UK - PRG Lighting's newly purchased Nova-Flower 2Ks are being utilised on the U2 360 world stadium tour, as part of show director/designer Willie Williams' lighting design.

Seven of the fixtures - specially developed by Italian manufacturer Novalight for the tour and now in full production - are positioned around the stadiums in the audience bleachers, pointing back at the stage.

Say's PRG's group asset director Paul Weaver, "They are an incredibly powerful effect, even contending with all the other lighting and LED screens, we're really impressed with their effect". He also reports that they are withstanding the rigours of touring extremely well.

The fixtures were sold to PRG, U2's main lighting contractors, by Lightfactor Sales, Novalight's exclusive UK distributor.

Ahead of the tour, Williams initially examined the original 1.2K Nova Flowers among other

USA - With a 3,000 seat main sanctuary, Calvary Chapel of Melbourne on Florida's east coast has upgraded to Turbosound's Flex Array as the existing sound system was transferred to a new smaller satellite campus in nearby Viera.

"Ever since we re-hung our previous system in Melbourne to try and provide line array coverage to the balcony level two years ago, we knew we needed an upgrade," states Greg Branch, senior audio engineer for the contemporary church. "So, after transferring the existing system to the new campus, we had the perfect opportunity to explore new options for the main sanctuary."

Calvary Chapel brought in Craig Beyrooti, president of Atlantic Pro Audio of Altamonte Springs, to consult on the design and integration. After considerable research, including a number of demos and shootouts, Branch and Beyrooti decided on the Turbosound Flex array

UK - Eat To The Beat (ETTB), part of the Global Infusion Group, has added the V Festival in Chelmsford to its expansive festival rosta, alongside Glastonbury, Leeds, Reading, Big Chill, Latitude, Download, Lovebox and the Hyde Park series of shows.

Team leader Susie D'Andrea managed her 45 strong crew to take on the impressive task of serving over 12,000 meals during the 12 days on site.

Eat to the Beat's operations director Mary Shelley-Smith said, "What a great festival - the sun was shining down all weekend and everyone was in good form. It's great to see so many of our regular touring clients performing together on the festival circuit. We've had a fantastic season and will be finishing off this year with Reading, Leeds and another first for us: Bestival."

(Jim Evans)

UK - PEL Music & Media has designed, supplied, installed and commissioned a Bose Professional sound system at Kelsey Park Sports College in Beckenham, Kent. The school, which only recently became a sports college, is open to boys from Years 7 to 13 with 940 students currently in attendance.

To ensure they get the best from their students, Kelsey Park decided it was time to replace the existing, overly complex sound system in the main hall with one that combined quality, simplicity and flexibility. The latter was important because the school wanted to be able to use the system across two areas: the hall being the priority, but with the option to use the system in the dining room partitioned off from the hall by a moveable wall.

Kelsey Park Sports College turned to Bose for a solution, who recommended they work with Bose Pro-Partner PEL. Bose and PEL worked closely on the projec

UK - In two special free seminars at PLASA09 Renkus-Heinz are offering a free opportunity to explore how Iconyx Digital Beam Steering loudspeakers, along with RHAON digital networking work.

"Many audio professionals, installers and architects haven't yet had the opportunity to see and hear for themselves why and how the Iconyx series and RHAON (Renkus-Heinz Audio Operations Network), has already been so successful in the US and elsewhere," said Margie Ulm, Renkus-Heinz marketing manager. "These two free live seminars at PLASA offer audio pros and architects the chance to find out."

Both sessions will be held in the Whitehall Room at PLASA09 on Tuesday 15 September and will feature the new IC LIVE digitally steerable array for live applications

The first seminar, at 11:00-12:00 am, is titled RHAON - Demystifying Digital Networking. It will provide a

USA - The Fillmore Charlotte, a 20,000sq.ft venue at the North Carolina Music Factory's entertainment complex in Charlotte, North Carolina's Fourth Ward neighbourhood, stays true to the tradition of the original Fillmore theatres. The venue, which opened on 19 June with Georgia acoustic rocker Corey Smith headlining, has the Fillmore's trademark red velvet draperies, ornate chandeliers, custom lighting and vintage concert posters.

The building, once an historic Charlotte manufacturing site, was reinvigorated by Live Nation as the latest in its growing chain of clubs bearing the Fillmore name. Soundcraft Vi4 digital live mixing consoles feature at front-of-house and monitor positions. These work in conjunction with a PA system using components from JBL, Crown and dbx, creating a scaled sound system that couples the Fillmore's grand musical heritage with 21st century technology.

UK - As legislation changes to ensure that, when it comes to education, nobody with a disability is at disadvantage, Ampetronic induction loops are becoming increasingly common in colleges and universities throughout the UK. But whereas the proximity of other loop-equipped rooms and metal loss have to be overcome in the majority of such installations, a recent example at the University of St Andrews provided a very different challenge.

One of the university's most iconic buildings is Parliament Hall, now part of St Mary's College but originally constructed as the lower hall of the King James Library. Completed in 1643, its name derives from the fact that the Scottish Parliament sat in the hall from 1645-1646, due to an outbreak of plague in Edinburgh.

These days it is used primarily as a debating chamber by the University Debating Society and as a hired venue for a wide range

France / UK - Celebrating its 90th Anniversary this year, French lighting manufacturer Robert Juliat is a three-generation family business which has specialised in the manufacture of lighting equipment since 1919. To mark its 90th Anniversary, Robert Juliat has undergone a total branding re-style which includes a new logo, a completely redesigned sales brochure and a new website which goes live later this year.

The new sales brochure was well received when it was first distributed at ShowTech, Berlin in June. Robert Juliat will now be following on from this success by distributing it from their stand at PLASA 09. 70 pages of information, illustrations and technical specifications cover the full range of Robert Juliat products.

"Quality is all-important at Robert Juliat and we wanted to produce a brochure that would reflect this, whilst at the same time giving our customer

Spain - Leading Spanish multi-media/audio provider Focus was recently contracted to furnish sound reinforcement for Pride Barcelona 09, a huge GLBT event attended by an estimated 15,000 people. The event was held 28 June at Avenida Maria Cristina in Barcelona, Spain.

Focus turned to EAW for loudspeakers and processors for the night's main stage concert, which featured several live musical artists and DJs performing well into the early hours of the morning.

The main PA system consisted of 16 EAW KF760 line array modules (eight on each side of the stage), eight EAW KF730 compact line array modules (four on each side) and 16 EAW SB1000z large format subwoofers, all processed by EAW UX8800 digital signal processors. Onstage sound for the bands was accomplished with eight EAW JFX260i compact full-range loudspeakers, and for stage monitoring for the DJs, Focus used two side-fills fo

Egypt - Sharm El Sheikh is one of the most popular holiday resorts on the Red Sea coast. Among the main attractions in the tourist metropolis are the new Il Mercato shopping mall and the Hard Rock Café. Electro-Voice is setting the tone in both locations.

The Il Mercato shopping centre boasts numerous stores, boutiques, bars, and restaurants. To ensure homogeneous coverage throughout the length of the mall, Electro-Voice partners Alpha Audio installed 68 SX300PIX, 38 ZX1i-100T, and 48 EVID3.2T loudspeakers. 10 CPS2-T amplifiers drive the installation. More Electro-Voice speaker systems serve the main piazza in a mobile capacity. The piazza is used for concerts and live transmissions of sporting events, and there are plans to extend coverage to the 1,000-metre-long shopping promenade. The way for the extension has already been paved with the installation of three NetMax N8

Canada - Tannoy's new QFlex line is central to the newly-refurbished sound system at the Queen of Peace Croation Church, Norval, Ontario.

Built in a traditional neo-gothic style and completed in April 2008, the Queen of Peace Croatian Franciscan Centre is now home to 1200 families from the area's Croatian community. "It's an extraordinary church," says Father Stjepan Pandzic. "Unfortunately the sanctuary, though aesthetically beautiful, is so reverberant that the 3000 plus congregation has been having difficulty hearing exactly what Father Stjepan has had to say since day one."

Enter Mississauga, Ontario based, RP Dynamics. While not a huge company, they've grown consistently, says Cynthia Wong, RP's accounts manager, cultivating a reputation for perfection and passion that allows them to continue to grow, even in troubling economic times.

Though a relati

The Met Challenged - A letter sent to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission is challenging the Metropolitan Police's right to gather information about live music. The commission has been asked to determine whether the Met is contravening race relations laws through its use of the 696 form. The letter's 50 signatories include Feargal Sharkey, head of UK Music.

Journalist Sunny Hundal said there were concerns the law was being used for racial profiling. About 70 London pubs and clubs are currently required to complete the 696 form. The document asks for the names, dates of birth, addresses and phone numbers of promoters and artists, for details of the target audience and for the style of music, "eg bashment, R'n'B, garage".

Mr Hundal, who drafted the letter, said: "I've heard from anecdotal evidence of people who've had no trouble at their venues just being h

USA - Live Nation's new House of Blues club in Boston was christened with a performance by the J. Geils Band, and 2,400 people got to hear the band via Soundcraft Vi6 digital mixing consoles, two of which are installed there to handle front-of-house and monitor mixing duties. The consoles are part of a PA system that uses components from Harman's JBL, Crown and dbx brands. The system was designed and installed by Sound Image of Escondido, California.

Sited in the shadow of Fenway Park, on Lansdowne Street, the club's floor is wide and the stage is high, offering much-improved sightlines. A second level is ringed by colourful folk art and several bars; there is also a seated balcony area on the third floor.

House of Blues Boston's PA system features 10 JBL VerTec VT4888DP powered three-way mid-size line array enclosures and three JBL ASB6128 dual 18" subs per side powered

UK - Based on the South Coast, Apt Suspensions is a new distribution company offering rigging, and hoisting products at competitive prices and providing a comprehensive national sales service to the professional and amateur user.

"Utilising quality merchandise sourced from around the world, the company's ranges of products - from safety bonds to chain blocks - represent exceptional value for money and, therefore, an outstandingly good deal for the customer," the company says.

"Apt Suspensions give their customers an unrivalled level of personal care, and regardless of whether the requirement is to purchase stainless steel fittings and wire rope for use at an outdoor event; to rent chain hoists and slings to raise the roof on a temporary stage system, or hoisting equipment that needs to be inspected and tested prior to use, they have the expertise to advise and h

UK - Raoul Simpson was recently commissioned to create two site specific light installations by curator Carl Slater for an exhibition entitled SITU, held from 18 August to 3 September at the Holy Trinity Church Tattershall, Lincolnshire.

The commissions are made up of two pieces, Moondial, a time-based light installation to the exterior of the bell tower and Kinetic Pixels, an interactive light installation sited either side of the main aisle in the church. Support for the projects was given by Richard Martin Lighting (IP65 Thomas Pixelline 1044, Ether-Lynx ArtNET), PRG Lighting (cabling) and ChamSys (control for Moondial).

(Jim Evans)

USA - Advanced Media Design (AMD) has announced an "exclusive value added distribution relationship" with Aethra.

Advanced Media Design now distributes the entire Aethra video communication suite of products, including the high definition range.

"Although not as well known in the United States as it is in other parts of the world, Aethra is a world leader in our business, and we're excited to team with them and contribute to their outstanding success story by leveraging our own extensive value added distribution experience in the North American market," said Gareth Wade, vice-president of sales and marketing, AMD/MediaPOINTE. "Our new partnership supports Aethra's global goals and proves our commitment of bringing the best available products in the market to our dealers."

Marco Viezzoli, chief executive officer of Aethra said: "This is a ve

UK - As most of the industry is aware by now, in Spring next year, Ofcom will be holding a 'beauty contest' for a band manager to manage the radio spectrum used by PMSE (Programme Making & Special Events) users. PLASA - the Professional Lighting and Sound Association - has recently announced its intention to apply for the role.

The best applicant will be awarded a package of radio frequencies or 'spectrum bands' that content producers depend on for the use of essential wireless equipment, including radio microphones, in-ear monitoring and wireless cameras.

For Ofcom, these 'beauty contests' are an unusual way of releasing spectrum. Generally speaking, bands that are 'freed up' for whatever reason are auctioned and awarded to the highest bidder. However, Ofcom has recognised that this would not work in the case of the Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE) sector, which wou

Denmark - Trumpet player Randy Brecker has adopted the DPA 4099 clip mic for his international tours. Brecker put the mic through its paces during a two-week tour which took place in Lisbon, Singapore and Finland.

"It's the first time I've ever had a so-called 'clip on' that not only covers the full sonic range of the horn but, due to the ingenious bell-clip, has virtually no valve noise whatsoever," he says. "I think it actually improves my playing. This tour was acoustic, and in that kind of situation I would never have used clip-ons in the past."

(Jim Evans)

France - Musique Et Son, Martinique's APG distributor, was in charge of the sound system for President Sarkozy's visit on 26 June at Fort de France. APG4000, DS15S and DS12S loudspeaker systems were employed for this presidential visit.

(Jim Evans)

The Netherlands - There were two significant but very different firsts for Mojo Barriers at this year's Lowlands Festival. It was the first time the Gatekeeper, Mojo's new intelligent turnstile system had been integrated into the festival's barrier system, and the first Lowlands Festival for Cees Muurling since being appointed managing director of the company.

The three day festival in Holland brought together 55,000 people to enjoy the festival experience with music from the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy, Kaiser Chiefs and Snoop Dogg.

This year, Mojo Barriers' Gatekeeper was used for the first time at the festival as part of the entry and exit system for the main stage front audience pens. The Gatekeeper's turnstile system counted the number of people entering and leaving the enclosed pens immediately in front of the stage throughout the day to ensure the

UK - Lighting rental company Lite Alternative has invested in a new Kinesys K2 automation control system which has gone out on Depeche Mode's Touring The Universe world tour and the stadium leg of the Coldplay Viva La Vida world tour - both with lighting designs by Paul Normandale.

This reflects the growing trend for designers to incorporate movement as another visual dynamic into their shows, requiring accurate and often subtle control to change the nature and feel of the performance space.

The first Lite Alt Kinesys purchase was a fixed speed Elevation system with a Smart 8 8-channel hoist controller and Vector PC-based automation control. This was utilised for Keane's autumn 2008 tour, to facilitate Rob Sinclair's design. It then went straight out on the Kings of Leon, a co-design between Ali Bale and Paul Normandale.

(Jim Evans)

USA - Grammy Award-winning rockers KoRn visited the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota on 3 August, 2009 for a concert at the Full Throttle Saloon. Jacksonville, Illinois-based Mason Sound provided sound reinforcement for the event, including their XLC system from Electro-Voice.

Mason Sound's Todd Spangenberg comments: "We do the stage at Full Throttle Saloon every year in Sturgis, South Dakota and have a good working relationship with Mike Ballard, the owner of Full Throttle. This year Mike explained we'd need to bring in a bigger system as he'd booked KoRn to play the outdoor amphitheatre behind the bar. We knew our Tour Grade (TG) powered XLC rig would be perfect for providing the perfect balance of punch and precision."

Mason Sound's original spec for the event included 36 XLC127DVX loudspeakers (18 per side), but height restrictions limited the hangs to 1

USA - Tannoy's QFlex digitally steerable, multi-channel speaker arrays have been installed in the Galesburg, Illinois' First Christian Church where they provide a compact and versatile solution for a challenging acoustic environment.

With nearly three seconds of RT, and the option of installing acoustic treatments off the table, owing to both budgetary and aesthetic concerns, First Christian needed a solution that would provide a rock solid fix without calling attention to itself.

"The Tannoy solution was absolutely a perfect fit for this application," says Trent Keeling, VP and co-owner of Peoria based, Advanced Audio and Lighting Systems. "The intelligibility factor was 'off the charts' poor. There was such a huge loss of intelligibility in the room that people were literally walking up to speak into a microphone to talk to one another."

"It took t

Denmark - Owned by Danish national broadcaster DR and costing over US$300m, the new DR Konserthuset is one of the most expensive live music venues ever built. A state-of-the-art facility which offers four performance halls and a home to the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, it features cutting-edge technical and acoustic specifications.

A major requirement of the venue is hosting a wide variety of productions but, at the same time, addressing that most thorny of issues - amplifying classical and operatic music, while making the audience feel that what they're hearing is purely acoustic. With Yamaha digital mixing engines at the heart of its two main spaces, this has been very successfully achieved.

The two spaces in question are Studio 1 and Studio 2, seating audiences of up to 1,800 and 500 respectively. Both feature Yamaha DME units, a DME64N in Studio 1 and DME24N in Stud

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