This week's ABBT Theatre Show - the 31st - will host a full-house of over 100 exhibitors. Show director Roger Fox notes: "Exhibitions are so important in our seemingly faceless world of E-commerce, as they offer an opportunity to get face to face with customers. We're looking forward to another successful year, highlighting the true potential of theatre technology and its impact on the West End, in regional theatres, education and retail."
Meanwhile, over in Orlando, Florida, Infocomm 2009 (14-19 June) is being billed as the largest and most comprehensive pro-AV event in the world. According to the organisers, more than 30,000 professionals from 80 countries are expected to check out the 850 exhibitors.
- Record Breaking News - Take That are about to embark on the biggest tour the UK and Ireland have ever seen, playing to more than a million people at 20 stadium concerts. That is more fans than watched Michael Jackson in 1988 or saw the biggest runs by acts like U2 and The Rolling Stones. Fans have spent £50m on tickets for the former boyband's Circus Live tour. It comes amid a summer of massive gigs, with Oasis, Jackson, Britney Spears, Coldplay and Madonna all on the road. Promoter Simon Moran of SJM Concerts comments: "It's testament to their huge popularity and the quality of the previous tours. The word of mouth has been tremendous on the last three runs of dates they've done since they got back together." He said the total attendance of 1,080,000 would be higher than for Jackson's Bad tour.
Earlier this year, PRS for Music, which collects royalties for songwriters, said the amount of money spent on live music had overtaken the amount spent on CDs and other recorded music for the first time. "When people are down . . . say with this economic issue at the moment, people tend look towards entertainment, don't they?" said Take That's Jason Orange.
Rolling News - Sir Mick Jagger has backed a campaign to save a historic cinema where the Rolling Stones played in the 1960s. The EMD cinema in Walthamstow, north-east London, is Grade II-listed in recognition of its Art Deco interior. The derelict cinema was sold in 2003 to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, which has been denied permission to develop the building. The cinema was also frequently visited as a boy by master film-maker Alfred Hitchcock, who grew up in London. In the 1960s the cinema, then the Granada, hosted gigs by many top bands including the Stones, the Beatles, the Kinks and the Who. Planning permission to use it as a church was refused to the religious group, but campaigners say they expect another attempt to convert the building.
Sir Mick said: "Cinemas and live venues like the Granada in Walthamstow where the Stones played in the early days, learning our craft on the way, are the lifeblood of our cultural history. They helped launched British popular music on to a world stage and should continue to function as places of entertainment and enjoyment."
Festival Update - Music festival organisers in Cornwall have been trying to find a new venue after their licence was withdrawn. Beach Break Live was expected to welcome up to 10,000 students at St Agnes, from 16 to 19 June. But organisers said Cornwall Council withdrew the licence amid objections about safety and traffic. The council has not commented on the matter. Beach Break Live said it was trying to find another site, but if it failed, ticketholders would be refunded.
Park Life - Veteran performer Barry Manilow has announced his only UK gig this year will be at the BBC Proms in the Park. The 65-year-old, best known for hits such as Mandy and Copac
