Mexico - Doble B is the latest nightspot in the Mexican tourist centre of Cancun. Open for lunch and then dinner as a sleek restaurant, after hours the venue transforms into a nightclub with help from more than 40 of ADJ’s professional LED-powered lighting fixtures.
Attracting an up-market clientele looking for a sophisticated evening of dining, drinking and dancing, Doble B is the latest new venue to enhance Cancun’s vibrant nightlife scene. With an elegant interior design anchored by four custom-built chandeliers each featuring a myriad of tungsten-effect pixel-mapped lamps, the space features a large bar on one side and glass doors opening onto a terrace on the other.
The well-established entertainment audio and lighting equipment installer Adimsa, headed up by director general Edson Rivera, was contracted to specify and install a versatile lighting system for the venue. Edson and his team were recommended to the developers of Doble B, Christian and Oscar Rodriguez, by a previous satisfied client. The brief was to design a lighting system that would not detract from the space’s opulent décor during the day, but that would be able to transform it into a vibrant nightclub after dark.
To achieve this goal, Edson selected four different models from ADJ’s extensive catalogue of entertainment lighting fixtures, two moving head wash luminaires and two static wash fixtures. These, combined with the pixel-mapped chandeliers and a considerable quantity of RGB pixel tape hidden in the ceiling alcoves, allow a complete change of atmosphere from when

Czech Republic - Let It Roll is one of the world's leading drum ‘n’ bass festivals, attracting tens of thousands of ravers for a weekend at an old military airport near Prague.
The event started in 2002 and by 2008 turned it had turned into a large-scale outdoor festival.
A few years back, the organisers approached Slovakia-based Kvant Lasers for some ideas and solutions and the company soon became a supplier of laser displays and other multimedia and visual elements.
Each year the festival production spends a big part of resources on the main stage, with Kvant Show Production supplying six Spectrum 20 full-colour laser display systems for the atmospheric effect and two LD 30 Spectrum units for the laser mapping of the spacecraft-shaped main stage this year.
The laser show sequence for the event’s opening was prepared beforehand and synced to DJ tracks. The laser mapping content was programmed on-site, and also the aerial effects were adjusted during rehearsals. The whole laser display was operated from our grandMA lighting desk, and while the opening sequence ran automatically from the time-line, the rest of performance was done in live mode.
To address laser safety, Kvant masked the outputs of all eight systems with four-way masking plates, securely restricting their projection zones to avoid unwanted scanning of the audience. We run the lasers via the Emergency STOP distribution hub with a single E-stop button.
Due to long-distance

USA - In a recent production of the Alan Menken-Jack Feldman Tony Award winning musical Newsies at Pittsburgh’s State Theatre, Amanda Frazier helped call forth the play’s historic context by accentuating its evocative scenic elements with a vivid lighting design that featured Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by Vincent Lighting.
Working with Noland Jenkins, production manager of Vincent Lighting Systems, Frazier selected 15 Rogue R2 Washes for her rig. She used nine of the RGBW moving fixtures for top lighting, and six for side lighting. Drawing on the colour rendering capabilities of the Rogue units, she subtly shifted palettes throughout the play to reflect different scenes, all while underscoring the turn-of-the-century New York setting.
“I assigned colours to absolute moods as themes,” says Frazier. “I went with lavenders and ambers for dreams, crisp whites for hope, saturated blues and reds for confrontation, etc. Most of the set and costumes ranged in a muted palette, so any saturation really shifted the scene and stood out.”
Employing different beam positions and focuses to build upon the energy on stage, Frazier used hard beam edges to augment tense atmospheres, while relying on soft pools of light to brighten gentler moments between actors. She also called on the intensity of the fixtures to amp up emotions with bursts of light following near blackouts. In so doing she created a visual momentum that reflected the determination of the characters. Her full-stage illumination also added an emotional punch for more triu

UK - Italia Conti Academy is one of the world’s most recognisable names when it comes to performing arts education for secondary school and further education students.
When Triple E were approached to supply ModTruss for one of the school’s recent productions it was an opportunity to support the young performers in more ways than one.
Despite the short lead time of a month, Triple E worked with the school’s production team to provide a bespoke platform, stairs and handrails which formed a centrepiece of the stage set for the production of Life’s Just a Bowl of Conti’s for a one week run at Rhoda McGraw Theatre in Woking, Surrey.
Amy Stevenson, production and stage manager at Italia Conti Academy comments, “We pride ourselves on the teaching and the production values here at Italia Conti and we only wanted the best for our students for their show. We already have Triple E tracking installed in our main theatre at the academy. So it made sense to approach Triple E to see if they could help with our staging for the recent production at the theatre in Woking.”
“Italia Conti’s requirement was for a large staging structure with access from on stage and off stage. With this in mind it made sense to use ModTruss for the structure because of its modular capabilities and being able to incorporate 12” ModTruss, 6” ModTruss and ModPanels.” explains Lucy Edelstein.
The overall stage set was well received by both the academy and the audience. “It was great working with Lucy - an old contact of mine from RADA days.

Thailand - To deliver clear, intelligible sound for sporting events, live performances and more, Mahajak Development Co recently deployed a networked AV system at Ratchaburi Provincial Stadium.
With over 10,000 seats, Ratchaburi Provincial Stadium is Thailand’s premier live event facility for sporting events, performances and more. The venue recently hired Mahajak Development to upgrade their existing sound system with a comprehensive Harman Professional Solutions networked AV system.
“The customer requested an audio system that could deliver crystal-clear sound during speeches, live performances and other live events,” says Pongsakorn Kanchanachayphoom, project director, Mahajak Development Co. “Mounting a speaker on the roof of the stadium proved to be a bit of a challenge, as it needed to be specifically positioned for maximum impact throughout the seating area. But after careful and precise measurements we were able to achieve the desired result.”
Mahajak Development equipped the stadium with JBL PD566 full-range loudspeakers to deliver clear, intelligible sound with broad, even coverage. Mahajak Development selected JBL AWC129 all-weather coaxial loudspeakers for their compact, weather-resistant design and high SPL capabilities. JBL LSR305 studio monitors were installed in the control room to deliver neutral, accurate sound for critical listening.
The system is powered by Crown DCi 2|600N, DCi 2|1250N and DSi 2000 amplifiers, which were selected for their unparalleled efficiency and advanced digital signal processing capabilitie

South Africa - The Little Theatre, based at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, has upgraded to a grandMA3 light console as the theatre moves into its dance season, hosting various performances from ballet to contemporary.
“Although our previous console served us well, it was over nine years old,” explains technical manager Leon Rossouw. “We were having issues with updating fixture libraries and the start-up time for the console was time-consuming. Software updates were no longer rolled out as the console had been discontinued a few years back already and some of the hardware was also giving me major hassles.”
In 2010, the Little Theatre decided to focus on promoting theatres in schools and youth groups instead of being a money generating playhouse. While their main clientele consists of private dance studios, schools and drama groups they also host various performing art competitions and Eisteddfods. A number of live acts and production companies use the theatre for music videos, live performances and album launches. Apart from that, the theatre has hosted some of Unisa’s most prolific colloquiums, book launches, seminars, debates and other events.
“As the Little Theatre rarely host shows that run for more than a week, and from time to time even run three separate shows in the same week, there is not much room for things to go wrong or break down,” says Rossouw, who with theatre manager Jan Steyn is the only permanent staff at the venue.
Leon confesses that he was a complete newbie to the MA platform. “Even when I ha

Spain - Electronics, lights and lots of dancing meet every year at Dreambeach in Villaricos where thousands of people gather for five days to enjoy one of the biggest musical shows in the country on the Main Stage and in the Dreams Tent.
Lighting plays a leading role in electronic music events where the choice of fixtures is of paramount importance. For the last four years of Dreambeach, Eduardo Valverde from Pixelmap Studios has designed the scenarios with lighting supplied by the rental company Fluge.
In his designs, the common factor is the construction of gigantic structures that create the illusion of being a temple of music. Among Valverde’s most recent credits are the stages of Love the Tuenti’s, Love the 90s, A Summer Story, HallowANTS and Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos festivals, among others.
"In the case of the Dreams Tent at Dreambeach, the main challenge was to turn a 100m long, 40m wide tent into a club," explains the designer, who this year worked alongside Carlos Fernández. "We wanted to achieve that closeness between the DJ and the crowd by creating an intimate atmosphere except for the peak moments where you have to dazzle to highlight the work of the DJs.”
Almost 200 Claypaky luminaires were chosen by designer Eduardo Valverde to work on this stage, which was entirely dedicated to techno music.
In addition 86 A.leda B-EYE K10s were scattered around the stage. “This is a fixture that we especially appreciate because of its versatility,” says Valverde. “We can close the zoom and create a very powerful beam,

USA - During a 20-plus-year career, Gary Allan has sold over 8m albums. With a fan base that stretches around the world, the California-native is often out on the road showcasing his vocals in a raucous live performance. Readying now for the 2019 tour across North America, production designer Ben Shockley once again worked with the Nashville-based production provider Elite Multimedia Productions to supply a versatile and memorable LED video and lighting design.
“As an artist, Gary typically tours all year long without a set schedule,” opens Shockley. “I have been with him for a little over two years now, and each year we try to bring something new. Since we will be playing a lot of the same venues each year, we have to have a fresh look to give the fans a slightly different experience each time.”
Getting started on the new production design, Shockley understood that video would play an integral role. Knowing how the artist likes to create a dynamic visual experience out on the road, Shockley took the opportunity to be a bit creative in creating this year’s LED video design.
“Gary likes to have good video content as part of the overall tour design, and in years past we have done a straight LED wall or LED strips along the back of the stage,” adds Shockley. “This year we wanted to think a little more out-of-the-box, so we created a video wall that was a hybrid between a circle and square, that we affectionately call the ‘8-bit circle’, like an old video game. We also added some truss facias with video panels that created an addition

UK - The 2019 PLASA Show was “the busiest in years” thanks to a six per cent increase in attendance, PLASA has reported. The event’s global status was also strengthened, with delegates from over 63 countries flocking to the London-based tradeshow.
This was the last edition of the event that was held at Olympia’s National Hall, with the 2020 PLASA Show set to move to London Olympia’s Grand Hall to accommodate a greater number of stands and show features.
“PLASA Show has clearly been improving year on year with 2019 being the best one yet,” comments Johan Gunsing, international sales manager for Adam Hall Group. “We have started to see a wider geographic audience attend the show which brings with it new opportunities, new business and increased brand awareness.”
“Once again PLASA did not disappoint,” comments Gareth Collyer, Nexo’s UK sales manager. “We were very pleased with the overall number and quality of the visitors that visited our booth and we look forward to seeing the show grow again next year when it moves to the Grand Hall.”
Grant Bales-Smith, sales manager EMEA for Vari-Lite & Strand, adds: “The show has really re-built itself which is a great thing to see. We’ve met with international customers from France, Spain, Germany and Scandinavia, representing the whole industry from theatre to concert touring.”
Coda Audio’s director of global marketing, David 'Webby' Webster, comments on the company’s debut appearance: “Because we’re relatively new to the market, it’s been great for us t

Europe - The 2020 Hog Factor Europe competition is now open, High End Systems has announced.
The company is inviting applications from students, apprentices and other aspiring lighting professionals under the age of 25 from across Europe, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Africa and the Middle East.
Individuals or teams of two people are asked to submit a performance lighting piece programmed on a Hog or on Hog 4 PC, which can be downloaded for free with a special demo version of Capture visualisation. The deadline for submissions is 15 January 2020.
The top three entries will be selected and the contestants asked to programme another performance lighting piece based on High End Systems’ 2020 Prolight+Sound stand design. These finalists will be invited to the event in Frankfurt, Germany (31 March – 3 April) to demonstrate their programming skills live in front of a panel of industry experts and an international trade show audience.
The finalists will receive free travel and accommodation to PL+S. while the overall winner(s) will be awarded a trip to the LDI tradeshow in Las Vegas.
“Since its introduction in 2014, Hog Factor has become an internationally renowned competition and has helped launch a number of careers,” comments High End Systems brand manager, Tania Lesage. “We can’t wait to meet the next Hog Factor hopefuls and the talent of tomorrow.”
A previous winner of the competition, Austria-based Nina Mesitz of team Status Cue, praises her experience and encourages others to enter: “You learn so much an

Mexico - Grupo Morfo has been named Outline’s exclusive distributor for Mexico. Effective immediately, Grupo Morfo will be responsible for sales, technical support and service of Outline products across all markets, including touring, AV rental, live bands, performing arts venues, hospitality, restaurants, clubs, portable, cinema and stadiums.
“In Grupo Morfo we have found an ideal partnership to strengthen, publicise and launch the Outline name in Mexico,” says Giorgio Biffi, Outline president & CEO. “Grupo Morfo has a solid, strategic approach in the product lines they have represented, as well as a proven track record of responsive service and support. The company principals have a close collaborative relationship with the integrator community, which aligns with Outline’s growing emphasis on commercial installation. At the same time their personal experience in live performance and touring will connect with that key market.”
For Antonio Maceda, founder and director of Grupo Morfo, the appointment represents a significant step forward for the company.
“With this appointment, Outline has recognised our company’s passion for audio and our demonstrated success with other product lines,” says Maceda. “We certainly share Outline’s commitment to product quality and customer support, and we have everything in place to take Outline to a wider audience in Mexico. We like to sell solutions, not boxes. Customers know they can rely on us from initial design proposals through ongoing technical support after the sale.”
(Jim Ev

UK/Germany - Following on from a successful PLASA Show, Artistic Licence has confirmed Frankfurt-based AES Technik as a value-added reseller for its products in Germany.
As technical services provider and project integrator working with many leading brands, AES is known for its high level solutions across a broad sector including conferences, trade fairs, award presentations and concerts.
Artistic Licence CEO Wayne Howell comments: "As a UK-based manufacturer facing Brexit uncertainties, it's very important for us to maintain a strong international profile and ensure a business-as-usual approach. We have some incredible new products - our trailing edge mains dimmer, sunDial, won the Gold Innovation Award at the show last week - and I think many people will be surprised at just how keen our pricing is these days.
“Growing our European distributor base is an obvious move, and we are excited to be increasing our visibility in Germany through this new initiative with AES Technik.”
(Jim Evans)

Europe - RCF’s TT 08-A II active two-way loudspeaker is now shipping. The smallest member of the TT+ family, the speaker is suitable for applications from live sound to playback and monitoring, corporate events and broadcast studios.
The TT 08-A II offers a maximum sound pressure level of 128dB; onboard DSP provides linear phase filters and crossover, system equalisation, polarity control, fast limiter, RMS limiter and configuration control from the back panel or advanced management via RDNet. The advanced FiRPHASE filtering algorithm optimises dynamics, amplitude and phase patterns while ensuring minimum system latency.
Onboard DSP provides linear phase FiRPHASE processing, system equalisation, polarity control, fast limiter, RMS limiter, and configuration control. All features are accessible and adjustable on the rear panel or remotely via RDNet networked management.
The TT 08-A II offers high sound pressure levels with clarity for use as a main system or in-fill speaker. The cabinet is made of Baltic birch plywood coated with a heavy-duty polyurea paint, making it highly resistant to external damage.
(Jim Evans)

USA - JMT Show Concepts is a specialist in media playback systems, providing rental and operation of solutions for concert touring, corporate events and various one-off special shows. For the past year or more, the company has been an owner of Green Hippo’s Hippotizer media servers.
“When we were searching for new systems for JMT, our number one priority was stability - and we found it in Hippotizer,” says company owner, Jorge Toro. “One of the most amazing things about Hippotizer, which surprised me from day one, is how user-friendly and stable it is to use.”
Impressed by Hippotizer’s reliability, as much as its advanced features and workflow, Toro decided to invest in Boreal+ and Karst+ systems running Hippotizer V4. HippoSchool training was delivered in Orlando by Green Hippo product specialist Cory Froke, and Toro took his new Hippotizers straight out to work. Since then, the systems have been in regular use.
JMT has built a strong presence in the Latin American music market over the years, and has worked on tours and events by artists including Farruko, Luis Miguel and Zion & Lennox, plus any number of music events, cruise ships, conventions and corporate entertainments everywhere from the Caribbean to Canada.
A major recent show for JMT was the Premios Tu Música Urbano. This new Latin music awards show, held in Puerto Rico in March 2019 and televised by Telemundo in the US, reached an estimated 80m people in 52 countries - almost four times the audience for the Grammys. For this production, JMT was responsible for

UK - Norfolk-based LED lighting and control specialist TLS Pixelite has rebranded to TLS Lighting.
The company was founded by Alan Reeves in 2007 and offers control systems for LED lighting as well as bespoke lighting solutions manufacturing and design services.
Reeves reveals that he initiated the re-brand for the purpose of consolidation and simplification, “to create a stronger brand for our customers to identify with, drawing upon the solidity upon which TLS was built”.
The TLS Lighting website now boasts a new portal (www.tlslighting.co.uk) from which visitors are invited to view the company’s projects, its premium lighting and control system products, and learn more about lighting control in its technical knowledge section.
“Taking the time to clarify what TLS Lighting stands for and what it represents to its customers is a very important step that makes an important impression at this stage of the company’s journey,” adds Reeves. “It was important for me to keep the letters in the name and logo as a permanent reminder of the strength and integrity that we built upon and continue to take forward with us.”
TLS Lighting is a specialist dealer for Chauvet Lighting, Chromateq, PixNet, LED Strip Studio and Luxibel.
(Jim Evans)

UK - Ayrton launched two new products and previewed another at a very successful PLASA 2019 along with its exclusive UK distributor, Ambersphere Solutions. Perseo-S and Huracan-X were the two to receive their official launch and visitors were treated to a first look at Karif-LT, due for release at LDI in November.
Shipping with immediate effect, Perseo-S is a multi-function IP65-rated fixture. Weighing in at just over 38kg and designed for the broadest range of applications, Perseo-S is also ideal for both indoor and outdoor use thanks to its compact size, output and ease of service. Feature rich from the factory (including 100% framing shutters, a wealth of effects and gobo options, a subtractive CMY colour mixing system and further colour options for an infinite palette of vivid pastels and saturated colours), Perseo-S produces 27,000lm (calibrated at 8000K) from its 500W LED source and boasts a 7° to 56° zoom range.
Also shown was Huracán-X, a profile luminaire with a 50,000lm output from its 1000W LED source and a colour mixing system capable of generating 281trillion colours. Other patent-pending innovations include a three-axis animation wheel that can be positioned anywhere in the light path, and bespoke gobo sets which can control depth of field, direction of movement, etc.
Continuing its theme of naming its products after the winds of the world, Ayrton previewed Karif-LT, its new 300W LED hybrid with a 3° - 45° zoom range. Karif-LT marks the first of Ayrton’s new long throw units, and will be released at the LDI show in the US befor

UK - Blitz has completed its installation of a new radio mic system for the West End musical production of The Phantom of the Opera.
Last weekend, Blitz’s theatre sound team installed a Sennheiser radio mic system at the production’s home of Her Majesty’s Theatre, London.
Blitz has supported producers Cameron Mackintosh Ltd in delivering The Phantom of the Opera since the show opened in 1986 and holds the crown for the longest serving sound provider to the same musical production in the same location in the West End.
The production has also used Sennheiser radio mics since the show began with this installation being the fourth generation of Sennheiser wireless to be instated. The new equipment included EM 6000 Digital Receivers with SK 6212 Digital Mini-Bodypacks and a Wavetool Audio Monitoring Software system.
Martyn Hunt, head of theatre at Blitz comments: “Blitz has worked with The Phantom of the Opera for 33 years and is always looking to make sure we are evolving when it comes to sound production. Such a renowned and successful musical deserves the very latest in sound technology, and we know that this latest investment with the Sennheiser installation will do just that.
“At Blitz we are passionate about our growing involvement with the theatre industry. We are thrilled to be able to bring our extensive expertise to this area and continue to serve the community after all these years.”
(Jim Evans)

France - Lighting solutions manufacturer GLP has appointed Bruno P. Souchaud to head up its newly-formed subsidiary, GLP France.
Souchaud has nearly three decades’ experience in international show lighting, including three years with the French GLP distributor, LA BS.
GLP board member Kasper Gissel comments: “We are fortunate to have the services of such a lighting industry veteran as Bruno. The move will bring us closer to our customers and key LD’s. GLP has been specified by French LDs for many years, and previously we have done business directly with the major rental houses in France. So the timing is perfect for GLP to put a more solid structure in place and to further increase our presence in the market.”
Bruno says he is relishing the new challenge. “When Udo [Kuenzler], Kasper and the GLP team set out to emulate the formula that had worked so well for the UK and Nordic countries, I jumped at the chance, especially given the exciting launch of the Fusion range. I wouldn't have moved for a copycat brand or a brand without GLP’s level of creativity and innovation.”
GLP France will initially operate from Bruno P. Souchaud’s office in Aulnay-Sous-Bois on the suburbs of Paris, close to Roissy CDG airport.
(Jim Evans)

USA - Vampire Weekend is currently touring North America in support of its fourth studio album, Father of the Bride. Much has changed over the past six years, when the band released its previous record, Modern Vampires of the City, but one thing that hasn’t is the group’s continued use of L-Acoustics loudspeakers for its touring PA.
Serving as Vampire Weekend’s FOH engineer for over a decade, Neil Heal has long been a fan of the French manufacturer’s products. “L-Acoustics is simply one of the very best systems out there, and I love the scalability of K1, K2, and Kara all sounding consistently great and working together seamlessly,” he says. “We’re primarily using K2 mains and Kara out-fills on this tour, and I also love the fact that the arrays go down so low, frequency-wise, without ever being muddy. We could almost do shows without the subs, but they’re certainly nice for moving the air.”
For the current North American trek, Solotech FOH systems engineer Ben Malone notes that the typical system configuration for most venues comprises left and right arrays of 18 K2 per side, with adjacent out-fill arrays of 12 Kara on each side for out-fill coverage. Six additional Kara are spread across the stage lip for front-fill, while four ARCS II provide out-fill near the front. A dozen KS28 subs anchor the low-end reinforcement, and the entire system is powered by 24 LA12X and six LA8 amplified controllers.
No stranger to using L-Acoustics Soundvision software to set up each show, Malone has been using the programme’s ne

France - One of the world’s most respected opera festivals has been transformed into a fully immersive production courtesy of Astro Spatial Audio, including the creation of highly reverberant, church-like room acoustics in an historic open-air courtyard theatre.
Founded in 1948, the Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence returns to Southern France each summer with an innovative programme designed to equally challenge and delight the international opera community.
Productions can range from newly commissioned pieces to bold new interpretations of the classics, filling the Théâtre de l'Archevêché with eager audiences. The theatre is literally housed within the courtyard of the former Archbishop’s palace, where some 1,600 spectators fill two tiers of seating surrounded by the walls of the palace with an open sky above.
For the 2019 production of Mozart’s Requiem, director Romeo Castellucci and conductor Raphaël Pichon were set on creating an immersive experience that evoked the spirit of Mozart’s work.
“The vision was to immerse the audience within the original acoustic context of the Requiem - to help the audience feel as if they were really in a place of worship,” explains audio consultant Rémy Brean. “Of course, that meant altering the acoustic parameters of the Théâtre de l'Archevêché, which is beautiful but certainly not a cathedral! It actually has a short reverberation time so we knew that to increase it we would have to adopt an artificial solution. Our main objective was to create a reverb

UAE - SLS has recently made a substantial investment in Robe lighting fixtures. This included an initial purchase of 50 MegaPointes last year followed by 86 Spiider LED wash beams earlier this year, then 24 Pointes and a pair of DL4S Profiles.
Martin Luiz founded SLS 22 years ago in Dubai to provide full technical production management and design services - combined or individually as required - to a range of different events. He has built his business steadily based on being imaginative and delivering high quality results with outstanding technical expertise.
SLS provides equipment for all major disciplines - lighting, sound, video rigging and staging - and there are currently around 130 full-time employees, all dedicated to working, mainly on a mix of corporate and industrial shows across the UAE and in neighbouring GCC countries like KSA, Oman, Kuwait and others.
Serious expansion in the last couple of years has led to an imminent major relocation of all the current warehouse facilities and the main office into one central hub, a brand-new all-encompassing business premises in the DIP (Dubai Investments Park) area.
The Robe investment was triggered by the frequency of Robe now being requested on artists and band riders and / or LD’s specifications. “There is a clear trend for using a range of Robe moving lights and we need to be on top of this,” says Luiz.
In addition to the demand for Robe, he has always enjoyed a good relationship with Robe Middle East’s GM Elie Battah.
“Efficient and personable service with attentio

UK - Creative Technology (CT) took on the challenge of almost doubling the size of the main stage IMAGs at Reading and Leeds Festival last month, after 25 years working on the event.
Every year over the August bank holiday, festivalgoers flock to Reading and Leeds for two of the most popular festivals in the music calendar. Taking part simultaneously and sharing the same bill, Reading and Leeds Festival boasts an varied line-up with a diverse combination of musical genres with this year’s headliners including The 1975, Foo Fighters, Post Malone and Twenty one Pilots.
This year saw client Festival Republic transforming the Main Stage IMAG Screens at Reading and Leeds Festival, almost doubling them in size from 145sqm to 270sqm. Each of the screens which were made up of InfiLED 5.9 measured 22.5m wide x 12m high.
A custom double curve at each end allowed them to aesthetically wrap around the festival goalpost support structures, opening the stage area and giving the crowd some impressive close-up shots of their favourite artists.
CT supplied and operated Barco E2 switchers and 4K signal transfer to deliver video relay to the IMAGs (each of which were larger than 4K) with the additional provision of four cameras at Leeds, feeding images for the video relay to the IMAGs, all using Brompton processing. UK Rigging provided custom header blocks which neatly covered the overhead rigging, giving the IMAGs a clean finish to fit in with the rest of the stage design.
Dominic Hill, project manager at Creative Technology looking after Leeds Festival

Europe - Belgian-based visual design studio Painting with Light (PWL) celebrates 20 years of utilising multiple media and luminescent sources - including lighting, video, lasers, projection - and content to create inspiring designs and dramatic immersive environments.
The journey has seen it grow from an ambitious dream to a leading international technical innovator and solutions provider.
The company was founded by Luc Peumans in 1999. His vision, imagination, focus and sense of adventure have driven PWL to become the imagineering powerhouse it is today, working across multiple entertainment and leisure industry platforms with a skilled team of dynamic multi and mixed media experts.
PWL’s core business started with designing lighting, video and scenic elements for music tours and festivals, television productions, a diversity of live events and theatre productions.
Peumans’ eagerness to experiment with and try out new ideas helped his work become noticed, which prized open new opportunities and areas especially in ‘crossover’ disciplines like ‘architainment’ which require a broader approach, thinking ‘out-of-the-box’ and the adaptation of light and ‘luminosity’ in its various forms utilising different techniques and treatments.
PWL’s work is now an invigorating balance of projects in these original sectors, plus newer areas where lighting and media installations are integral to creating atmosphere and mood like theme parks, attractions, museums, venues - from bars to live music and dance halls - and buildings (fro

Germany - Colour Sound Experiment returned to the Olympiastadion in Berlin for the 2019 Lollapalooza festival where they were the lighting and LED screen supplier - plus all related sub-rigging - for the Perry’s (Dance) Stage.
The West London-based technical specialist has been involved with the two-day event since 2015 when the Berlin edition of the popular music extravaganza started.
It was the second year for Lolla Berlin at the Olympiapark site, and once again Perry’s Stage was inside the Stadium arena itself, where the line-up was headlined by Underworld on Saturday and Martin Garrix on Sundaysupported by Don Diablo, Scooter, TV Noise and others.
Ricardo Lorenzini (crew chief) and Dave Ross led the Colour Sound crew, who sub hung three LX trusses from the roof plus four vertical tower trusses per side in the mid-stage area. Another lighting truss was rigged either side above the left and right IMAG video screens, and the rest of the fixtures were positioned on the deck along the front of the stage lip and in the stage wings.
The upstage video screen measured 17m wide by 9m high, made up from Colour Sound’s Unilumin Robe CB5 screen, and this was supported by the two portrait-format side screens, each 5m wide and 7m tall, built from BT7 LED screen.
The visual design, including lighting and screens, was created by Colour Sound’s team based on their vast collective experience of lighting multi line-up festival events, and also accommodating the two headliners - Martin Garrix and Underworld - both of whom also brought in substant