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25 July 2025

Europe - Front-of-house sound engineer Curtis McKenna has worked with Tate McRae since 2022, supporting her rise from playing clubs to her current Miss Possessive arena tour across South America, Europe and North America. Having experienced a wide range of sound systems in that time, he has developed a clear preference for the system which he feels best serves the needs of this artist – the d&b audiotechnik SL-Series.

“Every time we used d&b - whether KSL, GSL, or even J-Series – her voice always sat really well in the mix,” says McKenna. “Because of the cardioid system, I could mix a little louder without spill coming back onto stage. She was more comfortable and always enjoyed the gig more.”

Sound rental provider for the tour is UK-based 22live. It may be a relatively new name, but with Paul Timmins (ex-Capital Sound), Spencer B

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25 July 2025

Spain - Featuring a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions focused on the environment, nature, science, and space, CosmoCaixa Barcelona is one of the premier science museums in Europe

Sponsored by the La Caixa banking foundation, the museum is housed in a striking modernist building which also includes an auditorium and smaller theatre for presentations and lectures.

The auditorium already features sound from a Nexo Geo S12 system specified by Imesde, and the museum recently contacted the Barcelona-based event technology specialists again to propose a new system for the smaller lecture theatre.

“For a system that is mostly used for conventions, the Nexo Geo M10 was the perfect choice,” reports Imesde audio engineer Marc Parareda. “It’s compact and offers great coverage and performance. Even without subs it is a great solution

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25 July 2025

Europe - ShurePlus Channels is now Wireless Workbench Mobile, a tool for audio professionals seeking seamless management of Shure wireless systems while on the move. The app, available for free on Android and iOS, delivers powerful new tools, including guided alerts and mobile frequency coordination.1 Monitor system performance and troubleshoot directly from an Android phone, iPhone, or iPad.

Designed for speed and precision, Wireless Workbench Mobile delivers ‘trusted wireless control away from the rack or laptop, enhancing productivity and facilitating fast decision-making to keep users one step ahead’.

Key features of Wireless Workbench Mobile include Optimised Frequency Coordination: Scan and assign clean frequencies using built-in coordination tools for reliable setup, ensuring clear, uninterrupted audio, plus flexible access via iOS mobile

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25 July 2025

Estonia - The Tallinn City Theatre is re-opening after a three-year closure that saw implementation of a full renovation and technical upgrade programme, including the purchase of new Robe moving lights - 55 x T2 Fresnels and 17 x T2 Profiles – and the addition of a complete new main venue which is two stories below ground.

This brings the busy and vibrant repertory theatre’s performance space total to seven – four main, two extras / experimental and an outdoor area. The same team also operates shows in another building down the street.

The theatre, founded in the 1960s, is housed in a maze of interconnected medieval merchants’ houses in the charismatic heart of Tallinn’s old town, a highly atmospheric setting steeped in history, folklore and tradition that is perfect for staging a range of thought-provoking performances.

Head of li

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25 July 2025

UK - Jon Chadwick, front of house engineer for the band Papadosio, recently put the compact Allen & Heath Avantis Solo digital mixing console to the test on the group's latest tour.

Chadwick had extensive prior experience with Allen & Heath's dLive and SQ series, making the transition to Avantis intuitive. Chadwick strategically opted for a digital split over Dante with the monitor console, leveraging three DX168 expanders positioned throughout the stage. This choice offered significant flexibility for I/O placement and simplified cabling, replacing bulkier analogue snakes with more convenient ethercon runs.

"The Avantis’ flexible I/O routing made setting up the Dante split seamless," Chadwick noted, "I could tie-line mix outs from the monitor console to DX168 outputs, ensuring the band retained their familiar monitor setup without needing

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25 July 2025

UK - Pharos Architectural Controls is returning to PLASA Show, presenting their latest developments and meeting customers on stand A58.

The Pharos team will be available to meet visitors and introduce a series of key updates to their lighting control product ranges, Pharos Expert and Pharos Designer.

The latest release of Expert now features Groups; a new way to organise fixtures within a space. Expert 2.0 now offers users the ability to control smaller groups within each space with run-time overrides from the Expert Touch mobile app or touchscreen wall stations.

Expert’s programming tools have also been enriched with the ability for users to include static scenes within timeline scenes. In response to customer requests, many dynamic scenes have had their properties extended. For example, a greater variety of speeds and longer loop times pr

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25 July 2025

The Netherlands - Leyard Europe has announced the opening of a dedicated showroom for the Benelux region at Strijp-T in Eindhoven, marking a strategic relocation from its previous Antwerp location. The new facility, situated in a converted Philips factory, serves as a comprehensive hub where customers can experience Leyard's LED display solutions in a relaxed, modern setting designed to showcase real-world applications.

The showroom design features five different Leyard LED display products positioned across five distinct environments, each with a different pixel pitch and each demonstrating specific use cases. This approach allows visitors to experience how Leyard's LED technology integrates seamlessly into various professional settings, with a philosophy that centres on practical demonstration rather than traditional product display.

Leyard MGP Com

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25 July 2025

UK - For Bristol-based Scotland Yard Soundsystem, power and quality are everything. Since its inception in 2015, the south-west England-based collective of builders, engineers, artists and musicians’ system has grown into an influential presence on UK sound-system culture, delivering a full-body audio experience backed by the muscle of Powersoft K- and X-Series amplifier platforms.

“Scotland Yard Soundsystem is a custom hand-built, DIY/open-source sound system,” comments Scotland Yard’s Jonny Bovill, reflecting on the founding of the system a decade ago. “Aesthetically we wanted to pay homage to classic dub systems that we respected and admired, while under the bonnet we wanted to give it the guts of more modern, powerful point-source systems.”

That combination has proven popular across a broad mix of events, from intimate basement partie

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25 July 2025

Switzerland - WSDG has successfully completed work on a Dolby Atmos control room for the Centre des Musiques Actuelles (CMA) in Geneva. CMA includes the École des Musiques Actuelles (EMA), a contemporary music school offering training in pop, rock, jazz, and other modern genres. The facility spans 3,000sq.m over two floors and features 45 classrooms, a 300-seat auditorium, a 200-person club, and state-of-the-art recording and production facilities.

The concept for both the Dolby Atmos control room and the immersive Ansermet Auditorium was initiated by Ladislav Agabekov, sound engineer and technical director at CMA. The project was made possible thanks to the strong support of Stefano Saccon, the school's director, who not only believed early on in the potential of immersive audio technologies for both education and production, but also championed and carrie

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24 July 2025

Belgium - A new identity has been unveiled for Antwerp’s Central Station with an illumination scheme, controlled by a system from Pharos Architectural Controls.

Antwerp Central Station, inaugurated in 1905, is an architectural highlight of the Belgian city. Known as the ‘Railway Cathedral’, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. Influenced by the Belgian art nouveau movement, the station features a 75m high dome sitting atop the main hall, with a 44m high arched glass roof covering the tracks.

The lighting is part of a wider public lighting scheme, commissioned by Antwerp City Council to make the Belgian city’s nightscape safe and welcoming. Susanna Antico Lighting Design Studio was appointed to create the lighting design scheme for the Central Station. The illuminations needed to be contemporary and fut

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24 July 2025

UK - Broadweigh’s wireless load monitoring technology played a key role in ensuring rigging safety on Lana Del Rey’s UK tour dates this summer. Partnering with Load Cell Rental, the production deployed 83 Broadweigh 4.75t wireless load cells during rehearsals at Fly By Nite Studios and for the live show at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

The UK leg of the tour has seen Lana Del Rey perform in a series of major venues including Wembley Stadium, Glasgow’s Hampden Park, and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with each show demanding high levels of technical precision and rigging assurance.

“The video wall in particular required close attention to guarantee even weight distribution,” explained Ian Barrett, project manager at Load Cell Rental. “We weighed all points on static hoists ahead of load-in, using Broadweigh’s LOG100 software along

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24 July 2025

Egypt - ETC lighting and control are powering the latest upgrade at the Asharq News Studio, located on the banks of the River Nile in Egypt. Asharq News delivers a wide range of programming - from business news to political talk shows - and continues to invest in technology that enhances its viewer experience.

ETC’s long-time partner and dealer, Oasis Enterprises, specified the lighting and control systems for the Cairo studio, following the successful instalment of ETC lighting in Asharq Studio’s Dubai facility. Building on that proven performance, ETC’s reliable and advanced technology was the clear choice to ensure seamless integration and high performance at each individual studio.

Despite the challenges presented by the studio’s limited space and the presence of a large background window, the team successfully achieved a visually strikin

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24 July 2025

UK - The Darkness’ rock roots were at the core of LD and programmer David Garcia’s design for their recent tour.

“The Darkness has always had that classic rock and roll feel to their music,” said Garcia (of Bigtime Lighting Design), who worked with a set created by production designer and video director, Eric Cathcart, also of Bigtime Lighting Design and crew chief Tom Rawlinson. “Our mission was to present that feeling with our lighting.”

Working with a lighting rig supplied by Zigzag Lighting, the design team did this in many ways, one of which was through the inspired use of light angles. “We chose to put ladder trusses of fixtures off stage to present the LED screens we had, which displayed The Darkness logo and IMAG images,” said Garcia. “We arranged these fixtures in straight lines to create the classic PAR can look like part

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24 July 2025

UK - Located at the site of a disused warehouse in Bradford, Loading Bay is a new pop-up venue created for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Throughout the year it will present an extensive and eclectic arts and entertainment programme comprising music, comedy, talks, exhibitions, theatre, live video-gaming, and exhibitions. Set across four floors, Loading Bay includes a theatre, gallery, multi-format basement room, as well as an outside courtyard space.

To ensure the best possible experience for artists, performers, and audience members alike, the venue’s team enlisted Bradford-based production specialists Pro Audio Systems (PAS) to supply and install much of the technology required for its extensive programme.

As well as installing the main front-of-house audio systems for the performance spaces, PAS also supplied a number of significant ancillar

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24 July 2025

Malta - Rental company Tech+ acquired a substantial inventory of Martin Audio’s premier Wavefront Precision line array, along with the popular Torus and FlexPoint enclosures, in time to service a new techno festival on the island recently. The inventory was provided by Futuretech, Martin Audio’s territorial distributor.

Run by Gabriel Mizzi, Tech+ had been able to field hangs of eight WPC on each side of XXL Techno’s beachfront stage at Little Armier Bay. This was one of two principal locations for the event (the other being the National Park in Ta’Qali) while others were dotted around the island.

While the WPC was powered by Martin Audio iKON iK42 Dante amplifiers in two-box resolution, eight SXH218, driven in bridge mode for extra output, created the sub bass rumble necessary for such an event. Additional pairs of FlexPoint FP12 provided fr

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24 July 2025

USA - Sennheiser has announced that PGA Tour Studios recently deployed the new Spectera bidirectional wireless audio ecosystem across its new campus in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

The PGA Tour Studios audio team required a system that could not only support a state-of-the-art facility that houses seven dedicated studios, but also seamlessly manage up to 11 shows broadcasting simultaneously in an environment that would be packed with competing RF signals.

The new system needed to offer effortless transitions between studios and a dramatically simplified management interface. Spectera emerged as the best choice for its technical capabilities, along with the way it simplified installation and allowed the engineering team to focus on production rather than infrastructure.

The comprehensive PGA Tour Studios setup includes two Spectera base station

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24 July 2025

UK - Unusual Rigging has announced the appointment of Matt Stott, a highly respected stage engineering specialist with over 15 years’ experience in bespoke mechanical systems and show automation. Matt’s arrival reinforces Unusual’s commitment to delivering technically ambitious solutions across theatre, live production and permanent installations.

Tom Harper, managing director, Unusual Rigging commented: “Matt joins us from TAIT and, before that, Delstar Engineering where he worked under the leadership of Paul Sadler. Many in the industry will already be familiar with Matt’s contributions to technically complex and high-profile productions including 42nd Street, Miss Saigon (2014) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (2024) and to capital projects such as Glyndebourne Opera House’s upgrade and the Royal Opera House’s Lindbury

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24 July 2025

UK - Sterling Event Group has announced the appointment of two experienced industry professionals to spearhead its expansion into the South of England alongside its broader national growth strategy.

James Hunter joins as director, bringing more than two decades of experience in delivering world-class event projects across the UK and internationally.

Jack Sayer also joins the company as project director, bringing a wealth of hands-on production expertise through his successful career in creative event delivery. Jack will focus on technically ambitious event experiences that reflect Sterling’s trademark precision and innovation.

“We’re very proud to welcome James and Jack to the team at such an exciting period for the business,” said Richard Bowden, managing director, Sterling Event Group. “Expanding into the South isn’t just about

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24 July 2025

Europe - Planar and Leyard Europe have announced the addition of Filip Cogghe as vice-president of sales, marketing and service for Europe.

Cogghe joins the company with more than 25 years of experience in the AV and display technology industries, most recently serving as sales director for global and strategic corporate sales at Sharp NEC Display Solutions Europe. There he played a pivotal role in forming and executing global sales strategies.

“We’re happy to have Filip Cogghe lead sales and marketing efforts across Europe,” says CEO at Planar Sidney Rittenberg. “With an impressive background that is highlighted by demonstrated sales leadership and growth as well as complex solution integration and involvement in mission-critical installations, he’s the right leader to guide this team in extending unrivalled support and visualisation solut

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23 July 2025

France - L-Acoustics has announced its strategic investment in French-based MagREEsource. It has also established exclusive partner rights in the professional audio industry for sustainable and sovereign, European-based rare earth magnets critical to loudspeaker manufacturing.

This forward-looking partnership introduces a breakthrough circular economy model for the professional audio industry through innovative magnet recycling and manufacturing technology, says L-Acoustics. By investing in MagREEsource, L-Acoustics is supporting a start-up partner that will allow the loudspeaker manufacturer to significantly reduce its environmental footprint while diversifying its supply sources for neodymium magnets essential to loudspeaker manufacturing. This strategic move demonstrates L-Acoustics' commitment to environmental stewardship while enhancing supply chain res