UK - PLASA Focus: Leeds 2014 launches today with free registration and a new website. The leading event for entertainment technology in the north of England will be held on 29 - 30 April, 2014, at the Royal Armouries at Clarence Dock, only a short distance from the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire.

With a fully sold out floorplan the annual event looks set to continue its success story. Long-standing exhibitors returning include; AC Entertainment, Adam Hall, AED Distribution, Artistic License, Avolites, Bose, Chauvet, Clay Paky, d&b audiotechnik, ETC, Hawthorn, J&C Joel, Martin Audio, Martin Professional, Midas, Nexo, Philips Lighting, Robe, Sennheiser, White Light and Yamaha. New exhibitors include; Actus Industries, Citronic, Coda Audio, ELC, Line 6, Sound Directions, Source Distribution, Universal Stars and Warehouse Sound amongst many others. Chauvet Professional are also con

World - Robert Juliat followspots featured in the majority of leading tours in 2103. Billboard Magazine's list of Top Ten Tours for 2013 showsthat RJ followspots figured on no less than seven of these spectacular events.

"These listings confirm once more how our followspots cut through the powerful lighting on these fabulous tours," says Robert Juliat sales director, Claus Spreyer. "It also illustrates the durability and road-worthiness of spots like our Lancelot, Cyrano, Manon and Lucy which withstand the rigours of these world-wide tours so well."

Bon Jovi Because We Can world tour - European leg - Ten RJ Lancelot 4000W HTI followspots were supplied by PRG for the European leg of 2013's number one world tour. The consignment of Lancelots was split in two sets of five, with one set in performance, while the second set leap-frogged ahead to the next

South Africa - South African doctors were recognised for excellence at the annual SAMA Doctors Awards held at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, Johannesburg in August. The full technical and decor for the gala event was supplied by Showgroup. The show ran off an Avolites Titan Mobile and included Robe Robin fixtures and Prolyte Trussing.

The South African Medical Association Doctors Awards acknowledges doctors and specialists who contribute significantly to medicine and healthcare. Entertainment was provided by the electrical string quartet, the Muses.

Andries Liebenberg and his team from Showgroup ensured a smooth production. The main attraction at the show was a 360° screen. "We had to go front projection," said Liebenberg "I usually get excited when I'm drawing and putting the project together," he said. "I also have DVDs to see what ot

USA - John Fogerty recently wrapped up an eight-week US tour which featured a stunning light show staring Martin Professional fixtures, designed to entertain fans with a completely new visual experience along with Fogerty's classic rock sound.

Production designer Alex Skowron designed and built the lighting rig to include 21 Martin Atomic Colors, 17 MAC 2000 washes, 14 MAC Viper profiles, 14 Viper washes, 10 MAC 2000 profiles, eight MAC III's and eight MAC 401 RGB fixtures. Two Martin M1 lighting consoles ran lighting and video content during the show, which projected onto 12x21 high-resolution screens and seven other surfaces surrounding the stage.

Upstaging supplied all of the Martin fixtures for the tour.

"I'm loyal to Martin because Martin is loyal to me," Skowron states. "The MAC 2k's are workhorses. You can beat them to death and they still run. The qual

South Africa - Choirs from 12 African countries competed in the 9th annual One Harmony Choir Festival at the Joburg Theatre. Having supplied the full technical since the show's inception, Showgroup were honoured to be involved once again.

This competition recognises the commitment, sacrifice and hard work of all the choir members, employees of the Barclays Africa Group, who practised uncompromisingly, outside of normal working hours.

When travelling abroad 10 years ago, Robbie Blake, director of Showgroup, was inspired when seeing Clash of the Choir. "Back in the day, Robbie pitched a similar concept to ABSA bank when they wanted to do something for their staff," explained Andries from Showgroup. ABSA - now under the Barclays Africa Group umbrella - have run the event ever since.

For the latest competition, the crew moved into the Joburg Theatre as Starlight Expres

The Netherlands - The organisers of CUE2014, which took place from 13 to 15 January in Ahoy Rotterdam, can look back on a very successful 14th edition. At the biannual exhibition for event, installation and entertainment technology, 125 exhibitors presented a wide range of technical facilities for indoor and outdoor stages to 5,515 visitors.

The exhibition distinguished itself through its professional look and relaxed atmosphere. Besides maintaining familiar links between peers, new partnerships were also forged. Innovations were liked and lectures were well-attended.

Enrico Daamen, chairman of the CUE Board comments, "The organising team of Ahoy Rotterdam has introduced innovative elements that had a positive impact on the exhibition. For example, CUE broadened its product range, which resulted in a new influx of visitors interested in the entire spectrum of stage techno

UK - Midlands-based production and rental company, Codex Audio, has recently invested in an Inspired Audio Optima 5 array system, supplied by Inspired Audio UK distributors, LMC Audio.

Dave 'Lofty' Lockhart, owner of Codex Audio, is system technician, tour manager and head sound engineer (amongst others!) for 'The Blockheads' with whom he is deploying the Optima 5 line array.

Inspired Audio design director, Chris Scott, comments, "That Lofty has invested in the system is great news on a number of fronts; firstly he values the scalability of the system in a way that we had hoped the market would and, secondly, having a seasoned engineer of his calibre using the system will give us invaluable feedback at the factory.

"Lofty carefully chooses every detail and element of the signal chain, so, choosing Inspired Audio for a crucial part of that chain is a big step forwar

UK - Entec Lighting continued its 28 year working relationship with maverick Goth rockers The Mission, supplying lighting and projection to their latest tour to facilitate a design by Mark Wood.

The west London based rental company supplied projection for the whole tour which visited academy sized venues in the UK and Europe, and also put in a full production for the sold-out Brixton Academy show.

The tour was project managed for Entec by Adam Stevenson, who undertook his first ever tour with The Mission back in 1986 which also happened to be their first live shows as The Mission.

Following this baptism of fire ... Entec has been the lighting supplier for The Mission ever since - going through several changes in management - and Stevenson has also been involved in various guises over the years including stints as LD.

He says, "The Mission has a very special place at E

UK - Multi-award-winning lighting designer Rick Fisher has singled out ETC's new Source Four LED CYC adapters for special praise while working on a production of Howard Brenton's Drawing the Line at Hampstead Theatre in London.

"We are using them to light through the ceiling of the beautiful set and I'm sure we have only scratched the surface of what they can do. I was really impressed," Fisher says.

He used six Source Four LED Lustr+ luminaires alongside conventional Source Four units, and was amazed at how well their colour and intensity blended. "There were times when I almost could not tell the difference as to which was on - the conventional or LED," explains Fisher. "They are not the same, but they are pretty close and for the first time, I almost could see not missing tungsten so much."

The CYC adapter makes a lighting inventory ev

South Africa - Stage Audio Works Technology and Engineering Group has always been at the forefront of innovation. Strengthening the already well-established track record, the company has acquired a majority stake in Active Music Distribution, one of the most established MI distributors in Africa that offers many world-leading brands.

The synergy between the two companies will result in an increased footprint for the Stage Audio Works Group, who are already well established in the commercial, entertainment technology and house of worship sectors. It will also allow Stage Audio Works to offer their diverse product range and technical expertise to a much wider market through Active Music's established MI distribution channel.

Will Deysel, CEO of Stage Audio Works comments, "Stage Audio Works has always pushed the boundaries and we pride ourselves in being a complete technolo

Australia - In Frankston, just south of Melbourne, it has become a tradition to light the 100-year-old Norfolk Pine tree in a ceremony with a spectacular firework display choreographed to a theatrical sound and light show. 45,000 people attended this 16th annual community event which offers a broad spectrum of family activities.

This season at the annual Christmas Festival of Lights, the 25m tall Christmas tree was decorated with SGM's LB-100 LED balls, delivered to Frankston City Council by SGM's local distributor, Entertainment Technology Australia (ETA).

Event manager Kylie Wood worked closely with lighting consultant Rohan Thornton from Firelight Lighting Design and the team from ETA to ensure the installation was finalised in just three days. Besides the obvious beautiful result, Ms Wood is delighted by a hidden, but very positive side-benefit in utilising LB-100 LED ball

China - The Yinji 'O' Show complex in the new district of Kaifeng, situated in China's Henan province, has recently been equipped with cutting edge production technology, including lighting effects from PR Lighting.

The Chinese manufacturer won the tender based on the ability of its PR-5000 series to meet the criteria for waterproof fixtures, with an advanced feature-set and the ability to work under high temperatures.

Catering for live concerts, lighting and laser shows, projection onto water screens, fountain shows and fireworks, the venue has been designed to be both by dynamic and flexible.

Owned by the Yinji Development Company the venue measures 46m high and 36m wide, and the Yinji 'O' Show's large central ring structure, located opposite the main stands, is reported to be the largest of its kind in the world.

The 22m-wide covered area can hold up to 11,000 spectator

The Netherlands - Thousands of delegates and guests passed through a newly launched Intellitix RFID enabled Mojo Barriers Gatekeeper access gate at Eurosonic Noorderslag last week.

Two of Europe's leading event suppliers revealed the results of their collaboration, with the integration of Intellitix market-leading access control software into Mojo Barriers' Gatekeeper system. Audiences scanned their RFID wristbands, passing through a four gatekeeper system on the way into the 700-capacity temporary 'Cathedral' concert venue. Mojo's project manager Jasper Caldenhoven liaised with the Intellitix technical team leading into the global launch to achieve the seamless integration of their software and scanning technology into the Gatekeeper.

Mojo Barriers' managing director Cees Muurling, also a speaker in the conference programme, states, "With the rise of RFID cashless paymen

UK - White Light, the Association of Lighting Designers, and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama are teaming up once again to present the New Technology Showcase, an opportunity to see and interact with the latest lighting technology in a theatre environment.

Held at RCSSD's Embassy Theatre on 24 January, the event promises to get to the heart of new fixtures and the features that designers and technicians want to see, without the pressure of a sales pitch. To complete the day, the highly anticipated annual ALD Pub Quiz will immediately follow the showcase.

Coordinated by White Light hire business development manager Craig Bennett, the afternoon event will showcase new products from leading lighting manufacturers. Featured products include the Altman LED Phoenix profile and Spectra Cyc 100, Chromlech Elidy S Panel, Clay Paky B-Eye, JB Lighting Sparx7 wash, Martin Prof

Canada - Scapin Staging, a company which specialises in the sale and rental of staging equipment, has announced the acquisition of Show Distribution, a company also specialising in the sale and rental of staging equipment and electric hoists. This will allow Scapin Staging to reach new markets and to better serve its clients with the addition of new and exciting products.

This acquisition doubles Scapin's number of employees. It will also enable Scapin to offer its products in new markets such as the Maritimes and the US where Show Distribution maintains a distribution centre and has a significant market share. This will broaden Scapin's reach, which began when it moved into Ontario, opening its Toronto office in August 2011.

Under the new administration, Show Distribution's activities will continue at its Quebec City location with its current team while its rental department

Serbia - TV producers Grand Production has invested in Robe's new Pointe moving lights, 24 of which were supplied by Robe's Serbian distributors Studio Berar Projekt following a specification by Grand Production chief lighting designer Goran Kravic.

These are the first Robe Pointes in Serbian TV, and the new fixtures went straight to work at the Studio Avala Film in Filmski Grad, Kosutnjak, Belgrade for Grand Show which is broadcast live on Pink RTV's Friday night prime-time, featuring a selection of popular folk bands interspersed with live guest interviews.

The show is a massive hit throughout the Balkan regions.

The Pointes will also be utilised on other shows produced by Grand Production for RTV Pink including Grand Parada, Narod Pita and Zvezde Granda, all of which are also music based.

Kravic has been using Robe products for around the las

UK - For the 2013 - 2014 holiday season, production management company Culture Creative teamed up with lighting specialist White Light to help re-imagine part of London's Kew Gardens for a special night-time trail. The Illuminated Trail took visitors on a mile-long adventure, with lighting and production elements uncovering hidden spaces and revealing new looks for the Garden's mainstay structures. Overseeing the project was Culture Creative director Zoë Bottrell who worked with lighting designer Phil Supple of Light Refreshment to bring Kew to life.

White Light supplied lighting, cable, rigging equipment, and production support for the Illuminated Trail, Culture Creative's biggest nature-based project to date. The project continues a long relationship between the two companies, with White Light supplying several Culture Creative projects over the past eight years including ill

Prog Rock Returns - 2014 sees the 40th anniversary of the release of Rick Wakeman's landmark concept album, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth based on the novel by Jules Verne. Wakeman and The New World Symphony Orchestra, accompanied by The English Chamber Choir and the English Rock Ensemble, will celebrate this anniversary with "a dramatic, live presentation of this epochal, classical-rock crossover work" - the Journey To The Centre Of The Earth 2014 tour. "This is the start of a new Journey," says Wakeman, "the original score for the album had been lost for so many years, making any new performances impossible. but after it turned up without warning , we managed to restore it and add previously missing music that was not included in the original performances. It has taken another half decade to develop it into this tour, but I can't wait

UK - Flightcase and loudspeaker component manufacturer and steel fabricator Penn Elcom has converted all the lighting fixtures in its St. Leonards-On-Sea, East Sussex, UK factory and offices to energy efficient, low carbon LED lightsources which have been supplied by CLD Distribution, also based in East Sussex.

The switch from metal halide to LED technology at the plant is saving Penn Elcom a whopping 70% in ongoing electricity running costs!

Based on a 253 day working year with the production lines running 24 hours a day. Penn - which distributes its products worldwide - was using around 272025 Kilowatt Hours (KWH) of electricity before the new installation, a figure that's now dramatically reduced to 68,006 KWH, representing a saving of over £18,000 year ... and nearly 100 tonnes of carbon.

Lamp specialist CLD Distribution offers a comprehensive and innovative range

USA - LightParts Inc. (www.lightparts.com), the first dedicated parts and repair source for entertainment lighting, is celebrating the ten year anniversary of the company's incorporation. LightParts was founded in January 2004 by Don Pugh and Robert Mokry as the worldwide support centre for High End Systems' legacy products such as Intellabeam and Emulator, but due to customer requests quickly expanded into circuit board repairs and parts sales for High End, Martin, Flying Pig, Jands, Vari-Lite, Element Labs, Strong, Coemar, Wybron, Elation and Clay Paky products.

LightParts now stocks over $1,000,000 of parts for immediate shipment, and employs ten full-time staff at their 6700sq.ft headquarters located in Austin, Texas, USA.

"Many of the world's largest and smallest lighting rental companies now depend on LightParts for the best parts prices and fastest PCB repairs avai

UK - Production agency Mobile Promotions has joined forces with corporate events specialist Lloyd Paul Events. Taking effect from 20 January, Lloyd Paul Events will be integrated within and become part of Mobile Promotions, with the complimentary portfolio of clients strengthening the conference and incentive travel side of the company.

Both sharing legacies in the events industry of over 20 years, the two companies will work as one to grow all sides of the business, from brand engagement activities, roadshows and stunts to award, conference and event production, with an enhanced focus on overseas incentive travel for 2014.

Paul Lloyd will join the team as event director, and he comments, "When you meet the Mobile Promotions team you are instantly struck by the passion they exude for their clients, which is something that we very much have in common. We pride ourselves on

USA - While others around the world may have been watching a ball drop at midnight, those at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta were bathed in beams of light as Widespread Panic performed to thousands. Bandit Lites provided the lighting for both Widespread Panic's annual Toys for Tots concert and the New Year's Eve concert a day later.

Lighting designer Paul Hoffman created the design using the band's fall touring rig with "embellishments". Two long curved trusses stretched out over the audience to give the lighting more reach as well as accommodate the special effects like pyro and confetti.

Equipment included Vari*Lite 3000 Spots, Clay Paky Sharpys, GLP X4S's, Martin MAC 101s, Bandit 5x5s, Bandit GRN Pars, GrandMA2 Consoles, a 60" mirror-ball, and 2-lights. Additional video equipment included a video screen of Mirage Panels and Maxedia video servers.

"

Canada - When Canada's largest airline, Air Canada, decided to relocate its Systems Operation Control (SOC) Centre to a new site outside Toronto, the company knew it needed to include modern technologies that would enable its employees to learn, work and collaborate easier and more efficiently than ever before. To do this, the forward-looking airline hired AV and IT integrator, Advanced.

According to Advanced co-president David Weatherhead, "Air Canada wanted to provide its employees with modern technological tools that would enhance productivity, simplify staff education, and accelerate collaboration. We worked with Thor Hoff, the IT project manager of the SOC relocation, to design professional AV systems for 13 rooms that are now being used for meetings, conferences, collaboration and training. By making it easy for staff members to share ideas, make presentations and man

Australia - Planetshakers City Church at the Dallas Brooks Centre in downtown Melbourne lives up to its name in many different ways. A vibrant and growing church, Planetshakers is home to world-renowned contemporary praise and worship music. The powerful evangelical message led by Pastors Russell and Sam Evans is now driven home by a sound system that would shame many a touring rock band.

"We have an expanding congregation and a venue that can accommodate two thousand, two hundred across the stalls and two balconies," explained production director, Dan Cornwell. "To deliver a clear, accurate spoken word was a priority; the utmost intelligibility is a necessity. The dynamic nature of our services has a major musical component, this demands high SPLs and because of our expanding numbers we stage multiple services, so the system needs to be able to cope with regular

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