USA - Symetrix has announced the promotion of Tylene ‘Ty’ Robinson to international sales & operations manager.
Robinson began her career in web design and digital marketing, graduating from the University of Advancing Technology with a BA in Digital Media (summa cum laude). She made her way up the corporate ladder at a fast-paced Seattle software company where she discovered a passion for project management and business operations.
After joining Symetrix, Robinson’s focus on managing order and fulfillment processes while getting to know the key players in the global sales channel became a strategic objective. In her new role, she will direct strategic accounts and an international salesforce as well as driving global sales enablement programs and managing critical sales KPIs.
“Symetrix is growing fast and expanding Ty’s role formally into international sales management will improve the level of service Symetrix provides to our distributors and will set Symetrix up to quickly evolve the necessary internal systems and process needed to support the growth,” comments Symetrix CEO Mark Graham. “Ty has already had a strongly positive impact on Symetrix’s success, and we are confident our partners will quickly feel her presence and appreciate the increased focus on Symetrix’s export business.”
“I am eager for the personal and professional growth I will attain through this opportunity,” says Robinson. “I am humbled and excited to be a part of accelerating forward growth for Symetrix and the meaningful relationships I ha

Belgium - Biamp has announced a new streamlined European distribution model to strengthen the company’s sales, support, and product distribution in the region. Biamp has transitioned to either a sole distributor or dealer-direct distribution system to better support specific countries throughout Europe.
The following sole distributors have been announced:
Austria: Kain Audio-Technik GmbH
Denmark: Kinovox Scandinavia ApS
France: Sidev
Germany: prodyTel Distribution GmbH
Italy: Prase Engineering S.p.A.
Norway: Scandec Systemer AS
Poland: Konsbud Audio Sp. zo.o.
Spain: AVIT Vision S.L.
Switzerland: Show Supply GmbH
The Netherlands: Mennegat Trading BV
In Belgium, Luxembourg and the UK, Biamp will be transitioning to a dealer-direct distribution model.
“We are thrilled to partner with this select group of distributors who offer regional expertise and strategic alignment with our expanded European operations,” comments Rashid Skaf, Biamp president, CEO, and co-chairman. “We look forward to working closely with these partners to drive growth and enhance operations throughout the region.”
Following the recent opening of the company’s new European headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium, and the acquisition of Apart Audio and Community Loudspeakers, Biamp says its new European distribution model will enable the company to “more aggressively pursue opportunities in all target geographies and vertical markets: corporate, food service and hospitality, retail, large venues, education, rel

Hungary - KV2 Audio has appointed Megatone as the brand’s exclusive distributor in Hungary. Based just outside the capital of Budapest, Megatone is one of the country’s largest full-service production companies supplying a wide range of markets from event production to broadcast, to corporate AV and much more. Alongside this, Megatone also operates a thriving installation wing which handles AV installs from the initial project planning, to design, install and service. There is also a specialist lighting division and finally a distribution operation.
According to KV2’s sales director for EMEA & Latin America, Alessandro Pagliani, Megatone was a natural choice. “Megatone has been working with our products for several years in the capacity of a main professional installer and dealer. Most of the recent installations in Hungary - such as the Opera Café in Budapest and the Turay Ida theatre as well as several major hotels - have been Megatone projects. As we continue to raise our profile in Europe and KV2 products are being used in more and more high-level installations, it’s a logical step for us to raise the quality of our partners.
“We are already working with Megatone on a number of very interesting new projects, both in the fixed installation sector as well on projects that will enhance our presence in the live sound market - there several rental companies in Hungary with VHD 2.0 systems and others with ES and EX Series, all of which need to be serviced by a high profile and professional partner such as the Megatone group is today,” c

The Netherlands - Prolyte has announced the appointment of Fons van Teijn as CEO, effective 12 December 2019.
“Fons’ connections in the industry, hard work and experience will lead Prolyte to greatness in no time,” comments Frantisek Zykan, CEO of Area Four Industries, which recently acquired the Prolyte brand.
Van Teijn has a 34-year career in the professional photographic scene. He started as a sales manager at Capi-Lux-Vak, a then photography store which has since started offering a full assortment of electronics and today has branches in 40 airports across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. In 2000, he established Provak Photo Film Video BV, a wholesaler of photographic, film and video equipment, which operated as a sole company until its acquisition by Manfrotto in 2016. Van Teijn then stayed onboard the newly-formed Manfrotto Distribution Benelux BV as managing director before being recruited as Prolyte CEO.
“I look forward to leading Prolyte to success in 2020. We will achieve greatness by being a strong united team,” says Van Teijn.
(Jim Evans)

USA - In a joint display with ETC, High End Systems (HES) enjoyed record success at the recent LDI exhibition in Las Vegas. HES showed a variety of new products in the 200+ fixture rig, including the SolaHyBeam 3000, TurboRay and SolaPix automated luminaires.
High End Systems’ TurboRay won PLSN’s Gold Star Award for Best LED Wash Light. The fixture has already seen high profile use in many concerts, television and other live events. Automated lighting product manager Matt Stoner commented, "We are so happy that the TurboRay has been acknowledged as the ‘Best LED Wash’ by PLSN this year. It is especially gratifying that the wash capabilities of the TurboRay are recognized among its huge variety of other specialties, like its complex aerials and marvellous face look. It just affirms what lighting designers have been telling us all along, TurboRay is ‘much more than a pretty face.’”
Along with the new SolaWash 1000, the SolaPix family and the SolaHyBeam 3000 were also unveiled at this year’s LDI show. With their small footprint and next generation brightness, SolaPix 7 and SolaPix 19 take the traditional concept of a pixel wash and push it to its maximum potential. Patent pending Halographic Pixel Definition and the FleX Effects macros each give SolaPix a unique ‘edge’ in the marketplace.
Designed for beam control, aerial effects and raw power, SolaHyBeam 3000 features an “exceptionally efficient White Light LED engine”, a large front aperture and optimised long throw optics for superior light output throughout the fixture’s

Cyprus - A.L.A. Equipment, founded in 2001 by Andrea Piemonti and Tony Lyssiotis has been appointed distributor for Prolights in Cyprus.
Andrea Piemonti, managing director for A.L.A. Equipment, comments: “I have worked in this industry for more than 30 years but when I first approached Prolights I was pleased to join a partner who shares our commitment in delivering the best solutions. It’s a well-rounded company, a breath of fresh air in the AVL market. Prolights’ wide selection of products offer enormous advantages suited to any kind of needs, from broadcast and live shows, right through to the architectural projects. I’ve seen closely the hard work behind Prolights solutions and their long-term vision of strong brand establishment. I have no doubts that the future will be bright for this brand. We’re looking forward to starting this collaboration”.
Paolo Albani, international sales manager for Prolights, says: “Having A.L.A. Equipments on-board make us really proud. Their 20-year experience is a strength and thanks to them the Prolights brand will grow throughout Cyprus. We’re sure that this will be a successful partnership.”
(Jim Evans)

USA - Situated in the heart of New York’s Times Square, seven floors up amid the luxury of the new Edition boutique hotel, is nightclub and performance space Paradise Club. The ‘brainchild’ of Studio 54’s Ian Schrager and home to an immersive dinner theatre and modern-day cabaret called The Devouring: A Marriage of Heaven and Hell Paradise Club hosts an Elation Professional lighting rig specified by AVL design and integration firm Clair Solutions with input from Yossy Marquez of J. Marquez Consultants.
Paradise Club is a fully-immersive experience with an attention-grabbing starburst LED ceiling, depth-producing upstage video wall, enchanting décor, and atmosphere-generating dynamic lighting system. Following the multi-sensory Devouring cabaret show, performed by resident artist company House of Yes, the space transforms into a colourful nightclub with DJs spinning until the early hours.
Clair Solutions served as audio/video/lighting/control consultant and integrator on the comprehensive Times Square Edition project, which included several spaces around the boutique hotel. Michelle Caron of Clair Solutions was the performance lighting system designer and project manager for the AVL system in the building and designed the theatrical lighting and control for the 200-seat Paradise Club.
Caron says she sought flexible lighting fixtures to meet the artistic needs of many types of artists. She chose an Elation lighting system of Artiste DaVinci LED moving spots, Fuze Wash Z350 LED moving head washes, SixPar 200 LED PAR lights, and S

USA - A light rain was falling intermittently on the July evening when Citizen Cope took the stage at the Stony Creek Brewery, an outdoor music venue just off the Long Island Sound. The weather didn’t affect the large crowd that turned out to see the widely acclaimed singer-song writer who was in the middle a national tour in support of his Helicopters and Heroin album. It did however, present his lighting designer, Peter Spadaro III with an inspiration.
Seeing the mist roll in off the sea on a drizzly night, Spadaro directed his rig’s Chauvet Professional Maverick MK1 Hybrid fixtures into the crowd. Using the natural elements as a giant hazer, he filled the air around the stage with an immersive panorama of refracted light and patterns.
“The music and the atmosphere of a venue really dictate my design, so I keep things free flowing,” says Spadaro. “During this show there was some rain, and the air was nice and thick, so I was able to take advantage of the natural haze hanging in front of the stage by directing light out into the audience, even though it was still a bit bright outside. This allowed me to utilize a few positions I normally wouldn’t be able to use during daylight hours.”
By adjusting his show to its environment, Spadaro not only reflected Cope’s music, he also mirrored his client’s creative philosophy.
“Working with Cope keeps me on my toes, and calls for me to be very versatile,” continues Spadaro, who has been lighting the artist since February. “I allow the beauty of his songs to drive the li

UK - London-based Capital Sound, part of the newly-formed Solotech UK Group, has been successfully deploying its selection of Outline systems and processors with a diverse range of clients over the last few years.
From the multi-national classical crossover vocal group Il Divo to Welsh rocker Kelly Jones, via the polished pop of Will Young to the recreation of Pink Floyd’s stadium shows by The Australian Pink Floyd, Capital’s Outline systems have consistently delivered the goods.
James Lawford of Outline’s UK distributor CUK Audio remarks: “Tours equipped with Capital Sound’s Superfly / Mantas 28 combination have been able to play a diverse range of venues, from arenas such as Arena Birmingham and Glasgow’s SSE Hydro, to medium-sized spaces such as Ipswich’s Regent Theatre and Stoke on Trent’s Victoria Hall, each time using the same system in different combinations without having to have a second rig available.
“Outline’s lightweight enclosures enable system technicians to deploy each system as desired; for example a full hang of 16 Superfly in the New Theatre Oxford for Will Young, whilst Nick Boulton, system technician for Kelly Jones with Dave Roden at FOH, chose to deploy a mixed hang of eight Superfly and three Mantas 28 underneath in the same venue just a few weeks previously.
“Mark Edwards from TAPFS has settled on two setups depending on location, with either a 14+3 or 8+3 Superfly / Mantas 28 combination out front, with side-hangs to suit the circumstances. The 14+3 hang comes in at just 600KG and allows far gr

South Africa - As the year draws to a close, AV Unlimited and 24 Carrots Event Design helped a leading financial services provider remind its staff that there is still a lot of fun to be had at its year-end function, held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
Event manager at 24 Carrots Event Design, Mase Langa explains that the client’s brief was fairly simple - they wanted their team to have some fun. “The main idea was to deliver an event that was, above all else, about having fun after a tough year. We came up with a design that focused on colour, and the joy and elation that vibrant colour can illicit.”
The team at 24 Carrots Event Design provided the client with some renders, which showed a playful set that was designed to inspire a sense of play and whimsy. “We introduced colour and playfulness though the set, decor and lighting, and the response that we received was amazing. The client was blown away at how closely we delivered on the pre-show renders that we provided, and experienced that special magic associated with seeing their vision being realised.”
“The event was all about having fun and seasoned set designer, Dewet Meyer of JDM Unlimited delivered a highly creative set for the event,” says joint partner at AV Unlimited Guillaume Ducray.
AV Unlimited’s Renaldo van den Berg brought the light to the party and used a wide range of LED fixtures to paint the space with colour. “I used a whole lot of LED fixtures, including parcans and movers, to colour this event beautiful,” says Renaldo. “From a co

South Korea - Yeon Moo Dae Church is a church housed within a Korean Army training centre that draws from a mix of traditional and modern Christian influence. The construction of the church took 10 years to complete as it relied upon singular donations from nearly 10,000 individuals, over 600 Christian community churches and just about 600 church-related organisations.
Most recently, the church built a new sanctuary with a seating capacity that can welcome its 6,000-strong congregation. The room itself measures a generous 66m wide by 55m deep with a ceiling height of 15m. After visiting other large sanctuaries and listening to their sound systems the church committee decided that Clair Brothers was the solution for their audio requirements.
One of the locations the committee visited, the Joyful Church Training Centre, has the Clair Brothers CAT215 loudspeaker system installed. Following discussions about which combination of speakers would be best for the specific space at Yeon Moo Dae, the group calculated, along with local consultants from Clair Brothers, that the C15 “worked perfectly” in this church’s wide, open space.
The decision was made to order and install 16 C15s along with a host of other Clair Brothers gear including 12 iS218 subs, 40 kiTCurve12s for stage-fills, outer-fills and delays, eight 1AM+ and two 1.5AMs as stage monitors.
The mixing console installed was the Solid State Logic L-200. J.J. Song - head of Korean business development at Clair Brothers, comments: “The selection of the kiTCurves was made because of their

Italy - Optocore and its partner company BroaMan have appointed Parma-based Audiolink as its sole distributor for the Italian market.
Stefano Cantadori, Audiolink general manager, comments: “The reason we chose Optocore was simple. Today’s integrations require a massive chunk of fibre optic data, and Optocore, together with BroaMan, allows all the different signals to be managed on a single fibre ring with 100% redundancy. Total redundancy means avoiding any type of problem - unforeseen circumstances that can lead to a lot of expense for the installer and the customer.”
Tine Helmle, Optocore MD of BroaMan and director of sales & marketing, adds: “We are very happy to have found a strong partner in Italy that will best represent our two brands. Stefano and his team are very competent people, with whom we can’t wait to start this collaboration.”
She also highlighted the synergy Optocore has with DiGiCo - a brand that has been successfully distributed by Audiolink for many years - as an advantage.
“We particularly appreciate the ability of Audiolink to cover our main markets - both in the installation sector as well as in live audio,” she concludes.
(Jim Evans)

UK - Stage Electrics has announced three seminars to take place during its January 2020 showcase event, to be held at the SS Great Britain in Bristol on Wednesday, 29 January 2020.
The programme features Artistic Licence’s Wayne Howell on lighting control and future of data in your venue, Sennheiser’s Kevin Gwyther-Brown talking about “is your venue is ready for the 700MHz band radio mics spectrum clearance” and Stage Electrics’ Dan Ryan guiding you through making sure that electrical / mechanical infrastructure and equipment used within your venue have an appropriate maintenance regime and schedule in compliance with relevant your legal obligations.
Le Maitre will also be returning to Bristol to host a harbour-side pyrotechnic demonstration from 5pm.
(Jim Evans)

UK - Long-time DiGiCo user Stage Sound Services was one of the first companies to invest in the British console manufacturer’s latest Quantum 7 engine for its seven SD7s, stating that their belief in DiGiCo’s ability to continually upgrade its product made its most powerful engine to date a must have for the Cardiff-based rental company.
“As well as the SD7s, we have a large stock of SD10s,” says Stage Sound Services' Phil Hurley. “When it was time to add more consoles to our inventory, we wanted to invest in the very latest technology and having seen the capabilities of the Quantum 7 it was an obvious choice. We knew that as soon as our customers saw Quantum 7 was available, they’d want to use its new features and capability to enhance their sound designs.”
Two of the Quantum 7s were put to immediate use on the UK theatre tour of Dr Doolittle and the London production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Playhouse Theatre, additional consoles are being put to use on two versions of the Blue Man Group world tours and Matilda International tour.
“We’ve been using DiGiCo for at least 10 years and we’ve been very happy with how they continually update them, without making the product obsolete,” says Hurley. “The recent upgrade for the SD10s helped our decision as it underlines DiGiCo’s ethos of ensuring longevity for its products and a good return on investment.
“As a rental company, when we’re considering a big purchase, we need to know what a manufacturer is planning. DiGiCo demonstrates a solid commitme

Europe - Coordinating with Stefan Mehnert of Rammstein’s management and production director Nicolai Sabottka as well as the production’s design teams, Solotech and SSE Audio provided the audio and video gear and services for the German industrial metal band’s 2019 stadium tour.
Solotech’s Holger Schader, senior consultant, concert touring and special events for the Live Productions division oversaw the account for Solotech and SSE Audio.
The sold-out European stadium tour supported the release of the band’s seventh album, which is the first Rammstein studio album in a decade.
The tour’s audio spec, put together by Rammstein´s longtime FOH engineer Olsen Involtini and systems engineer Andreas Vater, called for L-Acoustics speakers and Avid Venue control.
Assisting Vater was SSE audio crew Chief Nick Pain, and audio technician Nils Knecht, who oversaw the L-Acoustics’ Soundvision system and system alignment.
The control system for FOH consisted of two Avid Venue S6L systems including two S6L-32D control surfaces; two Avid Venue E6L-192 Engine for S6L; two Waves SoundGrid Server Extreme; and two Avid Venue Stage 64 stage boxes.
For the monitor system SSE Audio provided two S6L systems with matching components, which was similar to the FOH setup. To accommodate the different sized stadiums, the audio rig could be expanded. In the bigger cities production used up to four delay towers, and up to eight positions for roof delays with 12 L-Acoustics’ K2s to get rid of unwanted reflections.
The audio package’s full

Poland - The award-winning TurboRay fixture from High End Systems recently made its latest TV appearance on the 17th edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC, broadcast live from Arena Gliwice in Poland.
JESC is designed to draw people together from all over Europe and Australia through light entertainment and healthy competition. It’s an increasingly spectacular and technically complex event, transmitted live to millions of viewers. This year, 19 participants aged between 9 and 14 years old took to the stage to battle it out for the trophy.
The stage, designed by Giorgos Stylianou-Matsis, comprised a design featuring an eye-catching LED ribbon element symbolising floating kites. The ribbon gave the stage a spacious, light and simple design form. To complement the impressive stage design, a series of 26 TurboRay fixtures were positioned on stage and used in a variety of ways throughout the show.
With its radial diffusers bringing a distinctive appearance, and powerful LED system with multiple types of colour control, TurboRay offers a multitude of tools that make it ideal for events like this. “I needed a lighting fixture that would accentuate the decor on the stage,” says lighting crew head, Adam Tyska from TVP SA. “For this production and the short stature of the artists we have to operate cameras differently, and for wide shots we needed to fill a pretty large space. TurboRay units were a perfect fit for this, because in addition to their technical capabilities they look attractive in themselves.”
“It was great to ha

UK - Laserworld, manufacturer and distributor of show laser systems, is holding a general laser training day in the West Midlands.
Taking place on 14 January 2020 in Solihull from 10am, the training is conceived as a workshop, considering not only laser safety aspects but providing a general overview of how show and event laser light systems are used. There will be technical background information as well as hands-on training with different laser systems. Laser safety will be one aspect included.
This workshop is primarily designed for DJs, smaller production companies and lighting designers. Attendees receive a certificate of participation from the Laserworld Academy that states the contents of the training.
Topics include: Laser Safety - legal aspects, basic physics, technical safety aspects, safe laser operation in public, safe laser control; Setting up a Laser - mounting options, wiring, different setups; Laser Control - different possibilities, programming basics, pros and cons of different control methods; Different perspectives to show laser light systems - learn about different ways of using lasers.
Prior booking is required. The day’s training cots £200 with lunch included. Reservations can be made on www.laserworld-academy.com.
(Jim Evans)

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) recently supplied tour and production management company Patchwork London with a Shure PSM 1000 wireless IEM system to provide monitor duties for the >25th Anniversary UK tour of Skunk Anansie.
Patchwork managing director, Steve White got in touch with Steve Eaton, sales executive in AC-ET’s Audio sales division after he was getting an increasing number of client requests for the Shure in-ear-monitoring system.
He comments: “We've had an increased number of enquiries for the PSM 1000, so when a three-month tour hire with Skunk Anansie came in, it seemed like a good time to expand our Shure stock. Prior to this, we had tried out wireless mic systems and Shure’s Axient system was the one which best suited our needs, so we decided to go with Shure across the board.”
The UK tour coincided with the release of a new live album marking the band’s 25th anniversary, and saw them perform sold-out shows in London, Manchester and Bristol, as well as several festival headline appearances. Extra dates were added in Brighton, Bournemouth, Cambridge, Leeds, Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham and Cardiff due to the high demand.
White adds: “It’s very important that our clients have access to high quality equipment in our hire stock, and which can be packaged for ease of transporting. Investments like the PSM 1000 means we are at the forefront of technology on stage, and being small enough to be racked in our Peli case system makes it extremely portable for any scale of tour.”
(Jim Evans)

Norway - DJ and record producer, Alan Walker is currently out on his latest Aviation tour across China, India and Norway, along with an Allen & Heath dLive Wings system handling both FOH and monitor duties.
One of Norway’s biggest EDM music exports, Walker performs with various third-party software, as well as a live band and requires a complex setup. The engineers needed a small and lightweight system to fly around the world, which could also handle a high I/O count via several protocols, such as Waves SoundGrid, Dante and MADI in order to interface with third-party systems.
Supplied by audio production company, Sonic City AS, the FOH setup includes a dLive C1500 fitted with a Waves card for virtual sound check and multi-track recording, paired with a DM0 MixRack, which is equipped with a fibreACE card for the digital split and a Dante card to facilitate external plug-in processing through a DAW. A DX012 expander is also utilized for additional outputs at the FOH position, providing feeds to the light designer, VJ and laser operator.
FOH engineer (and Sonic City partner), Sondre Rosseland Sandhaug, comments, “We chose the dLive C1500 package as we needed a fly-rig with a really high channel count for this tour and the choice was ultimately, really simple. dLive provides everything we need; flexible routing, the Tie Lines feature, high-quality sound, reliability and an excellent range of I/O options.”
“The dLive system has worked very well on this tour and we’ve really pushed the system to its full potential, particularly in term

USA - Broadcasting globally in more than 150 countries and territories, World Poker Tour (WPT) has ignited the worldwide poker industry. WPT also hosts a number of high-profile corporate and VIP events throughout the year. Needing a design element that could accentuate the visual experience at each tournament and event, WPT global events manager Steve De Santis invested in reFLEXion LED video systems from Nashville-based PixelFLEX.
“WPT features a lot of professional and recreational players we see often who look for comfortability and reliability with tournament structures they trust from people they recognise and know,” says De Santis. “We have a footprint on six continents and our players love the quality and consistency of our events.”
Knowing the level of trust and commitment shown by the players, De Santis wanted to ensure that each event provided the most engaging gaming experience. Having previously relied upon standard graphic displays to help create the ideal environment, he now wanted to heighten the creative potential of the visual displays to match the excitement around each tournament.
“As part of our event presentation and playing environment, we had been using older graphic kiosks for quite some time which really was the impetus for our search,” continues De Santis. “As an innovator in the game of poker, WPT wanted something that was a bit more impactful and most importantly to our tour management personnel, portable. We needed a technology solution easy to transport and able to deliver a unique visual impact.”

USA - OSA has announced Mark Fetto as vice-president of lighting. Fetto will oversee the company’s new lighting division, which will be based in OSA’s Las Vegas and Nashville offices.
Fetto started working as a lighting technician in 1978. Working his way through the ranks at the Obie Company and Vari-Lite, he then became a lighting designer and senior programmer. In 1989 Fetto opened Vari-Lite’s satellite office in Las Vegas. He went on to become general manager of Vari-Lite’s corporate events division and later general manager of their North American operations.
Following a 16-year career at Vari-Lite, Fetto joined Stage Rigging as the national sales manager before moving to his most recent position of 14 years at Morpheus Lights. As chief operating officer at Morpheus Lights, Fetto oversaw touring systems, new inventory, infrastructure, and operational strategies in both production and manufacturing.
“Making the move to OSA has been very invigorating for me. I am looking forward to the opportunity to build OSA’s new lighting division with the same high level of quality and service that OSA’s audio and video divisions are known for. OSA has always been highly regarded in the corporate and special events markets, and I am thrilled to open the door for my clients to get the best of lighting, audio, video and production services from one great company,” says Fetto.
OSA President & CEO Mario Educate shares: “I am excited to have Mark on board. His extensive experience working in the touring sector, partnering with leading

UK - Specialist hire and events company SLX has made a number of new stock announcements, including a £250,000.00 spend on SGM fixtures. The investment places SLX as a major stockist in the South West of the SGM IP rated LED fixtures used for professional stage lighting, broadcast lighting and architectural installations.
Chief executive and owner of SLX, Alastair Currie, says: “The new roster of SGM fixtures now on the shelves of our warehouse or already out on hire include the P-6 Flood, Q-7 Strobe, G-7 Spot and even the brand new much anticipated G7 BeaSt. That’s a spotlight we’re sure will very rarely be sat on our warehouse shelves, as lighting designers and production managers around the country seem very keen to utilise it.
“We’re delighted to become the biggest stockist in the region of SGM fixtures. The SGM fixtures we already had, including the P-6 Flood, always performed well for us commercially so we’re confident the new ones will too. They’re a highly respected brand, innovative and leading the way in LED light technology. We want our clients to have access to the absolute best and we’re confident with our range of lights, including a strong selection from other manufacturers, we can compete with major players in the hire and events sector.”
SGM UK managing director, Ian Kirby, says: “SLX is a business that is really going places, so we’re delighted to see them choosing SGM as a partner. They have invested in both G-7 and G-7 BeaSt products. The G-7 is our most robust go anywhere, work anywhere spot and the G-7

USA - Bandit Lites provided the lighting for Dave Koz’ Christmas tour, featuring Jonathan Butler, Melissa Manchester, Michael Lington and Chris Walker. Koz’s tour and newest album, Gifts of the Season, features a smorgasbord of styles, ranging from an electronic rendition of Winter Wonderland, a whimsical It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas as well as an emotional Mary Did You Know and powerful original song from Koz, A Prayer for Peace.
“As we sat down to begin concepting the production design, we knew that it needed to be versatile in creating moments for each of the emotions that the band is creating audibly,” explains lighting designer Erik Parker of Chris Lisle Lighting Design.
To create the moments, Parker knew the rig would need to be outfitted with well-rounded fixtures that would also integrate with the video elements as they would all share a truss. Coupled with that flexibility would be the need to fit the entire production into a single truck and bus trailer.
Parker crafted an expansive look utilising just three fixtures: The GLP X4S on the upstage and downstage edge lighting the backdrop, the band and some extra flash, Martin MAC Auras on the side to light the band and the main workhorse of the rig, the Elation Smarty Hybrid.
“The band is some of the best musicians, the artists were incredible, and I think we were able to truly bring the music to life,” Parker says. “We programmed as a team; I programmed a few songs along with Chris Lisle, Terese Fensler and Landon Blo