France - The 3,723-seat Grand Amphitheatre at Paris Convention Centre, a multi-space venue staging a diverse range of national and international events and entertainment, has recently converted its auditorium lighting to Anolis LED with the installation of nearly 400 x Anolis Ambiane range lighting fixtures.
These are dramatically improving its energy efficiency and reducing power consumption for the lighting by 300%.
The previous PAR 56 500W halogen lighting fixtures had been in residence since the venue’s inauguration in 1974, and this new installation is part of a reno

The Netherlands - Dutch National Touring Opera, also known as Nederlandse Reisopera, has upgraded its lighting equipment with 30 Source Four LED Series 3 fixtures ahead of its latest production Powder Her Face.
The venue, which is based in Enschede, Netherlands is known as the largest travelling opera company in the country with an ambitious programme that spreads throughout the region. Powder Her Face explores the real-life scandal and much-publicised divorce that disgraced the Scottish Duchess of Argyll in 1963.
American lighting designer Thomas Hase lit the

Germany - This year, Prolight + Sound Frankfurt will feature a "comprehensively expanded pro audio offering", according to its organisers. Among other things, visitors can look forward to a 3000sq.m Performance + Production Hub, new attractions, an extended programme of specialist lectures and "the return of well-known exhibitors".
The focus will be on live and concert sound reinforcement as well as innovative studio and broadcast solutions. Renowned companies will be demonstrating sound reinforcement systems under realistic conditions on the outdoor exhibition area. There will al

USA - History is often made at the annual Grammy Awards ceremony and this year was no exception, with legendary 80-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell performing on the live broadcast for the first time in her decades-long career.
The historic performance, also featuring Brandi Carlile, Jacob Collier, Blake Mills, Allison Russell, Lucius and SistaStrings, was captured with a variety of Sennheiser microphones, including Carlile and Mitchell’s own custom gold SKM 6000 handheld transmitters with Neumann KK 205 condenser capsules.
Also on the awards show, which

USA - Bandit Lites is lighting platinum selling hitmaker Cody Johnson. With his recent sold-out appearance at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Cody broke records as the most tickets sold by a male country artist in their Bridgestone debut. Johnson performed a nearly two-hour set before a crowd that never sat. One of the most poignant statements from the superstar during the night: “God put me on this earth to make country music country music again.”
“Richard ‘Wookie’ Whitley designed The Leather Tour floor package and the full 360 rig used in Bridgestone,” said Bandit

UK - As part of a major £2m refurbishment which has seen a complete renovation of the 200-year-old Grade II-listed former Post Office building, Leeds Bar & Grill has substantially boosted its in-house sound reinforcement.
By augmenting the existing PA with a potent RCF solution, Audio Visual One (AV One) has ensured that the atmosphere is now in keeping with the operation’s new hybrid bar/restaurant trading policy.
AV One was appointed after having previously carried out work for operators, Individual Restaurants, in other units.
Company owner, Stephen Bailey tu

Belgium - The rides in Circus Bumba never leave the ground, at least not literally. But when seen through the eyes of a child, they soar high, up to the rarified, faraway space where colour meets imagination.
Based on the popular Flemish television show of the same name, the recently opened 3,000m2 themed attraction captivates guests with its bright, cheerful panoramas complete with whimsical characters and fairytale-like scenery.
Enhancing the magical effect of this transformative venue is a collection of over 300 Chauvet Professional fixtures. These units are positioned th

UK - Edinburgh's Hogmanay (Scottish New Year’s Eve) celebrations always draw big festive crowds with myriad activities and programmes for all ages. For the 2023/24 event, Claypaky Skylos and Xtylos Aqua fixtures played key roles in the midnight moment where all eyes turned to Edinburgh Castle.
Unique Assembly produced Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2023/24 for Edinburgh Council and Event Scotland. The four-day programme ushering in the New Year included Björn Again, headlining the Night Afore Disco Party and an all-night cèilidh and live band party. Princes Street and Princes Street G

USA - Martin Audio US has set two training days to ensure system users and designers are properly equipped to get the best outcome from their implementations. They will learn how to achieve full optimisation, control and monitoring of performance on a variety of Martin Audio systems.
The two-day programme will take place on 13-14 March at Frost Productions, 6 Empire Blvd, Moonachie, NJ 07074 and the trainer will be product support engineer, Joe Lima.
Day one will examine in depth Martin Audio’s proprietary software platforms, Display 2, Display 3 and Vu-Net. The following

UK - Based on the novel by Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray - adapted and directed by multi award-winning Kip Williams, artistic director of the acclaimed Sydney Theatre Company - tells this classic story through an explosive interplay of live performance and video.
It recently opened at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and stars Sarah Snook, who plays 26 roles. It features a lighting design by Nick Schlieper who approached White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to provide the lighting equipment.
Whilst there have been several stage adaptations of The Pic

USA - Meyer Sound has launched an expanded education programme for 2024, coinciding with the celebration of its 45th anniversary.
“As the pace of audio technology accelerates, Meyer Sound is strengthening its commitment to education programs, which we see as investing in the future of the industry,” says Robyn Bykofsky, Meyer Sound’s training & education manager. “Our training programmes are aimed at all experience levels, with science-backed in-person and virtual course content that fits the way people learn today.”
The 2024 programme builds on the success of

Europe - Sennheiser, together with existing investors, is investing 7m euros in the Norwegian scale-up business sensiBel. The company has developed optical MEMS microphones. The miniature microphones ‘enable a completely new and improved experience in application areas such as consumer electronics, automotive, conferencing solutions, and medical devices’.
"We want to grow sustainably as a company. In addition to investments in our existing business, this also includes investments in promising future fields outside of our company, providing these align well to our company and o

Europe/USA - Cadac Consoles’ return to ISE and the unveiling of a new product portfolio, in the form of its flagship CM-Series integrated audio mix and network system, was marked by ‘strong positive industry reaction’. The ‘widespread admiration on the booth’ for the CM-J50 mixer’s premium design and advanced performance capabilities served as a catalyst for the foundation of a dedicated CM-Series distributor network.
An initial milestone on day one was the signing, at the show, of a US distribution agreement with Italian Speakers Imports Inc (ISI). By the end of day t

Spain - Media group Mediaset España has revamped the news studios of its free-to-air TV channels Telecinco and Cuatro with Alfalite’s LED screens. Integrator Datos Media has been in charge of the sale and commissioning of the 844 LED panels supplied with Alfalite’s ORIM technology.
“We are very proud to have participated in this huge project,” says Luis Garrido, executive director of Alfalite. “We would like to express our gratitude to Mediaset España's engineering team and Datos Media for trusting us. We deeply appreciate the collaboration and the opportunity to contr

Australia - Creative Technology Australia and New Zealand opted for Data Strategy’s QC-Check to address three main needs in terms of product inspection: socapex cable testing, the safe inspection of twin-frame distribution boards, and the ability to set up the specific testing processes needed to be carried out by anyone in the warehouse.
Maintenance manager, Myles Barlow, explained that the company’s highest priority was to be able to test multipin connectors such as Socapex three-phase cables, as “there’s just no safe way to test them”.
In addition, he found that

Germany - A 4K CarbonLight VX LED screen from Leyard Europe forms the heart of a new inspirational and educational exhibition at the headquarters of the European Molecular Biology Lab (EMBL), a laboratory for research into life sciences, which explains and celebrates its work to better understand the building blocks of all life on Earth.
The World of Molecular Biology exhibition occupies 800 sqm of the double-height atrium of the EMBL headquarters in Heidelberg and tells the story of life through 45 AV exhibits comprising a mix of audiovisual, virtual reality, interactive and tact

Finland - Located in Espoo, Bodom Bar and Sauna is the headquarters of melodic death metal band Children of Bodom. Complete with poster strewn walls, red leather couches and band memorabilia, the venue recently collaborated with Genelec to create a sound system capable of handling the band’s back catalogue.
Espoo is the hometown of the pioneering five-piece who rose to fame in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Taking their name from one of the most intriguing cases in Finnish criminal history - the Lake Bodom murders - Children of Bodom released 10 studio albums across their care

Algeria - The desire to improve the quality and efficiency of the technologies for post-match press conferences has seen an increasing number of sporting arenas investing in their press facilities. The recently completed new stadium in the city of Tizi Ouzou is a venue that has made this a priority right from the start, with the installation of a CCS 1000 D Digital Discussion System and an Integrus Wireless Language Distribution System from Bosch Building Technologies.
The 50,000-seat stadium is the new home of Algeria’s most successful football club, JS Kabylie, and has been b

UK - Founded in 1943, the Cathedral Church of All Saints - better known as Derby Cathedral - is one of Derby’s most beautiful and historic sites and holds many monuments of Derby’s and Derbyshire’s past. An important spiritual and cultural hub for the city and surrounding areas, the cathedral hosts no fewer than 18 services per week plus special and seasonal services to celebrate important events in the religious calendar.
The cathedral recently turned to specialist consultant and integrator, Charles Brown of Acoustic Solutions to upgrade their audio solution to bring it in

Denmark - Aarhus Musikhuset has recently invested in Robe Painte moving lights and TX1 PosiProfiles for three of its halls. The Rhythmic Hall (Rytmisk Sal) also known as the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall has eight Paintes, the Small Hall (Lille Sal) has seven TX1, with another eight TX1s - four with gobos - for the 1,172-capacity Symphonic Hall (Symfonisk Sal).
The lights were specified by the Musikhuset’s head of lighting Henrik Hambro and his crew, and delivered by Robe’s Danish distributor, Light Partner.
The venue is a cultural and entertainment beacon at the heart of Denm

USA - Visual design group Lightswitch has overseen lighting design and creative direction for Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens in Southern California since 2016. This year, the popular one-mile nighttime walk through colourful and dazzling lighting displays shined brighter than ever with an expanded IP-rated lighting package from Elation that included the company’s new Proteus Hybrid MAX.
Enchanted is an immersive visual experience tailor-made to highlight the historic botanical garden’s beauty and flora. Each year, Lightswitch reimagines portions of the experien

Italy - With his glowing bow that evokes a Jedi lightsabre, electric violinist Andrea Casta is known as the ‘Jedi Violinist’. Casta performs over 200 concerts a year that reach more than 2m live spectators. The artist has taken his music to over 30 countries and boasts a social fanbase of nearly half a million followers.
His recent tour, The Space Violin - Visual Concert, sold out in major Italian cities. He was awarded Best Performer at the Dance Music Awards in 2018 and 2022. Many of Casta’s performances are smaller, boutique events. For those, the artist has chosen a TT+

Canada - Powersoft has announced the appointment of AVL Media Group, a division of Intellimix Corp, as its new distributor and service centre for Canada.
Established more than 25 years ago, AVL Media Group is an award-winning distribution company with a mission of developing long-term, mutually beneficial, business relationships through professional products backed by excellent sales, service and technical support.
“We are excited to be represent Powersoft in Canada and we are looking forward to informing Canadian customers about Powersoft’s offerings with particular e


Size Matters - The UK's largest indoor arena will open its doors for the first time with a headline act performed by Peter Kay. The Bolton comedian will perform at the opening night of the new 23,500-seater Co-op Live venue in Manchester on 23 April. Liam Gallagher, Take That, Pearl Jam and Olivia Rodrigo are also set to separately perform at the £350m arena.
Co-op general manager Gary Roden said Kay was the "perfect" opening act who "embodies what this city is about". The new venue, set to open opposite Manchester City's Etihad stadium, features a "unique bowl design" tha

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