Headliners - Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA will headline this year's Glastonbury Festival, organisers have announced. It marks the first time in the event's history that female acts have taken two of the three headline slots. Country star Shania Twain will play the coveted ‘legend slot’ on Sunday afternoon. The singer told BBC News she was "over the moon" to be taking part. "Everyone always talks about it being the pinnacle of festival slots," she said. "The only advice everyone gives me is to bring my wellies.”
Other acts on this year's line-up include Afrobeats star Burna Boy, who is taking his first stride onto the Pyramid Stage; and award-winning rapper Little Simz, who will play immediately before Coldplay. Thirteen-piece boyband Seventeen will become the first K-pop group to grace the main stage - an indication of how dominant the genre has become over the last five years.
More traditional Glastonbury acts include Idles, Disclosure and The National - all of whom will headline the Other Stage, the festival's second-biggest arena. Sugababes, who shut down the Avalon field with a reunion performance in 2022, will return - this time on the much bigger West Holts stage. And pop stars Avril Lavigne, Cyndi Lauper and Camila Cabello will make their Glastonbury debuts.
Vault Closure - Vault Festival will close after failing to secure funding for a much-anticipated new central London home. Vault Creative Arts, the charity behind the festival, said the organisation had secured a "long-term home" close to its previous base in Waterloo - but mone
UK - One of the UK’s largest independent pub companies, Amber Taverns operates a network of more than 160 outlets across the North of England, Scotland and Wales. The North Star in North Shields is one of the latest additions to the company’s roster, opening in October 2023 following a major renovation including a complete AV overhaul.
Overseeing all aspects of the AV specification and installation, Bolton-based TVC Technology Solutions were tasked with providing an all-immersive AV package, including 4K LED Hospitality TVs, signal distribution systems to mirror programming delivered to other pubs across their current catchment area and a comprehensive Optimal Audio loudspeaker and control solution.
Speakers featured in the installation include Optimal Audio’s Cuboid 8 two-way, full range passive loudspeaker and the Sub 15 high-power sub-bass cabinet. Given the North Star’s lively environment (the venue offers a full BT and Sky Sports entertainment package for patrons) the Sub 15 plays a particularly important role in delivering sub-bass support of up to 135dB during busier periods.
Chosen for their designed-in robustness as well as their sonic performance, both the Cuboid and Sub feature steel grilles and tough plywood cabinets and their compact footprint belies their available power delivery.
The Optimal Audio loudspeakers are harnessed to a ZonePad 4 Wall Controller which allows touch sensitive control of up to four separate zones via six programmable presets. The easy-to-operate ZonePad is supported at the North Star by Optimal Au
USA - One of 21 missions originally built by the Spanish in California, Mission San Luis Rey church, known as the ‘King of Missions’, was founded in Oceanside in 1798. Today it stands as one of the finest examples of Spanish colonial architecture, a national historic landmark that Franciscan Friars call home.
San Diego-based AV company Sound Image Integration, now part of Clair Global Integration, have been servicing the Mission’s audio, camera, and video distribution requirements for the past 20 years. Business development manager, Scott Coyle, explained that to keep the Serra Centre worship space fully operable as it carries out vital community work, previously sympathetic budget decisions were undertaken.
That was until a decision was made to reorientate the interior, from its traditional long rectangular shape, through 90°, to bring the congregation - which can reach 1,200 -closer to the altar. Coyle recognised that “while it made more sense that way, the sound was compromised due to a succession of ceiling speakers.”
When administrators recognised that a more serious and permanent approach to their sound was required, it was the Martin Audio Torus T820 constant curvature solution that Coyle proposed, bearing in mind that with the reconfiguration, the church now had extraordinary width but little depth.
“We knew the focus needed to be principally the spoken word,” he said. “However, at the same time they have large congregations attending their weekend masses when a full choir and band perform.”
They looked at the
UK - This year’s Printwear & Promotion LIVE! event landed at Birmingham NEC in February with an AV solution by JLL that featured hi-res LED video displays driven by tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers.
The event showcased all that’s new in garment decoration and attracted more than 100 suppliers, including the AWDis portfolio of brands. On the AWDis stand, JLL delivered design, equipment, and operational support, constructing a Lynx Pro Audio sound system and three large 6m x 4m LED video displays, with Green Hippo’s flagship Hippotizer Tierra+ MK2 Media Servers at its core.
“The high-performance hardware of the Tierra+ MK2 Media Servers was ideal for the large-scale, high-resolution output required for the 6m x 4m screens, offering reliability and advanced video processing capabilities,” says Rick Skelton, senior project manager at JLL.
The three synchronised LED displays were set up to form a continuous, high-resolution visual canvas that ran throughout the three-day show. “We used Hippotizer's advanced control systems for seamless video playback, ensuring synchronisation and fluid transitions between visuals,” Skelton continues. “Content was expertly transposed to the Hippotizer Media Servers, enabling us to map and manipulate the visuals directly onto the screens with precision.
“The main challenges were ensuring flawless synchronisation across large screens and managing high-resolution content in real-time. Hippotizer Media Servers were instrumental in overcoming these challenges, providing reli
Germany - Sixty82 has welcomed Avenion to its growing network of resellers in Germany. This addition aims to strengthen Sixty82's presence in the German market and ensures that customers have wider access to its products.
Avenion is making waves in the AV solutions sector with its fresh approach. It has quickly become known for its innovative ideas and commitment to quality. Furthermore, the team has extensive experience in the areas of rigging and trussing.
"We're really excited to have Avenion join our team," says Fokko Smeding, CEO of Sixty82. "Matthias Matthes and his crew are exactly what we look for in partners - they're young, they're innovative, and they're all about pushing the limits of what's possible. We're not just adding a reseller; we're gaining a partner that shares our vision and energy. This is going to bring some great things to the German market, and we can't wait to see where this partnership will lead."
Matthias Matthes, leader of Avenion adds: "Joining Sixty82's reseller network is a big deal for us. It's recognition of the hard work the Avenion team has put in and a chance to bring something new to the German entertainment scene. We're all about innovation and pushing boundaries, so pairing up with Sixty82, a company that values those same things, is perfect for us. We're ready to roll up our sleeves and get started."
UK - The ALPD has announced the successful candidates for their Design Lumière and their Production Lumière for 2024. This is the first year in which the ALPD has been able to offer a Production Lumière placement to complement its successful Design Lumière programme.
A pathway scheme for emerging lighting designers, the Design Lumière Scheme gives the successful candidate valuable experience of working professionally as an assistant lighting designer for six months and the Production Lumière for four months. For both Lumières, the scheme begins with time spent at Glyndebourne.
The Production Lumière this year, Ellen Butterworth-Evans, is already at Glyndebourne and will continue there until mid-April, when she then spends four weeks at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and two weeks at Lamp & Pencil.
The Design Lumière for 2024 is Imogen Clarke. Imogen will spend three months at Glyndebourne followed by a further three months, when she will work with several different lighting designers on a variety of productions.
Imogen started out as an apprentice at Fairfield Halls, moving to Richmond Theatre and then The Peacock Theatre to work full time. As a freelancer, she works across dance, theatre, musical theatre and ballet as well as site specific projects wearing lots of different hats.
“I'm over the moon to become this year's Design Lumière and gain the opportunity to develop my craft and learn from working alongside the brilliant designers across this year's scheme. I’m greatly looking forward to beginning the course
Australia - Robe Lighting has acquired LSC Control Systems in Australia, a move that sees the Czech Republic lighting manufacturer further consolidate its portfolio of leading lighting and control brands.
This move follows the purchase of console manufacturer Avolites in September last year.
“We’re delighted that this opportunity arose - it is hugely exciting, and we look forward to a long and positive collaboration,” says Robe’s CEO Josef Valchar. “It will allow us to offer the best complete lighting and control turnkey solutions to our customers and their clients and projects across all sectors.”
As well as diversification, it also gives Robe a manufacturing base in Australia, in addition to its facilities in central Europe and the UK.
LSC’s founder and managing director Gary Pritchard adds: “LSC will gain access to greater investment and resources, and working through Robe’s renowned worldwide distribution network we can reach more global and diverse markets in turn stimulating greater opportunities for creativity, expertise, business and action for all of our team.”
LSC’s operation, which started over 40 years ago in Melbourne and has grown into a trusted and respected specialist brand well-known for inventive technology, will continue functioning exactly as it is now.
Gary sees the move as an affirmation of the company’s value. “An organisation of Robe’s stature wanting LSC onboard is a sign of confidence that also tells the world that LSC will continue doing what we do best - both now and well i
USA/UK - Ambersphere Solutions has officially become a part of North American supplier of entertainment technology ACT Entertainment. This acquisition continues a long-standing relationship between the two entities, especially in their distribution of MA Lighting and Ayrton products.
“We are excited to bring ACT and Ambersphere together and continue to build on our mission of providing technology for our customers to realise their creative vision,” says Ben Saltzman, CEO of ACT Entertainment. “Just like ACT, Ambersphere prides itself on offering industry-leading products with an accomplished staff of experts in sales, service, support and training. I have tremendous respect for Lee (House) and Philip (Norfolk) and am excited to work alongside them as valuable partners to our customers, extending our reach and continuing the strong tradition of excellence Glyn (O’Donoghue) created at Ambersphere.”
The transition sees the departure of Glyn O’Donoghue and Ken Sewell, with Lee House stepping up as managing director alongside Philip Norfolk, who continues in his role as sales director. The focus remains on preserving the company’s core values while leveraging ACT Entertainment’s resources and capabilities.
Lee House concludes: “It’s business as usual at Ambersphere. Our collaboration with ACT has always been strong, and this move is a natural progression of our ongoing relationship.”
USA - Sphere Entertainment Co has announced the inaugural Sphere XO Student Design Challenge - a partnership with the greater Las Vegas community that gives select members of the general public the opportunity to see their art featured on the Exosphere.
The Sphere XO Student Design Challenge is a collaboration between Sphere and the Clark County School District (CCSD) and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) that will provide more than 100,000 Clark County-based students with an opportunity to create art for the Exosphere.
Eight student winners ranging from elementary school through college will be chosen by a combination of voting by the general public on thesphere.com, and selected by professional artists who have designed for the Exosphere, including Refik Anadol and Michela Picchi.
The Sphere XO Student Design Challenge, which will kick off this month, will be themed around the 4th of July, with winning students’ artwork debuting on the Exosphere on July 4, 2024, which will also mark the one-year anniversary of the first illumination of the Exosphere.
In addition, winning high school and UNLV students will receive a $10,000 educational scholarship from Sphere. Winning elementary and middle school students will earn a $10,000 donation from Sphere for their school’s art programme to further art education in public schools, as well as tickets for their entire school to attend The Sphere Experience this autumn.
“Sphere is more than a venue - it is a new entertainment medium uniting art and science to broaden our understanding
USA - Flogging Molly’s 21-city Road To Rebellion tour started 16 February at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut and closed 17 March, St. Patrick’s Day, at the downtown Las Vegas Events Centre.
Keeping pace with all the hand clapping and sing-alongs is a colourful and lively Peter Therrien lightshow that features a 100-percent Chauvet Professional floor package supplied by JDI Productions.
“I do build a page for every song with Flogging, but nothing is timecoded, as it’s all about spontaneity and freshness,” said Therrien who ran his show on a ChamSys MagicQ MQ500 Stadium console. “As far as my colour selection goes, it’s based on the feeling I have for the band’s music. So, for instance, when I hear ‘Drunken Lullabies’ it’s always white. I’ve tried blue and amber in the past, but it just feels wrong. The colour choice has to be in the moment.”
Helping Therrien create this party rainbow are eight Maverick MK1 Spot fixtures, eight Color Strike M motorised strobe-washes, 14 Rogue R1 BeamWash units, 12 ÉPIX Bar Tour strips and one Ovation 2805FV batten. Adding brightness, geometric forms and audience lighting to the mix are 12 Nexus Aw 7x7 panels.
This rig was positioned on four 8ft I-stand truss structures, and two 5’ wheeled trusses. Therrien hung two Color Strike M units on the face of each tower. “I like to use the plates as a wash behind the band,” he explained. “Also, love the incredible plate effects for eye candy. I’ll also use the white tubes as a powerful hit effect during various parts of the
UK - Guildhall School of Music & Drama has announced a new BA degree in performance design, starting in September 2025. The three-year, full time BA programme will equip students with the practical and imaginative skills required to create designs for stage performances and live events.
Led by stage designer Dr Susannah Henry, the BA in Performance Design is the newest course to offered by Guildhall’s Production Arts department. The Performance Design programme blends studio-based design work with hands-on experience, including collaborating on a wide range of performances using Guildhall School’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Student designers will gain an understanding of the creative, collaborative and practical elements of performance design, developing their skills through studio-based projects, before building to fully realised designs for public performance. The programme also explores the histories of art, design and theatre, incorporating self-led research to shape and inform students’ own identities and aspirations as emerging performance designers.
Working in close collaboration with students on Guildhall School’s other Productions Arts courses, including the School’s BA in Production Arts and BA in Digital Design & Production, Performance Design students will have the opportunity to develop design skills in areas such as costume, video and lighting, and learn about the technologies and processes needed to make a performance happen. They will also build connections with existing the School’s industry partners and a n
China - Outline has announced an exclusive distribution partnership with Guangzhou Aga Audio Technology Co. This agreement grants Aga Audio exclusive distribution rights for Outline products across China, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Over the past years, Aga Audio Technology has successfully installed a variety of Outline’s high-performance point-source systems tailored for permanent installations. With their growing technical expertise, Aga Audio is now poised to expand its offerings to include Outline's line-array systems and audio processors, including Newton. This strategic decision reflects Aga Audio's commitment to delivering comprehensive audio solutions to its customers.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Outline for developing products specifically targeted to the Chinese entertainment market,” says Anson Ai, general manager at Aga Audio Technology. “Their dedication to understanding the unique needs of our customers and delivering innovative solutions has been instrumental in our success over the past years. As we embark on this partnership, we are excited to further leverage Outline's expertise and product range to offer our customers even more comprehensive audio solutions.
"Aga Audio Technology has always been committed to excellence, and our growing technical expertise is a testament to our dedication to providing top-notch audio solutions to our customers. With highly skilled technicians in the live/touring industry, we are now well-positioned to expand our offerings to include Outline's renowned line-array systems and p
USA - In 2022, Groot Hospitality and Pharrell Williams’ The Goodtime Hotel, upgraded their sound system to a 1 Sound distributed audio system at their rooftop pool club, Strawberry Moon.
Two years after the successful installation of Strawberry sound system, which helped solve the club’s noise pollution issues prior, 1 Sound and Anthem Productions, the audio integrator, made a suggestion to the hotel. They thought it would be a great idea to match their 1 Sound loudspeakers to their signature Strawberry Moon pink and blue right before the start of Music Week and spring break season in Miami.
1 Sound sent two team members to drive down from their manufacturing headquarters in New Jersey, to replace the loudspeaker grilles on site with the new pink and blue fabric grille choices decided on by the hotel. The 1 Sound team refreshed each and every metal grille on site with no need for new speaker parts or material other than the fabrics. They washed each grille then reupholstered and installed the new pink and blue grilles with UV protectant. The duo was able to complete this system refresh in two days while the pool remained open without disruption to their normal operating.
“At 1 Sound, we aim to offer the best support we can, by keeping products and custom colour options in-stock for quick turnarounds, providing design support, system optimisation, and after-sales service like this colour change by the 1 Sound Custom Shop.”
Canada - PK Sound, the robotic line array company, has added Ranger Son Éclairage (RSE) to its global network following the company’s investment in a PK Sound T8 robotic line source system. Based in Greater Montreal, RSE is taking full advantage of T8’s patented multi-axis robotics to precisely tailor audio coverage to any venue or environment.
“We’ve been following PK Sound for several years as the benefits of its robotic line array technology would be quite valuable to the wide range of projects we cover,” shares Anthony Ranger, vice-president of RSE. “Using PK .dynamics software, we can control the vertical and horizontal coverage of our T8 system to focus sound only where it’s intended, and away from reflective obstacles and unwanted areas. Considering the amount of work we do in urban environments, the ability to mitigate noise pollution while maximising clear and consistent sound in the listening area delivers the best possible results for RSE and our clients.”
RSE’s initial investment comprises 20 T8 robotic line source modules and 12 T18 intelligent subwoofers. The company also purchased a PK Cell, which combines signal, data and power distribution in a globally standardized modular touring rack.
The company has deployed its T8 robotic system on events such as music festivals, high-profile corporate events and brand activations in tandem with major league sports teams. With over 30 years’ experience, the team at RSE designs and deploys professional audio, lighting, video and staging solutions for a myriad of events and a
Qatar - Qatar Vision (Qvision) utilised a wide array of Claypaky lighting for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. The fixtures illuminated pre-match ceremonies, the Fan Zone and coronation ceremony at the 18th edition of the cup, a quadrennial international football tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation.
Although the event bore a 2023 date, it was scheduled for 12 January to 10 February 10, 2024 due to Qatar’s high summer temperatures. Twenty-four national teams participated with host Qatar the defending champion and, as it turned out, the repeat title winner. Four cities in Qatar furnished nine stadium venues for the games, including Lusail Stadium, with a capacity of nearly 89,000, hosting the opening and final matches.
Based in Doha, Qvision offers a comprehensive slate of event production, technical integration solutions, marketing, creative design, video production, information technology and large-scale branding to a roster of international clients.
For the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, Qvision played a central role in every stage of the tournament process from inception to execution. Their execution of stadium infotainment, pre-match ceremonies, the coronation ceremony, and fan zone activations delivered ‘an unforgettable experience for both spectators and participants’.
Among the tasks that Qvision was charged with were the implementation of comprehensive technical AV overlays across all nine stadiums; the development, production, and delivery of stadium infotainment for all 51 matches; leading the creation of bespoke pr
UK - Thursday 11 July will see Backup Tech’s The Village Fete return to Daytona Sandown Park in Surrey for more fun and frivolity. So, dig out your best tweed and flowery dresses, dust off your cake recipes and get ready to purchase your tickets, which will go on sale at 9am on Monday 25 March for Backup’s Partners and at 9am on Wednesday 27 March for general sale.
“We had such great feedback about last year’s fete that we’re adding more fun and frivolity,” says Backup’s Lee Dennison. “Last year, we changed the whole look and feel of the day to make sure the Village Fete appealed to so many more people outside of the karting.
“This year, we’re building on the success of the fete by adding more fete stalls, a ‘Veg Off’ to complement our very successful ‘Bake Off’, bringing back the Lions Barbers Collective, The Straw Stage for live music and workshops, peasant shooting with laser clay shooting, our brilliant food and craft fest stalls and, of course, Vinnie and his ice creams.”
Adding to the esteemed Parish judging panel this year, Martin Fullard (ex-Conference News editor) has been enlisted to provide a corporate approach to cake eating and will be joining the judging panel alongside LSi’s Claire Beeson, TPi’s Stewart Hume, AAA’s Chris Barrett and PLASA’s Peter Heath. “We realised there were a lot of calories consumed by the judges last year,” Lee notes, “so adding Martin might help spread the load!”
The Backup village Council also wanted to offer something different for companies wanting to atte
UK - The desert planet Arrakis came to life in London’s Leicester Square for the world premiere of Dune: Part Two on Thursday 15 February, with nearly 30 tons of sand shipped to the site for the gala created by Limited Edition Event Design. But the rainy weather during the build-up days leading to the star-studded red carpet affair was anything but desert-like. No matter though, the IP65 rated 3.9mm pitch panels were more than up to the task of handling rain.
“For the actual red carpet part of the event when the stars were there, it was just a little chilly and dark, but clear,” said Tom Warden of Milton Keynes-based IPS, which supplied, installed, and ran the gear for the widely publicised premiere. “However, the weather during the build days certainly tested the IP rating of the REM 3IP, as it rained most of the time. The screens passed with flying colours!”
When the weather cleared, and stars like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Léa Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgård, Hans Zimmer & Souheila Yacoub graced the red carpet, the event, with its impressive sand dunes, flaming torches and other dramatic scenic elements, dazzled fans and media alike.
Shining brightly during the festivities and defining the atmosphere were the video displays on the over 200sq.m screen that was artfully made from the REM 3IP panels.
“We ran the panels as a single screen, creating a huge seamless backdrop wall,” said Warden. “The dimensions of the screen itself were 42m wide by 5m high. The final output
Portugal - Nescafé presented its new Dolce Gusto NEO coffee machine in Portugal, which was complemented by a spectacular 182,000 lumen immersive projection display.
ADLC Audiovisuais selected nine Christie projectors to flood the auditorium of the Fundação Champalimaud in Lisbon with light and colour for the official presentation. At the launch event, produced by the UPPartner agency for Nescafé, approximately 300 guests had the opportunity to participate in an unforgettable experience that integrated artificial intelligence, human avatars, video projection, tasting areas, and exclusive personalised animations.
The event placed a special emphasis on the brand’s strong commitment to sustainability, as both the machines and the capsules are made from recycled materials. In addition, all materials used by Nescafé in the presentation were able to be recycled after the event. An impressive 22.5m wide by 8.20m long wraparound screen lit by five Christie M 4K25 RGB pure laser projectors engaged the audience.
Two additional Christie 3DLP projectors illuminated the stage floor to complete the immersive experience. Various images related to the brand were projected, while a group of dancers from the company Ritmos Urbanos performed choreographies that interacted with the projection. In addition, two Christie D13WU2-HS laser projectors, with 1DLP technology, WUXGA resolution, and 13,500 lumens, projected on two large screens shaped like glasses that were located on the wall of the auditorium.
“These projections, with such an original format, c
Saudi Arabia - Despite only launching in 2022, Gamers8 has become the largest globally recognised Esports tournament. Taking place in Riyadh over eight weeks, this year’s Land of Heroes event kicked off on 6 July, bringing together gaming enthusiasts from all corners of the world, who competed to take home cash prizes and the Gamers8 trophy.
The production behind Gamers8 is considerable, as alongside the intense gaming tournaments it also plays host to live concerts, attractions, and entertainment shows. A line-up of world-renowned artists and DJs, including Afrojack, Macklemore, Iggy Azalea, Imagine Dragons and more performed across its eight stages this year, in a show-stopping production.
Visual design and technology studio bright! studios were responsible for the media playback and virtual production of the gaming tournament elements of the event. bright! worked alongside other production companies and a pool of freelance technicians to take care of on-site virtual production, as well as augmented reality, lighting design and show control.
“Gamers8 is an incredibly big project,” begins Leon Herche, creative producer at bright! studios. “Stage Precision’s SP platform was imperative to the work we were doing, as it was able to handle and control many different hardware and software platforms. We had around 30 Unreal Engine machines, 28 tracked cameras and 36 disguise servers that were all controlled using SP.”
Stage Precision’s SP software is a data and control platform for tracking workflows, virtual production and advanced
Spain - Visitors to ISE in Barcelona were greeted by the sight of a custom-made 7.5m umbrella, where 61,500,000 pixels of animations enlivened every panel using six 10-bit, 4K, 20,000-Lumen projectors which were driven by Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers.
The project was realised by UK-based Motion Mapping, who were challenged with creating the concept and delivering the unusual exhibit, which was rigged on the Epson stand.
“We managed to load up the two Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers with the new Hippotizer 4.9 software and used the SHAPE toolkit to 3D map the undulating surfaces of the umbrella’s many panels,” says Stuart Harris of Motion Mapping. “We constructed a 3D model in C4D and then the real thing was constructed in Germany. SHAPE helped us to calculate everything and visualise it all in pre-production and then blend and line it all up on-site. We worked closely with Epson’s stand designer to achieve the projector positions, above their stand. I find Hippotizer to be adaptable and SHAPE is our go-to for many projects.”
The team worked with the eight panels of the umbrella and the canvas as a whole, with graphics focusing on images of a spinning world which zoomed in on individual countries, and a range of other content. The bright colours on each panel showcased vivid colours and high intensity graphics. Green Hippo’s technical product manager Nick Spencer and Hippotizer product architect Zep Mouris were on site to offer support if required. “The support we get from them is second to none,” adds Harris.
UK - In operation since 1993, The Forum is an award-winning independent music venue situated in the heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, hosting a mix of genres, from rock and punk bands to singer-songwriters, hip-hop acts and more.
To mark 30 years of keeping the music alive, the venue recently upgraded its existing sound system, working closely with sound designer Dan Roncoroni and British loudspeaker manufacturer EM Acoustics.
“I became involved with The Forum around 18 months ago, through a project at the nearby Assembly Hall Theatre,” says Roncoroni. “Impressed with the results, the Assembly Hall recommended my services to The Forum, which eventually led to the system PA upgrade project.”
On hearing the existing system, which was largely as old as the venue itself, Roncoroni suggested an upgrade to the PA system. “We set up a demo of the EM Acoustics system at their factory to showcase the entire product line-up to The Forum team,” recalls Roncoroni. “They were impressed by the power and slim form factor of the boxes and decided to invest in a couple of EMS-81X’s as small front-fills for the existing PA system before committing to a full EM system.”
In preparation for their 30th anniversary, the team were still looking to modernise their overall sound system and a full PA from EM Acoustics was the natural next step. EM Acoustics allowed the venue to borrow a demo system for a month, further solidifying The Forum’s plans to upgrade with a full solution from the British brand.
"I've had a long relationship wit
Germany - Since 1999, Sommer cable has not only been soldering, but also making contacts. Despite the advancing digitalisation and further development of radio technologies, we still need cables and signal connectors in large quantities, be they analogue or digital. Cables still offer the highest signal transmission quality and data (interception) security.
Sommer Cable GmbH was founded in 1999 by Rainer Blanck and Friedhelm Sommer. Together with friends, cable specialist Pascal Miguet, musicians, sound people, electronic engineers and event specialists, they began to develop cables and connectors which became known for their sound quality and user-friendly design.
Today, Sommer Cable stands as a premier cable manufacturer, offering a comprehensive array of products spanning the audio, video, multimedia, broadcast, and hi-fi sectors.
"The foundation of our solution competence lies in our attitude: the passion for what we do. It's ingrained in every member of our team and evident in every aspect of Sommer Cable", explains Rainer Blanck, CEO and company founder. "How do we do that? By forming a team with our employees and our customers. We turn the talents of our people into those of our company and the requirements of our customers into our own. This approach sets us apart in today's industry landscape. And that's what makes us different."
With this ethos, customer-centric approach, and expert guidance, Sommer cable today inspires customers worldwide, spanning the professional audio sector including architects, planners, studio, media, event te
Capital News - London has topped a ranking of Europe’s best cities for a second year in a row, with its star spot underpinned by a number one rating for culture. The UK capital pipped Paris to first place on Resonance Consultancy’s list - while Nottingham, currently reeling from council arts cuts, placed 72nd for its "visionary local leadership" and "public spaces".
The 2024 Europe’s Best Cities report ranks the overall performance of metropolitan areas with more than 500,000 residents, according to various different metrics. Ranging from rental prices and cultural attractions to visitor numbers and green space, these metrics are analysed through three key considerations - liability, lovability and prosperity, with London ranking number one for each.
Manchester jumped six places on the 100-strong list, rising to number 27 in part for a "creative rebirth" attributed to arts and culture venues including Factory International, while Edinburgh came in at 29 - with the list claiming "the city’s world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe will be bigger than ever in 2024". But it was London that topped all three of the list’s key factors as it ranked first in Europe for cities with the biggest international traveller spend in 2022, worth some €14.88 billion.
Vinyl Revival - The number of independent record shops in the UK is at a 10-year high, according to an industry group. The digital entertainment and retail association (ERA) said there are now 461 indie record shops in the UK - 122 more than 10 years ago. By contrast, the number of shops
Mexico - Helping to extol the advantages of Optocore fibre solutions in Mexico recently, is experienced audio consultant and sound engineer Victor Baeza Evia.
He decided to purchase a set of Optocore DD32R-FX AES/EBU fibre interfaces, along with DD6NE Ethernet switches and X6R converters after originally being introduced to the platform by Dubai-based AgorA LLC, when working on an event several years ago. He returned to the Emirate last December to work with them again on the two-week long, high-profile UN COP28 UAE Climate Change Convention at Dubai’s Expo City.
Speaking of the Optocore acquisitions, he said: “The first time I saw the units I just fell in love with them - I could see they were built like a tank.”
Last month he sub-rented his devices to AV rental company, Total Pro Show, one of three production houses based in his native Mérida, Yucatán. Originally set up by Claudio Pasos, Total Show Pro has more than 20 years of experience in design, operation and audiovisual production of a vast range of events, and Victor Baeza has been working with the company for around 10 years, as both consultant and freelancer.
“Total Show has traditionally been running most of their networks on Cat 5 or XLR. They were looking to invest in a more rugged solution but it’s not always easy to get proper outdoor cable. Also, Cat 5 is no longer the primary backbone—so I proposed the idea of running fibre on their corporate and music events, where they are delivering sound from different locations or over long distances, rather than the standa