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11 April 2025

UK - Lighting designer Ed Warren noticed the way light hit a mirror ball over his video wall and drape backdrop when rehearsing for Michael Kiwanuka's recently completed Small Changes tour, opening the door to a powerful creative opportunity.

"It was a happy accident," said Warren. "When we ran through things in rehearsals, I decided to hit the mirror ball with a single spot from below, wash out some blue light, add a bit of haze, and it worked perfectly – of course with the help of incredible visuals from my video designer Ed Hoare. We came up with a look that made it seem as if a single plume of smoke was rising up the backdrop. It really was a magical moment, everyone just stood there with their jaw on the floor."

That particular look was just one of many nuances that Warren called upon to set a deeply evocative aura on stage for his Gr

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10 April 2025

UK - In a joint venture, Backup Tech, The Back Lounge and UK Live Event Freelancers Forum, are launching a series of three Financial Literacy workshops and resources around being financially informed for freelancers working in the live entertainment industry.

Presented on Zoom and hosted by The Back Lounge’s Suzi Green and Paul Jones from UK Live Event Freelancers Forum, along with invited guest speakers on specific topics, the three, one-hour workshops, each of which will be standalone, will work synergistically to inform those working for themselves as sole traders or small businesses.

The series aims to provide practical advice balanced with an exploration of the culture shift needed to plan effectively for long-term security and will include a Q&A at the end of each session. They will cover topics including paying tax in the most e

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10 April 2025

Sweden - Biamp has announced that it has transitioned to a dealer-direct model in Sweden, strengthening its ability to support customers and drive growth in the region.

With this transition, Biamp aims to enhance its sales, support, and product distribution capabilities, ensuring better service for its Swedish partners and customers. This shift allows Biamp to more directly engage with the market, providing more streamlined communication, increased access to Biamp expertise, and a higher level of service across all verticals, including corporate, hospitality, education, large venues, and more.

“Sweden is a key market for Biamp, and we are excited to take this next step in delivering even better service and support,” said Michael Jarl Christensen, general manager, Europe. “By transitioning to a direct-to-market model, we work more closely with o

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10 April 2025

Mexico - Gonher Group has become the exclusive distributor for HK Audio products in Mexico with immediate effect. The new distributor has experienced sales professionals for pro audio applications, along with extensive sales networks and an understanding of service within its Audyson and Gonher Pro divisions.

“We are delighted to add HK Audio’s impressive product range to our extensive portfolio,” said Jorge Gonzalez, director general of Gonher. “HK Audio already has a good presence in Mexico and we plan to take the brand to an even higher level. We feel that Gonher is best-placed to help drive uptake of the brand in the Mexican market and we look forward to introducing our clients to the sonic capabilities of this amazing brand.”

“Gonher's pro audio pedigree in Mexico is unequalled,” added Sean Martin, ISM Americas at HK Audio. “HK A

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10 April 2025

The Netherlands - Powersoft’s Unica cloud-based amplifier platform has transformed the audio system at RAI Amsterdam Forum, a premier venue for conferences and events. As the former main stage for Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), RAI Amsterdam brought together AV industry professionals for over a decade.

With a 123-year history, it has been a hub for international gatherings, inspiring people by organising and facilitating valuable conferences and exhibitions. To uphold its reputation, it was only right for the prestigious centre to provide high-quality audio to its visitors.

The goal was straightforward, to replace the aging amplifiers that had deteriorated over time, leading to operational failures in the venue’s line array system. Tasked with this was Van Brienen AV, led by technician Mike Weijers, who chose Powersoft’s Unica amplifier platf

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10 April 2025

Belgium - Clouseau recently entertained audiences with a series of spectacular shows at the Sportpaleis Antwerpen, Belgium's largest indoor venue. The Clouseau 40 anniversary shows, celebrating the band's 40-year milestone, sold out the 23,000-capacity Sportpaleis an impressive 14 times, continuing their yearly live performance tradition at the venue which was first established in 2000. For these high-profile performances, the Follow-Me Track-iT system was integral to delivering the band's larger-than-life experience.

Clouseau is one of Belgium’s most famous and successful bands, renowned for their catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and high-energy performances. Formed in 1984, the band has enjoyed decades of success, with numerous chart-topping albums and sold-out concerts. Led by brothers Koen and Kris Wauters, Clouseau has built a dedicated fan

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10 April 2025

USA - There are occasions when a massive rig can transform a stage, especially when it's designed and controlled with the artistry and precision that designer Jimmy Yeret demonstrated recently at the New Jersey Performing Arts Centre.

Working for his client, the Pivot Group, Yeret of Dynamic Vision tapped into a massive rig at the venue to create a transformative stage that morphed into an array of different looks for the 2025 HASC A Time For Music concert with timecode automation, a motorised sun structure, extensive staggered video walls, and a supportive lighting rig supplied by 4Wall Entertainment and Eagle Productions that featured 183 Chauvet Professional fixtures.

"Our stage rig dimensions were 72ft at their widest point downstage and 35ft at their narrowest point upstage with a rig depth of 32ft," said Yeret. "The venue's steel reach

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10 April 2025

USA - Caramella, the newest Italian dining destination in Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, features a high-energy distributed sound system. National Technology Associates (NTA), an AV integration firm based in Las Vegas, spearheaded the design and installation of a high-performance system featuring custom 1 Sound loudspeakers.

Known for its elegant interiors and vibrant atmosphere, Caramella required an audio solution that could adapt to its dynamic needs – from providing crystal-clear background music during the day to delivering high-energy sound for DJs and private events at night. Understanding the venue’s diverse sonic demands, NTA opted for a strategic combination of 1 Sound’s Contour and Cannon Series loudspeakers, complemented by distributed subwoofers.

In the lounge bar area, Contour CT28 point source loudspeakers were deployed to ensure pr

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10 April 2025

USA - Country music’s rising star Alexandra Kay is out on the road on her headline tour, Cupid’s a Cowgirl, spanning 31 cities across the United States and Canada. The tour, with a lighting system from Bandit Lites, launched at the end of February and will run through 6 April 2025.

Having worked as Alexandra Kay’s LD for about a year, Corbin Alvae pivoted his previous experience of rock and metalcore to Kay’s style. 

“With AK’s show, the biggest thing I focused on was making sure it brought the visual side of what we envisioned when planning this design. Hints of flashy moments, but also big, fun moments and making sure she was lit up as the focal point,” he said. “I really went towards defining that her and the band looked like superstars on stage every night.”

The system ultimately landed on the vibe that Kay dub

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10 April 2025

USA - PPDS, the provider of Philips digital signage and interactive displays, videowalls, and dvLED, has completed the installation of a giant 28ft by 8ft curved Philips dvLED production wall inside the new 4,000 sq.ft PBS Appalachia Virginia studio in Bristol, Virginia.

Built inside the Hard Rock Casino, and featuring a 46ft glass public viewing window, PBS Appalachia Virginia is the nation’s first all-digital public TV station, dedicated to amplifying the voice of Southwest Virginia with high-quality local content and PBS network programming. It is also the first television network affiliate located inside a casino.

Designed for 24/7 use and capable of presenting content in resolutions beyond 8K, Philips Unite LED 6000 Series – which was showcased during NAB Show 2025 – was the outstanding choice to bring the PBS management team’s studio am

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10 April 2025

Europe - Claypaky is featuring a number of newly released products at PL+S 2025 in Frankfurt this week.

Tambora Stormy Linear is a hybrid bar that delivers ‘bursts of stunning graphical strobes that cut through darkness’. With extreme brightness, pixel-perfect control, and seamless modularity, Tambora Stormy Linear transforms productions into an immersive experience that audiences won't just see but feel in their core.

Tambora Glare merges vintage aesthetics with cutting-edge technology. Whether you’re designing for a dynamic EDM festival, a theatrical production, or a live TV broadcast, Tambora Glare delivers ‘unparalleled performance and visual impact’.

Volero Twins is a hybrid fixture with dual powerful engines working in harmony, delivering versatility without sacrificing performance. This solution combines the creative freedom

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09 April 2025

Europe - Cyndi Lauper took a final lap of the UK and Europe with her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour with PRG entrusted to supply a full 360-degree package, including lighting, video, rigging and audio, for the arena run.

The show is a mix of bright colours (her true colours if you will) bringing Lauper’s image into 2025, designed by Tom Sutherland and the team at DX7 Design; along with Brian Burke of Brian Burke Creative. The main event is an 'accordion-style' video screen lined with LED lighting fixtures, made up of 234 ROE Active CB5 video panels and surrounded by Pixel Line IP fixtures. To support the fixtures and create the seamless columns between the panels, PRG adapted the custom metalwork from the US tour as well as fabricating new metalwork to support pixel line ‘chevrons’ that sat on the front of the on-stage lighting trusse

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09 April 2025

USA - Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Mayer, Gracie Abrams, Pink and more – the stars came out in force for Live Nation's Fire Aid benefit concert. But behind the scenes there was also an array of talent that made this spectacular and very worthy event (it raised over $100m for those affected by the LA area fires) come to life.

Lighting designer Allen Branton and production designer Patrick Dierson led a talented team of professionals that created powerful, and often deeply moving looks, at two venues (Kia Forum and Intuit Dome) that connected not only to the live audiences, but also to the 50m who watched on various livestreams.

Although the shows looked seamless with the crisp coordination of lighting and video, well-timed rapid pan and tilt effects, and harmonious colour combinations, pulling them

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09 April 2025

UK - Unusual Rigging returned to the Royal Albert Hall for the 2025 Olivier Awards on Sunday 6 April, bringing its expertise and large-scale technical capability to one of British theatre’s biggest nights. No stranger to either the venue or the event, Unusual was tasked with delivering the full scope of rigging and draughting requirements for this year’s spectacular ceremony – supporting an ambitious production with sustainable, reusable rigging infrastructure.

“We were brought on to handle all the rigging and draughting requirements for the show,” said Luke MacBride, design engineer at Unusual Rigging. “Our scope included the design and installation of a mother truss to support lighting equipment, scenery, and the automated presentation screen. We also supplied trussing for drapery, including a custom-fabricated curved truss for the red drape, a

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09 April 2025

Germany - Following the recent launch of the new GLP impression S500, the powerful successor to the proven impression S350 was put to use in December 2024 at the Tollwood Winter Festival in Munich. PRG Germany deployed 34 of the 500W LED profile fixtures for the spectacular show Duel Reality by Canadian company The 7 Fingers, which ran from 17-22 December in the Grand Chapiteau theatre tent.

PRG has been the full-service provider for the technical equipment of the festival for over 20 years, covering all tents as well as the entire outdoor and ambient lighting of the event, which is held twice a year (summer/winter).

The fast-paced show Duel Reality is a modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet. Performed on a red and blue arena-style stage, two rival groups face off and deliver captivating feats of

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09 April 2025

South Africa - The 2024 Afrikaans is Groot (AIG) concert series was staged at SunBet Arena in Time Square, Pretoria, produced by Coleske Artist Management. Nine sold-out performances thrilled audiences over two consecutive weekends.

The show was lit by two of South Africa’s best-known lighting designers, Joshua Cutts and André Siebrits from Visual Frontier. On the lighting rig were Robe moving lights, all delivered by Johannesburg-based lighting rental company, MGG.

Cutts and Siebrits have both worked on the annual event previously. In fact, Cutts has clocked up around seven years as lighting designer and Siebrits at least six, the last four as lead programmer. 2024 was the 10th anniversary of the overall event which has proved enduringly popular with the Afrikaans community.

The general theme this year was gold, so for l

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09 April 2025

UK - When the Tony Award-nominated musical A Night with Janis Joplin made its UK premiere at London’s Peacock Theatre, audiences were not only swept away by Joplin’s music but also by an immersive audio experience courtesy of KV2 Audio’s state-of-the-art sound system.

The production, which celebrates the life and music of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, utilised KV2’s ESR215, EX1.8 subwoofers, and ESD5 loudspeakers to deliver sound quality that captured every nuance of Joplin’s performances.

Sound designer Poti Martin shares how he became involved: “I’ve worked with the producer on many projects before. When they called me for this, I knew it would be something special.”

The brief was as ambitious as the subject matter – to recreate the raw energy of a Janis Joplin concert while narrating her life story. “It’s m

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09 April 2025

USA - LG Electronics has delivered display solutions to Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox and the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball (MLB). In late March, LG installed a massive main LED videoboard in centrefield at Fenway Park, measuring 30.5m wide by 11.5m high and covering an area of 350.75 square metres.

Additionally, LG delivered a comprehensive display solution comprising 11 digital signage installations. These screens span a combined area of approximately 842sq.m, including a notable 171sq.m ribbon board display.

Starting 4 April, fans had the opportunity to experience the action of the game in vivid detail, delivered by LG’s LED signage displays during the home opener – the first Fenway Park matchup of the 2025 MLB season between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals.

With a focus on ‘redefining the fan

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09 April 2025

UK - Pharos Architectural Controls has announced it will continue its busy line-up of industry events in the first half of 2025, including its return to Leeds for PLASA Focus in May.

Hosted at the Royal Armouries on 13 - 14 May, this exhibition brings together the latest innovations and the brightest minds in live events, installation, and entertainment technology.

Located at stand N-D19, the team will meet with visitors and highlight key updates to their lighting control product ranges, Pharos Expert and Pharos Designer.

The team will be demonstrating what's new in the Pharos Expert range, including support for the Pharos RIO G4 – a four-port gateway that adds convenient Ethernet-distributed DMX ports to an Expert system.

At the show, Pharos will also showcase the latest improvements in its Expert 1.2 software, including RDM (Remot

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09 April 2025

Europe - Ayrton has introduced Stradale Profile, the most compact, lightweight, versatile luminaire in the Ultimate range. Built around the concept of minimising the fixture’s footprint while significantly enhancing its performance, Stradale Profile is the first ultra-compact luminaire in Ayrton’s brand-new 1 Series.

Seamlessly following in Rivale’s footsteps with a 15% reduction in visual footprint, Stradale Profile’s design embodies the principle of uniformity that defines the Ultimate range. Through meticulous engineering and extreme miniaturisation, every detail is optimised to streamline the structure, refine effect modules, and minimise component size, pushing integration to new limits.

The new format has led to the development of an all-new high-efficiency 330W LED module, precisely calibrated at 6,500K, delivering a luminous output of