UK - Blackburn-based lighting rental company HSL supplied lighting equipment and crew to the latest UK White Lies tour, which featured a high-impact, lighting design - based primarily on white and near white light - by Chris Megginson.

HSL was brought in to work with White Lies by Darren Snape of Vertical Management right at the start of their meteoric career two years ago, which has since experienced a steep upwards trajectory. This was their largest production tour to date and included two sold out nights at London's Brixton Academy. HSL's project manager Mike Oates says: "It's extremely rewarding seeing a talented band grow, and Chris's designs, which are always exciting and innovative, evolve."

Megginson began the creative process for this one by presenting some ideas to the band to get them energised about the lighting. They wanted a massive wall of PAR cans to

Europe - An L-Acoustics K1/Kudo system has been used on Rammstein's European tour. "L-Acoustics' PA systems have consistently been the best available ever since they first launched," says K System engineer Ulf Oeckel. "Having used the K1, in my opinion there is no competitor which can guarantee the same performance."

Playing to an average audience of 15,000, Oeckel was using the system in an arena configuration consisting of 24 K1 units with 12 K1 subs, 24 Kudo boxes plus 24 SB28 and 16 SB218 subwoofers.

"This provided high SPLs in all audience positions and a balanced frequency response," he says. "We were getting an SPL of 110dB at FOH and 103dB at the back row, with the same clear sound. It has brilliant rigging and quick handling, and its exact acoustic imaging provides a good starting point from the beginning. We've been getting a great

UK - For the current Muse tour, which opened with dates in Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen on three consecutive nights, production manager Chris Vaughan reports that packaging the PA was all important. "Actually Skan [Skan PA Hire] make it incredibly easy for me. Before the tour started we focussed on how the PA would be packaged," says Vaughan. "We knew in advance that we'd overnight between three to four hundred miles of back-to-back shows." There wasn't even time to work up efficiencies.

"We have 17 trucks in all, two and a half truck-loads of PA. Our first 'out' took just over two hours, now we regularly load out in one and three quarter hours." That might not sound too impressive until Vaughan points out, "That's in-the-round lights and LED system, with the main stereo PA, flown subs, side-hangs, and rear PA system. While playing 360° h

USA - With the boundless possibilities of multimedia integration, Canadian production giant Solotech has inspired audiences through its work with Cirque du Soleil, Leonard Cohen, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Pacific Symphony, and Star Wars: In Concert, using Meyer Sound systems. To lay the groundwork for further growth in the AV installation and touring markets, the 35-year-old company opened a new facility in Las Vegas in 2009 to support and advance the use of multimedia directly from the international capital of live entertainment.

Solotech has maintained an active presence in Las Vegas since 2003. "We worked on the opening of some of Las Vegas's major showroom projects such as the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and the KÀ,/i> theatre at MGM Grand," says Pierre Leduc, vice president and general manager of Solotech US Corp. &

USA - Frank Dwyer's latest New York City venture, Legends 33 upscale sports bar and restaurant is right across the street from the Empire State Building, and customers dine to music from a discretely distributed Renkus-Heinz loudspeaker system.

Legends 33 - named for both its featured sporting icons and its West 33rd Street location - is pitched at both the local office lunch / dinner market and tourists looking for a top quality all-American dining experience. It combines three floors of finely detailed old-world ambience with the sports bar mix of screens showing every available sports channel, along with background music to accompany gourmet burgers, steaks, pasta and traditional Irish fish'n'chips. Meanwhile, a VJ booth on a balcony level sets the party scene for Friday and Saturday nights.

The systems integrators were Starview Satellite, which has been designing and insta

UAE - The 38th National Day celebrations in the UAE saw Dubai distributor, Venuetech accommodate a special request from production company Dubai Artistic.

Venuetech were asked to supply a Sennheiser SKM-5200 microphone for the regionally acclaimed artist Hussain Al Jassmi to use on a string of concerts arranged across the country for the 2 December celebration. When Venuetech approached Sennheiser with the request and advised on what the microphone was to be used, they came up with the idea of having it customised by Crystal-Roc. Crystal-Roc then emblazoned the microphones with coloured Swarovski Crystal in the style of a UAE flag.

"When we were asked to come up with something special for this event I immediately got in touch with Mig Cardamone, Middle East business area manager for Sennheiser, and asked him if we could come up with something unique and from there we agre

Happy Holidays! - Our online news service is currently taking a break for the Christmas period, and will begin again on 4 January 2010.

During 2009, the team at LSI Online have delivered over 3,500 news stories to an audience of entertainment technology professionals in no fewer than 177 countries across the world. It's been a record year for online traffic.

This was also the year we passed our first decade of delivering online news to the industry: Lighting&Sound International's first online news feed, via the PLASA website, appeared on 10 September 1999. On that day, we reported that Britannia Row Productions had invested in 48 stacks of Turbosound Flashlight at the PLASA Show, and that Martin Professional had opened a new UK-based manufacturing facility in Louth, Lincolnshire.

Since then, we have added more than 27,000 news stories to our online database - which remains f

The Netherlands - When the 2010 edition of Integrated Systems Europe opens its doors on 2 February, over 20% of its 500-plus exhibitors will be new to the show, organiser Integrated Systems Events reports.

Mike Blackman, managing director, Integrated Systems Events comments: "No tradeshow can thrive without bringing new customers and new markets to its exhibitors. Right from its first showing in Geneva in 2004, this is something ISE has proved it can do. AV manufacturers are turning to ISE as a platform from which to launch their products and services into new and emerging sectors, and that is one reason why we are hosting so many new exhibitors in Amsterdam in February."

The pro audio sector is a prime example of this trend, with the likes of L-Acoustics, HK Audio, Sonus, Ateïs, Out Board/TiMax, Baldwin Boxall, Seeburg, Cloud Electronics, and XTA/MC2 Audio all show

Switzerland - Headquartered in Lausanne, The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) is the governing body with global responsibility for all forms of volleyball. With 220 member National Federations, operating via five confederations based in Africa, Asia, Europe, North & Central America and South America, it is currently one of the largest sports organisations in the world.

The new main meeting room at the Lausanne headquarters features a Bosch Digital Congress Network (DCN) Next Generation flush-mount installation. The flush-mount system was considered particularly attractive for this application as it enables tailor-made fixed installations to be built into the furniture.

The meeting room's elegant wooden conference table features a centre that rises up to give delegates access to the microphones and voting units. And the channel selector units are installed in the edge

Hungary - Only 60 km from Vienna, southwest of Lake Neusiedler, lies the Hungarian city of Sopron. Sopron (Ödenburg in German) is not only a university town but also the home of HK Audio's Hungarian distributor IFK.

Recently when the Petõfi Theater of Sopron was looking for a new sound system, they asked various vendors to conduct a system demo. Naturally IFK was among the bidders. IFK won with the HK Audio Cadis System they proposed.

The Petõfi Theater, with a rich tradition going back two centuries and its Vienna Secession style, is located in the middle of the Old City of Sopros and holds an audience of about 550. The programme ranges from classical and modern drama to comedy and musicals. The new system is made up of six HK Audio Cadis CAD 208 cabs as the centre cluster, two ConTour Series CT 112 12"/1.4" mid/high units and CT 118 Subs on both the left and the

Germany - Berlin's O2 World venue staged the MTV European Music Awards featuring some of the music industry's most popular artists of 2009. With plenty of live performances between the business of handing out the gongs, Sennheiser supported the event for the seventh year in a row by providing microphones, in-ear monitoring systems and technical assistance.

Working closely with the event's sound designer Derrick Zieba and audio company Britannia Row, Mark Saunders and Andy Lillywhite of Sennheiser UK were there to provide hands-on support for the many performers using Sennheiser equipment.

The company supplied G2 series in-ear monitors for every performer, as well as SKM 5200 handheld mics with Neumann KK 105 capsules for all the presenters.

With Berlin being Neumann's home city, it was appropriate for the company's capsules to feature.

"The amount of effort that Mark

Angola / UK - Special effects and AV specialists Arcstream AV has been engaged by production company Media XXI to install an Arcsphere structure for the African Cup of Nations Final, to host the Angolan president and guests.

The huge projection sphere is being installed in host country Angola for the tournament which kicks off on 10 January 2010. Angola will be joined by 15 nations who successfully advanced from the qualification process that began in October 2007 and involved 53 African national teams.

The 22m diameter inflatable structure will feature a 360º seamless projection, playing sponsor adverts and logos, viewable on both the inside and outside of the dome structure. The Arcsphere is an inflated positive pressure dome, and will be installed with a state of the art AV system including a series of plasmas inside for guests to follow the matches.

The sphere is being

UK - When Belfast-based lighting rental company Production Services Ireland (PSI) started planning its annual staff festive party, they soon realised the potential of evolving it into an event to showcase its products, services and passion for the industry, all wrapped up in a convivial social environment, complete with lavish hospitality.

It was staged in the Ballycultra Town, part of the Northern Ireland Folk & Transport Museum, an attraction covering a 170-acre site, complete with the reconstituted 19th century town, which has a church, bank, police station, school and houses.

PSI invited key clients and suppliers. They received an overwhelming response with a turnout of 150 people.

PSI's Sean Pagel says: "Once we'd decided that this was the route we would take, we were determined to go all out to ensure that everyone had a good time, enjoyed our hospitality and also

USA - Backing up Eminem on the American Music Awards, bassist / music director Adam Blackstone and guitarist Curt Chambers came through loud and clear for this world-wide broadcast - thanks to Brace Audio DWG-1000 digital wireless performance systems.

Eminem took the stage late in the awards ceremony to pump-up the house, and the rhythm section laid down a solid sonic groove. Live broadcast, multi-band shows are a must-deliver situation, and Brace Audio did just that with pristine audio and flawless wireless bass and guitar system performance.

"Finally, a wireless that keeps all my frequencies intact" said Blackstone. "With Brace, I don't lose any of the low-end on my bass, and the tone remains the same. It's a life saver for an active, moving bassist like me."

"Knowing that you have a reputable wireless unit on stage to handle your tone and distorti

Hong Kong - Traxon Technologies, realised one of the largest LED Christmas decorations for this year's Christmas Wonderland in Hong Kong.

Supporting environmental protection, Hongkong Land decided to decorate the five skywalks around the Landmark building in Hong Kong's Central with energy saving though highly efficient LED lighting solutions provided by Traxon.

The installation size per bridge varies from a quantity of 40 Mesh units for the 2x13m Ice House Bridge to 202 Mesh units installed along the Connaught Bridge with a total length of 63m, displaying season's greetings and Christmas animations.

Traxon's Mesh RGB is a versatile, modular system of IP67-rated LED modules with a low profile and an easy mounting. The Mesh units can easily be connected by flexible joints offering a high degree of customisation. With its individually controllable pixels T

Belgium - As of 1 January 2010, the Belgium based sales companies Ampco Belgium and Candela, which specialise in the distribution, supply and installation of professional audio and lighting equipment to the Belgian market, have become fully independent from the Ampco Flashlight Group.

Both companies will continue under the direction of managing director Karel de Piere, who from the same date has acquired the ownership of Ampco Belgium and Candela from Ampco Flashlight, left the Ampco Flashlight Group, and sold his shares in the Ampco Flashlight Group. The newly independent companies will focus exclusively on sales activities and will not operate in the rental market.

The Ampco Flashlight Group's audio, lighting and video sales activities will continue to be developed in Europe through TM Audio, Lightco and Pixelsource in the Netherlands, Paradigma in Romania and Atlantic Audio

UK - West Sussex-based Special Project Solutions reports that it has achieved compliance for CHAS (Constructors Health and Safety Scheme) and CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) Platinum recognition.

CHAS is a non-commercial scheme available to suppliers and to organisations looking for suitably competent suppliers. Qualifying for recognition is a three stage process involving paperwork, review and a health and safety audit. "With more and more of our work involving being on site at the building stage it is a vital qualification, and we are proud to have been accredited," says David Green.

CSCS was set up to help the construction industry to improve quality and reduce accidents. CSCS cards are increasingly demanded on site as proof as occupational competence by contractors as well as public and private clients. Special Projects has been awarded Platinum r

UK - Projection artist Ross Ashton from E/T/C London was commissioned to create three special art works for the 2009 St Andrews Festival, a three-day event designed to celebrate the rich history and culture of St Andrews, home of the Scottish patron saint. This was staged amidst the environs of the town of St Andrews on the last weekend in November.

Two of the three projections were at the ruined Cathedral of St Andrews. Ashton projected giant moving images onto the altar area and one on the cloister walls.

The third site was in St Mary's Quadrangle, part of St Andrews' university - the third oldest in the English speaking world. These were the only light works in the 2009 Festival.

Ashton had produced a small piece for last year's festival, after which he was asked back by event organiser Rob Murray-Brown to do a piece specifically about St Andrews, to be staged in t

UK - Entertainment retailer HMV is expanding its presence in the live music market by buying venue owner MAMA Group for £46m. HMV's move comes nearly a year after it took a 9.9% stake in MAMA, which runs 11 concert venues including the Hammersmith Apollo. MAMA also owns other interests, including an artist management business which represents bands such as Franz Ferdinand and the Kaiser Chiefs.

Since January, HMV and MAMA have been partners in their Mean Fiddler joint venture, which runs venues in London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

HMV chief executive Simon Fox said: "Our joint venture has worked well since its formation and the full combination of HMV and MAMA will enable us to accelerate our growth into live music.

HMV's takeover offer for MAMA, which is still subject to approval from shareholders, comes after the group rejected earlier bids from Luxemb

UK - Event safety specialists Stagesafe have produced two new event information documents, available as free PDF downloads from the Resource Centre of its web site, www.stagesafe.co.uk.

The first is entitled the Stagesafe guide to on site working practices and safe working procedures in the technical production industry, and is aimed at event companies to give to their staff as a basic guide - and can equally be used by individuals and freelancers as a handy reference. It contains a wealth of professional advice, hints and tips about safe working, says the company.

Stagesafe has also updated its Stagesafe guide to self employment in the live music and events industry, a guide for the self-employed and for those who use the services of the self-employed.

(Jim Evans)

UK - Blackburn- based HSL supplied lighting equipment, a Kinesys automation system and crew to the final leg of Snow Patrol's 2009 world tour, named Snow Patrol Reworked. This follows HSL's servicing of all the band's UK and European sections across the whole tour, which kicked off in January 09.

Mike Oates project managed for HSL, once again working closely with the tour's LD Davy Sherwin, production manager Wob Roberts and tour manager Neil Mather. Mike Oates comments, "It's been really interesting to see how Snow Patrol's show has evolved and changed over the year. Each section has been different, and of course it's been excellent working with Wob, Davy and Neil again - they are a great team."

Snow Patrol Reworked was a departure from their standard five-piece rock band set up, with 12 extra musicians onstage, bringing an orchestral feel to the show.

USA - Loud Technologies (parent company of Mackie) has announced it has signed an agreement with Avid that licenses the use of Mackie's new Onyx-i Series Firewire Recording Mixers with Avid Pro Tools M-Powered 8 software.

To enable use with Pro Tools M-Powered 8, users will need to purchase the Mackie Universal Driver upgrade at www.mackie.com. Once the driver is downloaded and installed, the Onyx 820i, 1220i, 1620i and 1640i mixers can be used with Avid Pro Tools M-Powered 8 software.

"For years, Mackie customers have wanted to combine the familiar workflow of an analogue mixer with the world's most popular DAW," said John Boudreau, VP of Loud's Music Gear group. "Through our newly-signed agreement with Avid, Mackie's Onyx-i mixers now make this possible."

Chris Gahagan, senior vice president of products at Avid said, "Avid has made openness a key

UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies has supplied a Chroma-Q Color Span LED cove lighting and wall wash system to the Brighton Dome for its Dome Foyer main bar. Situated alongside the venue's art deco style Concert Hall and part of a £22 million refurbishment of the facilities in 2002, the modern Foyer is used for a wide range of shows and corporate events.

Jason Ashdown, technical manager for Brighton Dome & Festival, approached A.C. Entertainment Technologies when the venue wanted to achieve an up light wall wash around the top of the Foyer, to provide mood lighting for events including comedy, classical, dance and other music genres. With plenty of natural light flooding the room from large skylights, brightness was a key criteria for lighting daytime events.

Ashdown considered several LED products before settling on the Chroma-Q Color Span. His chosen Color Span syst

Ukraine - The 2009 Junior Eurovision Song Contest recently wrapped up its seventh season, seeing its largest viewing audience in its history. An estimated 13m viewers watched 13 competing countries onstage, beaming alongside 22 Clay Paky Alpha Beam 1500 fixtures. The show was held on 21 November at the Palace of Sports in Kiev, the same location as the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest.

The show is a spin-off of the 52-year-old Eurovision Song Contest, produced by the European Broadcast Union (EBU). It is hosted by the public service broadcaster of the host country, which this year was NTU in Kiev. The show is the biggest song contest in the world for performers aged 10 to 15, who must each compose their own music and lyrics.

The theme of this year's show was Tree of Life, based on the artwork of Ukrainian folk art painter Maria Primachenko. Lighting des

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