USA - Floridian rockers Tedeschi Trucks’ summer 2023 tour staging was dominated by soaring horizontal LED battens which displayed pixels of video content, driven by Hippotizer Karst+ MK2 media servers. The battens were interspersed with LED fixtures to create a dazzling series of audience blinders, colour and sweeping effects to set the scene for the band’s brand of American blues rock.
The lighting design and programming was delivered to the tour by Infinitus Vox, headed by Tony Caporale, who used a Hippotizer Karst+ MK2’s NDI feed to his Depence R3 pre-viz software. This meant that during pre-production, he could view all of the lighting and video design together, before controlling the Media Server via a grandMA3 console.
“Since pixel mapping was the main focus here, the Karst+ MK2 was the right Hippotizer for the job,” says Caporale. “It offers flexibi

South Africa - Ayrton has announced a new distribution partner for South Africa - Planetworld.
Planetworld will be closely supported by current distributor, Bespoke Entertainment Solutions to ensure Ayrton’s current and prospective customers receive the very best in products, service and support.
Planetworld, already a well-established company in the consumer audio market, and familiar to the entertainment industry through its distribution of leading audio brands, recently launched its new Pro Division. The Planetworld Pro Team - formally Wild and Marr - is responsible for supplying both technical design and equipment into the pro AV systems and live entertainment markets. Ayrton will become the second major LED brand to strengthen its product portfolio, complementing its Leyard LED screen representation.
“The entire team at Planetworld and I are beyond exci

USA - Follow-Me has announces the appointment of Chris Lose as their new designer relations liaison for the North American market.
Lose brings considerable experience and a keen understanding of the creative demands of the industry. After using Follow-Me on major world events and tours, Lose states he is “proud to spread the word about the benefits of this dynamic system and help others benefit from integrating it in their design work”.
His appointment signifies a dedication to promoting Follow-Me to the North American market. Marc van der Wel, general manager at Follow-Me confirms: “Providing designer relations to our clientele reinforces Follow-Me’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that scale seamlessly with the size and ambition of any event.”

The Netherlands - The Essential Festival in Oost-Maarland became a centre of music and light on 16 September, thanks to Matrix Event Support. The festival, which featured a line-up of renowned dance DJs, regional artists and singers, was set against the picturesque backdrop of the river Meuse.
Using Showtec and Infinity fixtures, Matrix Event Support brought the magic to life with their spectacular lighting designs that illuminated both the Main Stage and the Hard Dance Stage.
Commissioned by Heijnens Audio - Light - Vision, Matrix Event Support left festival-goers in awe with their mesmerising lighting design at the festival. The Main Stage, a focal point of the event, was bathed in a vivid spectrum of colours with 50 Showtec Spectral M800 Q4 Tour RGBW LED spots. Sixteen Showtec DWE Audience Blinders and five Showtec Stage Blinder 4 DMX audience blinders were strateg

South Africa - St Mary's School Waverley, located in Johannesburg, recently marked the return of the Battle of the Bands competition hosted in the school’s 540-seater theatre, The Edge.
The event, which has a history spanning more than a decade, was put on hold during the COVID pandemic from 2020 to 2022. This year the primary objective was to rekindle the competition and to offer young talents a platform equipped with lighting and audio to showcase their musical skills.
Sasha Ehlers is the head of culturals at St Mary’s and the technical manager at The Edge and has enjoyed being part of the Battle of the Bands, taking over as technical director for the festival in 2018. What she appreciates most about the competition is the inspiration she gets by helping young people gain confidence, find their “tribe”, and experience the joy of live performances.
This

India - The Prolights EclPanel TWC series shone in a recent television commercial featuring the Indian cricket player, M S Dhoni, thanks to the lighting services provided by Light Craft & Sound Pvt.
The lighting setup included over 150 projectors, including the EclPanel TWC and EclPanel TWCXL by Prolights. This dynamic configuration provided a vivid and dominant light source, transforming the television set into a truly enchanting environment.
In the context of this installation, 50 EclPanel TWC fixtures were mounted on a truss and covered with snapbags to ensure even light diffusion. The entire structure was then lifted above the set using pulley systems, creating a surprisingly bright and captivating atmosphere.
Additionally, eight EclPanel TWC XL soft lights were arranged in a linear structure to replicate a vibrant and radiant daytime atmosphere.
Sa

Slovenia - Ljubljana University’s Academy of Music faculty has consolidated itself in one ‘new’ central location in the city instead of occupying two different premises as the result of a complete renovation project at the Kazina Palace building.
Dating to 1837, historically it was a meeting place and social hub for Ljubljana’s high society, occupying a commanding position on the north-eastern corner of Congress Square, right at the heart of the Slovenian capital’s downtown.
The academy’s main rehearsal and performance room - Betetova Hall - has been fitted with a new lighting rig including Robe T1 Profile and LEDBeam 350 moving lights, together with T11 Profiles and ParFect 150s. All of these were delivered to the project by Ljubljana-based MK Light Sound.
The fixtures were chosen for their relative quietness as well as the quality of light, as it i

Australia - Now or Never is the name of a new festival created by the city of Melbourne. This inaugural event - recently held across the city, including several events at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne - saw Gig Control Australia transform the heritage-listed building, designing a spectacular sound, lighting and video infrastructure.
The creative company once again partnered with Novatech Creative Event Technology, which was contracted to take care of technical supply for the five separate events held over four days. This was to ensure continuity and close integration, due to the challenging nature of the venue itself.
Aside from the entrance, the visual highlight was the main zone, where a 16m-high LED structure backed the main stage. This was brought to life by 39 GLP JDC1 hybrid strobes, set in one continuous vertical 16m line to create a ‘spine’ beh

USA - The Kalahari Resort in the Pocono mountains bills itself as “220,000sq.ft filled with wet, wild, fun”. The massive complex does indeed offer some distinctive amenities, such as the world’s first virtual reality water slide. On the weekend of 23-24 September, it was also the site of The Way, a Salvation Army young adult retreat.
In addition to enjoying the usual attractions at the resort during their recreation periods, the retreat attendees, who hailed from every East Coast state, as well as Puerto Rico, enjoyed high-energy performances by Unbound, a contemporary worship band.
Reflecting the ebullient personality and sound of the band was an eight-universe lighting and video show designed and created by Eagle Production Co. that Moshe Baskin ran on his ChamSys MagicQ MQ500M Stadium console.
Baskin busked his show, which he designed in Vectorworks and

USA - Over the summer, YouTube personality and professional boxer Jake Paul defeated mixed martial artist Nate Diaz in a fiercely contested cruiserweight professional crossover boxing match billed as Ready 4 War. Fought in front of a sell-out crowd at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, TX, the match went a full 10 rounds before Paul was announced the victor based on a unanimous judge’s decision.
To build tension and excitement within the arena, more than 50 ADJ beam moving head fixtures were deployed across multiple trusses, while the intense aerial effects they created were enhanced by four of ADJ’s touring grade Entourage haze generators.
Produced by Jake Paul's company, Most Valuable Promotions, and Nate Diaz's company, Real Fight Inc., Ready 4 War featured a full undercard of matches showcasing both male and female fighters in a variety of we

Spain - Quevedo's DQE Donde quiero estar tour has transformed into a visually stunning spectacle, thanks to the inclusion of 30 Ayrton Cobra. Designed by Oscar Marchena, the tour encompasses two formats: a traditional setup and a 360º experience, allowing the lighting fixtures to shine at their fullest potential on stage.
The internationally renowned Spanish artist has already left his mark on significant venues in Spain such as the Wizink Center and the Gran Canaria Arena and is ready to continue dazzling audiences at prominent locations across the country. Oscar Marchena, the lighting designer behind this tour, has crafted a show focused on astonishing audiences, blending light and colour seamlessly. To achieve this, he devised two different lighting formats, opting for lighting equipment that could offer versatility and a wide range of effects for each moment.

USA - As of 1 November, Robe North America (RNA) is the exclusive distributor for Avolites in the United States of America.
The Davie, Florida-headquartered company will provide full sales, service (including warranty related), training, and technical support following Robe sro’s recent acquisition of the console and media server manufacturer.
Avolites USA product manager Brad White and product specialist Kade Behm, already well-known industry wide, will work alongside the Robe North America teams taking care of all things Avo-related.
Lorienn Cochenour, CEO, Robe Lighting, Inc. commented: “We are very excited to welcome Brad and Kade to Robe North America, where their energy, enthusiasm, years of industry experience and excellent knowledge of Avolites products will be a strong foundation - as one of the most globally recognised lighting and visual control

UK - SLX has announced the students selected to participate in its 2023/24 Lighting Programme. After a highly competitive selection process, the team is proud to introduce five exceptional university students representing various institutions across the UK.
The talented individuals have earned their place on SLX’s Lighting Programme and will shortly begin to expand networks, gain hands-on experience, and expand knowledge within the field of lighting.
The students comprising the 2023/24 Lighting Programme cohort are: Tom Barge (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School), Nancy Straham (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School), Sophie Schmidt (Guildford School of Acting), Jamie Burke (The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and James Callis (Guildhall School of Music and Drama).
During the programme, the selected students will have the opportunity to work alongside SLX's experienced

The Netherlands - In the picturesque town of Venlo, on the banks of the Meuse River, the annual free Zomerparkfeest is more than just a festival; it's an immersive experience where music, art, and culture come together.
This year, the Zomerparkfeest unveiled its various stages, brought to life by an impressive array of lighting products from Infinity, Showtec, DMT, and Showgear, courtesy of Demo Productions from Ulestraten, the Netherlands.
As the festival’s main stage blasted off, Demo Productions bathed it in a mesmerizing glow, thanks to a dazzling array of lighting products. Headliners such as Altin Gün, Peaches, and Rowwen Hèze took to the stage beneath the illumination.
Piercing beams of light from 14 Infinity iB-2R moving heads were accompanied by 15 Showtec Stage Blinder 4 DMX and 48 Showtec DWE Audience Blinders. To set the mood, eight Showtec Heli

India - Elation has announced that VMT (Vardhaman Megatech) has been appointed as the exclusive distributor for Elation and Obsidian Control Systems products in India, effective immediately.
VMT is a leading professional audio and lighting distribution company with a strong distribution network and rich history that goes back to 1958 (parent company Vardhaman was established in 1807.) Based in Mumbai, the family-run business serves a diverse range of customers through retail, installation and distribution divisions, the latter working closely with a network of B2B dealers, retailers, and large touring companies across the country.
VMT director of sales, Jeff Mandot, expressed satisfaction in adding the Elation and Obsidian brands to their large catalogue of leading AV brands. “We chose to partner with Elation because of their reputation as a leading manufacturer of

USA - Creative Technology has announced two key promotions in its executive management team. Effective immediately, Herb Brandt has been named president of the Creative Technology Group in the US and Stephen Gray will be taking on the newly created role of senior vice president of NEP Live Events.
Brandt is a 27-year veteran with extensive experience across all of CT’s business offerings. His most recent role as chief business officer focused on the client-facing side of the business, enhancing CT’s go-to-market strategies while developing new, innovative solutions for customers.
Stephen Gray has been a part of the Creative Technology family since 1994 and has built a reputation grounded in customer service and operational excellence. He will continue in his current role as chief operating officer for CT US while he takes on the responsibilities as senior vice-pre

USA - ADJ is preparing to showcase a variety of entertainment lighting fixtures, LED video solutions, and atmospheric effect generators at the IAAPA Expo (Booth #475), an event for professionals from the attractions industry. The company’s booth will feature a variety of products suitable for the attractions industry, including both regular and IP65-rated automated luminaires, static lighting solutions, LED video panels and a high-output professional snow machine.
IAAPA is the Global Association for the Attractions Industry and its annual Expo attracts thousands of visitors from across the United States and around the world. Hosted in Orlando, FL - the undisputed theme park capital of the world - the event attracts professionals from the full gamut of attraction-based businesses, including amusement and theme parks, hotels and resorts, water parks, family entertainment cen

Belgium - At a ceremony at the Brussels Expo Paleis 10, two women, Rika Coppens, CEO of House of HR, and Diane Govaerts of Ziegler, were named Manager Van Het Jaar (Manager of the Year) by Roularta Media Group’s Trends magazine, the largest circulation business weekly in Belgium, and Trends Tendence the Wallonia version of the publication.
Rika Coppensand Diane Govaerts were both praised for their forward-thinking creativity and their ability to maintain high standards of excellence.
Contributing to the success of the event was D-Dream, which provided technical support and creative vision for the evening’s activities. “We’ve been working together with Roularta Media Group for several years,” said D-Dream managing director Elke Scheirs. “This year, we were again chosen to supply all audiovisual support for the execution of the awards.”

India - Christie has announced that its Griffyn Series RGB pure laser projectors are illuminating the façade of the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple for a spectacular son et lumière that pays homage to the timeless legends of Lord Krishna.
Situated in Mathura, a sacred city in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Lord Krishna, one of the most widely revered divinities in Hinduism. With its origins dating back to the 6th century BC, this temple stands as a site of profound importance and ranks among India’s most frequented religious destinations.
The nightly 40-minute light and sound show which portrays Lord Krishna’s life as a symbol of tenderness, patience, compassion, and love, was inaugurated by Agra’s chief minister, Yogi Adityanath.
This mesmerising presentation was

UK - The spectacular production of The Wizard of Oz, directed by Nikolai Foster and with lighting design by Ben Cracknell, transferred from Leicester’s Curve Theatre to the London Palladium in the West End for a summer run.
With Martin MAC Encores and VDO Atomic Dots specified in the original design, the rig at the Palladium was expanded with additional MAC Encores and with over 50 Martin VDO Atomic Dots after the compact, high output fixtures were described by the LD as being “a revelation” at the Curve.
For the West End production, the previously specified MAC Encore Performance CLD fixtures were joined by additional MAC Encore WRM fixtures, positioned both overhead and on side ladders.
“The MAC Encore Performance CLD is my go-to," stated LD Ben Cracknell, “and by swapping out [a competitor fixture] to the MAC Encore WRMs we had just one typ

Ukraine - Leoland, a 300,000sq.m sports, educational entertainment & leisure complex in Lviv, in the west of the country, has opened a new multipurpose conference concert space.
This enhances its already considerable facilities at the heart of this picturesque city. Given everything that Ukraine has been going through over the last 20 months, it is as much of a small miracle as it is a testament to the spirit and strength of all involved in the project who were determined it should be completed and immediately start further benefiting the community.
The room features 270-degree projections and is lit with Robe products including eight VIVA CMYs to cover the stage, together with 26 LEDWash 600+s and eight ParFect 150s that are positioned around the ceiling, all delivered by one of Robe’s Ukrainian distributors, Sound House, based in Dnipro.
The lights were

World - Stage lighting rental house Christie Lites has announced a major strengthening of its global reps, welcoming five new team members to its UK, Germany, USA and Canada shops.
The addition of these new team members reflects the company’s growth aspirations in multiple sectors, including TV, special events and theatre.
London-based rental rep Alex Griffiths brings a decade of experience at the heart of the lighting industry. “I've had the privilege of collaborating with exceptional individuals and building a robust network of industry professionals,” he says. “I’m excited to harness my network and expertise in my new role at Christie Lites, contributing to the continued success of our lighting projects.” One of Griffiths’ key objectives is to expand Christie Lites' presence in the TV and special events sector.
In Germany, where Christie Lites o

Australia - Cannon Hill Anglican College in Brisbane has upgraded its auditorium with an all-LED lighting rig, including the Prolights EclFresnel 2K and EcLFresnel Jr. Thanks to these fixtures, the college now has access to a broad palette of thousands of colours, providing many creative possibilities for their performances. All lighting fixtures were supplied by Show Technology, the official Prolights distributor in Australia.
The Prolights EclFresnel 2K were installed in the auditorium. To maintain the same level of quality in the foyer, which features a small stage, the EclFresnel Jr were strategically placed.
Josiah Kerridge, Brisbane Sound Group's installation & projects department manager, expressed his confidence in the Prolights EclFresnel 2K fixtures for this important project. Having previously installed numerous Prolights fixtures in various Queensland

Mexico - Scores of luminaires from Elation Professional’s Proteus, Artiste, KL and other lines were used by lighting designer Miguel ‘Miki’ Molina on the latest season of La Casa de Los Famosos Mexico which airs on Televisa Univision. Its season four grand finale took place 13 August, reaching more than 195m viewers.
The Elation package was used throughout the season across six different sets, including the grand finale, with the main stage alone boasting some 400 Elation lights. Other Elation lines used on the programme included Pixel Bar, SixBar, Chorus Line, and DTW Blinders, along with Therma Tour 600 haze effect generators from Magmatic effects.
Additionally, EN12 nodes and RDM10 splitters from Obsidian Control’s Netron line were used for signal distribution. The supply of the Elation fixtures and the lighting technical production for the project w

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