired shot. Custom video content is then projected onto the Hologauze and mapped to fill the space required.

The camera captures the projected content on the Hologauze, as well as the environment behind, while the rest of the Hologauze is effectively invisible. Using this technique with Hologauze enabled the holographic effect to be achieved during the live broadcast.

Pixel Artworks created and delivered the effects and

Sweden - Ant Wan, one of Sweden’s largest hip-hop artists, broke the attendance record at Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena recently, when a sell-out crowd of 40,899 fans gathered to see the concert. What is more remarkable is that not only did he steal the previous house record from Madonna, but it was only the artist’s second ever live concert (after selling out the Avicii Arena last year).

Such an auspicious occasion warranted a top lighting designer – both to fill the arena with light, and to sensitively interact with the concrete-based stage design and scenography created by visual artist Alexander Wessely, who doubled as show director. He brought in Jakob Larsson (of Light it Production), with whom he has worked in the past – notably with acts such as the Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia – and the LD was soon integrating a familiar family of hybrid pro

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