UK - As the resurgence of psychedelic rock grows stronger in the UK and abroad, London-based Toy has risen to the top of the genre by developing a unique sound that combines numerous guitar effects pedals and keyboards, all of which are connected using Mogami 'Cable for Life' professional audio cables supplied by HHB Communications.

Toy began releasing records with Heavenly Recordings in 2010 to critical acclaim and fan devotion that landed them support gigs for The Horrors and The Vaccines. Billed as a band to watch by both The Guardian and the NME, they have continued to tour heavily throughout 2013, making stops at Glastonbury and Field Day Festivals and opening for Paul Weller and Wire.

With their second Heavenly LP due for release on 8 December, Toy will conti

Australia - Joan Baez went on the road in Australia and New Zealand this summer with DPA Microphones' d:vote 4099 Instrument Microphones. The musician and prominent activist's audio engineer Jason Raboin uses the mics to achieve the ultimate sound of the grand piano, mandolin and violin that are prominently featured in her music. A long-time DPA fan, Raboin brought them with him to Baez's special performance in late July with Jackson Browne and Emmylou Harris to benefit Downtown Streets Team, an organization aiming to end homelessness.

With two d:votes originally purchased for Dirk Po

UK - All the endeavours that have gone into promoting SGM's G-Spot LED moving head paid dividends when the IP65 rated fixture was to pick up a top award at the prestigious PLASA Awards for Innovation in October.

A packed audience gathered to see SGM CEO Peter Johansen collect the coveted prize from PLASA chairman, Ed Pagett in a ceremony at the ExCeL's AudioLab Arena during this year's PLASA Show in London, as Association CEO Matthew Griffiths made the announcements.

The PLASA Awards for Innovation recognise products that advance the industry by demonstrating a new style of thinking

USA - Bruno Mars finished the North American leg of his Moonshine Jungle Tour in September ­ a run that consisted of over 40 US and Canadian dates, a spectacular appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards, and an announcement that he will perform at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show on 2 February, 2014. This month, the Moonshine Jungle Tour continues on to Europe before setting out to Australia and New Zealand in early 2014. Bruno and his band rely on Sennheiser microphones and wireless systems.

At the VMAs, which were broadcast from New York City's Barclays Center and reached

USA - Sensaphonics has announced a ringing endorsement from drummer Queen Cora Dunham, currently on tour with Beyoncé. "I started using the Sensaphonics 3D in 2007 when I was with Prince," she says, "and I've been using them ever since. It's an amazing system, so versatile and comfortable - much better than regular in-ears."

The patented 3D Active Ambient uses embedded microphones to capture the on-stage sound surrounding the wearer, allowing the performer to hear everything around them while their ears remain safely and securely isolated. The Queen finds th

Latest Issue. . .