Wight is Green - Sir Paul McCartney has lent his support to reducing the carbon footprint of this year's Isle of Wight Festival, where he is the headline act. The ninth festival to take place on the island since its return from its 1970 heyday gets under way on Thursday. Organisers want to make the event as "green" as possible after winning the Greener Festival Award last year.

Generators will partly run on bio-diesel, solar power will be used, while rangers have set up a wildlife and bee haven near the site using funds from festival-goers. The Let It Be campaign is named after one of Sir Paul's Beatles songs and aims to help dwindling bee populations.

Sir Paul said: "I'm glad that winning the Greener Festival Award last year has helped to encourage them to take further action in 2010. It is fantastic for artists like myself to see festival

Denmark - Pascal A/S, the OEM design and build company, based near Copenhagen is expanding, and moving to larger premises.

The new address is: Pascal A/S, Literbuen 10B, 2740 Skovlunde, Denmark. Phone: +45 36 99 19 44. Web: www.pascal-audio.com.

Pascal is a producer and developer of amplifier modules for integration into high-power professional loudspeakers. They specialise in providing powerful solutions for the professional loudspeaker manufacturers which serve the international PA touring and systems installation market.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Point Source Productions has recently achieved ISO 9001: 2008 quality control accreditation status.

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for an organisation's internal quality management systems whereby each service offered to the company's customers has been subject to scrutiny. All processes are then structured to ensure that all Point Source Productions services satisfy its customers' quality requirements and comply with any necessary regulations.

"There are a number of benefits to achieving the ISO 9001: 2008 standard," says Point Source Productions quality control manager, Ian King. "Examining and improving our internal working procedures leads to fewer errors and less re-working, which in turn improves our customer satisfaction and loyalty. Within our staff we see improved morale and motivation, whilst externally it enhances our status

UK - Following on from the recent successful Avitas seminar on BS 7909 'Code of practice for temporary electrical systems for entertainment and related purposes', the industry training organisation has added Tuesday 13 July to its programme in order to meet the demand from the industry.

Hosted by White Light in London, the seminar gives delegates a good understanding of how the Code of Practice should be used with the IET Wiring Requirements to provide safe electrical environments at events. According to White Light's head of production, Stuart Crane, "The BS7909 course proved to be a very useful day for me and my team. As well as confirming existing knowledge, it also proved to be very thought provoking and has made us look in greater detail at the way we design and install event distribution systems and the management of those systems whilst on site."

The seminar t

UK Stage Technologies was a sponsor of the International Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conferences (ITEAC) in 2002 and 2006 and is returning as the sole platinum sponsor of this key quadrennial event in 2010.

The conference, which returns to the UK from 13-15 June, is in a new location at the Central Hall Westminster, London. The programme includes around 30 presentations and moderated debates in a structure that allows delegates to attend up to 10 sessions and the 2010 theme is ensuring that performing arts buildings are fit for purpose now, and in the future.

Session topics include stage engineering standards, power flying operation, the principles of stage engineering and technical planning, as well as sessions on lighting and auditorium design.

(Jim Evans)

Norway / USA - Building upon its presence in providing projection display solutions to specific niche markets, Norway's projectiondesign has created a new visual simulation specialist team.

The impetus for this move is based on strengthening regional support and the new team comprises Mike Raines, HÃ¥kon Andersen and Javier Delgado, totalling more than 40 years of combined experience in the training and simulation fields.

Chris Axford, director of international sales & marketing at projectiondesign, says: "We already have a strong regional sales force, partner network and education scheme in place and the addition of this new team is a significant step forward. They bring the right industry knowledge and experience that will significantly reinforce and grow the success and niche market use of our high performance projectors."

Based in Orlando, FL, Mike Raines will

USA - The 2010 Tony Awards were announced in New York City last night, with the Donmar Warehouse's production of Red leading the pack with six awards - more than any other single play or musical production. Red won best new play, best director (Michael Grandage - artistic director of the Donmar) and best featured actor in a play (Eddie Redmayne). Other members of Red's British creative team also came out on top, with Christopher Oram winning for best scenic design, Neil Austin for best lighting design of a play and Adam Cork for best sound design of a play. Austin, who earlier in the month won the Drama Desk award for his work on the same show, was actually nominated twice in the category, the second nomination for the Donmar Warehouse's Hamlet.

The musical La Cage Aux Folles, which began life at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Southwark, south

USA - The deadline for nominations for the third annual ESTA Rock Our World Awards is 1 July 2010. The awards recognise groundbreaking achievement by ESTA Members in new products, product applications, or projects. These awards were created to acknowledge the genius of both the creator of technology and the designer or integrator who applies the technology in a real world environment.

The awards are an outstanding marketing and promotional opportunity for nominees and winners. Finalists and winners are featured in Protocol, multiple press releases distributed to industry media, on the ESTA website, and at the LDI show and ESTA Dinner.

Contestants for the 2009 awards showcased a wide variety of new products and product applications from the simplest problem solver to complex uses of technology that extended the boundaries of the entertainment technology field. Pro

China - Global Infusion Group (GIG) are now fully Licensed and operational in Shanghai, China. Following five years of research, which included two years of negotiations and 6 months of design and build, their new catering kitchen and restaurant was approved by the Chinese authorities last week and opened for business.

The GC Brasserie, (taking its name from the initials of the German Centre where it is based in the Pudong region of Shanghai), is a beautifully designed modern interpretation of a traditional French Brasserie.

Whilst the 100 cover restaurant with its adjoining BBQ and Beer Garden is serviced by its own dedicated kitchen, the impressive facilities extend a further 400sq.m, built to the latest catering requirement under Chinese law. Already these facilities have been put to work with clients queuing up for the outside catering services offered by GIG Asia. Already

Show News - InfoComm International reports that InfoComm 2010, the annual conference and exhibition for professional audiovisual buyers and sellers held 9-11 June in Las Vegas, Nevada, was "the second largest commercial AV show ever held", with 32,002 AV professionals attending from more than 90 countries.

Randal A. Lemkee executive director & CEO, InfoComm International says: "The AV marketplace has enthusiastically embraced InfoComm as the place to make their purchasing choices, network with product and service providers, and enhance skills through our robust educational programme."

There were 925 exhibitors participating at InfoComm this year, up from 832 at InfoComm 09. Exhibitors occupied more than 475,000 net square feet of exhibit and special events space.

Opera News - Henry Purcell's When I am laid in Earth, from the opera Dido an

UK - The APRS reports the availability of enhanced financial support for UK companies intending to exhibit at the Autumn AES show, scheduled to take place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, from November 4-11 this year.

For many years, small government grants have been available to companies throughout the UK economy wishing to explore business opportunities in overseas markets. The APRS is the ATO (Accredited Trade Organisation) for the AES Conventions and despite the current economic climate, has succeeded in negotiating a higher level of grant for successful qualifying candidates for TAP (Tradeshow Access Programme) support in San Francisco.

Peter Filleul, executive director of the APRS, comments,"US AES shows are very different creatures to the European shows - they're much more music-oriented, and considerably more 'rock'n'roll'. What's more, each ye

UK - Italian entertainment and architectural lighting manufacturer, SGM, has announced a new initiative with Stage Electrics in the UK.

The appointment, which sees Stage Electrics become one of SGM's first Preferred Resellers and System Integrators, will be formalised at this month's ABTT Show in London.

Now part of the RCF Group, heading SGM's operation in the UK is director of sales, Phil Price. "We are delighted that Stage Electrics have committed to the range," he said. "In so doing they will provide us with a national multi-office presence within the Theatre and Entertainment markets in the UK."

Responding, Stage Electrics' head of marketing & buying, Adam Blaxill, said, "Having dealt successfully with RCF for many years, it has been Arturo Vicari's purchase of SGM that has made us look seriously again at the potential of SGM.

"If they ap

UK - The Work at Heights in Theatre Code of Practice was launched at this year's ABTT Theatre Show. The 92-page publication is a compilation of the manufacturers' instructions and experience, written by safety professionals, drawn from all parts of the theatre industry.

"We wanted a concise document that gives good advice on the best type of access equipment to use in a theatre, given the constraints that some venues bring," said Andrew De Rosa, ABTT CEO.

"Working at heights is dangerous. All the way through the book we emphasise that formal training by qualified instructors is required and that equipment that looks easy to use can seriously injure you, and others, if used improperly."

The publication is in seven sections and after a general introduction, deals with Powered Access Equipment, Access Towers, Tallescopes, Ladders, Step Ladders

Sounds Of Silence - Simon and Garfunkel's planned tour of North America has been "postponed indefinitely" because Art Garfunkel has a condition affecting his voice. He is recovering from a vocal paresis which "inhibits the duo from performing shows" to their normal standard, a statement on their website said. The tour had already been postponed from April to July.

"According to his doctors, Art is expected to make a full recovery. However, they cannot predict an exact timeline," a statement said. Garfunkel added: "I do feel bad about disrupting so many people's plans but, as I continue to mend, I can't yet bring my A-game to a tour, and I would not perform for you with anything less."

In The Sale Room - John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to Beatles song A Day In The Life have sold for $1.2m (£810,000) at auction, well a

UK - Creative production supplier Hawthorn has announced its recent appointment as an approved supplier to the historic Royal Courts of Justice.

Hawthorn's general manager, Simon Wood, commented, "The Royal Courts of Justice is a stunning building which lends itself so well to events. We have worked at the Royal Courts of Justice many times in the past, so becoming an approved contractor was the logical next step for Hawthorn and we look forward to offering innovative solutions and to building a strong working relationship with the venue's events team."

"The quality of suppliers we have complements the first-class events we produce at the Royal Courts of Justice, most recently for Vivienne Westwood, Anish Kapoor and the British Fashion Council," said Royal Courts of Justice head of events for seasoned events, Gavin Marshall.

(Jim Evans)

South Africa - Gearhouse South Africa supplied full technical production for the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration Concert, staged at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg.

The show was broadcast to tens of millions of music and football fans worldwide on 10 June, the night before the first match.

The eclectic mix of African and international artists was executive-produced by Los Angeles-based Control Room whose technical director, Jim Baggott, and Gearhouse's project manager Bill Lawford oversaw all technical disciplines offered by the Gearhouse Group.

Gearhouse Audio supplied all audio equipment along with Britannia Row with whom Gearhouse has a long-standing relationship. These elements included racks-and-stacks for the main stage and B stage, with Britannia Row supplying front-of-house and monitor consoles, all the RF equipment - mics and IEMs - plus a crew of

UK - The Forestry Commission's 2010 Live Music Tour kicked off earlier this month with power, lighting and audio specialists Pearce Hire making a concerted effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

The tour consists of 22 shows running for six consecutive weekends in June & July, bringing live music to seven forest locations for an evening of entertainment for all the family. This year's broad spectrum of acts includes Keane, Simply Red, Blondie, JLS and The Saturdays.

Pearce Hire works across the whole tour, coordinating two teams and sets of equipment to provide all the site power and both site & stage lighting. This year has seen a significant change in the lighting design for the stage with the company utilising i-Pix BB4 LED Washlights instead of the PARcans previously used, halving the power consumption of the lighting rig from previous years. The rig also includes MAC 700

UK - Specialist manufacturers of plain & printed, tapes & labels, Le Mark Self-Adhesive has just re-supplied Birmingham based PRG Lighting with their PAL Road Case Labels.

"The PAL Road case labels are an essential part of our flight case management and distribution, being able to easily write on each case/label with the case contents, stage position, show dates and any other relevant information is a must," says PRG Lighting's Mark Gosling

" Plus the fact any information we write remains unaffected by water, bumps and scrapes is brilliant. We then clean the ink away with a special label wipe and they're ready to re-use for the next job. The Labels are i robust and last a considerable amount of time."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Revamped conference sessions, networking opportunities that include a Thames riverboat cruise, and the launch of the Live Music Business Awards are all features of the fourth LIVE UK Summit, set for 6-7 October.

The awards event will cover around 20 categories, ranging from Best Venue Teamwork - Arena/Concert/Club, Promoter of the Year and Best Media Campaign, to Agent of the Year, Breaking the Mould (live show innovation) and Best Record Company Partner.

The winners will be selected through votes cast by groups of carefully selected professionals with direct experience in the respective categories, supplemented by open voting online.

Meanwhile, The Summit itself will feature conference sessions covering vital topics affecting the industry, keynote presentations, a celebrity Q&A session and an afternoon of special panels devoted to the unsigned and emerging artiste sect

South Africa - Johannesburg- based DWR Distribution has appointed three new staff members - two joining the technical support crew, and one new face for the office and admin team.

The company has expanded after an extremely strong start to 2010, plus additional activity generated by the 2010 World Cup, which has seen a flurry of business for the lighting sales company.

Judd Harrison comes onboard as technical support, where he joins DWR's Bruce Riley, Nick Britz and Eazy Moketsi. A key element of DWR's success is the after sales support and technical back-up. It also means that the warehouse will be fully staffed allowing Britz to take an increasingly active role in onsite technical training and product support, while Riley covers all the on-site and on-the-road tech support requirements.

Harrison has considerable experience in electronics engineering. He previously worked f

UK - The 2010 ABTT Theatre Show saw the launch of a new online store for the entertainment industry - oubiance.co.uk. The idea behind the website is that the goods available are not simply uploaded from a product database; each item is input by one of the experienced technicians on the team.

Barclay Dakers, who heads up oubiance.co.uk, said: "Traditionally, online shopping for theatrical consumables can take up a considerable amount of time, wading through difficult to understand codes and product descriptions. We wanted to offer a completely different way of doing things. This site is run by techs, for techs."

The site utilises easy to navigate menus and aims to cut through the confusion by offering simpler methods of finding the desired item. For example, the range of replacement lamps is illustrated to enable users to compare what's in their hand with what's on th

Rock & Royal - This year's Glastonbury will be remembered for the unusually sunny weather and the number of surprise guests. U2 guitarist The Edge joined Muse, Kylie Minogue sang with Scissor Sisters, Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood played an unannounced set and Lou Reed was among those on stage with Gorillaz on Friday. Prince Charles also surprised fans when he went on a walkabout and trod the Pyramid Stage boards during the festival's first royal visit on Thursday. Organiser Michael Eavis said his event had "finally got the royal seal of approval" on its 40th anniversary.

Stevie Wonder helped the festival celebrate its 40th anniversary with a crowd-pleasing set to close this year's event. He brought Michael Eavis on to the stage to help sing a version of Happy Birthday.

In The Sale Room (1) - A crystal-studded glove belonging to the late po

UK - The drpgroup has completed another of its 30 Corporate Social Responsibility projects in honour of its anniversary year. The group embarked on the Believe Programme in conjunction with national charity Springboard UK and provided a group of unemployed individuals with the chance to undergo a training programme designed to prepare them for work in the hospitality, leisure and events industries.

The group had a special announcement to make at its 30th anniversary celebrations on 19 June, held at West Midlands Safari Park. It was an emotional moment as one member of the programme was offered the surprise opportunity to become a drpteam member as an events assistant.

The Believe programme began in April with 30 potential candidates joining the scheme. These individuals received expert training in computer skills, administration skills and a basic understanding of what it is l

Hungary - ARX, the Australian based manufacturer of USB, Digital & Analogue interface and signal processors has appointed Budapest based Interton Electroacoustics as their new distributor for Hungary.

ARX managing director Colin Park recently finalised the new distribution agreement with Interton's Geza Balogh after an initial meeting at the Frankfurt Pro Light & Sound earlier this year.

Founded in 1990, Interton Electroacoustics also represents QSC, Community, Toa and Yamaha Commercial.

(Jim Evans)

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