USA - Charlotte’s downtown is, like many modern cities, undergoing something of a renaissance, with urban renewal bringing in a new and younger demographic eager to live and socialize in the vibe of city life. None of this was lost on entrepreneur and club owner Eric Gussin, a world traveller whose Trio nightclub in Charleston, South Carolina was enjoying a reputation among locals and visitors as one of that city’s hot spots.
“Charlotte is a great city with a thriving nightlife and dance music community, but they’ve really not had a place to dance until now,” says Gussin, who is bringing Trio Charleston’s vibe to the much larger Charlotte venue. Including lighting from Michael Meacham of idesign Productions and powerful sound courtesy of E11EVEN Sound by DAS Audio.

UK – Consultancy 3LR Lighting has announced another addition to its portfolio of leading lighting brands, with the inclusion of LED manufacturer, Schnick-Schnack-Systems.
From its manufacturing base in Germany, Schnick-Schnack-Systems produces individual, ready-to-use lighting solutions with associated controls for a broad range of applications, especially television and film studios, architectural projects, system integrations, cruise ships and events. Its range of LED components includes strips, tiles and dots designed for decorative use in all types of environment, for indoor or outdoor use.
“With 3LR we merge two excellent teams,” says Solveig Busler, speaking on behalf of Schnick-Schnack-Systems. “With the expertise of 3LR we have a brand representative that understands our product range and will make it easier for the customers to explore our products. 3

Canada - A new production of Richard II adapted by Canadian playwright and provocateur Brad Fraser is playing in the Tom Patterson Theatre as part of the 2023 Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario.
Conceived and directed by Jillian Keiley, the work is choreographed by Cameron Carver and lit by Leigh Ann Vardy who is utilising 12 x Astera Titan Tubes and four Helios Tubes as inventive lighting and visual props to assist the ambience and narrative flow.
Jillian Keiley wanted a minimalist stage setup, and as the creative team started to evolve the aesthetic – with the action set in a Studio 54-inspired disco steeped in the glamour, grit, and glitz of 1970s / 80s New York – it became essential to involve lighting elements that could take on the roles of both physical props … and metaphysical suggestion.
Leigh Ann, Jillian, and Stratford Festival’

UK - The UK premier of the much-publicised movie, Barbie, took place 12 July at Cineworld Leicester Square. Limited Edition Event Design with support from IPS (Impact Production Services) produced the event.
Helping to create the colourful scene was a collection of 272 IP65 rated Chauvet Professional video tiles and lighting fixtures from IPS’ own extensive inventory.
“As most of the action at a premiere event takes place outside, IP rated equipment is the most suitable, since it allows everything to keep operating whatever happens with the weather,” Tom Warden of IPS said of the event’s kit. “There is only one chance to get things right on these shows and Limited Edition Event Design does an excellent job as the technical production designer.
Film premieres are a tough gig in the best of times, especially when they take place in very busy centra

UK - Void Acoustics is proud to be associated with Art Designers This is Loop whose large-scale audio-visual sculpture Emergence has recently been shortlisted for a CODAaward.
Emergence is an immersive audio-visual installation which features Void Acoustics’ sculpted Cyclone 55 fixture. This weather-protected IP-55 rated speaker was ideal for the artwork, which is predominantly displayed in outside environments.
Artist Alan Hayes is one of the partners of This is Loop - a collaborative artistic partnership which tours large-scale experiential architectural installations and sculptures to city centres and events across the UK and the world.
As the creator and architect of Emergence, Alan was adamant about his decision to work with Void Acoustics on this particular sculpture. The brief was to provide the audio aspect of the installation whi

USA - Gateway Productions in Newburyport, Massachusetts has purchased 28 Ayrton Domino Profile fixtures for use on productions and installations and to add to its rental inventory. Domino is an IP65 multi-function luminaire with extraordinary light power and a full feature set that’s designed for intensive outdoor use. ACT Entertainment is the exclusive distributor of Ayrton lighting in North America.
Gateway Productions services all special events and provides a wide range of AV equipment rentals. The company produces more than 1,000 events annually helping with every step of the process from initial ideas to planning, logistics and execution. The Domino purchase marked the first Ayrton acquisition for Gateway, which immediately installed them for an eight-month run at The Brooklyn Mirage, an open-air music venue at the heart of Avant Gardner.
Avant Gardner is an 80

UK - Following on from a Spring visit to Australia and New Zealand, Kurt Vile and The Violators hit the road in the UK and Europe touring in support of the 2022 studio album, Watch My Moves. The Philadelphia psych rock star’s audio crew continues to choose Britannia Row Productions for equipment rental and international tour support.
FOH engineer Aaron Brody began working with Vile six years ago, and as of last year, has been pulling double duty as Tour Manager. “We’ve been with Brit Row since I started working with Kurt, when I was originally mixing monitors. He’s actually the first artist I've toured with overseas, and this has given me the ability to rent a production package,” he says.
“I love working with Brit Row; the prep days in their shop are the best! It’s important to know, when you’re mixing and tour managing, that your gear is going to be

UAE - As house riggers at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Unusual Rigging & Engineering is used to handling the requirements of the array of different events that are hosted there. However, The International Indian Film Academy Awards 2023 presented URE with its biggest project at the venue to date.
URE’s Richard Hoare explained: “IIFA is a massive event - the Bollywood equivalent to the Oscars - held annually, it celebrates the best talent the Indian film industry has to offer. This year we were asked to supply our venue rigging services for the event. This involved more than 316 points to suspend more than 105 tonnes of production equipment. This was 100+ more points than we rigged for the 2022 event and three times the amount we’d expect to put in for a normal show.”
One of the big challenges this year was time. The venue was booked back-to-back with ev
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USA - Audio-Technica has recognised Mavric Incorporated with its Samurai Award for the 2022/2023 fiscal year, for representing Audio-Technica in the US Southeast, covering Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama.
Audio-Technica held the awards ceremony to honour its dedicated force of manufacturer’s representatives on the eve of the InfoComm Expo on 13 June, 2023, in Orlando.
Mavric Incorporated was congratulated for outstanding sales performance and bestowed with Audio-Technica’s Samurai doll. Mavric Principal Pete Petty accepted the award, which was presented by Reid Peterson, Audio-Technica US executive director, system solutions, and Jeff Beck, Audio-Technica US territory sales manager, system solutions.
Peterson said: “We are proud to honour Mavric once again with our Samurai Award. Pete Petty and the res

UK - Production Futures exists to create opportunities for young people to learn, train, network and develop real careers in production across every area of the live event, music, touring, theatre, TV, broadcast and film industries. The organisation has announced that its flagship On Tour event will take place at Production Park, Wakefield on Thursday 28 September.
Featuring international special guest speakers, panel discussions and learning zones, the event will place emphasis on the theme of transferable skills across the production industries. Production Futures’ diversity partners will also play an important role on the day with Black Lives in Music, The Association for Black Event Professionals, Women in Live Music and The Network of Women in Events, all represented. New features for this year’s event include new ‘speed networking’ and ‘recruitment’ areas.<

Italy - Teatri di Siena is leading the way in sustainable theatre practices by upgrading to the latest and most efficient LED systems from ETC. With support from Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), the venue is embracing an eco-friendly option that not only benefits the planet but also enhances the audience's theatrical experience.
In an effort to promote technological advancement and energy conservation, PNRR is extending aid to the theatre industry as it recovers from the pandemic. Teatri di Siena is seizing this opportunity by upgrading its lighting system. Seasoned electrician and lighting aficionado Andrea Garbini is leading the venue's ongoing renewal efforts, along with colleague Michele Pisano. Together, they are making significant strides towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future for the theatre industry through the PNRR initiative.
Acco

France - The commemoration of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution, is the occasion for numerous events throughout the country.
For this 11th edition of the giant classical music concert at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, Lawo once again met the live sound and live broadcast requirements of the French public broadcasters and Eurovision network. Under the expert hands of Radio France and France Televisions' sound engineers, Lawo consoles delivered quality audio to the huge crowd on the Champ de Mars, as well as to millions of listeners and viewers.
Two mc²56 desks sharing a pair of redundant A__UHD Core units were used at front of house by Nadège Antonini for the orchestra and the overall PA mix, and by Stéphane Thouvenin for the soloist premix. A third mc²56 and an A__UHD Core audio engine took care of th

UK - Vision: 2025, the UK outdoor event industry's steering group for environmental sustainability, has been commissioned by the Event Industry Forum’s (EIF) Purple Grants Fund, to write a new chapter of the Purple Guide on Environmental Sustainability for events.
It is intended to provide clear guidance on best practice and signpost to users to resources and guidance to minimise the carbon impact of events.
Feedback will be reviewed in September and the chapter will be launched 18 October 2023, at SES 23, hosted at the Showman’s Show.
The draft is available online for comment until Friday 1 September on the Vision: 2025 website.
The draft has been prepared by an industry working group including Hope Solutions, the Local Authority Event Organiser’s Association (LAEOG), Julie’s Bicycle, The Association of Festival Organiser’s (AFO) and even

Switzerland - From 30 June through 15 July, the limelight of contemporary music performance again focused on the shores of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva, where legends and emerging luminaries assembled for the 57th edition of the Montreux Jazz Festival. Meyer Sound was on hand for its 37th year as strategic partner and official sound provider, ensuring that the latest in audio technology was ready to connect artists to audiences at the two paid-ticket venues and 11 free music stages.
Again this year, the Auditorium Stravinski hosted world-renowned artists spanning generations and genres, including Bob Dylan, Lil Nas X, Iggy Pop, Gilberto Gil & Family, Buddy Guy, and Nile Rodgers & Chic. And, for the second year, the system at the 4,000-capacity venue was built around a complement of 24 Meyer Sound Panther large-format linear line array loudspeakers.
“The reacti

UK - Eight years ago, 11 teams turned up, had a bit of fun and raised a small amount of money driving some karts for the live events industry. Fast forward to 2023 and The Parish of Backup delivered the Village Fete, its biggest and most successful event to date. The day was set against the backdrop of a traditional British Fete, 350 members of the live events industry came together to have the best of British days out.
With Chauvet Professional once again taking up the headline sponsor slot, and first-time main sponsor 5 Star Cases joining them and providing a colourful selection of flight cases for the Flight Case Challenge, over 40 companies, along with many individuals, descended on Daytona Sandown Park. Outside of the traditional award shows and trade shows calendar, this event has become one of the biggest fun days out for the live events industry.
“Raising the

UK - One of the pro-audio industry’s most enduring and endearing characters signs off her last press release and says farewell to the workforce at the end of this month. After 26 years at Martin Audio - mostly spent in managing marketing and PR - Maureen ‘Mo’ Hayes is taking retirement. She has been the longest serving member of the Martin Audio staff by a clear stretch.
“Giving up something that’s been part of your life for such a long time is certainly going to feel strange, and I can’t imagine not having it in my life,” she concedes. “But while I will miss the camaraderie, I feel comfortable that I am leaving the company in good hands, with a blend of experienced people and new blood coming in to keep things fresh.
“Dom [Harter] has brought some much-needed stability to the company, as has the Focusrite Group. Martin Audio today is very different f

UK - GLX Productions has announced their continued investment in Chauvet Professional fixtures and Chamsys control systems. This is a major move for GLX Productions on its mission to offer high standards of equipment at affordable price points for all productions across the country.
GLX has bought a large quantity of Chauvet Professional Outcast 1L Beam, Color Strike-M, Outcast 1 Beam Wash, Strike 1, Strike Array 2, COLORado PXL 16, RDMX8 Splitters and NET-X II.
Their investment in control has expanded exponentially, now stocking Chamsys Compact consoles including MQ50, MQ70 and MQ80 as well as their full Stadium Series of MQ250M, MQ500M including wings.
“We’re incredibly happy with our investment in Chauvet and Chamsys, already they’ve proved popular with all our clients across many different sectors. Both Chauvet fixtures and Chamsys control have a very

The Netherlands - Salesforce’s World Tour Amsterdam business event took place at the Taets Art & Event Park in Zaandamon 23 May. Smile Licht en Geluid Utrecht, Showtec and Infinity illuminated the event.
Salesforce is a company that creates cloud-based software to help companies connect with their customers in an innovative way. Their World Tour Amsterdam event included more than 40 sessions from industry leaders designed to improve business practices.
Several areas in the Taets Art & Event Park were created to host different topics and the setup was ideal for information sharing and networking. In addition to customised decor, this included a large number of lights by Showtec and Infinity.
The lights were provided by Smile Licht en Geluid Utrecht, a company that specialises in light, video and sound technology as well as rigging and power distributio

South Africa - Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria came to life with three performances over a four-day period with the Bethel Music SA Tour, Theuns Jordaan Tribute concert and the Boots and All Country Festival featuring Kip Moore, with all shows produced by The Hit Factory.
MGG was appointed full technical supplier for the shows, incorporating one of its two new DiGiCo Quantum 338 along with a Quantum 225 digital mixing console.
The three shows at Loftus catered for an audience of over 30,000 per performance. “It's such a privilege to do large format concerts like this again and to see a massive crowd of people just enjoying themselves gave us goosebumps,” Günther Müller, project manager at MGG enthuses. “This, paired with the fantastic artists and supported by the A++ technical team in South Africa, was an experience like no other. It’s such a privilege to

USA - PRG (Production Resource Group) has been named one of two pilot phase partners for L-Acoustics’ L Series Speakers in the Americas, before the technology becomes fully available to the public this October. This year, PRG has made a significant eight-figure investment with long term partner L-Acoustics. PRG is an L-Acoustics Certified Provider Rental (CPr) and the equipment is now available across PRG’s global locations on a rental basis.
PRG’s expanded partnership with L-Acoustics makes the brand’s tech available to customers and markets around the world. Metal band, Dream Theater, is the first production where the L Series is being utilised by PRG on tour.
“Our substantial investment in L-Acoustics products reinforces our commitment to creating outstanding experiences for audiences at live events around the world,” says Doug McKinley, VP, asset serv

Spain - HOF has confirmed that it has appointed Acson as a distribution partner in Spain. The cooperation will start with immediate effect.
Acson is a professional lighting and sound system distribution company that has been in the industry for more than 30 years.
Alex Costa, managing director at Acson, says: “Many of our customers are production companies that need brands and products that help them reduce set-up and dismantling times for their shows across Spain. We found HOF to be the perfect match to what we were looking for to be able to meet our customers’ requirements.“
Edwin Duivelaar, export & sales manager at HOF, adds: "Acson is a very respected company in Spain. They can push the HOF products in their wide range network in Spain. We are sure that the HOF products will give Acson a complement to their already wide product portfolio."
Ac

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