Together Again? - Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are to appear at a charity concert in New York next month. Sir Paul will headline the concert at the Radio City Music Hall on 4 April, while Starr has been named among a string of special guests. The David Lynch Foundation initially said the pair would perform together, but a spokesman for Sir Paul said a collaboration had not been confirmed and a spokeswoman for Starr said he would perform "a few songs on his own". The David Lynch Foundation, set up by the film director, promotes transcendental meditation in schools.

Glasto Update - Glastonbury Festival organisers are planning to mark its 40th anniversary next year by booking 40 bands from the past 40 years to play the 2010 event. "We want to have a band from every year on the Pyramid Stage," said Emily Eavis. "We'll have a lot of the biggest p

UK - The cream of acting talent came together last weekend for the 2009 Laurence Olivier Awards. The ceremony, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London is presented by The Society of London Theatre to honour the best West End stage productions.

The winner of the Best Lighting Design category was Paule Constable for her design for The Chalk Garden at the Donmar Warehouse; this is the third time she has won the lighting Olivier, with a further four nominations to her credit.

In the other technical categories, awards went to Gareth Fry for his sound design for Black Watch at the Barbican, to Todd Rosenthal for his set design for August: Osage County at the National.

The awards were presented against a backdrop of record West End attendances in 2008, 14 million people, a one per cent rise on the previous year. Chris Patton, divisional sales manager for Stag

UK - Kave Theatre Services supplied all lighting, sound and crew requirements to Move It (the UK's largest exhibition for Dance) for the latest addition to the show: The Freestyle Stage. The show took place from Thursday 5th - Sunday 8th March at Olympia, London.

The Freestyle Stage is an area the organisers created to allow dancers visiting the show, to show off their dance skills to a crowd. The brief from organisers was to create an area that allowed maximum flexibility with lighting and sound, as there are no rehearsals or even any idea of the genre that will be performed. The performers just show up with an iPod or CD with their chosen track and take to the stage.

Kave supplied a flexible lighting rig consisting of Martin Mac 600s, Mac 2000 Profiles and the new Mac 575 Kryptons for lighting the stage, Chroma Q Colour Blocks as truss toners, Le Maitre MVS hazers, and 2 Rob

UK - The National Outdoor Events Association's Annual Tribute Celebration Evening, held on 26h February 2009, saw AP Security add another award to its growing list - the Training in Events Tribute.

The Tribute was awarded to AP in recognition of the results its training programme has produced at events such as Leeds Festival. Each and every AP employee attends a pit training course held during non-show days at the O2 Academy Brixton, one of the many venues at which AP is responsible for crowd safety.

Leeds Festival 2008 marked AP Security's tenth year of providing crowd safety at the event. As the festival has grown, so AP's role has developed alongside it, as has a solid relationship with promoter, Festival Republic.

"Attending the course doesn't guarantee work in the pit," says AP's general manager, Andy Stevens. "But you definitely can't work there u

UK / South Africa - Gearhouse South Africa - the country's leading supplier of presentation and event technical equipment - is a long-standing XTA user and supplier, so when the time came to upgrade their loudspeaker processing inventory, they naturally turned to local XTA distributor, Tadco.

Offering services across all disciplines including lighting, audio, structures, power, staging and set design, Gearhouse takes an imaginative approach to project design and prides itself on its state-of-the-art equipment.

Dave Tudor of Gearhouse explains the background to this recent purchase: "With the sale of equipment into Nigeria, we needed to replace and upgrade our stock of audio processing. XTA has proved a very reliable product in the past, which contributed to the decision to make the purchase." He continued: "We currently have in our inventory a number XTA DP224s

Sweden - Wireless Solution Sweden has added three individuals with over 60 years of collective experience to its W-DMX research and development team.

Mats Jonsson is the new CTO for Wireless Solution, with 25 years experience in software development for major manufacturers of infrastructure equipment. Jonsson will be project manager for W-DMX, responsible for software design.

Kjell Johanesson is a new radio engineer with 20 years experience from Ericsson, the provider of mobile phones and GSM Networks, which were the technologies that formed the basis of W-DMX when the company formed in 2004.

Willhelm Alhgreen is responsible for hardware design and will work together with Johanesson and Jonsson to continue the development of new products.

"We're very excited to add these talented individuals to the R&D team," says Niclas Arvidsson, CEO of Wireless Solution, "

USA/UK - Designers on both sides of the Atlantic have been signing up to support Behind the Scenes and Light Relief By Design Day, the day the industry comes together to celebrate its successes and to give back in thanks.

On 24 April, designers with shows around the world will be donating their royalties to support one or both of the two charities dedicated exclusively to helping entertainment technology and design professionals, Behind the Scenes in the US and Canada and Light Relief in the UK. Designers and others not in royalty situations have also stepped forward in support of By Design Day with direct donations.

By Design Day champions Ken Billington, Rick Fisher and Ken Posner have already been joined in donating their royalties by Mike Baldassari, Paule Constable, Don Holder, David Howe, Tim Mascal, Paul Miller, Brian Monahan, Peter Mumford, Peter Nigrini, Paul Pyant, M

Germany - HoloTerminal from Pronova is a new display product which the company says presents a bright, crystal-clear message. Available to rent or buy, the HoloTerminal can display information and presentations in a wide range of environments. The sleek design hides the projection technology safely away in the base of the unit, while a shaped glass screen with a 30" HoloPro 4 film laminated into it presents your message as a floating image.

The base includes a Casio XJ-S52 DLP projector, and a MacMini where content is stored. The image is projected onto the screen via a mirror. The design means that the HoloTerminal is simple to set up on location: the HoloTerminal is delivered completely mounted in a flightcase which can then be rolled out, unpacked, set up and connected on location in less than one minute, the company says.

(Lee Baldock)

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies has given its web site www.ac-et.com/bargains a major facelift to provide customers with an improved online experience, following the continued success and expansion of this area of the company's business.

A.C. updates the bargain stock website on a daily basis with ex-demo and second hand equipment available. To reflect the web site's much expanded stock inventory, the site features dedicated lighting, audio, rigging and video product pages, based on the popular format of the distributor's 24-hour online shop. The Just Landed page enables customers to see at a glance what stock has been added in the last seven working days.

Most items on the Bargain Stock list are stocked in the company's Leeds Warehouse and can be viewed by arrangement.

(Jim Evans)

Changing of the Guard - The value of the live music scene has overtaken that of recordings, according to the Performing Rights Society (PRS). Figures state the recorded music industry generated £896m during 2008. This compares with the estimated worth of the live music, increasingly vital for new and established bands, which amounted to an estimated £904m. The PRS, which collects royalties for live and recorded music on behalf of artists and writers, called the landmark a "changing of the guard".

Speaking to BBC 6 Music, the organisation's chief economist, Will Page, said: "We've been doing some maths back at the office. We have all the data on live music at the PRS because we license all the live performances that go around the country, so we're actually able to put a number on how much live music is worth." For their final calculations, Page exp

UK - A fund-raising walk following the route of Hadrian's Wall will be undertaken in May by friends of freelance logistics manager Howard Kerr, who died last year of Pancreatic Cancer.

Following his diagnosis, Howard embarked on a series of activities with the aim of raising awareness and providing funds for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, and specifically for sponsoring ongoing research. In April 2008, even while battling against his illness, Howard, accompanied by 12 industry colleagues, walked the Ridgeway, an ancient track running from Hertfordshire to Wiltshire.

Howard lost his personal fight against Pancreatic Cancer last August, but his brother-in-law Nick Grecian, managing director of events crewing firm Gallowglass, has taken up the challenge for 2009 on Howard's behalf, with friends and supporters who had joined the original walk.

Nick Grecian told L&SI Online

UK - High Technology Lighting has teamed up with Keighley Cougars RLFC on a flagship government-funded sustainable technology research project that has the potential to drastically reduce energy usage across the UK.

The Leeds-based lighting design specialist has been chosen as the lighting industry's representative on a project to develop ecologically sound lighting practice across the UK construction sector.

High Technology Lighting chose Cougar Park - home of the Co-operative Championship 1 side - as one of ten high-profile sites across the country in which to install new LED lighting technology.

A total of 26 low-energy LED lights have been mounted in the club's Diamond Suite, lobby and stairwell of the main stand. Extensive end-user validation trials will now be conducted over an 18-month period.

The results will then be submitted to the School of the Built Environment

UK - The Great Easter Switch On Stage Electrics' free launch event, tailored to be of special interest to people responsible for live events, will be an informal day of stimulating presentations and product demonstrations featuring: LED Screens Launch; Temporary Ice Rinks (live demonstration); New SPLnet noise and sound monitor; Health & Safety for live events.

The event will be held at The Pavilion (WH Smith entrance), The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol on Tuesday 7th April between 10.30am - 2.30pm.

Register for this event at the address below.

(Claire Beeson)

USA - A new online, self-paced class allows installers and technicians to learn the non-technical skills needed for success in just a few short months. NSCA University's Quick Start for Systems Contractors is designed for new employees or staff who were never properly trained on these essential aspects of the job.

Quick Start contains five modules that focus on industry knowledge, customer service, troubleshooting, project documentation and responsibility.

"In today's economy, setting yourself apart from your competitors is key," said Norah Hammond, NSCA senior director of professional development. "Simple exercises - such as practicing consistent customer service, knowing the industry, and understanding a range of products and services - show your customers that you will get the job done right, and also improves your representation of your organis

Denmark - Intelligent lighting manufacturers Martin Professional and JB-lighting have entered into an agreement that allows Martin Professional to market JB-lighting's JBLED A7 moving head fixture in a MAC 301 Wash version.

The mutually beneficial agreement gives Martin the right to market the LED moving head through its extensive global distributor network while JB-lighting gains the benefit of greater international exposure in a fast growing segment of the market.

The JBLED A7 has been well-received in the market since its introduction last fall, including several positive product reviews by both German and international trade magazines. Martin will launch the MAC 301 Wash version at the Pro Light + Sound exhibition in Frankfurt in early April.

Peter Skytte, moving heads product manager at Martin, commented, "We see great potential in this agreement and are pleased to

UK - Eat To The Beat has won the contract to provide dressing room and the production team catering at this year's V Festival in Chelmsford.

Mary Shelley-Smith, Eat To The Beat operations director said, "We are delighted to be adding this prestigious festival to our extensive roster of high profile summer events. The backstage catering has become a key ingredient in the success of the festivals we have become regulars at, thanks to great staff, equipment and expertise. We have previously worked with V Festival in the USA through our American office so to also be working with this one on our home turf is an honour."

Eat To The Beat has over 25 years of tour, location and festival catering experience spanning across the music, film, television and production sectors. During that time they have secured many long term festivals contracts including Glastonbury, Reading an

Germany - The Procon group has been appointed as technical supplier for the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. Procon has already worked for the production in Athens 2006 and Belgrade 2008.

Procon will send 34 trailer trucks with technical equipment and a team of more than 70 people to this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Contract value is in the seven-figure area, says the company.

Amongst others, Procon has recently provided services for the Echo (German Music Award) in Berlin and is at present working for the TV show Deutschland sucht den Superstar (German Pop Idol).

(Jim Evans)

UK - David 'Steedsy' Stevenson of Ward Steedsy Associates is organising a fund rasing event for FACE - Fight Against Cancer in Edinburgh - a charity based at the city's Western General Hospital.

The event takes place on Saturday 20 June at Linlithgow Rugby Club which is just 10 minutes from Edinburgh airport. Entertainment will include live music from the band Aye Right - formerly known as Last Tram Tae Auchenshuggle, plus 80s disco, food and drink aplenty. "I'd love as many of you as possible to come along," says Steedsy. "Not only to raise money for a great cause, but to have a great night too."

(Jim Evans)

USA - The Long Reach Long Riders and The ESTA Foundation announced the results of their joint raffle to benefit the Behind the Scenes programme at the USITT conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A total of $5,236 was raised from raffle ticket sales during the three-day conference, more than doubling the $2500 Challenge Grant issued by Sapsis Rigging. In addition, Jonathan Deull made a $1500 donation to Behind the Scenes in support of the Long Reach Long Riders 2009 charity ride this summer, bringing the total raised at USITT to $9,236.

The winners and their prizes are: Fred Allen - Altman Rentals Ghostlight; Shan Ayers - USITT 2010 Conference Registration; Dennis Booth - Nolan Engineering Services' Structural Master Class; Ed Condit - Martin Light Jockey; Kacey Fisher - Live Design's Broadway Master Class; Ben Gasper - Utah Shakespearean Festival Ticket Package; David Griffith - Sap

UK - The Michael Northen Bursary 2009 will be awarded by the ALD in conjunction with ETC and The Mousetrap Foundation. This prestigious award which is open to all students, and not just ALD members.

The Michael Northen Bursary was set up by lighting designer Michael Northen shortly before he passed away in 2001. It takes the form of a £500 prize awarded to a student who shows exemplary talent in lighting design. The award is to be judged on a project that the student has produced within the past academic year (July 2008 - July 2009). This award was originally made in conjunction with the White Light Bursary and since 2004 the ALD has administered the scheme and organises the presentation of awards as a fitting tribute to Michael who was a founding member of the ALD and a previous President. The fund itself is held by The Mousetrap Foundation, an organisation committed to e

Double Take - A new version of West Side Story, in which the cast use two different languages, has opened on Broadway. The tale of lovers from rival gangs has been part translated into Spanish to reflect the fact that half the story is set in a Puerto Rican community. Dialogue between members of the Shark gang is now in Spanish and several of the songs have also been translated. Director Arthur Laurents said, "I wanted it to be more like life and that's what they speak in life."

Club News - The head of Britain's biggest nightclub operator predicted that half the UK's estimated 2,700 nightclubs could fail over the next 18 months. Stephen Thomas, the chief executive of Luminar, told The Times that there would be "a lot of closures", forced by the effects of the recession, but he expected many to re-open under so-called pre-pack administrati

UK - Blink TV, a leading supplier of video screens and visual content to the live music industry, has recruited two key new staff to drive its growth strategy.

Carmela Iandoli joins as programming editor, a newly-created role designed to expand Blink's pre-show entertainment offering to appeal to artists from all music genres. Blink is known for its work with pop acts, but recent projects with indie bands such as Keane and Snow Patrol signals its intention to broaden its client base.

For Snow Patrol's current tour Blink created bespoke pre-show entertainment tailored specifically to the tastes of the band and its fans, including music selected by the band set to time-lapse photography of the stage being set up. The resulting imagery builds anticipation within the crowd prior to the band's arrival on stage. The package includes targeted advertising which helps offset the signif

UK - During the months of June and July, the Forestry Commission hosts a highly successful live music tour at rural woodland venues across the UK. AP Security has provided crowd safety services on the majority of the sites for the last six years. This year, its remit has expanded to encompass the entire schedule.

"We're delighted to be working with the Forestry Commission again this year," says AP's national sales manager, John Phillips. "We're even more pleased to have the opportunity to work on every site this year."

Rachael Miller, events manager for the Forestry Commission, comments, "We take the safety and security of our concert-goers very seriously. AP has provided a top quality service for us in the past and we look forward to working with them again this year."

(Jim Evans)

USA - Shure Incorporated will officially support Earth Hour 2009, a global climate event led by the World Wildlife Fund, by switching off all non-essential lighting in all of the company's facilities around the world for one hour on 28 March, and encouraging all of its associates, customers, and suppliers to do the same.

Shure will join corporations, organizations, governments, and individuals in more than 240 cities around the world in supporting Earth Hour, which begins at 8:30pm local time. Tens of millions of people from all corners of the world are expected to participate in this call for global action on climate change.

"One of our company's core values is to be a good corporate citizen and neighbour," said Sandy LaMantia, Shure president and CEO. "We have an internal team, our Green Team, which strives to constantly implement and improve environmentally-f

Latest Issue. . .

Save
Cookies user preferences
We use cookies to ensure you to get the best experience on our website. If you decline the use of cookies, this website may not function as expected.
Accept all
Decline all
Analytics
Tools used to analyze the data to measure the effectiveness of a website and to understand how it works.
Google Analytics
Accept
Decline
Advertisement
If you accept, the ads on the page will be adapted to your preferences.
Google Ad
Accept
Decline