WarChild Benefit - Muse warmed up for their appearance at this week's Brit Awards by headlining an intimate benefit gig in aid of WarChild UK. The band performed for almost two hours in front of 2,000 fans at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire. Speaking from the stage, front man Matt Bellamy said: "This is a nice vibe, we should do a tour like this."
The concert - an intimate affair compared to Muse's usual stadium-headlining shows - saw them tone down their show to fit the theatre surroundings. Before the gig bass player Chris Wolstenholme told BBC's Newsbeat, "You don't want to be spending all the money on pyramids and flashing lights - that's money that could be going to charity."
Awards News - Opera magazine is to have its first annual i
Australia - Currently playing at Sydney's Lyric Theatre, Legally Blonde The Musical is lit by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller with Hugh Hamilton acting as associate for the Australian tour. The set and lighting design for the Australian production comes from the London production of the musical held at the Savoy Theatre.
The rig houses only Vari-Lite moving lights: forty-four VL2500 Spots, twenty-two VL2500 Washes and five VL3500 Spots whilst conventional lighting consists of over 200 ETC Source Four fixtures. It's a fairly straight forward rig that was, according to Hamilton, expertly prepped at PRG, easily hung and there were very few problems to overcome.
"The overhead trusses go spot, wash, spot, wash, spot, wash and the ladders are all VL2500 Spots," explained Hamilton. "It's a great rig because you can put anything you need where you need it, plus it
UK - Philips Selecon's lightweight, smooth colour changing PLCyc LED luminaires are facilitating fiercely felt mood and atmosphere for The Guildford Shakespeare Company's production of Macbeth.
Lighting designer Declan Randall is harnessing the diverse colour palette and rapid colour changing abilities of the PLCyc fixtures to dramatically enhance the shifting ambience during the production at Guildford's Holy Trinity Church.
"I'm treating the ceiling of church as the cyclorama, up-lighting the roof and using the PLCycs to throw shadows of scenic elements and the cast up onto the roof," says Randall. "The show varies from intense colour to more natural, gentle, skin tones and the PLCycs offer us speedy colour changes and an amazing palette to work with. What's great about the PLCyc LED luminaires is that they deliver both the natural and unnatural colours
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ETC Halcyon Silent
High End Systems Halcyon Silent builds on ETC’s legacy of fanless automated fixtures by incorporating features from the highly sought-after Halcyon family. Halcyon Silent perfectly balances silent operation with brilliant output of 18,400 lumens and high-impact features.
The Netherlands - Adjoining the famous Escape Club on Amsterdam's fashionable Rembrandtplein, and also owned by experienced entrepreneurs, Ton and Dick Poppes, the new Kitchen & Bar Van Rijn has opened in the style of a grand café, with a terrace and upstairs area.
Inspired by the beauty and the masterpieces of Rembrandt van Rijn, following a substantial investment, guests can enjoy authentic Dutch cuisine in a cosmopolitan atmosphere with open kitchen, whole listening to music through a premium RCF sound reinforcement system.
In fact premium is the watchword, since installer Mike Ho, of locally based service company 24/7 Audio, specified a TTL11-A active steerable column array, requiring only two systems with two presets to service all the requirements - literally 24/7 (including live music and a DJ on weekends).
"I first heard this system under demo at RCF's he
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New Touring Series by Gravity – Every Scratch Has A Story
When the stage heats up, you need equipment that can keep up without compromise. The Gravity Touring Series has been specifically designed to meet the highest demands – for rental companies, professional musicians, concert organizers, and large event venues. Premium materials, exceptional durability, and impressive longevity make these products stand out. Whether on tour, in constant use, or under the toughest conditions: the Touring Series delivers maximum reliability and performance – every day, on every stage. FIND OUT MORE >>>
UK - Inaugurated in 1886, the old People's Palace, as it was formerly known, was originally built to provide cultural activities to its local population but tragically burned down in 1931. Rebuilt in 1936 to the west of its original site, the new People's Palace is now owned by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). This historic Grade II listed building has recently undergone a £6.3m facelift to restore it to its former 1930's style interior beauty.
Located in the heart of London's East End and home to the 770 seat Great Hall, the theatre's transformation included a lighting and audio solution supplied and installed by specialist integrators Stage Electrics.
"Queen Mary, University of London is delighted with our newly refurbished venue and we're now getting a huge amount of interest from external hirers and promoters who are discovering this hidden gem in east Lo
UK - Lighting designer Jonny Gaskell has harnessed the laser-like beam of Clay Paky's Sharpy fixtures to deliver a high impact, three-dimensional lighting environment for electronic dance music duo Orbital on their UK tour, which culminated with a spectacular and hard hitting show at Brixton Academy.
Gaskell, of Pinnacle Productions, combined the razor sharp beams of the Clay Paky Sharpys, supplied by rental operation Colour Sound Experiment, with laser bounce mirrors to deliver a three dimensional prism of super bright almost architectural effects around the band. This worked as part of a layered lighting concept that combined evocative video, moody washes and striking effects during the dynamic, content rich show. The result was a dramatically striking, 3D world of light and images that worked as one with Orbital's music but at the same time also reached out and engaged the li
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AZOR® SP2 IP - Compact IP65 Spot Profile Moving Head
Compact design and IP65 protection for indoor and outdoor applications: the new AZOR® SP2 IP is the ideal solution for open-air events and outdoor theatres that require a powerful, weatherproof lighting system. An optimal partner for lighting designers and event service providers looking for a versatile LED show light in a compact housing.
AZOR® SP2 IP – the next generation of robust, weatherproof, and compact lighting for maximum creative freedom, both indoors and outdoors.
The Netherlands - dnp denmark provided a compelling product showcase for its latest screen solutions at ISE 2013, occupying an open booth in their own right for the first time since 2009.
The showstopper was the new InvisiBezel LCD panel cover, demonstrated (with and without the bezel cover) via a 2 x 2 display of 46" LCD panels. Passers-by, captivated by the display, massed to witness how this media could be reduced from a standard 5mm bezel width to a virtually seamless 1mm with the help of the dnp 'super narrow bezel' panels. These can be mounted on top of standard LCD screens and at the same time protect the panels from scratches.
According to global sales & marketing manager S°ren Kraemmergaard, there were several differentiators embedded in the dnp system which give it a competitive edge.
"The pixels can be optically stretched at the edge of the panel via
UK - Hawthorn celebrated their 25th Anniversary by welcoming over 500 clients, guests and staff to its Leicester Head Office, 16 February 2013.
Hawthorn applied its own event expertise to transform their facility into a swanky party venue, where guests enjoyed a night of food, drink, networking and revelry. Giant video screens, sizzling catering points, glitzy dancefloors created a vibrant ambience in the main event room; then if guests walked through a giant logo structure they entered a series of 'games rooms' with Karaoke, 'drive simulators', and familiar computer games.
Founder and Managing Director Martin Hawthorn cut the birthday cake and thanked all present:
"It's great to welcome everyone here as we celebrate our achievement bringing the company from the humble beginnings to where we are today supplying an incredible range of events. We have developed some great
Austria - With a huge opening ceremony the 2013 Skiing World Championships recently started in Schladming, Austria. Associate LD Jeffrey Goes and associate LD Daan Oomen relied for the show on an MA Lighting system, consisting of two grandMA2 light, one grandMA2 fader wing and two MA NPU (Network Processing Unit).
Jeffrey Goes commented, "The grandMA2 offered the best solution in networking and stability for this outdoor event. Especially in bad weather conditions it proofed to be a solid, stable control system. This was essential. Furthermore it offered us a perfect back-up solution as well as great network possibilities."
Daan Oomen continued, "We had to deal with pretty harsh weather conditions. Also some lighting positions were only accessible by helicopter. Furthermore the venue had a quite unusual shape unusual shape and an extremely steep slope. Making a
UK Unusual Rigging has been voted the UK's favourite rigging company at the TPi Awards 2013, which took place at the Novotel London West on Monday 11 February 2013.
The awards highlight projects undertaken in 2012 and the judges said: "Unusual Rigging was a clear favourite in the voting process this year, showing how well respected and valued they are by their industry peers."
Germany - The 13 halls of prolight+sound and Musikmesse can be a nightmare to negotiate, vectoring between the split levels would tax the skills of Geradus Mercator, the father of maps. It was exactly this sort of three dimensional dilemma that d&b audiotechnik had in mind when it came to addressing the mapping of mixed audio systems; that is line arrays and point sources. Not to mention the importance of navigating the way to the d&b stand 8.0 J46A where the latest loudspeakers from the veritable V-Series stable also make their debut.
Though the laws affecting the behaviour of sound are immutable, environment and loudspeaker design are all too variable. This is why d&b has developed ArrayCalc V7, precisely to accommodate not only line array but point source designs or a combination of both into a single hybrid system design. It also offers a new printout section for any of thes
Korea - In 2012, a DiGiCo SD7 was installed in Jiguchon Church in South Korea's Bundang New City. Such was its success that four more of the company's mixers have now been installed in another church in the city, demonstrating how DiGiCo mixing consoles are making significant inroads into the country's house of worship market.
The new Manna Methodist Church has a seating capacity of 4,000, with around 10,000 worshippers attending each week. Services feature a live band, choir, organ and orchestra, so the audio system needed a high input channel count, as well as facilities to mix live audio for broadcast on its own Internet channel.
The church consulted DiGiCo's South Korean distributor Soundus Corporation, who supplied and installed an SD7 console at Front of House, with four SD-Racks and an SD8-24 to take care of the live broadcast mix. In addition, Soundus supplied an SD9 f
UK - Roland Systems Group (RSG) has announced the appointment of Leisuretec Distribution as a 'professional trade only distributor' for their expanding pro audio and video product range, effective January 2013.
Leisuretec, a leading supplier to the trade community, will be offering Roland's professional range of video products. As a new venture for the company this enhances their product offering and further broadens their profile, says the company.
Cliff Dounting, commercial director for Leisuretec Distribution commented, "After a successful year in 2012, we were looking to further broaden the choice we can offer our customers with unique specialist products. As a result, we are delighted to have formed a working relationship with Roland Systems Group.
"Roland's high profile and professional reputation fits perfectly with Leisuretec's technical expertise and commi
Canada - CAST Software has announced its 2013 Video Contest, in which users of the brand new wysiwyg R30 are invited to submit their finest lighting designs for a chance to win one of three prizes. The creator of the winning video will land themselves a full one-year wyg membership, while second and third place runners-up will scoop a half-year wyg membership.
In an exciting twist on 2012's R28 competition, the use of consoles WILL be allowed, due to popular demand among previous entrants. Of course, employment of the software's Cue List and Camera Path features is perfectly acceptable and encouraged - Members are simply challenged to create a two-minute video of a stunning wysiwyg design and upload it to the CAST Software Facebook page for appraisal, initially by CAST's hand-picked judging panel, and then by the public who can vote for their favourite video via Facebook.
UK - Mark Henderson was named Best Lighting Designer in this year's Whatsonstage.com Awards.
The awards ceremony was presented by the Whatsonstage.com theatre news website at a lavish concert on Sunday night. The Whatsonstage.com Awards is the only major prize-giving celebration for theatre voted on by the theatre-going public. The Best Lighting Designer Award is sponsored by leading entertainment lighting supplier White Light.
Henderson secured the prize for his work on Sweeney Todd, which opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre and then transferred to London's Adelphi Theatre. Henderson's was not the only award presented to the show, which also won prizes for its leading performers (Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton), its director (Jonathan Kent), and for the show itself, which was named Best Musical Revival.
Henderson's fellow nominees in the category were Humphre
UK - The MAC III Wash, the final luminaire in Martin Professional's successful 1,500W MAC III family of moving heads, is now available. A full-feature, full-range wash luminaire with light quality and a colour palette, it excels at projecting an intense yet even field of light and has the added ability of shaping the beam through an internal barndoor system, a unique feature for a Fresnel light, says the company.
The MAC III Wash features a unique internal barndoor system (shutters) that enables designers to shape projection onto stages, performers, scenery, scrims, or any set element with great precision.
The MAC III Wash houses a 1:4 fully linear zoom that requires no lens changes plus the MAC III Wash maintains near full efficiency throughout the entire zoom range with no visible beam jump when zooming from tight to wide and no drop in lumens output.
Australia - Over 150 Robe moving lights were spread around multiple stages on Summafieldayze 2013 - the most popular marathon dance music festival staged at Doug Jennings Park, The Spit on Australia's Gold Coast.
Heading up the action were plenty of electronic legends like The Chemical Brothers, M.I.A, Fedde Le Grand, Mark Ronson, Hot Chip, The Faders, Kimbra and many more.
Lighting equipment, together with lighting production designs for the event's three main stage areas, was supplied by Clifton Productions, one of Australia's highest profile rental operations ... and the one with the largest stock of Robe fixtures.
Stage One was based around M.I.A.'s spec and featured 22 Robe ColorSpot 2500E ATs, eight ColorWash 2500E ATs and 18 Robin 600 Beams. The set centrepiece was an extensive upstage video wall.
The second stage was custom designed to accommodate the Chemical Brot
Austria - When TV viewers in Austria tune into ORF 1 to watch weekly TV talent show Die Grosse Chance, one of the first things they notice is 1500 strings of SGM's LB-100 LED Balls festooned across the set. This large display forms the centrepiece of a set design conceived by Florian Wieder (of Wieder Design).
The LB-100's were supplied by production company, Supporting Role, who specialise in the broadcast rental sector, after being impressed by a system demo organised by SGM Germany's co-MD Thorsten Sattler.
Florian Wieder has taken a highly creative approach with the lighting - hanging the LB-100's as a curtain, split into separate sections, and as 'bridges' across the studio (one of which serves as the portal bridge to the stage).
These are fed by moving images from three Coolux Pandoras Box media servers.
Each of the 1500 strings measures 0.85m and contains sev
UK - Chroma-Q will showcase their latest range of innovative LED broadcast lighting solutions at the BVE South show, Excel London, on the stand of exclusive UK dealer A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd. (stand C64).
The new Chroma-Q Studio Force Phosphor has been developed specifically for use in film, TV and broadcast studio environments. Utilising innovative LED technologies, the units provide an equivalent soft edge output to a fluorescent fixture - up to 7,000 lumens. There's a choice of standard daylight white (5,600K), variable white (3,200 - 5,600K) and new tungsten white (3,200K) colour temperature versions, with the variable version offering fine-tuning of the green and magenta tints and frequency for camera.
Other features include an extremely smooth uniform wash, extra soft beam, theatrical grade dimming, laboratory calibration to match Black Body Locus, a manual c
The Netherlands - A new theatre in Roermond, south eastern Holland, has decided that energy saving is the way forward - and has been fitted out with entirely LED fixtures.
ECI Cultuurfabriek is a converted former chemical factory which was abandoned in the 1970s. After many years of discussion about the building's future, it was decided to refurbish it - replacing its missing roof and rebuilding the walls - and turn it into a space for the whole community to use. Incoming technical manager Maarten Janssen invested in 30 ETC Source Four Lustr+ and 22 ETC Selador Desire Lustr+ LED luminaires for its 244 seat theatre space, taking advantage of extra funding available for environmentally sustainable projects.
Janssen explains why he chose the ETC fixtures: "I saw the LED demonstrations on ETC's YouTube video library. The fixtures have incredibly smooth fades, which I've never
Switzerland - Schertler introduces GIULIA, the latest addition to its Classic acoustic amplifier series. Ideal for small venues, home studios and for practice, the single-channel 50W (bi-amplified) GIULIA has the same sound, intuitive control surface and robust construction as its larger two- and three-channel siblings, DAVID and UNICO.
GIULIA is equipped with a 1" dome tweeter and 5" woofer. The amp's flexible input channel can accommodate both XLR and ¼" Jack connectors, making it suitable for use with a wide range of microphones including Schertler's own DYN and STAT series, or the BASIK pickup. Phantom power (48V and 10V) is supplied. The input can also be used for a guitar or other high level line source, with the amplifier's intelligent electronics automatically adapting to suit. The channel has 3-band EQ and Warm low-pass filter to produce a warmer sound w