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Behind the Scenes UK issues first grant

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Behind the Scenes UK, the new industry charity, has just issued its first grant to a technician who suffered severe injuries from a fall while at work. Dealing with multiple surgeries and a long recovery process was hard enough, but trying to take care of his young family with no income during this critical time proved overwhelming. Then someone suggested he apply to Behind the Scenes UK.

Behind the Scenes UK is modelled after Behind the Scenes in North America which has issued over half a million dollars in grants since its inception. Each application is carefully reviewed by a committee and each grant is tailored to assist with the recipient's most pressing needs. Funds may be used for basic living expenses such as rent or mortgage and utilities, transportation such as car

Eurotruss will be displaying its four main product groups: Structures, Stages, Lifters & Stage Decks

Prolight+Sound 2015: Eurotruss covers all areas

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - Netherlands-based manufacturer and supplier of truss constructions, stages and complete event hardware, Eurotruss displayed its four main product groups: structures, stages, lifters and stage decks. In terms of structures, Eurotruss showed its upgraded Pre Rig Truss (PRT), the new Ladder Beam truss HD22 and the reinforced Mega Truss Series TTU and TTS.Next to that the brand new Eurotruss Lifters range (wind up stands) will be presented.

Within the product group the new Tunnel Roof series will be featured along with the PR15 Monster Roof. A special spot is reserved to display the fully integrated stage frame (Ballast Safe) that integrates towers in steel scaffolding stages. The established Eurotruss Stage Decks will also be present.

(Jim Evans)

Widespread Panic has returned to the road for a 25 date spring tour (photo: Andy Tennille)

Widespread Panic on the road with Bandit Lites

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Following Widespread Panic's larger-than-life New Year's Eve performance, the rock band has returned to the road for a 25 date spring tour. On the road with them is long time lighting designer Paul Hoffman, who again trusted Bandit Lites to provide the gear for his exceedingly mind-blowing psychedelic looks.

Due to the wide ranges of venues that Widespread Panic plays, Hoffman is always conscientious of designing a flexible rig that can be utilized in both tiny theatres and expansive arenas.

"We want to use as much of the production every night as we can - so that is a significant design goal," explained Hoffman. "It has to expand and contract without looking sparse or scrunched."

For design inspiration, Hoffman says he tends to look at his surroundings, from architecture, to sculpture and art. The result is an evolution from tour to tour, rather th

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Return to the Forbidden Planet</I> is currently making its way around the UK (photo: Nobby Clark)

Forbidden Planet returns with Flare

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - The 25th anniversary tour of Return to the Forbidden Planet is currently making its way around the UK, complete with a Flare Audio loudspeaker system, representing the first major touring musical production to deploy the recently launched X2A Compact Vertical Point Source Array system. Along with the X2, the show's system also carries Flare Audio's Q18 subs and the micro X0s for delay and front fill duties.

Flare Audio's polished aluminium speakers are an aesthetic match to the cult musical's 1950s sci-fi theme, and with Ben Harrison's new sound design, the combined effect is meteoric. He has been impressed with the X2's overall performance, explaining:

"Their size and profile mean they slot easily into traditional proscenium rigging positions where other traditional line array systems would struggle to fit. They perform very well, and so far have proved to be

Randy Read - specifications sales manager for lighting

ARRI adds sales manager for lighting

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - ARRI Inc has announced the hiring of Randy Read as specifications sales manager for lighting, reporting to John Gresch, vice president, lighting products. Read's primary focus will involve building and managing a network of representatives to support the design and installation of ARRI's renowned lighting products in educational and broadcast television studios. His initial territorial coverage is North America.

Read comes to ARRI with over 20 years of experience as a lighting director, designer and manager in both theatrical and broadcast operations. While working for Christian Broadcast Network in Virginia Beach, he designed and managed one of the first complete broadcast studio conversions from conventional lighting to a total LED solution. Read will work closely with Michael Keppler, manager, lighting systems, who will continue to provide design and engineering support

d&b audiotechnik product manager and chairman of the OCA Alliance marketing group, Marc Weber

Prolight+Sound 2015: OCA Alliance exhibits

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - The OCA Alliance is continuing its promotion of the OCA message at this year's Prolight+Sound exhibition, both on the exhibition floor and in the activities of its members at the show. Among exhibiting member companies, d&b audiotechnik is launching its next generation D20 amplifier, a major new OCA enabled product, on booth H8 J46.

The alliance's booth - H8 A11 - features a live demonstration of control and monitoring across networked audio devices from different manufacturers, and will be a point of contact for manufacturers and audio professionals looking for information, or wishing to consult with experts from the OCA Alliance.

Activities to promote the OCA vision of a common remote control standard include the alliance Manufacturers' Reception, at 18:00 on Wednesday 15 April on the Bosch Communications booth H8 A22. Leading technical and product specialists from

Audinate firmware update to support AES67

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Audinate, creator of Dante, has announced the scheduled release of its firmware update that provides support for the AES67 audio networking standard.

AES67 is an interoperability standard created by the Audio Engineering Society, which specifies a baseline set of protocols enabling synchronized audio connectivity between compliant Audio-over-IP solutions. AES67 provides standardized methods for clock synchronization, quality of service and IP transport to bridge between different Audio-over-IP implementations.

The addition of AES67 will allow baseline connectivity between the growing ecosystem of Dante-enabled devices and networked devices from other vendors who support AES67 bridging. Although the AES67 standard covers only the basic sync, QoS and transport of networked audio, systems utilizing Dante networking will retain their enhanced features including simple device

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Lunar landing in Mauritius (photo: Simon Fuller)

Robe BMFLs land on the Moon with James Blunt

Details: 14 March 2016

Mauritius - UK singer songwriter James Blunt recently played his first show on Mauritius at the 3500 capacity Swami Vivekananda Centre (SVICC) just outside capital city Port Louis in a show promoted by Music Machine & Immedia. Lighting was co-ordinated by his long term lighting & visuals director, Glen Johnson, and delivered by the country's leading rental and sales company, Impact Production.

Eight Robe BMFLs featured prominently on the rig together with eight MMX Spots, six ColorWash 1200E ATs and 14 LEDWash 600s, plus some beam lights, Molefeys and LED PARs, all making up a festival / B-rig variation of the touring show.

The 15 month Moon Landing world tour is now drawing to a close. Having started in China in December 2013, it's been another major selling album for Blunt and has been supported by his longest and most successful tour to date.

Glen enjoys opportunities lik

The main PA hangs comprise 14 flown Coda ViRAY per side, with three Coda SC2-F bass extension units flown on each side immediately behind the main arrays (photo: Deana Kay)

Coda ViRAY makes sound sense for LPH

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - One of the UK's premier arts and entertainment venues, the Grade II* listed Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (LPH) is in the midst of a £13.8m refurbishment. A significant element has been the UK's first Coda Audio ViRAY installation, which delivers exceptional sound while ensuring the venue's aesthetics are not compromised.

Also the home of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, LPH hosts more than 250 concerts and events of all kinds each year - from classical, opera, folk, rock, pop and roots music to comedy, film, speeches, conferences and private events. So the new audio system had to be exceptionally flexible, but visually not detract from the venue's unique art deco architecture.

Liverpool-based Adlib was invited to tender for the design and supply of the system and the company's installation director Roger Kirby explains why Coda ViRAY was the natural choice

The Johannesburg workshop was aimed at upcoming lighting designers and operators

Liz Berry presents workshop at DWR

Details: 14 March 2016

South Africa - With an estimated 20 visits to the country, international lighting designer Liz Berry is no stranger to South Africa. In fact, she says that when she stepped off the plane recently, it felt like coming home. While her adventures have included trips to Namibia, Botswana, and forming a good friendship with the team at Gearhouse SA and many other South Africans over the years, this stopover was different as Liz presented a lighting workshop at DWR Distribution, aimed at upcoming lighting designers and operators in Johannesburg from 25 to 27 March.

Having a mother who taught French and a father who was a lecturer, it would seem this Berry did not fall far from the bush. She has presented lighting design courses at Rose Bruford College, London's esteemed International Drama School of Theatre and Performance as a result of being a world-renowned LD.

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Andy Weingärtner was well known to the industry, especially in his native Germany

Industry pays tribute to Andy Weingärtner

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - With great sadness, Martin Audio has announced the passing of its European account manager, Andy Weingärtner, who died of a heart attack over Easter.

Luke Ireland, managing director of Martin Audio, said, "It was a huge shock to all of us. Andy was always an exuberant member of the team, and even before he joined Martin Audio he was a long term supporter. He will be greatly missed."

With more than 28 years' experience in sales and marketing, covering all aspects of pro audio, Weingärtner was well known to the industry, especially in his native Germany. He is survived by his wife Sandra and their four sons.

A private memorial service will take place on Saturday April 11 in his hometown of Worpswede, and long term friend and colleague Andrew Davies will represent Martin Audio.

Paying tribute, Davies said, "Andy was one of the audio industry's good

Nellie Bell at the Hospital Club in Central London (photo: Fred Larsen)

Sennheiser backs Nellie Bell showcase

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - On Monday 23 March, Sennheiser's newly-formed Strategic Collaborations team, in partnership with Bucks New University and MC9 Music, staged a special event showcasing exciting and emerging new talent Nellie Bell at the Hospital Club in Central London.

The event was organised by Sennheiser's Strategic Collaborations manager - EMEA Phil Cummings and brought together a host of guests from the music and entertainment industries to hear a range of material from Nellie's new album, which is due for release later this year.

Sennheiser e945 microphones were deployed for Nellie's vocal, with her band utilising ew 300G3 in ear monitors. The loudspeaker system comprised a K-array 402 system.

A number of students from the university's Music and Live Event Management course were on hand to help run the event, along with successful alumni from previous years Rob Faull, who is now wor

George Thorogood and his Delaware Destroyers continue to surprise after four decades

Elation lights Thorogood 'Badder Than Ever' tour

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Elation is once again be lighting American blues rock musician George Thorogood and his Delaware Destroyers band, who continue to surprise after four decades. George Thorogood found chart success in the '80s and continues to tour extensively after 40 years.

Out on a Badder Than Ever spring tour through April, lighting designer William Bennyhoff needed a rig that could complement Thorogood's high-energy boogie-blues style and found it in Elation Platinum Beam 5R Pro, Rayzor Q7 and Cuepix Blinder WW2 fixtures.

"Five years ago we were looking to have an ACL look for our show without having to carry ACL bars," explains Bennyhoff, who works for Toucan Productions of Oklahoma City, provider of lighting, truss and control for the tour. "We looked at all the options out there, which wasn't many, and decided to use the original Platinum Beam 5R."

Last year w

Amadeus worked with French architecture star Jean Nouvel to create the new speakers

Amadeus brings Philharmonia to Frankfurt

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - Amadeus will unveil its new Philharmonia speakers created for both the professional recording studio as well as home Hi-Fi use at the 2015 Prolight+Sound / Musikmesse tradeshow in Frankfurt. The Company is welcoming attendees to come to Hall 8, Stand G 19 to see and hear the new speakers.

Amadeus, one of the premiere manufacturers of high-end sound reinforcement systems for live and installed sound, as well as a major producer of custom studio speakers for recording studios, worked with French architecture star Jean Nouvel to create the new speakers for their first use in the 5.1 surround studios at the newly opened Philharmonie de Paris, the building was designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel.

Bernard Byk, co-founder and CEO of Amadeus says, "Imagine a reference sound reinforcement system, adapted to the dimension of this architectural gem, with exceptional design, e

LD Shaun Moore designed a lively and dynamic show reminiscent of the band's recent UK tour

Sapphire Touch hands-on control for Frank Turner

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - This month, the Teenage Cancer Trust marked the 15th anniversary of their annual concert series at London's Royal Albert Hall, where leading names in music and comedy come together to raise money to help young people facing cancer. Closing out this year's event, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls headlined at the venue, with LD Shaun Moore trusting the Avolites Sapphire Touch for the occasion.

Moore, of North-East based rental company Nitelites, has been working with Turner for five years. He designed a lively and dynamic show reminiscent of the band's recent UK tour. He used the full house rig, plus additional PRG provided floor cans for drums and keys, which provided some stunning low level key light, matching the front line.

Having operated their consoles since he started lighting, Moore has used Avolites for his entire career to date. "I followed in my family's

The 2015 British Artistic Gymnastics Championships were held at Liverpool's Echo Arena

Chauvet adds flourish to gymnastics championships

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Excelling in gymnastics requires a high level of adroitness and flexibility, two qualities that the Q-Wash 560Z-LED moving RGBWA wash from Chauvet Professional has in abundance. Perhaps that's why the fixture proved to be so popular at the 2015 Men's and Women's British Artistic Gymnastics Championships held at Liverpool's Echo Arena.

Lighting designer Stephen Jolly arranged eight Q-Wash 560Z-LED fixtures provided by Novum AV on either side of the podium, where Olympians and other top gymnasts from throughout the world participated in an array of competitions covering the power horse, rings and floor exercises. Spaced approximately 7m apart, the wash fixtures filled an important dual role during the event, serving as color washes at some points, then working with high output aerial beam effects at other points.

"The Q-Washes enabled us to create some simple colour ac

Latin America's only Frank Gehry-designed building - Panama City's Biomuseo

Electrosonic installation for Panama museum

Details: 14 March 2016

Panama - Electrosonic has designed, fabricated and installed audio-visual systems in the Biomuseo in Panama City, Panama. Situated on the Amador Causeway, at the entrance to the Panama Canal in Latin America's only Frank Gehry-designed building, the Biomuseo will offer eight permanent art and science galleries on the origin of the isthmus and its impact on the planet's biodiversity.

In the early design stages of the project, Electrosonic's design consulting team worked with Kubik Inc, the project design/build and management group, on the development of each gallery, whose fabrication and installation ultimately changed little over time. "About 95 percent remained the same, so when Electrosonic executed the concept design, it all worked very smoothly," reports Electrosonic project manager Steve Calver.

The first five galleries, based on the original concept design pro

Prolight+Sound: Big plans for ETC

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - ETC's stand at this year's Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt, 15-18 April, is set to be their best yet. With so many products to display, ETC will have two stands (B65 and B66 in Hall 9), giving visitors the opportunity to see and try the company's newest products.

On display will be ETC's two console families, with Eos Ti and Gio, and Cobalt 20, Cobalt 10 and Congo jr powered by Cobalt.

A range of fixtures from Selador Desire washlights to the Source Four LED Series 2 range will also be available to demonstrate. The Source Four LED Series 2 comes in the full-colour Lustr array, as well as the two new white-light specialists of the family - Tungsten HD and Daylight HD. ETC will also show the variety of accessories and adapters that the Source Four LED system accepts, including the brand new Source Four LED Fresnel adapter.

The new ColorSource PAR fixture will also be dis

The New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall is running now through 3 May (photo: MSG)

New York Spring Spectacular adds 7thSense

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Radio City Music Hall, the legendary 5,933-capacity theatrical venue of Manhattan, New York, celebrates the premiere year of New York Spring Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes and upgraded Delta Media Server video systems from 7thSense Design in the UK. This is the second Radio City theatrical production to utilise the now refurbished system, following three seasons of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show on the original installation of 2011.

In 2014, Radio City's display technology systems were overhauled and updated to support the new seasonal production.

Display features include 11-projector 3D theatre mapping - delivering content to the main proscenium arch and additional arches either side of the stage. An 80ft digital scenery LED wall fed by Delta now runs content at 4:4:4 / 60 frames-per-second (fps), giving audiences a beautifully im

The GLD Chrome Edition will be shown for the first time at Frankfurt and is shipping now

Allen & Heath launches GLD Chrome Edition

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Allen & Heath has launched new Chrome Edition models of its GLD series mixers, with extensive new features and FX.

GLD Chrome firmware adds Auto Mic Mixing capability and further additions to the comprehensive processing suite, including faithfully crafted new FX and channel-based compressor emulations.

The Chrome Edition GLD-80 and GLD-112 mixers have been redesigned with a new metallic livery, while the AR84 and AR2412 AudioRacks have received a sleek black finish.

The automatic mic mixer (AMM) can be configured to work across all 44 microphone sources, allowing the user to select which inputs should be auto-mixed without the usual restrictions of a 16 channel insert based system. The AMM can be set to work in two modes - 'D-Classic' dynamic gain sharing for a simple quick set-up, and 'Number of Open Microphones' (NOM) logic gate technology for a more flexible and sop

The 1m long StripPoint unit features 18 mappable RGBW LEDs

Prolight+Sound 2015: Core launches StripPoint

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - UK wireless LED manufacturer CoreLighting will launch its new StripPoint wireless LED batten at Prolight+Sound, Frankfurt next week on Stand A65 in Hall 9.0.

Core will also show a selection of its other best-selling wireless LED products including the new PinPoint, the workhorse ColourPoint Mk 2 and the highly practical Flood30.

Core and White Light, exclusive distributor for the brand, have also just announced the appointment of Keylight as a dealer in Holland and Belgium, and will use the popularity and strategic positioning of Prolight to seek other potential partners in Europe and further afield.

The StripPoint expands Core's current range of robust products, as the trend and demand for good quality wireless LED fixtures for all types of events continues to grow apace.

The 1m long StripPoint unit features 18 mappable RGBW LEDs which emit an impressive 4000 lu