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Panthers back Billy Strings bluegrass tour

This month, the tour jumps the Atlantic for 11 shows in Europe and the UK

Details: 07 November 2023

USA - The ascent of bluegrass guitarist Billy Strings from van-and-trailer gigs to A-level arena touring is a testament to his mastery of traditional styles as well as his expansion of the genre into new realms of rock-influenced extended improvisations.
On the current leg of his 2023 amphitheatre and arena tour, Strings is enveloping his growing legions of jam-band fans through a robust system based on Meyer Sound Panther large-format linear line array loudspeakers. As with all recent tours, the system supplier on this outing is Nashville, Tennessee-based Major Tom US.
The regular tour schedule took a pause at the end of September for the third annual Billy Strings Renewal Festival in the mountain valley of Buena Vista, Colorado. Here, with the timely arrival of custom

Imagine Dragons rock Roman forum

Details: 07 November 2023

Italy - It may not have rivalled the 200,000 or so spectators who used to watch chariot races there in ancient times, but the 70,000 fans who turned out at Rome’s Circus Maximus for Imagine Dragons’ show recently constituted a pretty good-sized crowd.
Making the only Italian stop on their Mercury World Tour, the Grammy- winning band from Las Vegas, didn’t disappoint.
Reflecting the mood of music and the stage ebullient persona of the band was a lively and upbeat light and video show by the Milan design studio Blearred that featured 100 Chauvet Professional Color Strike M motorised strobes from Zalight with service from Agora.
The Color Strike M fixtures were arranged on the upper frame of the three LED walls, as well as being aligned across the entire width of the stage deck and fixed to the trusses of the delay towers. From these positions, the multi-for

The battens were interspersed with LED fixtures to create a dazzling series of audience blinders

Hippotizers drive Tedeschi Trucks tour

Details: 07 November 2023

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

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Case Study: Hans Zimmer Live

When award winning film composer Hans Zimmer brought his smash-hit tour Hans Zimmer Live to North America fall 2024, the show's audio team sought out to bring infrafrequency bass to the show to add new depth to the show's audio experience. The team chose Danley Sound Labs.

Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is dedicated to Sumo

Tokyo Sumo Hall upgrades with Martin Audio

Details: 07 November 2023

Japan - Ryōgoku Kokugikan, also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the only building dedicated to Sumo, Japan’s national sport, and has been home to many historic initiatives.
The origins of sumo began some 2000 years ago but in its modern form it only took hold around 300 years ago. Once established in Japan, it passed down from generation to generation.
Such is its status, there is no-one in Japan who has not heard of the Tokyo-based Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Sumo wrestlers practice here daily, dreaming of winning the Gift Cup, and since sumo is Japan’s national sport, His Majesty The Emperor sometimes comes to watch, and has seats reserved for him.
But Ryōgoku Kokugikan also hosts various other events during periods when sumo is not being held, including wrestling, concerts and corporate events.
Sumio Akashio, sound engineer at the Ryōgo

Nexo co-founder Michael Johnson dies

Details: 07 November 2023

Europe - Michael Johnson, who co-founded Nexo and served as its managing director until 2008, has passed away.
Establishing the company alongside Eric Vincenot and Thierry Tranchant, ‘Micky’ contributed to the expansion of Nexo over nearly 30 years, travelling the world and engaging with customers.
“He was not only an entrepreneur but also a patron of arts, music and theatre and an avid art collector. Please join us in remembering Micky and the legacy he leaves behind,” says Nexo.

The team at Planetworld will work with Bespoke Entertainment Solutions to promote and support Ayrton in South Africa

Planetworld to promote Ayrton in South Africa

Details: 07 November 2023

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

Chris Lose joins Follow-Me in US

Details: 06 November 2023

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.”

OPUS X4 PROFILE – the most powerful LED moving head from Cameo to date

The OPUS® X4 PROFILE is the new flagship model from Cameo and is among the most powerful LED moving heads on the market. Equipped with a 1,400-watt LED white light engine, this spot profile moving head produces an enormous light output of 50,000 lm, providing powerful spot and gobo projections on even the largest stages and much more.
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HK Audio expands Linear 5 MK II series

Details: 06 November 2023

Germany - HK Audio has expanded the Linear 5 MK II series with the Linear 5 MK II 308 LTA long-throw mid/high unit and the Linear 5 MK II 118 Sub HPA compact high-performance subwoofer.
Linear 5 MK II 308 LTA and 118 Sub HPA round off the top end of the Linear 5 MK II series. The modular and economical sound reinforcement tools, manufactured in St. Wendel, open up new areas of application and offer system configurations that grow with the requirements and also provide high-resolution, expressive sound with a powerful bass foundation for large events.
Linear 5 MK II 308 LTA is the optimal solution for sound reinforcement of large, long and wide rooms as well as open airs. The Linear 5 MK II 308 LTA long-throw mid/high unit closes the gap between the classic point source PA and the line array in the form of a compact, horn-loaded speaker cabinet.
Linear 5 MK II 308

The festival featured a line-up of renowned dance DJs, regional artists and singers

Showtec elevates Essential Festival

Details: 06 November 2023

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

FOH engineer Ricky Ashford has been working with the singer for almost two years

DiGiCo drives Rosalía’s world tour

Details: 06 November 2023

Europe/USA - Hailed as an ‘atypical pop star’ for her genre-bending musical styles, Rosalia Vila Tobella, known as Rosalía, is a Spanish artist who wears multiple creative hats, including as a singer/songwriter, producer, actress and musician.
With an impressive tally of 11 number-one singles in her home country, 12 Latin Grammy Awards, plus a host of other prestigious accolades throughout her music career, Rosalía is widely considered one of the most successful and influential Spanish vocalists of all time.
FOH engineer Ricky Ashford, who has been working with the singer for almost two years, has relied on a DiGiCo Quantum 338 and Quantum 225 digital mixing console for her latest Motomami world tour, which took in 68 dates at stadiums and arenas in Europe, Latin America, and North America, with Rosalía’s presence also gracing stages at world-renowned events

Exhibition’s interior is classic ‘Manchester industrial chic’

Manchester night spot opens with Outline

Details: 06 November 2023

UK - Located in the heart of Manchester and opened in late 2022, Exhibition is a high-end late-night venue. The interior is classic ‘Manchester industrial chic’, with clever lighting, bar and comfortable seating, delivering a contemporary leisure space with a ambience. The restaurant floor features three award-winning independent kitchens.
The venue also features a centrally-located DJ booth and music plays a big part in delivering the experiential ambitions of Exhibition. Locally-based Neuron Audio Visual designed, installed and commissioned a distributed audio system using Outline Vegas.
Sixteen Outline Vegas 10 full-range loudspeakers are distributed around the main space with another four in the restrooms. A single Outline Movie S218 subwoofer provides the low-frequency energy, chosen because its shallow depth allowed placement in a specific space - the low fre

This year the primary objective was to offer young talents a platform equipped with lighting and audio to showcase their musical skills

DWR sponsors Battle of the Bands

Details: 06 November 2023

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

The lighting setup included over 150 projectors

Prolights' EclPanels shine for M S Dhoni

Details: 06 November 2023

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

The academy’s Ljubljana has been fitted with a new lighting rig (photo: Louise Stickland)

Robe lights renovated Ljubljana Academy of Music

Details: 06 November 2023

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

Lawo’s management team: Andreas Hilmer (CMO), Jamie Dunn (CCO), Claus Gärtner (CFO and ‘Vorstand’), Claudia Nowak (CFO and ‘Vorstand’), Phil Myers (CTO), Ulrich Schnabl (COO) and Christian Lukic (CSCO)

Lawo expands executive management board

Details: 03 November 2023

Germany - Lawo has announced the expansion of its executive management board. Effective 1 November, Claus Gärtner joins Claudia Nowak (CFO and ‘Vorstand’), Jamie Dunn (CCO), Andreas Hilmer (CMO), Christian Lukic (CSCO), Phil Myers (CTO) and Ulrich Schnabl (COO).
“I have a strong passion for high-tech and high-quality products, and I enjoy working for family-owned companies because they allow for sustainable long-term strategies and fast decision-making. Joining Lawo as ‘Vorstand’ and CFO and being part of the company's exciting journey in transforming media infrastructure technology was an opportunity I couldn't pass up,” says Claus Gärtner.
Gärtner's international career has seen him work with Rheinmetall, Smiths-Heimann and Heidelberg Engineering Group, where he held key executive positions and contributed significantly to the growth and success of ea

LD Systems launches installation series

Details: 03 November 2023

Germany - LD Systems has launched a new product range specifically for the installation market. The TICA series offers compact solutions for any size project that are flexible, easy to install and packed with features that deliver better sound and control, says the company.
The series includes everything from media streaming and mixing preamplifiers to a range of amps with different channel and power outputs. There are also Dante networked audio interfaces, transformers, headphone amplifiers and control interfaces.
Installers can build entire systems using workhorse products from the series, or alternatively, the TICA series can be integrated into an existing installation providing additional connections or zones. They’re small, functional, single purpose products that are accessible and extremely easy to install.
“Our DIO Dante interfaces have expanded our

Gobbler users may transfer their existing accounts to their new shared subscription platform

SSL clarifies Gobbler subscriptions status

Details: 03 November 2023

USA - As of 1 November 2023, Gobbler Media has confirmed on their website they are no longer trading and have closed their subscription marketplace immediately, terminating support for all Slate Digital and Solid State Logic subscriptions.
In response, Audiotonix companies Solid State Logic and Slate Digital have launched a migration programme to allow Gobbler users to transfer their existing accounts to their new shared subscription platform, which will guarantee continued access to their favourite subscription and ongoing new plug-ins.
Slate Digital Gobbler subscribers can find all the details on their website via the migration landing page.
James Gordon, CEO of Audiotonix states: “Unfortunately, we have been aware of Gobbler’s situation this past week and our first reaction has been to take care of our existing Gobbler subscriber customers and make sure t

Festival events were staged at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne (photo: Duncan Jacob)

Now or Never festival success for GLP

Details: 03 November 2023

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

Attendees enjoyed high-energy performances by Unbound, a contemporary worship band (photo: Kevin Diaz)

ChamSys works magic on Salvation Army show

Details: 03 November 2023

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

Audio Works continues to develop its offering

HH Electronics refreshes Audio Works

Details: 03 November 2023

UK - Located in Northampton, Audio Works is a dedicated rehearsal facility catering for every kind of artist, from absolute beginner to seasoned professional. With three soundproofed rehearsal rooms and a wide range of leading brand back-line and drum-kits available for clients’ use, this popular facility has gone from strength to strength since it opened in 2010.
A little over two years ago, Audio Works was taken over by new owners who, while retaining the key features that had been essential in creating the studio’s great reputation, wished to refresh and add a new dimension to the business. Having redecorated and re-lit the rehearsal spaces and added a fully-equipped daytime meeting space to their offer, the Audio Works team also took the decision to upgrade their audio systems.
Director at Audio Works, Andy Labrum, invested in an HH Electronics solution, choosi

Ready 4 War at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas

ADJ Beams fill arena for crossover contest

Details: 03 November 2023

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

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Case Study: Hans Zimmer Live

OPUS X4 PROFILE – the most powerful LED moving head from Cameo to date

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