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
UK - Singer-songwriter Callum Beattie captivated sellout crowds on his recent winter tour of his homeland, Scotland. Supporting him with some fiercely bold visuals was a power-packed light show by Steve Mccraken of Mac-Events, who programmed the show and ran it throughout the tour on his ChamSys MagicQ MQ500M Stadium Console. Working with a kit supplied by Limelight Event Services, Mccracken busked some manual flashes, strobes, and other looks, but most of his show was cue stacked. “We kept the looks consistent from show to show to create the experience that fans expected,” he
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 2
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
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 facto
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 t
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 ste
UK - PLASA Focus Leeds is gearing up for another successful year at the Royal Armouries from 14-15 May 2024, and you can now register for your free entry badge. Attracting over 2,000 visitors, the popular regional event is known for connecting professionals with lead names in the entertainment technology industry across two friendly days of networking and discovery. Boasting a fully booked show floor, PLASA Focus Leeds will feature 150+ brands in pro audio, AV, lighting, rigging, and staging. Attendees will have the chance to closely examine new products and engage in face-
UK - In a fusion of sound technology and storytelling, Meyer Sound ULTRA-X family loudspeakers and 2100‑LFC low-frequency control elements play a pivotal role in bringing the immersive sonic landscape of Stranger Things: The First Shadow to life at the Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End. The prequel show, which serves as an origin story for the Netflix series, ties together the past, present, and future of fictional Hawkins, Indiana. The stage production was brought to life by a creative team, with an original story by show creators Matt and Ross Duffer and writers Ka
UK - Urban Audio Productions (UAP), a prominent player in the live events industry since 1999, has consistently delivered bespoke packages ranging from sound and lighting equipment rentals to full-service production. From supporting emerging bands in intimate venues with compact desks and IEM systems to providing complete touring packages for established acts, UAP's expertise spans diverse locations and venues, relying on Shure wired and wireless products for audio consistency. UAP provides audio solutions across industries, from high-profile corporate projects such as the TED glo
Italy - Forged nearly four decades ago as a congress equipment supplier, STS Communication has since transformed into a full-service provider, delivering technical expertise and equipment for corporate and special events, music tours, exhibitions, brand activations, broadcast TV, as well as fashion and retail projects. As a member of the PRG Alliance, the company stands as one of Italy's pioneers in deploying Virtual Production, prominently featured in two multifunctional STStudios: CR49 and Studio1D, both powered by Brompton Technology LED processing. “Aimed at cinematic
USA - Situated on the Kent State University campus in Kent, Ohio, the Centre for the Performing Arts is dedicated to creative excellence and delivering an exceptional learning environment for students. After struggling with a single-channel communications system and walkie-talkies for some time, the School of Theatre and Dance evolved its production communication with its recent installation of Clear-Com’s Arcadia Central Station IP intercom platform. The new Arcadia system seamlessly integrates with the school’s Clear-Com FreeSpeak II digital wireless and HelixNet digital wi
Germany - Take That joined a host of German and international popstars who performed on Germany’s Your Songs TV show recently, each with their own large LED screen visual backdrop driven by Green Hippo Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers. Billed as a celebration of popular music, Your Songs sees well-known artists sing one of their most successful tracks while enveloped in visuals and accompanied by a live orchestra. The LED Main Wall measured 16m x 5m at 4096 x 1280 pixels, while an 8m x 2.5m LED ‘Talk Wall’ displayed secondary graphics. A series of ‘garde
UK - Panto is a British performance genre that combines wit, slapstick comedy, double entendres, magic, fantasy and usually a bit of politics tossed together with the musical hits of the year. “We like happy endings,” commented lighting designer Andy Webb, which is why he specified Robe for two key shows for producers UK Productions (UKP), Snow White & The Seven Dwarves at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre in Buckinghamshire directed by Chris Wilkins-Nelson, and Cinderella directed by Benji Sperring, staged at the Malvern Festival Theatre in Wiltshire, both produce
Germany Calling - Adele has announced four concerts in a specially-built stadium in Munich this summer - an idea she described as "a bit random, but still fabulous!" The shows will take place in an 80,000-capacity open-air venue in the German city on 2, 3, 9 and 10 August. It will be the first time the singer has performed in mainland Europe since her last tour in 2016. She said she hadn't been planning any more shows after her current Las Vegas residency and two London shows in 2022. But the star said she had been tempted by the offer of "a one off, bespoke pop-up stadium designe
UK - Vision: 2025 and Julie’s Bicycle launched a Sustainable Materials and Waste Management Toolkit for Festivals at AIF Congress, Bristol on 1 February. This new resource condenses years of research around industry practices to give organisers a spread of practical, easy to implement waste management processes, to help improve practices, and encourage re-use of materials and reduce waste. Chris Johnson, Vision: 2025 chair, unveiled the new, free-to-access toolkit, followed by an in-depth presentation by Julie’s Bicycle project lead, Richard Phillips, and Vision:
UK - London-based creative agency Treatment Studio has been awarded Media Content Creator of the Year at the 2024 Parnelli Awards for U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere. The 22nd annual Parnelli Awards took place at the Anaheim Convention Centre on 26 January during NAMM 2024, recognising those who demonstrated outstanding work in their fields. Along with their work with U2 over the past 40 years, Treatment Studio’s impressive portfolio of projects also include Elton John’s headline performance at Glastonbury Festival 2023, Adele’s residency at The Colosseum at Caesars
UK - The ABTT Theatre Show is set to return for its 44th edition once more at Alexandra Palace on 5-6 June. Over 150 brands will showcase their products and services. In addition, there will be more activities including skills workshops, training, seminars, demonstrations, CV surgeries, career advice and free hearing tests. The ABTT Theatre Show always attracts a broad range of visitors at all stages of their careers alongside an ever-increasing list of exhibitors from all areas of the industry! The two-day event will include a wide range of free seminars on the latest
Spain - Integrated Systems Europe 2024 was the most successful edition in its 20-year history. Taking place at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue, the show’s organisers have reported that it attracted 73,891 unique verified attendees from 162 countries, a record since the show’s inception in Geneva in 2004. This represents an increase of 27% on the 2023 edition. On the Wednesday (31 January) t
UK - Stage Electrics Group has acquired specialist mechanical inspection and testing company, Just Rigging & Inspections Scotland. The acquisition strengthens the group's existing mechanical inspection, maintenance, testing and reporting capabilities across the UK and enhances the services it provides to the education, entertainment and events sectors. On sharing the news with colleagues, Dave Coull, chief executive officer of Stage Electrics Group, told them, "Additional to our continuing, solid growth as a group organically, I'm delighted to announce the acquisition of Just
Germany - At the centre of the career and training opportunities on offer at Prolight+Sound (19-22 March) will be the Future Hub. Divided into Campus, Career Centre, Start-up Area and Networking Lounge, the area is promoted as ‘a contact point for the professionals of today and tomorrow’. Designed to conserve resources and powered by green electricity, it also sends out a clear signal in favour of energy efficiency and sustainability. The latter is also the driving force behind a joint project with the Lycée Francais Victor Hugo in Frankfurt. Plants used as decorative and me
USA - Meyer Sound, founded in 1979, is celebrating 45 years of innovation with a new logo ‘that underscores its commitment to the future of sound’. The loudspeaker specialist has been a driving force in audio since John and Helen Meyer set up shop in Berkeley, CA four-and-a-half decades ago. Since then, Meyer Sound’s technologies, including trapezoidal loudspeaker cabinets, self-powered loudspeakers, processor-controlled loudspeaker systems, curvilinear arraying, and source-independent measurement systems, have become industry standards. The company’s inventions have earn
UK - Rise, the advocacy group for gender diversity in the broadcast media technology sector, has announced its 2024 global mentoring programme. This year's mentoring initiative will span the UK, Europe, ANZ, APAC, India, and North America, aligning with Rise's mission of fostering inclusivity and diversity in the industry on a global scale. The 2024 activity will build on the successful delivery of two mentoring programmes in 2023, which supported 125 mentees globally. Each regional cohort will follow a shared agenda, with the incorporation of tailored enhancements to ensure
