USA - Fan experience innovator PixMob returned to the Super Bowl for a fifth consecutive year. The entertainment lighting tech experts delivered a crowd-captivating immersive experience during the much-anticipated halftime show.
This year’s PixMob activation set out to elevate the halftime show to ‘unparalleled heights’, enhancing the performance of Usher by outfitting performers on stage with their X4 Wristbands. PixMob’s signature sustainably-sourced LED wearables lit up the field with synchronised visual effects to match the performance.
In the crowd, 60,000 spectators were equipped with PixMob’s LED badges, transforming the audience into a dazzling canvas of light and immersive effects.
"PixMob is honoured to mark our fifth consecutive year partnering with the Super Bowl, a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of immersive lighting technology and continuously innovating the fan experience," said Jean Olivier Dalphond, CCO & partner, PixMob.
In 2014, PixMob immersed 80,000 fans and 500 on-field performers in synchronised light with their wearable LED technology during the Bruno Mars performance. From 2020 onward, PixMob has supercharged every subsequent Super Bowl halftime show with its immersive LED tech.
Italy - Prolights Mosaico series illuminated the main facade of the Naval Academy of Livorno with the colours of the Italian flag. Spazi Sonori Live, the company responsible for implementing the project, faced numerous technical challenges to complete this emblematic initiative, showcasing the versatility and effectiveness of Prolights products.
The request was to permanently illuminate a 25x25m facade with LED lights in the green, white, and red colours of the Italian flag while adhering to strict technical and environmental constraints, including resistance to marine conditions and the need for angular projections without compromising uniform coverage.
After careful evaluation, Spazi Sonori Live chose the Prolights Mosaico series. They used two Mosaico L projectors for the green and white colours and one Mosaico XL projector for the red colour, harnessing their precise beam modulation and keystone correction capabilities for optimal projection, even from complex angles.
These IP65-rated floodlights, suitable for outdoor applications in harsh conditions like marine environments, enabled uniform and vibrant illumination of the Naval Academy facade, creating a symbol of national pride visible from a distance.
The Spazi Sonori Live team commented: "Thanks to the versatility and innovation offered by Prolights, we successfully overcame complex technical challenges, completing an installation we can take pride in."
The new lighting not only celebrates the historical and cultural significance of the Naval Academy of Livorno but also estab
Finland - The celebrated LUX Helsinki light festival took place at venues across the Finnish capital during January, with a highlight being the specially created projection mapped visual display onto the intricate façade of the National Gallery Ateneum.
The looping, five-hour graphic animations formed a large, 8,000px-wide canvas and were projected by six Barco UDX 4K32 projectors and driven by Green Hippo Hippotizer Montane+ RTX and Karst+ Media Servers.
The festival was staged by Events Helsinki, which brought in Capital AV to deliver technical production and visual consultancy for the Ateneum projections. In temperatures plummeting to minus 20 Celsius, the Capital AV team set up a warm trailer next to FOH position and the three projector towers. The animation work was designed by Katri Tikkanen and commissioned to celebrate the 60th anniversary of famous Finnish clothing brand Marimekko’s cherished design pattern, Unikko. Marimekko and Ateneum joined forces as major sponsors of the festival, making the projection project a reality.
A music score was composed by Matti Ahopelto, with the piece coming together as projected visuals that danced on the front of the imposing building.
“We deployed two Montane+ RTX and three Karst+ Media Servers to drive the projected visuals as we needed a reliable solution in the cold weather and with enough power for the large canvas, amount of graphics and the five-hour loop,” says Capital AV’s Max Lapinsuo-Sylwén. “The Hippotizers proved to be a powerhouse, running the show for the entire five-da
UK - Ed Warren’s lighting design for The Lottery Winners’ recent homecoming show at the 02 Apollo Manchester featured a strong floral element.
Warren had two rows of daisy set pieces arranged across the stage. Each had at its centre a Chauvet Professional Strike 1, single source 230W warm white LED blinder, ready to rock the house and transform the stage with intense strobes, audience lighting and immersive washes.
“The concept of the flowers came about from a creative meeting with the band,” said Warren. “They mentioned their logo/branding is daisies, so I had the idea of having some daisy set pieces built. The plan was that we would mount lights in the centre disc of the flowers. The Strike 1s seemed like the perfect solution since they provided natural looking light and a killer strobe. The daisy set pieces were custom made to suit a Strike 1 fixture. The lights were mounted on upright pipes and braces.”
Like the rest of the lighting rig, the 24 Strike 1 fixtures used in the show were supplied by Dragonfly Lighting. “Big shout out to Tom and Jack from Dragonfly,” said Warren, who, in addition to positioning the Strike 1 fixtures within the flowers, had other units flown over downstage. This reflected the emphasis he placed on audience lighting.
“The audience are a huge part of this band’s show,” he said. “There is an incredible connection between The Lottery Winners and their fans, and I didn’t want that feeling to be lost in such a huge room as the Apollo.”
This bond, engendered by Warren’s lighting was
USA - Brentwood Baptist Church was officially constituted on Easter Sunday 1969 in the Nashville suburb of Brentwood, Tennessee. In the past half a century, it has grown to nine campuses around the region and has consistently averaged over 5,000 worshipers in weekly on-campus attendance, along with an estimated 4,000 additional online viewers.
The current main campus’ church was built in 2002 and had a few updates along the way, but last May it completed a complete refresh of the sanctuary’s audio, video, and lighting systems, in concert with leading AVL systems integrator Diversified. And the finishing touch on the updated audio infrastructure is a new KLANG:konductor, the most powerful and versatile immersive in-ear mixing processor ever.
“We had a few periodic updates to the systems over the years, such as going from analogue to digital audio and upgrading our video to HD, but it was mostly untouched since the beginning,” says Brentwood Baptist technical services director Darby Gilmore. “We were not only due for a technical refresh but an aesthetic one, too. We wanted to modernise, and the KLANG:konductor was part of that.”
Tim Corder, Diversified’s vice-president of faith & performance, brought the KLANG:konductor to the church’s attention, seeing it as a solution that fit the church’s situation perfectly. “Brentwood Baptist has a very diverse, multi-generational worship style,” he says, one which can toggle from full orchestra and choir one week to a high-energy rock-style band the next. “It can be a challenge to ad
UK - Tring Park School for the Performing Arts is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school in Hertfordshire, UK. As a specialist provider of vocational training in the performing arts, the school offers courses that include dance, acting, commercial music and musical theatre, as well a full academic syllabus from Preparatory to A-Level.
It is one of only 21 schools selected to allocate government-funded Dance and Drama Awards, a scholarship scheme designed to subsidise the cost of professional dance and drama training for the most talented students at leading institutions. Since 1945, the school has been located in Tring Park Mansion, originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren and formerly occupied by the Rothschild family.
Audio technology plays a vital role in many areas of the school’s curriculum, particularly where its vocational courses are concerned, and the school recently took the decision to modernise its approach to provision for its many rehearsal rooms. Tring Park contacted regular supplier Studiospares of Luton for advice about easy to operate, flexible and portable systems that could deliver high-quality audio in often large reverberant spaces.
Greg Niedzwiecki, pro audio sales at Studiospares, recommended the versatile HH Electronics Tensor Go, a powerful portable PA system that can be operated cable-free thanks to its high-capacity integrated lithium-ion battery.
With four-channel integrated mic/line mixing functionality, high-grade balanced ¼ inch/XLR combination input connections, and a studio quality dig
Europe - Midas Consoles has launched Cobalt, a high-channel count, pocket-sized USB3 audio protocol converter.
“Cobalt is designed with sound engineers in mind. It is more than just a USB converter; it is a game-changing solution that combines power, portability, and connectivity for those seeking professional-grade recording without breaking the bank,” says Midas.
With Cobalt - which debuted at ISE 2024 - users can record and virtual soundcheck up to 192 channels all through a single Neutrik locking USB C connection, direct into PC or Mac. This not only streamlines the set-up but also allows audio professionals ‘to carry a powerhouse of functionality right in their pockets’.
The built-in sample rate converters further elevate Cobalt's capabilities, enabling operation at either 48kHz or 96kHz without compromising the channel count. This flexibility is crucial for those who demand high-quality audio without sacrificing compatibility, proving a new pinnacle for audio consoles.
With its built-in Ethernet tunnel, Cobalt allows direct communication to a variety of audio applications such as Reaper via protocols such at OSC, expanding its compatibility with different ecosystems for the diverse demands of modern audio production. This feature will ensure that engineers can seamlessly integrate Cobalt into their existing setups allowing them to navigate the complexities of audio production with ease.
UK - Panalux has announced the hiring of lighting-industry veteran Sandro Leone as the company’s long form sales director. In this role, Leone will focus on serving feature and series productions in London and Southeast England.
“Sandro brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in lighting rentals,” said Panalux managing director Mark Furssedonn. “Additionally, his previous roles in camera rental give him a keen perspective on how the equipment and service offerings of the larger Panavision group can further support our customers’ needs. We’re thrilled to welcome Sandro to the Panalux family.”
Leone previously served as head of sales at Procam Take 2 Films, and prior to that as head of film and drama at Filmscape Media. Those positions followed 17 years with Arri Lighting Rental.
“I feel lucky to be part of the incredible team here at Panalux, and I’m excited to help the company continue to deliver the best-in-class service and support our customers know they can rely on,” Leone said.
Leone is based in London and reports to Michele Channer, Panalux’s business development director. He will work out of Panalux’s new, purpose-built London headquarters, which will be fully operational in the coming months.
UK - LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment) has partnered with Handle Freelance Solutions, The Back Lounge and UK LIVE Event Freelancers Forum to launch a survey, The Hidden Side of Freelancing 2024, to understand and identify the changes required to improve the experience of freelancers who are crucial to the success of the live music industry.
The new survey will explore pay transparency and the personal experiences of freelancers at live music events. It aims to help freelancers understand their true value and benchmark their own experience whilst also celebrating what makes live music a great industry for freelancers. The results will then be assessed, culminating in a publicly available report that will be published in April 2024.
Industry organisations such as Entourage Pro, Production Futures, NOWIE, Rego, and Power of Events are all key supporting partners of the survey.
Jon Collins, CEO, LIVE, said: “Freelancers are crucial to the success of the live music ecosystem and our industry relies on them to deliver unforgettable experiences for fans. This survey will give freelancers in our industry the information needed to get the most out of the work they do and help to deliver impact change for every freelancer and the organisations that rely on freelance talent.”
Suzi Green, tour manager and manager of the Back Lounge said: “We were hearing on The Basck Lounge that new people coming into the industry had no idea what to charge, and more seasoned crew were unsure given how much things have changed post-pandemic
UK - Stage Electrics Group has announced that the company’s present managing director, Dave Coull, has been appointed as the company’s group chief executive officer.
Announcing the change, the company’s chairman, William Rogers, said, “Given the tremendously strong recovery the business has made from the trials of Covid and the positive transformation that the company has been undergoing over the last three years, this appointment not only reflects upon the outstanding job that Dave has done, but also highlights the ambition we have as a business to build our company into a group of operations that sit at the professional heart of our sector.
“We have a simply outstanding team of people at Stage Electrics Group, and it is fitting that one of our next steps is to establish the foundations upon which the ambitions we have can be built. This appointment is one such step.”
Dave Coull added, “Whilst I am obviously thrilled to have been recognised in this way, this is really all about building the right structures and frameworks across the business, to ensure that we are fully prepared for the challenges ahead.”
UK - Midas Consoles has launched its HD96-AIR, an addition to the Heritage-D series. The desk aims to provide the same specs as the Heritage-D HD96-24 desk, but in a more portable, compact form-factor.
Midas HD96-AIR is equipped with a capability of up to 144 simultaneous input channels and a 96kHz sample rate, it houses 123 time-aligned and phase-coherent mix buses, which provides sound engineers with unprecedented control and precision as well as a fader bay companion (HD96-FB16), It has 8 XLR Inputs and Outputs featuring award-winning Midas microphone preamplifiers, solidifying Midas’ commitment to top-tier audio quality.
Midas HD96-AIR was debuted at this year's ISE show. The latest addition to the Heritage-D series offers features usually normally reserved for the larger consoles such as dual redundant power supplies, snakes, and two built-in format converter slots It offers an advanced and multi-gesture touchscreen user interface, ensuring efficient operation.
UK - US loudspeaker manufacturer 1 Sound has joined forces with AV distributor CUK Group to bring 1 Sound to the UK and Ireland.
CUK is part of the CUK group along with another two AV distribution companies across the UK and Ireland – Tukans (York), and CUK Video and Audio (Dublin).
CUK provides customers with value-added services via a team of channel managers and support staff. Their team has expertise encompassing all aspects of the audio industry – commercial audio visual, leisure, live music, voice alarm and security, conferencing, recording, broadcast, and residential AV. They provide support services for their clients such as system design and electro-acoustic modelling, to site visits, and dealer and end-user training.
For 1 Sound, it is significant for their distributors to align on company values, and for CUK Group they also believe in maintaining a proactive collaborative partnership with the brand as well as their integrator partners in order to provide AV purposeful solutions.
1 Sound EMEA sales executives, Leonardo Dani and Leonardo D’Andrea, visited CUK Group’s headquarters in Scotland recently and went through the 1 SOUND catalogue and provided training with the CUK Group team
Europe - Building upon the success of the recently introduced PlutoFresnel, Astera has announced the launch of ProjectionLens that will add capabilities to its battery-powered, LED-based light, allowing to convert quickly into a powerful profile spotlight.
The lightweight, portable PlutoFresnel - which operates on a completely wireless basis with built-in battery pack – can be transformed in less than a minute simply by slipping on the ProjectionLens, which then allows the light to become a Profile Spotlight with a range of 16° to 36°. Projection zoom can be controlled manually by twisting the lens barrel or two Focus Wheels.
An E-size Gobo holder also enables custom logo projection. Built with the precision and durability that Astera applies across its entire range, the Profile Lens allows for close control of the light over any distance, with crystal clear optics and a four-leaf shutter design to facilitate trimming of the beam as needed.
This builds upon the already substantial applications of the PlutoFresnel itself, which harnesses the benefits of LED technology in order to deliver a lighting style that previously could only be achieved with cumbersome and expensive Tungstens. Crucially, it achieves the very specific aesthetic of a Fresnel light with lower power draw, higher output strength, precise colour control, lightweight profile, wireless installation and full creative flexibility. In its Fresnel setup, it maintains a beam angle of 15° to 60°, with an equivalent output of 300W using only 80W.
With its LED core and concentric c
UK - The King’s Head is popular pub in the village of Bwlchgwyn, not far from Wrexham in North Wales. Providing a valuable focus for the community, owners Eddie and Abbie always strive to deliver the best customer experience possible, and recently took the decision to upgrade the pub’s sound system, which they no longer considered fit for purpose.
Specialists Pivotal Sound & Lighting of Wrexham were engaged to design and supply a solution for The King’s Head. Pivotal cover every facet of audio for live events, hire and installation, and their vastly experienced team has a reputation for excellence across the region. Pivotal recommended an Optimal Audio system to meet the pub’s varied programme.
Darren Hughes, director at Pivotal Sound & Lighting comments, “The existing system comprised a number of loudspeakers driven by a home cinema amplifier which was running as a single zone, including in the outside area. Given the range of events that the pub hosts, a zoned system was essential. This would allow for example, a ‘loud zone’ around the bar area, a ‘quieter zone’ in the snug, or perhaps keep the outside area audio-free during karaoke or DJ sets. They also wanted the facility to input audio from their TV screens. Ultimately, it was about having better quality audio and better control.”
Pivotal has worked on many projects supplied by distributor Audio-Technica and were aware of the Optimal Audio ecosystem. Darren immediately settled on the Zone 8 controller for the new system because of its flexibility, internal DSP, HDMI
Germany - Rea Garvey is one of the best-known musicians in Germany and is a guest on the biggest stages and festivals year after year. An arena tour for his new album Halo has already been announced for 2024. Prior to this, the Irishman took the opportunity to feel the intimate audience proximity of smaller clubs again with the Roots tour.
Chris ‘Rocketchris’ Glatthor, who has accompanied Garvey as a production designer since 2014, was also on board. Rocketchris relied on the Cameo PIXBAR G2, AZOR and ZENIT Series – among others – for the minimalist stage designs.
According to the experienced production designer, who is responsible for the entire visual realisation of the shows, the Roots tour was something special in more ways than one: "It's the first real tour in several years. What's more, there is no new Rea Garvey album, hence the name Roots. We play in small clubs with capacities of around 600 to 1000 people, and the budget is manageable. Despite this situation, Rea wanted to take material with him to ensure that he could achieve the same looks every day and offer the audience the same experience everywhere – regardless of the nature of the room and what material is available in the clubs."
Chris Glatthor's Cameo setup comprised the PIXBAR SMD IP G2 LED bars, AZOR S2 spot moving heads, and ZENIT Z180 G2 LED PAR spotlights. The PIXBAR SMD LED bars had the greatest effect on the look of the shows, as they were distributed in a stacked version across the entire width of the stage and also illuminated the accompanying projection
The Netherlands - Prolights DisplayCob TRWDFC illuminated the Dying in Beauty exhibition at the Drents Museum Assen, in an innovative collaboration with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples and the National Archaeological Park of Herculaneum.
The exhibition was illuminated with Prolights DisplayCob TRWDFC to tell the story of Pompeii's life before its destruction, showing how art and technology can merge to create a powerful visual narrative. The NorthenLight agency took care of the artistic design, relying on Lichpunt for the lighting setup and 50Lux for the lighting design.
Light was used as a narrative tool to differentiate life (white light) from death (red light representing lava). Lighting designer Frank Hulsebosch of 50Lux used 12 DisplayCob TRWDFC to achieve colourful, intense lighting effects, demonstrating the versatility of products in a complex exhibition context.
The Luchpunt team expressed great satisfaction with the performance of the DisplayCob TRWDFC, praising the quality of the light output, in particular, stating: “The quality of the white light is excellent. The DisplayCob TRWDFC maintain the intensity of the light output even during the color change.”
This lighting setup contributed to the exhibition winning the German Design Award 2024 in the Excellent Architecture category. The jury praised the use of lighting and colour, which allowed ancient artefacts to appear in a new light, revolutionizing traditional perceptions and captivating visitors with an exhibition that combines beauty and lightness.
UK - The 2023 ABTT Virtual Ideas Platform winner was revealed on Thursday 1 February in a ceremony at the annual ALPD and White Light New Technology Showcase in the Embassy Theatre at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
This annual industry event features the latest in lighting technology and felt like an appropriate opportunity to speak on the Virtual Ideas Platform and its winner, whose innovative idea is now being developed by Triple E.
Presented by ABTT co-chair Mig Burgess and introduced by platform developer Charles Haines, David Ripley was awarded the ABTT Hook Clamp Award and Certificate for his winning idea, The Counterweight Caddy.
The Counterweight Caddy is a method of storing weights and addressing the manual handling issues associated with work on the loading gallery.
Speaking of his award win, Central’s Head of Technical and Production David Ripley said: “It’s very exciting to see something go from a random thought, into reality via the ABTT Virtual Idea Platform and now being developed by Triple E. We hope The Counterweight Caddy will make a positive improvement to Health and Safety on the loading galleries of our theatres when it is fully launched, but we need the industry feedback to make it the best product it can be.”
ABTT VIP concept developer and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, head of performance venues, Charles Haines, commented, “A few years ago, during a trip to the excellent USITT (US Institute of Theatre Technology) trade show, I saw their Innovations Gallery in operation and fell
UAE - DirectOut has entered into a strategic partnership with 7Hertz, distributor of professional and home audio products.
John Parkhouse, senior live audio consultant at 7Hertz, expressed his enthusiasm, saying: "We are very happy to welcome DirectOut to our portfolio at 7Hertz. The alignment of our core philosophies has seamlessly paved the way for a straightforward and exciting partnership." Founded in 2009, 7Hertz has become a pioneer in professional and home audio products across the GCC region.
Lorenzo Sassi, business development manager at DirectOut comments on the partnership: "DirectOut is delighted to join forces with 7Hertz to bring our innovative audio technology solutions to the Middle East market. We believe that 7Hertz's commitment to excellence and deep passion for sound harmonises perfectly with our values, making this partnership a natural fit. Together, we look forward to enhancing the audio experience for professionals and enthusiasts in the region."
DirectOut's product range will be seamlessly integrated into 7Hertz's existing offering, enriching the overall collection of solutions the company represents. To deepen the understanding of DirectOut's products, the company will soon hold comprehensive training sessions in Dubai. This initiative aims to equip both the 7Hertz team and their clients with in-depth knowledge to effectively advise, utilise and implement these advanced audio solutions.
"We are looking forward to DirectOut's visit to Dubai, where comprehensive training sessions will be held for both the extended 7Her
Iceland - Harpa, the concert hall and conference centre, located in capital city Reykjavik - has invested in 48 x new Robe Forte moving lights which will be utilised in their 1600-capacity Grand Hall, home of the Icelandic Opera and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.
The striking Harpa building was designed by the Hanning Larsen Architects from Denmark in conjunction with Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson - well known for creating sculptured and large-scale installation art using elements like light, water, and air temperature - and opened in 2011. The structure comprises a steel framework clad with different coloured and shaped geometric glass panels inspired by Iceland’s beautiful and mineral-rich basaltic rock landscape.
Harpa stages numerous high visibility world-class productions and events as well as hosting meetings and high-rolling summits. Karl Sigurðsson, managing director of Robe’s Iceland distributor, Luxor, was delighted to win the tender and supply the project with Fortes.
The luminaires are part of a technical upgrade that has replaced the original moving lights - from another brand - that were installed in 2011 when the project opened. Karl worked closely with the venue’s technical manager Andri Guðmundsson to ensure everything happened smoothly and seamlessly.
The replacement fixtures had to match the stature of Harpa and the expectations of its staff, clients, visitors, and audience, and sustainable and good for the environment. Andri researched extensively, narrowed down the options and issued the tender.
Th
Europe - This year’s ISE (Integrated Systems Europe) show was a special one for Truss Aluminium Factory (TAF). On 30 January, the first day of the exhibition, the company revealed its new TAF logo.
The new image was also featured in a special logo reveal video released that same day on TAF’s social media channels and website, as well as in the TAF newsletter and on industry media websites. Going hand-in-hand with the redesigned logo was news of TAF’s new strategic direction as ‘The Factory’.
The teaser campaign highlighted ‘a truss brand you know’ and a factory that’s ‘behind much of the well-regarded truss on the market’.
“The redesigned logo not only serves as the new face of the brand, but also as a symbol of its evolution as a leading truss manufacturer and new strategic direction as The Factory,” says the Czechia-based company that was established in 1998 and now operates globally. “Going forward, TAF will have a new focus on the manufacture of its high-quality TAF-branded truss, continuous improvement of its exceptional customer service, and delivery of its ‘Truss on Time’ promise.”
Belgium - Nexo rental partner VDB-PA deployed its STM system at the annual New Year’s party in Leuven, with a change in format for this year’s event presenting some interesting new challenges.
Last year the DJ tower was located in the centre of the Oude Market, presenting two separate crowd areas of 30m wide x 60m deep. This year, the tower was located centrally along the long side of the space, making an audience area of 120m wide and just 30m deep.
“The challenge was to create a club vibe with a stereo sound stage for as many people as possible, regardless of where they were located,” reports system designer and tech Lennert Van de Velde.
“We achieved this by flying left and right hags of six Nexo STM M48 main and B112 bass extension elements firing into the square at right angles to each other, with additional pairs of hangs of six STM M28 modules also at right angles at the far left and right of the square. One of these arrays was on a delay and the other fired the left and right signals back into the audience.
“It was important to find the optimal delay time to provide the best stereo image and time coherence for as much of the crowd as possible.”
The form-factor, high output and long throw of the 2 x 8-inch M28 proved to be a great advantage in designing a system for such a demanding event, as Lennert explains.
“Because the M28 is so light and compact, we were able to rig the arrays back-to-back on a single beam.”
Coverage in the immediate areas around the DJ tower was provided by Nexo P12 point-source
USA - In a harmonious blend of cultural reverence, sustainability and modern entertainment, the Lāna‘i Ocean Theatre has emerged as a spectacular amphitheatre on the southeast coast of Lāna‘i, the sixth-largest island in the Hawaiian Archipelago.
This visionary project stands proudly within the lush grounds of the Four Seasons Resort Lāna‘i, overlooking the serene Hulopo'e Bay, and employs IP-rated Proteus Lucius and Arena Zoom Q7IP luminaires from Elation.
An entertainment space that organically conforms to its natural surroundings, the Lāna‘i Ocean Theatre is a Greek-style amphitheatre that pays homage to the historical roots of theatre. The project, initiated in September 2021, transforms a section of the hillside overlooking the bay, creating a venue that seamlessly integrates with the natural landscape and botanical garden setting.
Land and resource management company Pulama Lāna‘i partnered with visual design practice Lightswitch and event production company Upstaging to create a space that not only meets the highest standards but also respects the island's natural environment. Lighting design was spearheaded by John Featherstone, principal at Lightswitch, with Ryan Breneisen of Upstaging serving as a project manager and technical director. Upstaging supplied the lighting for the project and executed the installation.
Breneisen worked with Rob Ludwig from Elation rep firm Five Lakes Marketing to source the Proteus Lucius LED profile luminaire and following a shoot-out with similar moving head fixtures, says the Lucius c
The Netherlands - Attracting acts from across the world, Kerstcircus Ahoy recently completed its 51st season in Rotterdam. Supporting the performers and adding to the excitement of the circus was a colourful, and sometimes dramatic, lighting design by Ricky Bouckenhove of Live Systems that featured 70 Chauvet Professional fixtures.
Bouckenhove, who has been lighting the renowned circus for 24 years, relied on a mainly blue and white colour palette to highlight its 12 different acts, which featured performers from 16 different nations.
At the circus’ centre ring, he hung 24 Maverick MK2 Spot fixtures on the 19m circular truss. Drawing on the 440W light cannon’s 16-bit dimming, he was able to have smooth fades at the conclusion of acts. Moreover, the fixture’s tight zoom allowed him to focus light where he wanted it without spill over.
Bouckenhove also arranged 14 Maverick MK2 Wash fixtures on the floor around the edges of the circular ring. These units lit aerial acts, while also colourising the track itself. An additional 20 MK2 Wash fixtures enhanced the circus’ magical ambience by backlighting the area. At selected points during the circus, the wash fixtures were also used to create a dramatic effect by silhouetting the performers.
There were also 12 Color Strike M motorised strobe-washes in Bouckenhove’s rig. He used these versatile fixtures to light the stands and to underscore high-impact moments with strobe effects.
Speaking of his lighting system for the circus, Bouckenhove noted: “Since the acrobats regularly needed
USA - Rock band Lord Huron burst onto the charts with The Night We Met, a viral hit that caught the attention of billions. Capturing the intricate and delicate nature of their music while recording is crucial for the band, and they put just as much emphasis on recreating that listening experience for live audiences.
To ensure the band delivers a sound on stage that is consistent to their studio sessions, Front of house sound engineer Justin Chechile selected the band’s favoured DPA Microphones vocal and instrument mics, including the DPA d:facto 4018VL Vocal and 2011 Twin Diaphragm Microphones. For recorded and live applications, the band also deploys the DPA DDK4000 Drum Microphone Kit, comprised of the 2012 Cardioid and 4055 Kick Drum mics, along with a stereo pair of the 2015 Wide Cardioids and three 4099 Instrument Microphones.
“Lord Huron first started using DPA mics for the recording side of things,” Chechile says. “The team loved the mics’ performance in those cases and thought it would be nice to bring them out on tour - and I’m so glad we switched the live setup to DPA.”
Chechile explains that lead singer Ben Schneider frequently moves around stage during shows, which caused a significant high-end bleed from the drum set. “The d:facto was first to come on the live side,” he says. “We were struggling to find a vocal mic that wasn’t super coloured and offered a really flat sound. The d:facto fixed all these issues and provided context and clarity
“I could talk about this mic all day. It’s very open sound