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Holoplot covers Starlite Occident 2023 Festival

Starlite Occident is a three-month-long extravaganza set in a transformed quarry

Details: 17 October 2023

Spain - Holoplot’s authorised distributor in Spain and Portugal, Sound Architecture, collaborated with Ilusovi Servicios to deploy the X1 Matrix Array at Marbella's boutique Starlite Occident 2023 Festival.
Already gracing some of the world’s most renowned venues, including the largest sound system install on the planet at Sphere Las Vegas, as well as installations at The Beacon Theatre in New York and at Lightroom in London, Starlite Occident marked the first outdoor live show deployment of X1.
Starlite Occident is a three-month-long extravaganza set in a transformed quarry. It hosts an impressive line-up of both UK and Spanish artists, which this year included Tom Jones, Pablo López, Iggy Pop, the Black Eyed Peas, Marta Sánchez, and Luis Fonsi.
The Holoplo

SWG moves into Cardiff Castle with WPL

Details: 17 October 2023

UK - After their memorable double header weekend - when they supplied Martin Audio PA rigs to stages at Glastonbury and in support of Queens of the Stone Age at Cardiff Castle - rental partner SWG Events were back in the Castle grounds for shows with Sir Tom Jones.
The second of three shows saw support by another native son, Stereophonics front man Kelly Jones, this time leading his own spin-off band, Far From Saints.
Cardiff Castle has become a new venue for SWG Events, and so a meticulous design was undertaken for Sir Tom Jones where the optimisation of the system was of paramount importance, as SWG head of audio, Simon Purse explained. “The PA had to avoid the walls surrounding the Castle green to avoid any slapback. This was crucial and having DISPLAY [D3 software] really helped. Also, since the castle is in the middle of the City Centre, keeping noise pollution

Information was broadcast to individuals through DAP’s Silent Disco headphones

Olympic Committee celebrates with Showtec

Details: 17 October 2023

Estonia - To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Estonian Olympic Committee, president Urmas Sõõrumaa hosted a reception for hundreds of guests that took place at the Adila Retreat Centre near Tallinn. The event was organised by Global Productions with equipment supplied by funTIME Showservice.
Guests were greeted with drinks and had the chance to mingle with each other before listening to presentations from speakers who stood on a stage that was put together using Showgear’s Mammoth Dex. Surrounding the stage, televisions mounted on Milos Pro-30 Step G trusses showed great Estonian sporting moments. To enhance the atmosphere, eight Showtec Studio Beams and twelve Showtec LED Light Bar 8s were used.
After the presentations, guests were treated to an extensive tour of Adila’s 10-hectare grounds with information directly broadcast to individuals through DAP’

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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.

Liam Gallagher sings into a Shure Beta 57a at Knebworth (photo: Finlay Watt)

Skan PA Hire tours with Liam Gallagher

Details: 17 October 2023

UK - Twenty-six years after Oasis’ legendary Knebworth gig, Liam Gallagher drew in audiences as a solo performer in front of 80,000 fans at the same outdoor British venue, a monumental return to form which gave us Gallagher’s third live album, Knebworth 22 (Live).
Gallagher then embarked on an intimate, eight-show UK tour which included London haunt, KOKO, a venue production manager Davey Murphy knows well. “I worked in-house between 2008 and 2014, so I have a lot of experience with the venue. I’ve seen a whole array of artists come through, so I really looked forward to this show,” he begins.
Murphy has worked with Skan since joining the Gallagher camp five years ago, citing the company's dedication and quality service as just two of the reasons their relationship continues to grow.
“The support directors Chris Fitch and Abby Llewellyn offe

Europalco took on the key role of providing image and sound distribution

Europalco takes centre stage for Pope’s Lisbon visit

Details: 17 October 2023

Portugal - Europalco played a pivotal role in managing audio-visual signal distribution across all PA systems and LED wall towers for World Youth Day 2023, hosted in Lisbon.
Since its inception in 1985, World Youth Day (WYD), a gathering for young people organised by the Catholic Church, has seen the convergence of up to 1.5m attendees during the Pope's visit. For the Colina do Encontro, one of the main meeting points of the event, Europalco took on the key role of providing image and sound distribution. The 40m-wide and 24m-high main stage designed by architect João Matos, spanning an area of 430m², was prominently positioned within the Parque Eduardo VII. Everything featured on the stage was seamlessly broadcast throughout the sprawling 30-hectare venue in Lisbon's centre.
Europalco engineered a bespoke distribution system for this purpose, designed to seamlessly t

Elation launches versatile KL Spot IP

Details: 16 October 2023

USA - The all-in-one KL Spot IP is a radiant and rugged static luminaire that can also function as an LED Profile by adding the optional motorised framing module, creating a lighting fixture that's both handily adaptable and primed to set your creative spirit on fire. Additionally, its IP65 rating means it is suited to both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Elation has embarked on a journey toward simplifying automated static lighting with the KL Spot IP, a venture that began with its companion, the KL Profile FC. The days of being boxed in by limited options are over, says the company. Need to relocate fixtures on the fly? With an integrated zoom lens spanning from 7° to 50°, you can place the KL Spot IP anywhere and still capture the perfect beam size - no extra lens tubes required. This translates to reduced costs, streamlined setups, and unprecedented flexibility for every pe

Neumann initiates ‘Fritz’ campaign

Details: 16 October 2023

Germany - Neumann.Berlin has initiated a social media campaign called Spend Time With Fritz, inviting producers, sound engineers, and musicians to participate and showcase their creativity. Neumann is offering its renowned KU 100 reference microphone, also known as ‘Fritz’ to support various binaural audio and music projects.
Fritz is an artificial head microphone and one of Neumann's most valuable microphones. Recordings made with the KU 100 are realistic and precise, with a three-dimensional spatial imaging effect that can enhance music and radio productions. With Fritz, anyone can create immersive recordings without any prior technical knowledge, says Neumann.
To be part of the Spend Time With Fritz competition, all you need is a creative idea and a project description. Send your entry to social@neumann.com with the subject line ‘Spend Time With Fritz’ befor

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.
www.cameolight.com

The latest acquisition and investment for this significant venue was the new Zonda 9 FX by Ayrton (photo: Stonex)

Ayrton Zonda 9 FX lights Mallorca's Megapark

Details: 16 October 2023

Spain - The Megapark in Mallorca, the largest open-air beer garden in Europe, has incorporated the new Ayrton Zonda 9 FX among its lighting fixtures.
The Megapark space has a capacity of 5,000 people, blending elements of an open area with the influence of a coastal zone. It features a small stage that required powerful lighting capable of working in daytime and nighttime settings. In its design, several features have been taken into account to create an appealing ambiance in which the Zonda 9 FX lights have played a crucial role in delivering a unique experience.
The latest acquisition and investment for this significant venue was the new Zonda 9 FX by Ayrton, a lighting fixture that has stood out for its advanced technology and creative possibilities, thanks to the versatility of its features and optical effects. Megapark has chosen to place them at the rear of the s

‘Beavers can thrive in an urban context’

Brompton backs West London wildlife project

Details: 16 October 2023

UK - An extraordinary initiative near Brompton Technology's West London headquarters has heralded the return of beavers to the area for the first time in four centuries.
The Ealing Beaver Project aims to demonstrate how beavers can thrive in an urban context while also revitalising the landscape and cost-effectively mitigating flood risk. It is a joint project between Ealing Wildlife Group (EWG), Citizen Zoo, Friends of Horsenden Hill and Ealing Council, supported by the Beaver Trust and the Mayor of London.
Three years of planning came to fruition when a family of five beavers was released at Paradise Fields in Greenford. EWG has been fund-raising in the lead-up to this pivotal ecological milestone, and Brompton Technology has joined forces to amplify the awareness around the beaver project's crowdfunding campaign, vowing to match the funds raised up to their £10k t

A large upstage LED video wall dominates the stage

Robe LEDBeam 350s transform Tulsa church

Details: 16 October 2023

USA - Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has recently had a complete redesign of the lighting rig in its 4000-seat main auditorium, which was created and delivered by 46 Entertainment of Nashville, TN, a team of engineers and technical creatives specialisng in event production, design and management.
At the centre of the current production lighting design is a 40ft diameter circular truss on a six-axis Kinesys automation system, which is rigged with 64 equidistantly spaced Robe LEDBeam 350s.
“Transformation Church has been a client of 46 Entertainment for the last 13 months,” explained project manager, Noah Wilbanks.
They work with 46 to reimagine the lighting and technical design every six months or so; a task that is achieved utilising a collection of the church’s own kit purchased from different companies over the years, together with some renta

The Luisenburg Festival attracts visitors from throughout Germany

Maverick Storms shine on Luisenburg Festival

Details: 16 October 2023

Germany - “The spectacle of nature is always new,” wrote Goethe. The great poet, philosopher and playwright undoubtably felt this way in 1820 when he first encountered declaring that the massive, irregular formation of granite rocks created “an impression the like of which I have never come across on all my walks.”
The evocative beauty of Luisenburg-Felsenlabyrinth (the Luisenburg Rock Labyrinth) has always appealed to creatives, especially those connected to the world of theatre. Plays were being staged at the site as early as the 16th century. Building on this tradition, the Luisenburg Festival was born here in 1890.
The festival has grown to become one of Germany’s most renowned annual theatre events.
When lighting the Luisenburg Festival, one must deal with resin from the surrounding tall trees, which can cause LEDs to overheat. Also, the weather i

ROE will show Topaz at the upcoming LEaT con exhibition in Hamburg

Fournell is first to invest in ROE Topaz

Details: 16 October 2023

Germany - Fournell showtechnik is the first company to invest in ROE Visual's Topaz LED panel series. Fournell eagerly anticipates the integration of these modules into their rental inventory, further bolstering their dry hire and full service capabilities.
At its core, the Topaz Series includes standard LED panels that uphold the quality standards ROE Visual is known for. What truly sets Topaz apart is its versatility. This series encompasses curved panels and specially engineered panels that seamlessly assemble to form 90° corners and cubes, unlocking limitless possibilities for stage setups and visual storytelling.
"The consistently positive experience we have had with ROE Visual and their wide range of products made it easy to decide to invest in the new Topaz series. We are convinced of the quality, the easy handling, the durability, and the associated sustainabi

Shure’s Eppingen, Germany, office has reduced its energy use over four months by more than 25,000kW hours

Shure outlines sustainability upgrades and initiatives

Details: 16 October 2023

World - In recognition of World Energy Efficiency Day, Shure is sharing its latest updates on how the company has improved its own energy efficiency in some of its global facilities.
Through energy efficiency improvements, Shure’s Eppingen, Germany, office has reduced its energy use from January to May 2023 by more than 25,000kW hours over the same period last year. That is enough energy saved to power seven homes in Germany for an entire year, according to a German energy association.
Shure has already implemented ways to reduce energy on lower-occupancy days at the headquarters, such as reducing available elevator cars and office lighting as more employees are working from home on Fridays.
The company’s offices in Asia are also implementing sustainability efforts, including battery recharging for associates, renewable energy programmes and recyclable carton

HK Audio aims Fineo family at installations

Details: 13 October 2023

Germany - With the Fineo series, HK Audio is offering a new, wide-ranging product family for professional indoor fixed installations - with extensive accessories, easy integration and sound quality.
Together with installation professionals with many years of experience, HK Audio has developed the Fineo series based on these specifications and by incorporating many customer requests to cater for professional installations in music clubs, theatres and karaoke bars, conference environments, houses of worship, event catering, community centres and auditoriums.
Especially for use in sports venues and multifunctional halls, all loudspeakers of the Fineo series are certified ball impact-proof to meet the strict requirements of the German standard for sports facilities (DIN 18032-3). Due to its high performance and high-class sound, FINEO is also suited for immersive audio, mu

DPA debuts 2017 shotgun microphone

Details: 13 October 2023

Denmark - DPA Microphones has launched its new 2017 Shotgun Microphone. Designed to capture authentic sound with high directivity, clarity and consistency, the 2017 excels in challenging broadcast scenarios, says the company. With its durable design and ability to withstand any environment or extreme application, DPA’s newest solution is designed for broadcast and live events, from traditional news and sports to location sound or musical performances.
“In an industry with a variety of shotgun microphones, we built the 2017 to stand out from the crowd,” says Helga Volha Somava, product management director, DPA Microphones. “Measuring just 184mm (7.24”) in length, the 2017 is more compact than many popular solutions and still offers impressive technological features. From its durable construction and ease of use to its leading acoustical properties, the 2017 can capt

The Angel of Light show began on 15 September and will run through 31 October

Biamp helps spook Angel of Light audiences

Details: 13 October 2023

USA - Biamp is helping create a truly haunting environment through sound for the Angel of Light immersive horror theatre experience at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, integrating Biamp Community and Desono loudspeakers, subwoofers, and Tesira digital signal processors (DSPs) and amplifiers to power one of the largest live theatre immersive experiences in the world.
The show consists of more than 30 separate experience rooms that provide multi-dimensional sound emanating from more than 300 speakers, providing clarity that envelops guests in an immersive soundscape.
The soundscape is combined with projection mapping, shifting light, power strobe lights, incredible live action performances, and unique set designs, to transport attendees back to Old Hollywood in 1935. There, guests are guided through the multi-room experience to witness the gripping and terrifyi

The lighting rig was anchored by 146 Chauvet Professional fixtures

Tal Frid sets moods for Ishay Ribo at MSG

Details: 13 October 2023

USA - “So how is my English?” Ishay Ribo asked the audience at Madison Square Garden. Not waiting for a response, he said cacha, cacha, the Hebrew term for “so-so.” The multi-platinum artist might not have nailed his English, but there was nothing middling about his performance this September when he became the first Israeli artist to headline a show at the “world’s most famous arena.”
Ribo created a transcendent atmosphere that resonated throughout the big arena. Enhancing the experience for the 15,000 in attendance was the lighting design by Tal Frid.
Working with an Audio Spectrum supplied rig that was anchored by 146 Chauvet Professional fixtures, the Israeli designer created a soaring 24-universe, mostly timecoded, show that mirrored the essence of Ribo’s deeply moving music, while also reflecting the excitement that the charismatic star brought to

Marquee One creates Belimo experience centre

Details: 13 October 2023

UK - Belimo is a market leader in the development, production, and sales of field devices for the energy-efficient control of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems.
Their UK office, located in Shepperton, Surrey, wanted to create an experience centre that would display their products and services, as well as provide a space for training, meetings, and events for their customers and partners.
Belimo approached Marquee One, part of Marquee Installations, and based on the same business park, to design and install a bespoke AV solution that would meet their needs and expectations. Marquee One Director, Luke Nowacki, welcomed the enquiry and arranged a meeting with Richard Steel, the Belimo UK technical manager. Nowacki needed to find out exactly what was required and how they wanted to use the room, to design a specific, tailored solution.
Steel explain

Vectorworks Spotlight training with Jade Manicom

DWR hosts Vectorworks training

Details: 13 October 2023

South Africa - Jade Manicom from DWR Distribution recently delivered comprehensive Vectorworks Spotlight training over a two week period in Johannesburg and Durban. With the live events industry in the midst of a busy season, the classes were small but allowed her to provide personalised one-on-one training.
“The training went very well,” said Jade Manicom. “People were engaged and were asking questions. Having chatted with them afterwards, I could tell they had gained something from it. In Durban, only one delegate had used Vectorworks before, while the others were new to it. They were impressed with what it could do.”
The Johannesburg session took place from 28 August to 1 September at DWR, offering a range of training levels from basic to advanced. The curriculum encompassed various subjects such as layouts and palettes, basic tools, classes and layers, Sp

Change of ownership at 5 Star Cases

Details: 13 October 2023

UK - Following the retirement of Keith Sykes, flight case manufacturer 5 Star Cases is now under a change of ownership with managing director Justin Locks and operations director Ingus Lasinskis taking over Keith’s shareholding of 5 Star Group Holdings.
Keith, a stalwart in the company's history, began his journey with Ipswich-based ProTect Cases in the early 1980’s, which was acquired by 5 Star Cases in 1991 and two years later he ascended to the position of director and shareholder, acquiring the company, along with Mossman Trunks in 2008.
In 2012, Justin Locks, the company’s general manager was appointed operations director, also acquiring a shareholding in 5 Star Group Holdings in 2016, becoming Keith’s business partner. In 2020 with Keith slowly stepping back, Justin took the helm as MD. At this time, Ingus, with an impressive tenure at the company, was pr

Odyssey. A Journey Through Worlds (photo: Raffael Portugal)

GLP reflects Odyssey on the Danube

Details: 13 October 2023

Austria - Since 1979, international artists have been pouring their magic over the Upper Austrian city of Linz for the annual Linzer Klangwolke. This is when the Donaupark, situated between the Lentos and the Brucknerhaus, is transformed into a gigantic performance area for what has become the city’s flagship event.
The week-long festival always begins with the so-called Visualised Sound Cloud (Visualisierte Klangwolke), which attracts around 100,000 spectators and is therefore the largest staged open-air event in Europe with free admission.
This year, director Francesca Zambello and assistant director/choreographer Eric Sean Fogel created Odyssey. A Journey Through Worlds, denoting a journey on the river of life taken by a little girl, the only survivor of an apocalyptic catastrophe.
Internationally famed Austrian lighting designer Manfred Nikitser (S

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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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