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19 August 2024

UK - The broad skillset developed by Alfie King, during his time in the pro audio industry, will stand him in good stead for the diverse role he will now be undertaking in his new position at RCF UK.

Joining a small team, and reporting to head of RCF UK, Dean Davoile, his duties will vary from behind-the-scenes admin, accounts and marketing, to front-line sales and customer support in the south of England.

Alfie King has already enjoyed a long career in music and production. Starting out playing guitar and harmonica in local bands around Aylesbury in his teens he soon graduated to helping out behind the sound desk at a local arts centre. He has worked previously at Leisuretec Distribution and Amber Sound.

Welcoming Alfie to the company, Dean Davoile said, “Alfie will be a great addition to the team and I look forward to introducing him to o

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16 August 2024

Switzerland - The 58th Montreux Jazz Festival returned to the shores of Lake Geneva from 5-20 July. Since its beginnings in 1967, the festival has drawn legends of soul, jazz, and blues along with rock stars, rappers, and emerging artists of every genre.

For 38 years, sound for the Montreux Jazz Festival has been provided by Meyer Sound, innovation and strategic partner of the festival. “Our decades-spanning collaboration with the Montreux Jazz Festival is about a shared commitment to sonic excellence,” says Andy Davies, Meyer Sound’s director of product & services. “As the festival strives to provide the best concert experiences, it needs a partner that can deliver the best sonic experiences. We’re thrilled to be an integral part of the journey.”

For the first time, events took place entirely outside the Montreux Music and Convention

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16 August 2024

Croatia - Over 200 Robe moving lights graced the stage in a lighting scheme designed by Sven Kučinić of LumiLas LLC for a show by Serbian superstar Milica Pavlović at the Zagreb Arena.

Sven was asked to light the high-profile concert after Pavlović’s show producers saw his lightshow for Croatian artist Gibonni - the previous year at Belgrade Arena - and decided they wanted to work with him. They talked to the artist who also checked out Sven’s work for herself and was suitably impressed.

Sven, who has a busy schedule combining working as a commercial pilot with designing creative lightshows, was also contacted by the local show producers Ivan Jurić-Kaćunić, Katijan Knok and Goran Hucaluk, with whom he’s worked on other projects and was able to slot this one into his diary.

His starting point for the production lighting design was

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16 August 2024

UK - In another creative bid to engage young people with the production industries, Production Futures recently staged a brand activation at Bludfest, which took place at Milton Keynes Bowl on 11 August. The lineup, curated by singer-songwriter, Yungblud, attracted a diverse range of fans, including many young people for whom the Production Futures pop-up provided insights into possible careers in the production sector.

The Production Futures stand was located in the fan-zone entrance, and as well as providing information about the organisation’s upcoming On Tour shows, ran a series of popular competitions designed to attract the interest of young people with limited knowledge of the wide range of opportunities in the sector.

Representatives from some of Production Futures’ brand partners not only helped construct the stand but also made themselv

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16 August 2024

USA - The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) brand is a global behemoth, with loyal fans in over one billion households throughout 180 countries. That’s largely because its events are among the most electrifying experiences in live entertainment, taking over the biggest and best-known sporting venues the world over and packing them to capacity on a weekly basis.

On occasion, WWE brings private events home to its new Stamford, Connecticut-based corporate headquarters, where it seeks to deliver the energy and excitement of a sold-out stadium bout at its sunlit atrium for a few hundred select invitees. That’s why the world leader in sports entertainment called in the team at OSA International to design and install a PK Sound T10 robotic line array system for the space. ACT Entertainment is the exclusive North American distributor of PK Sound products.

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16 August 2024

USA - Bandit Lites is supporting country music rising star Megan Moroney, who was recently named New Female Artist of the year at the 59th ACM Awards.

Bandit Lites founder Michael T. Strickland witnessed the raw potential and passion for music early in Moroney’s career saying, “I first saw Megan when she was just out of college and was not even a club act. After one show, you knew she had it. There are very few entertainers that have that magical combination of talent, songwriting, charm and charisma and they instantly draw you into their soul.”

Lighting designer Tim Keller crafted a supplemental package that would meet the size limitations of the truck pack, utilising Martin MAC Vipers and Cyc FX fixtures. With venue sizes ranging from intimate theatres to massive stadiums, simplicity has been the key to consistency.

I

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16 August 2024

UK - At this year’s PLASA Show at the Olympia Exhibition Centre in London, the Adam Hall Group will be presenting the latest products from Cameo and LD Systems at stand B13.

The focus will be on event technology highlights such as the pioneering Cameo Oron H2 IP65 hybrid moving-head with phosphor-laser engine and the battery-powered ANNY PA systems from LD Systems. In addition, the Adam Hall Integrated Systems team will also be presenting the audio and lighting installation solutions developed under the Cameo and LD Systems brands to AV visitors.

From the portable ANNY 8 Bluetooth PA speaker and the scalable Maila sound reinforcement system, to the compact Azor SP2 Spot Profile Moving Head and the new Cameo top model Opus X4 Profile with 1,400W white-light LED - the range of event technology solutions with which the Adam Hall Group travels to the P

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15 August 2024

USA - Before heading out on the road with Metallica for the M72 World Tour, live sound monitor engineers and technicians Mike ‘Mic’ Bollella and Robert ‘Bob’ Cowan looked to expand the band’s RF coverage with a full-spectrum solution that could be used worldwide.

Bollella and Cowan continually look for solutions that provide the best live experiences for artists and fans alike. To achieve this for the M72 tour, which is performed in the round, Bollella and Cowan worked with RF tech Stacey Handley to select Wisycom MTK982 Dual Wideband Transmitters.

“We needed to expand on the RF spectrum that we could use, and we also needed a solid RF-over-fibre system,” explains Bollella, who first discovered Wisycom through colleagues in the industry. “We came to the realisation that the Wisycom gear was really the next step forwa

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15 August 2024

Mexico - Evoke Studios, specialising in visual performance design technologies and content production for dynamic and virtual environments, has announced a strategic partnership with Malak XR Virtual Production Studios, a virtual production industry leader in Mexico.  

This collaboration was officially launched to television and production companies during a three-day demo event. The partnership combines decades of industry experience with the latest in virtual production technology, television, and film production, setting new standards for content production in Mexico.  

By integrating advanced real-time engines and immersive digital environments, Evoke Studios and Malak Virtual Production Studios aim to enhance creative narratives, reduce production costs, and significantly speed up the production process.  

Key highlights of the par

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15 August 2024

UK - Martin Audio, with sister brands Optimal Audio, TiMax, Linea Research and OutBoard, are joining forces once again for their open-day programme over three days at their facility in High Wycombe.

Sessions run from 3-5 September, from 9.30am-5.30pm on the Tuesday and Wednesday with a half-day programme on Thursday. All brands will feature with either audio demonstrations or presentations and as part of a series of educational modules.

Martin Audio will be running a separate point source demonstration, constant curvature and line array demonstration, as well as a stage monitor demonstration, and will also have in-depth training on Display 3 prediction software.

TiMax will showcase immersive audio solutions and will also be offering introductory software training, while Optimal Audio will be demonstrating multi-zone commercia

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15 August 2024

Canada - The team at Onedot designed the lighting rig for Fuego Fuego, Canada’s largest Latin Music festival.

Held at Montreal’s Parc Olympique, the two-day event featured an impressive list of stars, including Maluma and Rauw Alejandro. The Onedot team’s goal was to put together a rig that was versatile enough to express the style of each artist. To do so, they had to summon their creative powers to overcome the limitations posed by their stage.

“The stage brought a good deal of challenges regarding limited rigging loads, rigging trims and wind bracing,” said Jean-Sebastien Guilmette of Onedot. “With a total trim height of 28ft, we had to be very conscious of every inch of the stage, and needed to ensure that small details were taken into account.”

Original thinking helped Guilmette and lighting director Louis-Xavier Bonneau co

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15 August 2024

Slovenia - The Lent Festival in Maribor (21-29 June) is the largest open-air festival in Slovenia and, each year, attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the former European Capital of Culture. National and international artists from all musical genres perform on the large and small stages, which are strewn about the city centre.

In order to cover the stylistic diversity in terms of event technology, the organisers - together with the numerous local service providers - once again relied on a wide range of Cameo lights and a Maila array system from LD Systems.

Top stars of the Slovenian and national music scene, including Magnifico and the vocal group Perpetuum Jazzile, performed on the Main Stage in the centre of Maribor. Lighting designer Matevz Giganovič relied on an almost identical setup to the previous year: Opus X Profile, Opus H5 IP65 beam-

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15 August 2024

UK - The Showman’s Show, Qdos Event Hire, and the National Outdoor Event Association (NOEA) have partnered to launch the Event 100 Club. The collaboration, borne out of the combined ages of the organisations, as they each celebrate significant anniversaries, will see the launch of an experiential events exhibition at The Showman’s Show this autumn, and the creation of a networking club for industry professionals.

This year NOEA, The Showman’s Show, and Qdos will celebrate their 45th, 40th, and 15th anniversaries respectively, and will work “to bring their collective experience together, in a physical form, where the industry can meet, network and use as an influencer space.”

Over the course of the event, NOEA and Qdos will be using the space to host senior business and governmental stakeholders to better understand the industry, its challen

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15 August 2024

UK - AbsenLive, Absen’s dedicated live events brand, will be showcased for the first time at PLASA Show 2024 - the UK’s leading trade event for live entertainment technology.

Taking place at Olympia London from 1-3 September, the AbsenLive Experience Zone will be on show in the Olympia Room to add a live event atmosphere to the space. The 182m² Experience Zone will transform into a festival stage, featuring Absen’s innovative LED displays. Visitors will experience live event footage and real-time demonstrations.

The zone will showcase the versatility of Absen’s LED solutions designed for the live events industry. Central to the display will be the JP5 Pro and JP8 Pro from the AbsenLive Jupiter Pro Series, alongside the Jupiter Series JP6 V2. These ultra-lightweight, transparent displays are ideal for touring, offering quick setup and impress

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15 August 2024

USA - Renkus-Heinz has announced its presence at Arizona Audio Video Expo 2024. Returning after its inaugural event last year, the tradeshow brings the latest technology to the Mesa Convention Centre in Mesa, AZ from 20-21 August.

Sponsored by Renkus-Heinz’s regional representative Mountain AV Marketing, the brand will showcase products for both the live and installation markets at booth 55. Visitors can expect introductions to Renkus-Heinz’s IC Live X Series, UBX Series, Iconyx Compact Series and C Series, all of which provide solutions for houses of worship, hospitality, stadia, concert venues and more. 

“We are looking forward to this show once again,” says Chris Henley, owner of Mountain AV Marketing. “Last year we had over 300 attendees who were a combination of integrators, consultants, sub-contractors and end users. Having Renkus-He

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14 August 2024

France - Those who watched the Paris Olympics on Eurosport had their experience enriched by some extraordinary behind-the-scenes breakthroughs at the Warner Bros network’s studios.

Recently remodelled, the three Eurosport studios in Boulogne that broadcast coverage of the Paris Olympics employ the latest in TV technology. Designed and installed by Arkrys, working with Georges Krystkowiak (director of photography) and Baptiste Arnaud-Benaïs (gaffer), along with the TD of Eurosport France, Florent Marquer, the fully automated studios aired coverage throughout the Olympic sites with 10 commentary positions embedded in a virtual setting.

Controlling the lighting setups at the studios were the ChamSys MQ250M Stadium console, along with two GeNetix 10Scene Gateways and two 10Scene Wall Plates. The performance of the ChamSys products made the transition

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14 August 2024

USA - When veteran lighting designer Tom Kenny was called on to light a reimagined NHL Draft at the Las Vegas Sphere - the first live TV broadcast from the venue - he chose multi-dynamic Pulse Panel FX lights from Elation to back the all-important look.  

Evolving from a traditional convention-style draft to a 21st century show at arguably the most talked about venue in the US, the NHL dazzled players and fans 28-29 June with a visually striking broadcast.

“The NHL Draft at the Sphere was just amazing and out of this world,” Kenny enthused. “This was really a historical show and we needed a modern look for this new way to hold a draft. I knew I wanted something that was epic and futuristic looking in that main television shot, and even though you’re up against the biggest backlight in the world with its amazing content, the Pulse looked bea

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14 August 2024

South Africa - Beetek has announced the appointment of DWR Distribution as its official distributor in South Africa with the second stock order arriving soon.

With this partnership, DWR will offer the complete range of Beetek products including armoured multi-core fibre, active optical HDMI, stackable cable reels, extenders and adapters.

“Since the first conversation with Duncan Riley and Dylan Jones, I immediately knew that DWR was the perfect partner for Beetek,” said Aaron Lange, Beetek International Team. “They understood the products, asked all the right questions, and were able to see the little details that set Beetek apart from the others.”

“Beetek offers an extensive product range that will complement all of our current AV solutions and allow us to support system integrators with their future installations,” said Dylan Jo

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14 August 2024

UAE - Perfect Ovation is a family-run company with a busy Dubai dry hire facility and a full production operation in Oman supplying lighting, sound, and LED screens to a diverse mix of shows and events. The company is headed by entrepreneur and music lover Baltazar Fernandez who comes from Goa.

Since 2019, Perfect Ovation in Dubai has been investing in Robe moving lights with the latest purchases being 160 fixtures - 40 x iFORTES, 40 x Tetra2s and 80 x LEDBeam 350s plus four RoboSpot systems, all delivered by Robe Middle East.

These were added to their existing inventory which already included 80 x Robe MegaPointes and 80 x Spiider LED wash beams.

Baltazar and his team chose the Robe route as they were confident that the products are well made, and offer great quality solutions, but apart from anything else, their brand choice was driven by i

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14 August 2024

Japan - The Shiki Theatre Company has been part of Japan’s entertainment scene since 1953 and has become one of the world’s largest theatre groups with 1,400 actors and team members. Sennheiser Japan has been a partner to the Shiki Theatre Company for many years. In the beginning, all their theatres were equipped with a combination of analogue Sennheiser 3000 series wireless receivers and 5000 series transmitters. After recognising the significant advantages of the Digital 6000 series, Shiki upgraded to the new audio system a few years ago.

Mr. Kaname Morishita from the sound and music department of the Shiki Theatre Company talks about how the new digital system got introduced: “The major turning point was a sound designer in the US implementing the Digital 6000 series when we were preparing to stage new international programmes at Shiki. For internat