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Clay Paky reaches great heights with SuperSharpy

James Bawn's design saw the SuperSharpy's project a range of gobos into the sky, which could be seen for miles around (photo: Tim Hoggarth)

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Lighting designer James Bawn has employed the Clay Paky SuperSharpy to play an instrumental role in a range of recent architectural projects, including projecting light over vast distances from the iconic Victoria Tower in Huddersfield and a special one-night installation at the Halifax Transmitting Tower.

Yorkshire-based roofing company Ploughcroft commissioned Bawn to create a stunning light show at the Halifax tower to celebrate reaching a huge milestone in energy saving for homes, schools and businesses across the county. Named Ploughcroft Eco Northern Lights, the light show saw the 45.7m (150ft) tower illuminated in vibrant hues and stunning textures.

"I added the SuperSharpys, which were sub-rented from Dry Hire Lighting via HSL, to deliver an aerial dyn

The Week in Lighting & Sound

Details: 14 March 2016

On The Campaign Trail - Adele has issued a statement to distance herself from Donald Trump, after he used her music at his rallies. The Republican presidential candidate, whose slogan is "Make America great again", has recently been playing Adele's hit Rolling In The Deep as his "warm-up" music. "Adele has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning," her spokesman confirmed.

It is not the first time Trump has been criticised for appropriating pop songs. Lawyers for Aerosmith star Steven Tyler sent Trump's campaign a cease-and-desist letter last year, after the politician played the band's hit single Dream On at numerous rallies around the US.

Politicians using songs by musicians who do not support them has been a thorny issue for decades, since Bruce Springsteen castigated President Reagan for plann

The project was part of the Niagara Winter Festival of Lights event, which transforms the area around Niagara Falls into a palette of stunning colours

Chroma-Q Color One 100s light Niagara Falls festival

Details: 14 March 2016

Canada - Chroma-QColor One 100 premium performance, IP65-rated LED PARs have provided a powerful yet energy-efficient lighting solution to beam bold colours, soft pastels and stunning whites onto the massive exterior façade of the Toronto Power Generating Station - playing against the background of the national historic site at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

, with millions of sparkling lights making up beautifully illuminated displays. Recently, the organisers have made a concerted effort to utilize only power-saving LED technology for their lighting designs.

Shear Display was the contractor responsible for the design and implementation of the installations along the Winter Festival of Light. One of the major elements of the Festival was a sound and light show on the exterior of the Toronto Power Generating Station - a majestic building adjacent to the Niagara River, fash

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.

A sumptuous evening of music and dance on a vast iced stage covered nearly half the arena floor

d&b ArrayProcessing brings harmony to the amphitheatre

Details: 14 March 2016

Italy - The ancient Roman amphitheatre in Verona was the magnificent setting for Intimissimi on Ice, a sumptuous evening of music and dance on a vast iced stage that covered nearly half the arena floor. Designed in the classical amphitheatre style, the two-thousand year old stone structure is elliptical in shape, with the outer walls standing about seventeen metres in height. The audience was seated in the remaining half of the arena floor and on seating built into the steeply tiered bleachers of the original structure. Beautiful and atmospheric certainly, yet presenting quite a challenge for sound reinforcement.

Why was d&b ArrayProcessing deployed here? Davide Carlotti, Education and Application Support at d&b audiotechnik Italia explains. "To begin with, ArrayProcessing was chosen for its help with performances in this sort of environment. It was the first time f

Rush UK's first Trampoline Park incorporates a series of jumping activities

First Trampolene Park equipped with Martin Audio CDD

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Set on a 30,000sq.ft industrial site in High Wycombe, Rush UK's first Trampoline Park incorporates a series of jumping activities - with wall-to-wall interconnected trampolines, climbing challenges, two dodgeball courts, two basketball hoop lanes, a gigantic foam pit and a ninja challenge course.

Combined with children's birthday party rooms, corporate events, teenage disco nights and fitness classes, all activities function under a roof supported by Martin Audio's new CDD (Coaxial Differential Dispersion) premium installation loudspeakers.

This solution was recommended by the AV integrators, Penguin Media Solutions. Their director of operations, Dylan Thompson, said it was vital after seeing other sound systems struggling for clarity in similar environments, that this lively, reverberant hall - with 16,000sq.ft of net usable space - was installed with products fit for

To celebrate this unprecedented growth, Audinate will bring its popular #DanteEverywhere social media contest to ISE

ISE 2016: Audinate celebrates Dante Licence growth

Details: 14 March 2016

The Netherlands - Audinate has announced that 275 manufacturers have now adopted Dante, the industry-leading audio over IP networking solution, and that more than 675 Dante-enabled products are now available worldwide. This represents a dramatic 145% increase in the number of commercially available products since ISE last year.

To celebrate this unprecedented growth, Audinate will bring its popular #DanteEverywhere social media contest to ISE, giving attendees the chance to win a variety of prizes by finding Dante partners exhibiting at the show. To participate, attendees just take photos of the "Dante Spoken Here" signs at any of the over 80 Dante partner booths and post them to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #DanteEverywhere. Prizes include free Dante T-shirts, Dante Via software and Bose QuietComfort 20 acoustic noise-cancelling headphones. Get mo

Avid will deliver hands-on demos of both systems

ISE 2016: Avid to showcase live sound consoles

Details: 14 March 2016

The Netherlands - Avid will showcase its latest award-winning live sound consoles at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2016, including the modular and scalable, Avid VENUE | S6L, and the compact Avid VENUE | S3L-X. In the 10years since Avid first introduced the VENUE live sound mixing system, the family of consoles has become one of the most trusted and requested live sound systems in the world.

Powered by Avid Everywhere, VENUE | S6L and VENUE | S3L-X are tightly integrated with industry-standard Pro Tools and functions as the perfect front-end to the Avid MediaCentral Platform, the most fluid end-to-end media management and distribution platform in the industry. On stand 7-M215, Avid will deliver hands-on demos of both systems, showcasing the integration for streamlined recording and playback functionality.

A fully modular, scalable live sound mixing system, VENUE | S6L deli

BikeFest Spain 2025 - Join the ride!

BikeFest Spain is set to return for its fourth consecutive year, inviting cyclists from across the industry to join the 360km ride towards ISE in Barcelona. From 31 January to 2 February 2025, riders will again rally in Valencia, cycling along the Mediterranean coast in support of industry causes.
For more information and to sign up, visit: www.joinbikefest.com

Backstage Academy expands in preparation for university bid

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Backstage Academy has seen several new appointments over the past few months, gearing them up for the next phase in their expansion, application for university titleship, and to meet the needs of greater student numbers.

Managing director Paul Barton has been working in the events industry since he was 15 in a wide variety of sectors ranging from events structures to production, site management and sponsorship across Europe, the UAE and Southern Africa. Paul's last industry post was with GL Events as site manager for London's 2012 Olympic Rowing and Canoeing events at Eton Dorney. Paul's career in education started in 2008 at the University of Exeter where he launched the first Events Management module in any Russell Group university, building it from 35 students to 350.

Associate dean, Paul Walters has 15 years' experience in Higher Education with a focus on the event

Felix Garcia has joined JRC as a controls engineer

J.R. Clancy adds controls engineer and project manager

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - J. R. Clancy has added two people to its technical and project management staff.

Felix Garcia has joined JRC as a controls engineer. In this position, he designs and draws electrical circuits for control systems, and tests and troubleshoots the circuits, processors and communications networks of installed equipment. Garcia tests equipment including motors and starters before they are shipped to the customer, and he trains end users in the operation of JRC's control systems.

Originally from Cuba, Garcia earned his degree in electrical engineering in Cuba, and worked for an oil and gas manufacturer in Mexico before moving to upstate New York.

Joe Sheppard returns to his native Auburn, New York, to take the position of standard systems project manager at JRC. Most recently, he served as technical supervisor at the Centre of the Arts at George Mason University, where he

The combined teams of TSL and Point Source Productions.

TSL Lighting acquires Point Source Productions

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - TSL Lighting has acquired London-based rental company Point Source Productions. The move will see both companies' teams and rental equipment combining at TSL's premises during February 2016. Point Source's rental, projects and operations staff have also joined TSL. Customers will retain the same point of contact, levels of quality, service and value for money, say TSL.

Hire manager John Beer comments: "This is a huge step forward for our customers, myself, Ian and all the team joining TSL from Point Source. The operational systems, warehouse space and extra products available are a huge advantage to the markets and clients that we serve. We will continue to provide dry-hire, projects and trade rental, locally and nationally."

The owners of TSL Lighting, Sam Tamplin and Martin Locket, added: "We are pleased to welcome the staff and customers of Point Sourc

Theatreplan, has recently completed a major reseating project for the Finnish National Opera House in Helsinki

Theatreplan reseats Helsinki National Opera House

Details: 14 March 2016

Finland - International theatre consultancy practice, Theatreplan, has recently completed a major reseating project for the Finnish National Opera House in Helsinki. The original seats were installed in 1993 when the opera building was completed. After meetings with the Opera and inspection of the auditorium, Theatreplan's Neil Morton recommended a full reseating rather than refurbishment.

The ergonomics of the original seat were designed for a relaxed seating position with a seat height lower than normal for theatre seats. This resulted in the sightlines from the seats at the front of each of the three tiers being less than ideal. Furthermore, after more than two decades' service many of the seats were beginning to show signs of wear and tear; the foam on many of seat pans had collapsed and several of the components were loose including the frames so that the seats were no lon

DWR to host Fall Arrest training

Details: 14 March 2016

South Africa - A 'Fall Arrest & Basic Rescue' course will be hosted at DWR Distribution from 22-24 February 2016. This will be of interest to riggers and technicians, tower climbers, workers on elevated platforms and site managers - any person who may share in conducting a possible rescue, the company says.

The three day course has been approved by SETA, SAQA, DOL, Eskom, Vodacom, Cell C, MTN, MSN, Huawei Technologies Africa, ZTE, Anglo Coal & Platinum and Exxaro. Delegates who pass this course will receive a certificate valid for three years.

Delegate requirements include: A certified copy of ID document; Valid Medical Certificate stating fitness for work at height (valid for at least 3 months from training date); Learners must be proficient in English Reading and writing, up to the level of Grade 10; Delegates are welcome to bring their own harnesses and rigging gear.

The outdoor tour dates, in public squares, meant it was necessary to use reliable, powerful lights

Clay Paky lights the shades of Pintus

Details: 14 March 2016

Italy - Popular Italian comedian Angelo Pintus was joined on stage by Clay Paky Sharpys for his recent tour. The show featured Pintus's simple, natural humour, his musical skills and his talent as an impersonator. Last year's show at the Mediolanum Forum marked the beginning of a period of technical cooperation between Leader Sound and Angelo Pintus's production team. Lighting designer Gianluca Brunelli put together a lighting rig for the over 60 tour dates in various theatres and for the show at the Forum.

Brunelli decided to put a few Sharpy units on the stage floor: "They were placed on the set as side-lighting in fixed positions for much of the show, and remained motionless until the scenes where Pintus describes changes in the situation. These are usually comical situations."

The outdoor tour dates, in public squares, meant it was necessary to use reliable, po

The Old Vic in London's Lambeth hosted the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards

Britannia Row at the London Evening Standard Awards

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - As 2015 drew to a close, it was the turn of The Old Vic in London's Lambeth to host the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards. This prestigious event, presented in partnership with the West End restaurant, The Ivy, is an opportunity for the theatre community to recognise and applaud the best of the year's productions and performances. Steering the ceremony was Rob Brydon just a month after starring in the theatre's first production under its new director Matthew Warchus. He was ably assisted by co-hosts Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen along with the Evening Standard's owner, Evgeny Lebedev.

Production for the event was arranged by Mr Beautiful City and technical director, Jaie Genadt who called in Britannia Row Productions to handle the complex audio requirements for the show. Brit Row's Tom Brown was client liaison manager: "There were a number of factor

The setting for Jacqui Honess-Martin's new festive tragi-comedy is a Christmas tree retailer and the action spans a month over December (photo: Ellie Kurttz)

Pining for Robe at the Hampstead Theatre

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Theatre designer Johanna Town made the most of Robe's new DL4S Profile fixture when lighting Pine at the Hampstead Theatre in London.

The setting for Jacqui Honess-Martin's new festive tragi-comedy is a Christmas tree retailer and the action spans a month over December from early morning to midnight. The witty and incisive narrative incites laughter and tears as a group of 20-somethings from mixed backgrounds and experiences sell Christmas trees from a street outlet ... along the way singing all those gloriously clichéd Christmas songs you love ... and hate!!!

Hampstead Theatre is a small but highly acclaimed studio venue with a limited budget, so Jo explored some options for additional lighting, and Robe was able to help out with the two DL4S Profiles.

She was initially slightly unsure of putting a fully spec'd moving light into a grid with only 3m of

Capital's Keith Davis, Paul Timmins and Martin Connolly

Capital Sound adds d&b to touring inventory

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Due to client demand, Capital Sound has added a J-Series d&b system to it loudspeaker inventory. Coming hot on the heels of its investment in Outline's GTO line array, this investment adds a fourth brand to Capital's offering and provides an extra dimension to its concert touring packages.

The J-Series systems are complimented by D80 amplification and the company's new B-Series subs.

"Historically, we have had a strong presence in the concert touring market and we always want to make sure we have a complete range of up-to-date products to cater for current day demands," says Capital's general manager, Paul Timmins. "The d&b system is both versatile and incredibly rider friendly, which ensures we continue to keep pace with the requirements of larger-scale tours.

"The new B22 subs are one of three d&b sub options purchased and, as d&b has released a

A full Roland setup included two M-5000 consoles

Roland digital consoles in the mix in Barcelona

Details: 14 March 2016

Spain - The Roland O.H.R.C.A M-5000 and M-5000C live digital mixing consoles were the consoles of choice for the public New Year's Eve event in Barcelona, configured in a full R.E.A.C (Roland Ethernet Audio Communication) setup. The Roland consoles were specified by Focus for a system that required over 80 inputs FOH and monitor, and a PA including 12 delay towers. Focus - one of the largest production companies in Barcelona - were in charge of the sound, light and video for the outdoor party and were supported by Roland ProAV product manager Nico Suárez.

The Barcelona New Year's Eve celebrations are attended by around 95,000 people and broadcast live to over 1 million others on Spanish television. The massive celebration spreads from the Montjuic mountains to the Espanya square in the city, with music and performance all along the Maria Cristina Avenue.

A full Roland setup

Ayrton IntelliPix-R loom large over The Weeknd (photo ©2016 Todd Kaplan)

Something for The Weeknd from Ayrton

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - The sold-out Madness Fall Tour by Canadian singer, songwriter and record producer, The Weeknd, in support of his third studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness, was a spectacular production, with set and lighting design by LeRoy Bennett of Seven Design Works. It incorporated over 650 lighting fixtures from Ayrton - including 'every available IntelliPix-R fixture on the planet' - to help realise a design concept that delivered a multiplicity of looks from the subtly atmospheric to a totally engulfing spectacle.

The music of Abel Tesfaye, the musician known as The Weeknd, is very dark and cinematic. Bennett reflected this by creating a mutable set with lots of transparency, depth and changing personalities.

Ayrton fixtures featured heavily in its creation with a grid of 270 MagicPanel 602 fixtures forming a back wall that hid two rows of washlights, and which itsel

The new facility has warehouse space to provide ample storage to support the company's expanded inventory and growth for the future

Blinding Light expands following significant growth

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Blinding Light, the corporate and event lighting specialist has announced that following the company's success and significant growth in 2015, it has now completed a move to new larger premises.

Consisting of over 20,000sq.ft, the new facility has warehouse space to provide ample storage to support the company's expanded inventory and growth for the future. There will also be dedicated prep & pre-production spaces for incoming crews to oversee and prepare larger shows prior to despatch to site, plus a dedicated space to allow clients to hold production meetings.

The new facility is set within a large secure compound with several loading bays and storage for multiple trucks. The expansion will also result in further growth of the Blinding Light team, with a number of new warehouse technicians coming on board to support the additional workload. The new site is well locate

Company fined £36,000 for failing to ensure workers' safety

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - One of world's largest temporary power generation companies was recently (25 January 2016) fined a total of £36,000 for failing to ensure that workers were not exposed to risk. The company, Aggreko PLC, appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court to plead guilty to two charges, one under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the other under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. They also agreed to pay the Royal Borough's costs of £90,000.

The charges followed an electrical incident where a man suffered electrical burns during the fitting out of the Earl's Court Exhibition Centre in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. Aggreko PLC had been appointed as the main contractor to provide a temporary electricity supply to the Exhibition Centre which was to host the Olympic volleyball tournament.

In order to carry out this work the company engaged a numb

The next, eagerly awaited Showlight event will take place in Florence, Italy, 20-23 May 2017

Showlight 2017 - Call for Papers

Details: 14 March 2016

World - Showlight (Florence, Italy, 20-23 May 2017) is now inviting lighting designers and directors, associates, programmers, scenographers, equipment manufacturers and others to submit their ideas for conference papers for the 2017 programme. Now is your chance to be part of this prestigious event!

The Showlight Quadrennial is one of the few international events organised specifically for lighting professionals by lighting professionals across the performance, television, film, architectural and event worlds. Held every four years, Showlight 2017 takes place in Florence and celebrates the 10th presentation of this eagerly-awaited lighting colloquium.

Showlight has made a special name for itself by bringing together many of the most famous names in lighting. Delegates are given the opportunity to be part of the larger international lighting community, as those with establis

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Case Study: Hans Zimmer Live

BikeFest Spain 2025 - Join the ride!

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