USA - Every dimension of Air Supply was on full display at a recent concert in the Boston area, supported by a Troy Stubby-designed lightshow that featured Legend 230SR Beam moving fixtures in a variety of stage positions. JDI Productions provided the Chauvet Professional fixtures for the sold-out performance, substituting them for "more famous name movers" that were in the tour's original rig design.

"Troy's original design called for these other fixtures to be used, but we've been using the Legends back to back on so many shows that we felt very comfortable with them," said JDI's Freddy Thompson, who, along with his colleague Pete Therrien, oversaw the lighting rig. "So with Troy's approval we made the switch. In the past, Troy had been using the SR beams on the floor to cross shoot the backdrop with a rotating prism. It created a really great effect,

UK - "The Ayrton MagicBlade-Rs that we have purchased from Ambersphere Solutions are undoubtedly the lighting fixture of summer 2015," says Rob Merrilees, director of Dry Hire Lighting (DHL). DHL now hasa substantial number of MagicBlades in stock although they very rarely actually see them. "The Blades are constantly in demand," continues Merrilees. "We're grateful that their quality of build and excellent reliability factor means we can pretty much guarantee they can fly in and fly out of the warehouse in perfect working order. Even so, we are having to turn away requests for Ayrton Blades at the moment."

The continuous rotation on both Pan and Tilt axes is the central characteristic of this seven RGBW LED unit. Compact, light and economical, the MagicBlade-R offers the lighting designer imaginative and creative possibilities with an almost endles

India - Dutch trance music DJ and producer Armin van Buuren's radio show A State of Trance (ASOT) has been going strong since 2001 and its 700th episode on 6 June was celebrated in style with a huge live show in Mumbai, India, lit by Elation Professional's new Platinum SBX moving head along with the popular Platinum Beam 5R and ELAR 180 PAR fixtures.

Propelling him to superstardom with trance fans around the world, ASOT attracts 33m listeners weekly through 100 FM radio-stations in more than 80 countries. A State of Trance milestone is always an occasion to party and ASOT 700, held in association with Sunburn, saw The Dome in Mumbai decked out in a large intelligent lighting package for performances by Armin van Buuren, Cosmic Gate, Orjan Nilsen, Super8 & Tab and Ruben De Ronde.

Star Dimensions India provided lighting, trussing and LED screens for the event with lightin

UK - dbn Lighting returned to Heaton Park in Manchester to supply lighting to five out of the eight stages and video to two of those - for the popular Parklife Weekender music festival with which they have been involved since its inception in 2010.

The crew - which peaked at 24 technicians, programmers and operators - was led by dbn's Pete Robinson, and they started their various get-ins across the site on the Wednesday. There were a few logistical curved balls thrown into the mix for good measure, including a Friday night concert by the Courteeners which was slotted in by promoters SJM on Stage 4. While dbn were not lighting this, the licensing restricted access to other areas which therefore had to be ready ahead of time.

The main stage this year was up-scaled to a 24m Space roof from Serious three weeks before the event to accommodate the two headliners - Disclosure and Rud

USA - Over 30,000 of the leading cancer researchers and specialists from around the world journeyed to Chicago's McCormick Place recently for the 51st annual ASCO conference. The official theme of this year's meeting, Illumination and Innovation: Transforming Data into Learning reflected the shared commitment of those in attendance to exchange trending research and insights that can help combat the disease. Among the learning tools used to advance this worthy goal was an impressive 36ft x 6ft LED wall made of 54 Chauvet Professional MVP Ta8 Curve panels.

Supplied by Image Productions Services, which built the videowall, the panels were used at an exhibit by Sirtex Medical Ltd., an award-winning Australian-based global health care research company that is pioneering a targeted radiation therapy for liver cancer called SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres. (The therapy place

USA - Prolific multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer Todd Rundgren has just released his new Global album, and is one of the highly innovative artists in the current portfolio of lighting and visuals designer and touring lighting director Martin Thomas.

Martin has been touring regularly with Rundgren for around six years and is now out with a tower and floor specials lighting package comprising just 18 moving lights - 12 Robe Pointes and six Robe MMX Spots - plus LED video panels.

With lighting and visuals absolutely at the essence of the energetic and fast-paced show, Martin was confident he could deliver all the dynamics needed with just these few touring elements, as well as hooking in to a different 'top' rig each night at the various venues on an eclectic itinerary.

Initial phone conversations between Martin and Rundgren revealed the desire to cre

UK - Holo-Gauze, the 3D display solution for hologram effects, is instrumental in realising the video projection effects for Damon Albarn's modern musical reimagining of Lewis Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland. The show's projections are by 59 Productions, with Lysander Ashton acting as creative director.

Appearing at Manchester's Palace Theatre until 12 July as part of the Manchester International Festival, wonder.land is a co-production between National Theatre artistic director Rufus Norris, scriptwriter Moira Buffini and Albarn, who wrote the score. The musical is set to transfer to London's National Theatre from 27 November.

In wonder.land, Lewis Carroll's fantasy world becomes an online game, to which Aly, who is bullied at school and unhappy at home, escapes. However, some of the people Aly meets online - Dum, Dee, the Cheshire Cat and Red Queen

South Africa - During Mediatech, One of South African's leading lighting designers, Michael Broderick will present a carefully orchestrated performance using one Robe BMFL fixture and a dancer. The 15-minute shows will be held every day from 15 to 17 July at 10:30am, 12:30am, 2:30pm and 4:30pm. Bookings can be made at the DWR Distribution stand (J47).

"We are trying to push the boundaries and wanted to see what we could do with a single fixture," said Michael Broderick. "The act consists of story which paints a picture of the relationship between the light and the graceful dancer, Belinda Henwood."

David Gouldie is the choreographer and director. He worked closely with Michael Broderick, who programmed the show on a grandMA 2. Sound design is by Liam Magner, with final sound mastering by Colin Peddie form Sonic Studio.

(Jim Evans)

South Africa - Elation Professional has announced that The Production Warehouse of Johannesburg is a new sales partner for the company in South Africa, now stocking a full complement of Elation products.

Started by brothers Jacques and Marnus Nieuwoudt in 2014, The Production Warehouse specializes in supply and installation of lighting and video equipment affordable and reliable enough to meet international touring standards while stressing a high level of service commitment.

The Production Warehouse's inventory now includes a full range of Elation products including the Platinum SBX hybrid moving head; Satura Spot CMY Pro moving head; award-winning Sniper 2R effect light; powerful Protron 3K LED Strobe; Cuepix Series of blinder/strip lights; Colour 5 Profile ellipsoidal spot; SixPar 200 LED colour changer; Rayzor Q12 LED wash with zoom; and more.

The Production Warehouse wi

UK - ShowTex, a worldwide leader in inventing, manufacturing, selling, and installing flame retardant curtain fabrics, tracks, and motion control systems is the newest Behind the Scenes Pledge-a-Product Partner. ShowTex has pledged a percentage of the profits from sales of the GiantMirror to support the charity.

GiantMirror is an innovative product that provides an easy to use, excellent quality, and versatile alternative to glass mirrors. The oversized lightweight mirrors with virtually invisible joints offer near perfect clarity and reflection. Use transparent GiantMirror to create hologram special effects and make objects appear and disappear.

Raf Peeters, project manager at ShowTex stated, "ShowTex believes our industry exists by the grace of a lot of hard working and passionate entertainment technology professionals. Without them our business would not be the same, s

USA - New York's Brooklyn Bowl was an appropriate site for an unforgettable concert by Electron, the heavy hitting four-piece band formed by Disco Biscuits bass player Marc Brownstein that is making major waves in the Big Apple and beyond.

Lighting designer Manny Newman drew on the brawny power of Intimidator Spot LED 250 moving fixtures from Chauvet DJ to provide a monster light show for the band's recent performance at the venue. "Looking at the band, the venue, the crowd and the tradition, it's an exciting night," said the LD. "You don't want to bring a meek lightshow to something like this. I wanted to make a power statement without being overpowering or blinding the band."

Manny accomplished this goal in eye-popping fashion using the Intimidators and a collection of other Chauvet DJ fixtures. He positioned three T-bars upstage and flew two Intimidator

Italy - Vasco Rossi is currently engaged in his summer Live Kom 15 stadium tour which is completely sold out, and will see the legendary singer play to nearly 1m fans, with another stunning lighting and show design by his long term LD, Giovanni Pinna.

This year Giovanni has incorporated 34 Robe BMFL Blades and 16 BMFL Spots into the design, which are the work-horse spot fixtures of the tour. He has also deployed 100 of Robe's LEDBeam 100s which are dotted around the back wall of the main set. One of Italy's leading designers, he has been using Robe products in his work for some years, but this is the first full-on project for which he has specified BMFL Spots.

Giovanni worked closely with Claudio Santucci and Florian Boje from set design company Gioforma who produced the imposing industrial stage set constructed from aluminium and fabricated by Rome based rental company BOTW,

UK - HOG Factor, the lighting design and programming competition for HOG4 Consoles, is to enjoy its second UK outing at the PRO Show at the NEC Birmingham on Sunday 13 September.

HOG Factor, an initiative from European Master Distributor AED Distribution in partnership with High End Systems, is coming back to the UK. The competition was first held at PLASA 2014, then most recently toured to Germany for ProLight+Sound Frankfurt.

The competition is open to young students currently enrolled in a full-time UK Entertainment technology related education course, or working at the starting level in a UK lighting rental production house. There will be six teams, each with two members, competing against each other. In advance they will be presented with a lighting rig comprising High End Systems Luminaires along with a set piece of music. Teams have to design a lighting show using the l

UK - The Mentalists opened at the Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End this week. Written by Richard Bean, the award-winning writer of the international hit One Man, Two Guvnors, the play stars The Office co-creator Steven Merchant in his West End debut alongside Steffan Rhodri, best known for his role as Dave Coaches in Gavin and Stacey.

After providing the lighting equipment for the Wyndham's Theatre's previous show American Buffalo, White Light makes an immediate return to the venue to supply the lighting support for the new production.

Rich Mence, production electrician on the show, states, "For The Mentalists, I worked alongside David Plater, the lighting designer, who wanted to create a very naturalistic feel. As the play takes place during different times of the day, we had to reflect this on what was a static set."<

UK - Technical theatre student Bradley Allen has used an Avolites Titan Mobile armed with the new Titan V9 operating system to light a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream at Colchester Institute.

This production saw Extended Diploma Acting students perform Shakespeare's famed romantic comedy, following events surrounding the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta.

Allen, now in his second year of study, chose Avolites from a number of console manufacturers, controlling a lighting rig including 24 dimmers, four Robe Colorwash 575XTs, two Robe Colorspot 575s, and both Chauvet and Visage LED parcans from the Titan Mobile console.

"The brief for the lighting was that it should look timeless," says Allen. "The lighting process needed to be smooth and not cause issues. I felt Titan offered the most useful features for me."

The network conn

The Netherlands - Robert Juliat's Aramis and Lancelot long-throw models have been out in full force in the Netherlands for two of the country's most exuberant parties.

Lighting designer Martin Beekhuizen used no less than 16 RJ Aramis 2500W followspots on Amsterdam's biggest party night of the year as huge audiences flooded into the Amsterdam Arena for the 11th Toppers in Concert extravaganza.

Billed as 'the singalong festival of the year', the annual event filled the massive arena - home of Amsterdam's Ajax football team - for five nights at the end of May 2015. Audiences of over 70,000 people per night - dressed in white with 'a colourful touch of summer' - sang along with Dutch superstars, Gerard Joling, Jeroen van der Boom and Rene Froger, and special guest stars Danny de Munk, Edzillia Rombley, Andre and Roxanne Hazes, David Bisbal and Village People, at this bright, bold

UK - The Knight of Illumination Awards (KOI) 2015 has announced the main sponsors of this year's prestigious event.

The Awards, which celebrate the creative talents of international lighting and digital content designers working in the UK in the sectors of TV, Theatre and Concert Touring and Events, is delighted to welcome industry heavyweights: OSRAM, Ambersphere Solutions, MA Lighting, Hawthorn, Robert Juliat, Ayrton and XL Video, who have generously supported the Awards for several years running (some since its inaugural year). Alongside them are FIX8Group and Light Initiative, who are new to the event. The ceremony will take place at East London's Troxy club on Sunday 4 October.

"We are very proud to be sponsors of the KOI Awards. It is an amazing ceremony which last year we were very happy to attend," says Valére Huart-Gyors, Ayrton. "Seeing the most

China - For years, the Hong Kong government has emphasised the need to support local arts and cultural heritage. As part of that effort, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCD) is building a new performing arts complex, the Xiqu Centre, which is expected to be completed in 2017. The complex will house the Tea House Theatre, a 200-seat venue for Chinese opera - with an emphasis on Cantonese opera - that will help increase public interest in the art form.

To prepare for the opening of the Xiqu Centre, the WKCD and the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts are working together on a number of experimental shows being staged at the Academy, where they can test the staging, seating and equipment. ETC LED luminaires feature prominently in the programme, which is being used to shed a new light on the classic operas.

Lighting designer Billy Chan integrates western stage ligh

USA - Ayrton MagicDot-R made its US debut with Bruno Mars at Rock In Rio Las Vegas in May. Lighting designer Cory FitzGerald of Seven Design Works used a configuration of 184 of the new fixtures on the singer's closing performance at this year's festival which was hosted for the first time in the US. FitzGerald's design also featured an array of 128 Ayrton IntelliPix-R panels deployed as fascias fronting the stage-wide risers that backed Mars and his band.

FitzGerald has used Ayrton fixtures on several shows for Mars, including New Year shows at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas and NBC's Saturday Night Live. FitzGerald's lighting for Mars' one-off Rock in Rio set, however, was an evolution of his designs for the singer's previous shows. "I wanted to create a similar visual vibe to the SNL show but was looking for something very specific that would bring an almost retro lo

USA - Chroma-Q Color Force 12 multi-purpose LED fixtures were recently specified by lighting sales and production company, E2i Design for an ambitious show at Michigan's Brighton High School.

The school's musical theatre troupe was the first in the state to perform the spectacular Tony Award-winning new musical, Nice Work If You Can Get It.

E2i Design's Josh Holowicki passionately supports the school's theatre in a number of ways - as vice chairman of the board of directors, as volunteer technical director and scenic designer, and as producer. As the technical director, he's responsible for all audio, video and lighting.

"We recently redesigned the entire lighting system in the theatre, investing in 36 Color Force 12 units for the house rig," says Josh. "We use them for cyc lighting as well as general stage washes, and without a doubt they are a spectac

Romania - Showline SL NITRO 510C strobes have made their debut on the third edition of Electric Castle, Romania's biggest music festival, becoming the first LED strobes to be used on the event in its short history.

The award-winning dance festival takes place in Banffy Castle, a 14th century monument in the Romanian village of Bontida. Twenty-two of the powerful Showline strobes, supplied by ASC Systems, were an integral part of the main stage rig, where such big name acts as The Prodigy, Rudimental and Fat Boy Slim performed.

"We've been suppliers to the festival since its first year," says ASC Systems' Raluca Dumitru. "This year several of the lighting designers asked for LED strobes in their brief and so we chose to invest in the SL NITRO 510C. We were confident in our decision on account of Philips' fantastic reputation for high quality entertainment lightin

UK - Now in its 37th year, the Heritage Events Leeds Castle Concerts are considered the premier event of their kind in the Kent Summer calendar and this year's show proved no exception with over 12,000 visitors taking to the lawns of the castle.

Working with lighting designer Theo Cox, Aurora supplied lighting, rigging and crew to the production to create an on stage lighting spectacular to complement the existing installation at the beautiful medieval venue.

Keeping the power requirement low and the green credentials high, a variety of LED products were deployed including Martin MAC Aura and MAC Quantum Wash to add colour and movement to performances by The Definitive Rat Pack, who kicked off the show with a touch of Vegas, followed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by John Rigby.

The low power approach was augmented by generator provider Midas who ran Biodeies

USA - Every year since its founding in 2006, Life in Color, the world's largest paint party, can be counted on for three things: drawing huge crowds (last year over 600,000 turned out around the world for the paint-drenching fun), featuring EDM's biggest names like Calvin Harris and Steve Aoki, and coming up with some of the most wildly creative show themes on the festival circuit. The 2015 Life in Color Big Bang World Tour is no exception. The crowds have been thick, the artists like Dillon Francis and Bingo Players have been big, and the highly original theme breaks the mould into a million colourful pieces.

The tour's "Big Bang" name says it all. So does its tag line The Creation of Color. Asking the big question, "How did colour come to be?" the tour is built around a story line of the world's colour being imperilled only to be rescue

UK - Colour Sound Experiment supplied lighting - including over 300 moving lights - to the four principal stages at new UK festival Wild Life, together with their new high definition proprietary 7 mm LED screen for one stage. The weekend line-up was presented by two of the country's leading electronic artists - Disclosure and Rudimental - both also main stage headliners.

The event was staged over two days at Shoreham Airport in Sussex near Brighton, and enjoyed - together with excellent weather - by capacity crowds of 35,000 music fans each day.

Colour Sound won a competitive quote to supply the four main stages of the event which was organised and promoted by SJM. Haydn 'H' Cruickshank comments, "It's always really exciting to be involved in something fresh, new and different and we were delighted to be working on this one. It was a great chance to put the new screen thr

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