Projects

Epica has retained a fearless desire to pursue new forms of expression

Rogues reflect Epica’s eclectic sound

Details: 13 March 2017

USA - A metal band that’s recorded hits with names like Cry For The Moon doesn’t normally cover music written by the likes of Antonio Vivaldi, Antonín Dvořák and Giuseppe Verdi, but then again, nothing about Dutch act Epica can be described as ‘ordinary’. In addition to performing the works of these and other classical composers, the six-member band has put its own fresh, original and totally captivating metallic symphonic spin on music from films like Star Wars, Spider-Man and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Having risen high on the charts in their native northern Europe, where they perform at large capacity venues, Epica has nevertheless retained a fearless desire to pursue new forms of expression. This was very evident in their latest North American tour, which concluded in early December, not just in their music, but also in their lights

The opening show in Perth broke records with 65,000 in ticket sales for a single night.

FloppyFlex LED Neon tours with Adele

Details: 13 March 2017

Australia Adele debuts her new stadium show this month on a six-city tour of Australia and New Zealand, to be continued in the UK in June. The opening in Perth broke records with 65,000 in ticket sales for a single night. Anyone fortunate enough to attend one of these sold-out shows cannot miss 285m of Firefly FloppyFlex LED neon lining the star’s surround-walk in the 360˚ in-the-round production.
“This is Adele’s first arena tour and the design is stunning,” says Firefly founding director, Heath Williamson. “Everything is traditionally lit for a warm, classic tungsten look. The FloppyFlex RGB is mixed for warm and cool whites, as well as the occasional red – all done with the greatest taste.
“Double runs of FloppyFlex coupled together render them even more impressive than usual, whether from the upper rows of the stadium or even the news chopper flying

For lighting control LD Wang Yugang used four grandMA2 light consoles

Encore Dunhuang debuts with grandMA2

Details: 13 March 2017

China - Immersive Chinese theatre work Encore Dunhuang debuted at the first Silk Road Dunhuang International Cultural Expo and was directed by Wang Chaoge, co-director of the stunning opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
During the 90-minute performance, audience members can travel through time as they walk through four zones and experience key moments and characters in the 2,000-year history of the city, once an important stop on the Silk Road.
For lighting control LD Wang Yugang used four grandMA2 light consoles, two MA onPC command wing, four MA NPU (Network Processing Unit), two MA VPU plus MK2 (Video Processing Unit) and 10 MA 2Port Nodes.
“An Encore theatre is different from the standard theatre. Depending on the needs of the scene, it is built to be a flexible space that meets all the regular theatre construction specifications whilst

Wilkinson played London’s Roundhouse (photo: Fresh to Death)

Getting Hypnotic with Wilkinson

Details: 13 March 2017

UK - Colour Sound Experiment delivered equipment for a recent UK tour by pioneering d‘n’b music producer Wilkinson, a much anticipated series of sold-out gigs ahead of the release of his new Hypnotic album in April - working with lighting designer Sam Tozer.
Playing a variety of venues, this was an opportunity for the company’s new pre-rigged trussing - a Litec product specially modified for them - to provide a flexible and practical solution. Features include an expedient four-wide-two-high stacking truck pack combined with super-fast deployment onstage.
The regional dates were primarily at academy venues, culminating in a high profile high pressure performance at London's Roundhouse. The look and design developed for the tour was a total change from any previous Wilkinson live shows, and a big part of the aesthetic goal was to produce something new and e

Al Di Meola played a sell-out gig at Darmstadt’s 1000-capacity Straatstheatre (photo: Paul Sebald)

Jazz legend Al Di Meola plays with APG's Uniline

Details: 13 March 2017

Germany - When Jazz legend Al Di Meola played a sell-out gig at Darmstadt’s 1000-capacity Straatstheatre, Tonwerk’s Jan Weimann deployed a Uniline FOH system from APG. For Weimann, using the Uniline with this artist was the only possible choice. “Al Di Meola is quite specific about loud stage environments. The Uniline system has such a great directivity that there's so little sound spill to the stage from the PA system. We also shielded the drums with acrylic glass at his request.”
The system was configured to provide high-clarity coverage for every seat with minimal backward spill. Comprised of left and right hangs of eight UL210 three-way line array modules per side, with bass support from three stacked UL115B subs, the system was driven by APG controllers.
For Weimann, APG’s Uniline is his preferred system because, he says, it implements a “large stereo

The Fort Santa Tecla venue, which staged artist performances and DJ sets to be broadcast live

Allen & Heath supports Sanremo Festival

Details: 13 March 2017

Italy - Allen & Heath’s dLive, GLD and ME systems were employed to manage broadcast performances at the recent Sanremo Music Festival in Italy, an annual week-long event based around a popular TV singing competition.
Allen & Heath managed FOH, monitors and broadcast duties at the Fort Santa Tecla venue, which staged artist performances and DJ sets to be broadcast live during the festival on the national TV channel, Rai. The venue also hosted VIP festival guests.
Italian pro audio specialist, Exhibo, supplied two Dante-enabled dLive S Class mixing systems, with a S5000 Surface and DM48 MixRack managing FOH and monitors, and a S3000 and DM48 for broadcast and recording. A ME personal monitoring system was also supplied for rehearsals and the drum-fill mix, and a Dante-enabled Chrome Edition GLD-80 digital mixer was provided for the DJ sets, where the GLD Remote

The Knoxville Museum of Art held its annual fundraising event, L’Amour du Vin with a lighting package donated by Bandit Lites

Bandit provides lighting for museum fundraiser

Details: 10 March 2017

USA - In what has been called Tennessee’s finest food and wine event, the Knoxville Museum of Art held its primary annual fundraising event, L’Amour du Vin 4 March, with a lighting package donated by Bandit Lites.
The sophisticated wine auction and dinner (prepared by three-time James Beard Award-winner and Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef Barbara Lynch), serves as the primary contribution event for the museum, which reaches over 60,000 annually and boasts an accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, a merit less than ten percent of American museums share.
Bandit has been involved with L’Amour du Vin for 14 years and is trusted to both bring the fundamental lighting of the space, both functional and ambient, and to create an inviting, dazzling feel for the soiree, while not overpowering the museums architecture and installations.
Using a combinati

The finals of the FIRST Lego League Challenge: Animal Allies were held at Bristol University

Evans Audio Visual accepts Lego challenge

Details: 10 March 2017

UK - Hundreds of aspiring young engineers and roboticists took part in an exciting science and technology challenge at the University of the West of England in Bristol. The finals of the FIRST Lego League Challenge: Animal Allies were held in the university’s Exhibition and Conference Centre on Sunday 26 February.
Evans Audio Visual Staging teamed up with Utopium to supply sound and lighting to the event, which was part of a global Lego-based robotics contest, and featured tens of thousands of young people. For the sound installation, working with the in-house PA system Evans supported that by installing two Yamaha QL1’s with two channels of Shure ULXD radios on a Dante network. The Evans team connected the main competition space with the studio to allow the Institute of Engineering and Technology to stream the event live on YouTube.
Helping add to the interactive

The four-storey structure gives visitors stunning views of the Rocky Mountains

No mountain too high for ETC

Details: 10 March 2017

Canada - The recently opened Banff Gondola Terminal represents quite literally a high point in lighting installations for ETC, writes Marshall Bissett. Perched on a mountain peak with an elevation of 2,281m, the four-storey structure gives visitors access to restaurants, bars, retail stores and stunning views of the Rocky Mountains.
Brewster Travel Canada, working with a team of subcontractors, completed the 3,251sq.m $26m reconstruction in 12 months. Video screens, reading panels and three-dimensional displays depict information of the park’s iconic flora and fauna, designed specifically to thrill and entertain the roughly 600,000 visitors who take the gondola annually, says Dave McKenna, president of Brewster Travel Canada.
Following a very “green” mandate from the end users, the entire facility uses ETC LED fixtures to create theatrical interior looks t

The Experience took place in Lagos' Tafawa Balewa Square in December 2016

Avolites provides the gospel Experience in Lagos

Details: 10 March 2017

Nigeria - Two of Avolites' most popular lighting control consoles, Sapphire Touch and Tiger Touch II, were selected to deliver the multi-layered, diverse lighting for 15 of the best gospel music ministers from around the world during Nigeria's mammoth praise event The Experience 11: Revealing Jesus.
Reported to be 'Africa's largest concert', with revellers upwards of 500,000, The Experience has been running since 2006 and is produced by vibrant, multi-ethnic church, House on the Rock.
Stephen Davies of UK-based Subfrantic Production Services, longstanding technical supplier of the church's London branch, has been involved with the gospel extravaganza for the past four years. Each year he selects Avolites to handle the increasingly large lighting concept.
"Choosing Avolites to deliver The Experience's lighting is always an easy decision to make," says Davie

Yu Bar opened its doors for business in time for the lunar new year

Nexo STM debuts at new Chinese mega club

Details: 10 March 2017

China - With the opening of the Yu Bar in Shunde, near Guangzhou, the entertainment scene in China sees a return of the mega club after many years. It features the debut installation in China of a Nexo STM Series modular line array system, chosen to position the Yu Bar at the top of the market.
The sheer size of the new venue is breathtaking, with a 15m ceiling height that allows its technical specifications to be fully achieved. “Too often in China, sound proofing is overlooked but not here,” says Michael Chow, marketing manager for Top Plot Int’l Ltd, Nexo’s distributor for China. “At Yu Bar, the ample height of the structure means that the PA system can be installed at the optimal height and position, without the usual compromises.”
In an installation designed and contracted by Nexo’s Guangzhou dealer Hertz Audio with Hong Zing Audio Equipment, aided b

The stage was immersed just below the surface of the lake to give the illusion that the performers are floating on water

dLive manages G20 concert in Hangzhou

Details: 09 March 2017

China - A festival to mark the G20 Summit was held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou with an Allen & Heath dLive S Class mixing system managing the live performances.
Staged on the city’s vast West Lake, the event featured a symphony concert and gala designed by Chinese director, Zhang Yimou, who blended traditional Chinese music with Western classics.
The stage was immersed just below the surface of the lake to give the illusion that the performers are floating on water. The stage was divided into three main performance zones, and more than 500 performers were involved in the show.
The main mixing system comprised of a S7000 Surface with DM64 MixRack. Tao Zhang, audio system designer for the show, commented, “dLive is perfectly designed for live shows. For a high profile performance like this, we can’t afford to have any problems. dLive is reliable and i

The dazzling lighting display that covered the seven-block area was created by Sohail e. Najafi of Najafi Design Group

Sohail e. Najafi lights LA’s Broadway with Chauvet

Details: 09 March 2017

USA - For one night late last month, the stretch of Broadway between Third Street and Olympic Boulevard in downtown LA, glittered just as brightly as its New York City counterpart, 2,831 miles to the east, as the City of Angels celebrated the third annual Night on Broadway Festival.
The dazzling lighting display that covered the seven-block area was created by Sohail e. Najafi of Najafi Design Group, supported by a team of nine lighting directors, using an impressive rig supplied by 4Wall Entertainment Lighting of Orange County, CA, for interior venues, and Aspect Lighting of Santa Fe Springs, CA, for exterior stages.
Unlike Manhattan’s Broadway, where the focus is on traditional theatrical stage shows, the Los Angeles event celebrated the rich tradition of this historic downtown neighbourhood with a music and art driven festival that took place inside most of its l

The Wejherowska Street Pool will benefit the residents of Wroclaw after the Games

Community chosen for World Games pool

Details: 09 March 2017

Poland - As the city of Wrocław in Poland prepared for The World Games in July 2017, the Wroclaw Investment Company settled the tender for the reconstruction and development of the swimming pools located at Wejherowska Street in the Northwest of the city.
Selected as one of the main aquatic venues for The World Games, the Wejherowska Street Pool will benefit the residents of Wroclaw after the Games, with its refurbishment of the existing outdoor swimming pool and the building of a brand new indoor venue. It has been described by the City of Wrocław as “probably the investment connected to The World Games 2017 that Wroclaw citizens are most looking forward to.”
Tommex Żebrowscy Sp. J. was commissioned to design and install the sound system for both the indoor and outdoor pools, together with the main hall, fitness club and gymnasium which are combined in the comp

The magnificent spectacle leaned heavily on audio, lighting and video technology

CODA AiRAY power reigns on Singapore Parade

Details: 09 March 2017

Singapore - Singapore's 51st National Day Parade took place in August 2016 at the 55,000 seater Singapore Sports Hub, a venue notorious for its challenging acoustics as much as it is famous for its huge domed roof - the world's largest.
Well publicised sound issues have plagued concerts held at the venue and whilst the National Day Parade was not simply a gig, its magnificent spectacle leaned heavily on audio, lighting and video technology. On such an auspicious occasion, there was no room for sub-standard delivery. Highly experienced independent audio consultant Shah Tahir had overseen the design of the sound system for each of the previous eight Parades but this was the first at the relatively new Sports Hub. Overseen by the military, under whose auspices the event takes place, Tahir settled on CODA Audio's AiRAY system to deliver the necessary precision.
Arena-speci

The newly-opened Rumba Room Live in Anaheim, California

D.A.S. keeps energy high at Rumba Room Live

Details: 09 March 2017

USA - Located in the Gardenwalk shopping and entertainment district adjacent to the Disneyland Resort, the Rumba Room Live is one of the area’s newest nightclubs. Featuring two full bars, a coat check, a dance floor, several VIP sections, a stage for live bands, a DJ booth, and a smoking patio to name just a few of the amenities, the Rumba Room Live can host a variety of events with a capacity of 900 patrons.
To ensure the best possible audio for this vibrant and upscale venue, a sizeable assortment of loudspeakers drawn from the Event, Artec, and Action Series catalogues of Valencia, Spain-based D.A.S. Audio were deployed.
Props AV, LLC of Beaumont, CA, an AV design / build firm that also has a live events production division, was contracted to design and install the Rumba Room Live’s new sound reinforcement system. Using a sizeable assortment of line arrays, sub

Ayrton fixtures praised by Church on KoЯn European tour

Details: 07 March 2017

Europe - Grammy-award-winning, nu metal band KoЯn embarks on a tour of mainland Europe in March, starting in Zurich and culminating in Slovakia in April, with a set that features Ayrton MagicPanel-R fixtures as the focal point of the lighting design. The 17-date tour follows on from North American and UK legs which were supplied by Morpheus Lights in the US and Neg Earth in the UK respectively, with Black Box of Germany assisting for the forthcoming Europe leg. KoЯn’s lighting designer, Thomas ‘Church’ Christmann, supplemented the North American tours with 20 Ayrton NandoBeam-S9 and 6 Ayrton MagicBlade-R fixtures for KoЯn’s sets in the Return of the Dreads & Nocturnal Underground tours.
Church designed his lighting to work in combination with a large, rectangular back video wall, by deploying 56 MagicPanel-R fixtures, complete with mirror kits, i

Rally Sweden takes place in harsh winter conditions

Snowy Rally Sweden highlighted by SGM

Details: 07 March 2017

Sweden - Rally Sweden is the biggest recurring sports event in Sweden and a part of the FIA World Rally Championship. No less than approximately 100m TV viewers worldwide and 250,000 attending spectators followed the race that took place in the province of Värmland in the middle of Sweden from 9-12 February.
For the seventh year in a row, Jakob Larsson was the responsible lighting designer and production manager who ensured that the light settings were enhancing the settings the best way possible. For that purpose, he stocked up on SGM P-5 LED wash lights:
“I have a lot of experience with the P-5 and I knew it was the right lamp for the mission. I rented all that Woodlite had in stock which was about 110 pcs. If they have had more, I had rented more, as they were my first choice.”
He installed the P-5s at two different so-called Super Special Stages and als

ABC’s dLive at FOH for a Littoral Chamber Orchestra concert in Koper

Slovenia’s ABC invests in dLive

Details: 07 March 2017

Slovenia - PA company, ABC Professional Sound & Light, has invested in Allen & Heath’s S Class dLive digital mixing system, adding a S7000 Surface with DM48 MixRack to its hire stock.
ABC’s new system has already been used on a variety of events, such as the Triskel festival in Italy, Idrija Lace festival, concerts for Pinko Tomažič choir and the Komen wind orchestra, and tour dates with well-known Slovenian bands including Big Foot Mama, Vlado Kreslin and Kingston.
“dLive has a simple interface, and is equipped with Allen & Heath sound and build quality,” comments ABC’s owner, Bojan Dolgan. “The preamps sound natural, and the FX section is simply great with fabulous reverb, delays and compressors. We are planning to buy the smaller S3000 system for the other events. We love it!”
(Jim Evans)

The Arizona Opera’s production of Riders of the Purple Sage

Chauvet lights Riders of the Purple Sage

Details: 07 March 2017

USA - Composer Craig Bohmler was on a hiking trip through Arizona’s Tonto National Forest five years ago, when he came upon a small museum dedicated to Zane Grey, the prolific writer (64 novels and over 300 short stories) of American cowboy sagas.
Intrigued, Bohmler began reading Grey’s Riders of the Purple Sage. Not long into the book, the composer envisioned turning the 1912 romantic story into an opera. His vision became a reality this March as The Arizona Opera premiered Riders of the Purple Sage, directed by Fenlon Lamb at Phoenix Symphony Hall.
Supporting the drama on stage and accenting its evocative scenic elements was a flexible and richly coloured lighting design by Greg Hirsch that included COLORado 2-Quad Zoom fixtures from Chauvet Professional. The resident lighting designer and director of production at The Arizona Opera, Hirsch position

The awards show took place in Zurich’s Hallenstadion (photo: Bart-Heemskerk)

Swiss Music Awards shines with Elation

Details: 07 March 2017

Switzerland - For the tenth anniversary edition of the Swiss Music Awards in Zurich, lighting designers Thomas Gerdon and Nik Evers were tasked with lighting a colourful mix of live acts and chose Elation fixtures for the job, including Platinum FLX and Platinum HFX hybrid luminaires, along with Elation’s new Fuze Wash Z350 LED wash lights and ACL 360 Matrix LED moving head panels.
The awards show, which took place in Zurich’s Hallenstadion, is a tribute to national and international musicians in over 10 categories.
Gerdon, who lit the awards show for the first time, worked together with associate LD Nik Evers of stage/lighting design firm HELL Studio. Gerdon and the design team, which included stage designer Timo Martens from HELL Studio and content designer Roger Staub, were entrusted with creating a great atmosphere in the arena. Production company Habegger was

The Power Logistics team will next be in action for The Jockey Club at the Cheltenham Festival

Power Logistics wins racecourse renewal

Details: 07 March 2017

UK - Power Logistics has won a competitive tender that sees its contract to deliver comprehensive temporary electrical distribution services and generator provision to several of The Jockey Club’s most prestigious racecourses extended for a further three years.
Having already successfully provided electrical distribution services and generators for four and three years respectively, Power Logistics’ track record, high levels of service, investment in equipment and competitive pricing structure have resulted in the contract extension.
The contract encompasses generator hire, design, consultancy, installation, maintenance and de-rig for all The Jockey Club’s temporary power requirements. Power Logistics will continue to provide generators, cabling and distribution equipment and lighting solutions to service catering, trading, display and betting areas at many of

The artists’ extravagant costumes were designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier (© Friedrichstadt Palast Berlin - Sven Darmer)

THE ONE Grand Show counts on Claypaky

Details: 07 March 2017

Germany - The Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin has once again been publicly acclaimed, for THE ONE Grand Show. On one of the biggest stages in the world, more than a hundred artists gave life to a show whose extravagant costumes were designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier.
The story revolves around an abandoned revue theatre, which is awakened from its deep sleep by an underground party. One of the party-goers gets lost in the magical aura of the venue, and the director of the former theatre brings back memories of the olden days. Past and present intermingle in a sort of daydream, and the young man is overcome by an ever-stronger feeling of nostalgia for one particular person (The One).
The show lighting was designed by Peter Morse, using - among other lights - 22 Alpha Spot HPE 1500s, 21 Alpha Profile 800 STs, 15 Alpha Spot HPE 300s, 17 Sharpy Wash 330s and 12 K-20 B-E

Adele is currently wowing critics and audiences across Australia

Adele in the round with VerTech Ultra

Details: 07 March 2017

World - Star Events designed and built two completely new stages to accommodate Adele’s 2017 fully in the round stadium shows and the impeccable sound required by the tour, which is currently wowing critics and audiences across Australia.
Initial audio planning required eight hangs of V-Dosc K1 and K2, some 10m high, arranged facing outwards around the stage and a substantial sub-bass hang dead centre of the stage. However, for optimum results, the speakers had to be suspended 25m up.
With Adele wanting to be closely surrounded by audience in a genuine 3600 lay-out, there was no available real estate for all the usual control equipment. Tour production manager Richard Young conceived the idea of building the racks into two shipping containers that form the heart of a production area suspended high above the stage.
Required to suspend over 40 tons at 25m before

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