UK - Eve will provide 140km of barriers to the Tour de France Grand Départ across the three UK legs, from Leeds to Harrogate, York to Sheffield and Cambridge to London.

Mark Fisher, senior account manager at Eve, comments, "Our teams are well versed in top tier cycling events, having worked on the London 2012 Road Races and the 2007 Grand Départ, so we're really looking forward to it."

As an official supplier to London 2012, Eve delivered and installed all the crowd control barriers for the Olympic road events.

The company has invested a record £14m to add to its already market-leading stocks since, and new kit will be roadside for the Grand Départ contracts with WRG Live and Innovision.

Eve barriers will keep cyclists and fans safe as the Tour passes through Yorkshire towns such as Harewood, Otley and Skipton, Elland, Huddersfield and

Australia - Apex's Australian distributor, Group Technologies based in Melbourne, has enjoyed a busy first half of the year with its key brands including the Apex range of signal processing electronics for the pro audio industry. Recent installations include the Melbourne Athenaeum and the Ding Dong Lounge live music venue, also in Melbourne.

Founded in 1839, the Melbourne Athenaeum is one of Victoria's oldest public institutions. Today, the Melbourne Athenaeum is home to the Melbourne Theatre company and stages a huge variety of productions from comedy festivals, to concerts, opera, musicals and of course theatre all year round.

Due for a complete audio overhaul, the brief was for an audio solution that would be able to handle the extremely broad palette of acts hosted by the venue, whilst at the same time remaining visually discreet and easily reconfigurable by theatre techn

USA - On May 2-4, 2014, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's first-ever Fan Fest was held - with thousands of fans mingling with the star-studded line-up of 100 Hall of Famers. This extraordinary event marked the most Hall of Famers gathered in one place outside of Canton, Ohio, the home of the NFL's Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Held in Cleveland's expansive International Exposition (I-X) Centre, the event included unprecedented access to the Hall of Famers through one-on-one photo opportunities for fans, instructional drills on a 100-yard indoor football field, engaging games and activities, plus roundtable talks. There was a lot going on and, to ensure the capacity crowd could hear everything clearly, a sizeable sound reinforcement system drawn from the catalogue of Valencia, Spain-based D.A.S. Audio was deployed.

Cleveland based Hughie's Event Production Services, which provides l

Sweden - With 17,000 students, the University of Örebro is one of the fastest growing universities in Sweden. Its school of music, theatre and art provides the growing student body with an array of course subjects, including recording music technology. In its quest to prepare students for moving on to a modern recording studio, the university has commissioned an API 1608 console.

Situated in the heart of Sweden, the university's proximity to Stockholm, Gothenburg and Oslo offer students a wide range of cities to seek employment after graduation. It is a young, modern and rapidly growing university with an ambitious agenda for the future. The university also offers courses in English and a foreign exchange program, attracting students from across the globe.

(Jim Evans)

Germany - Rap band Materia has recently toured 14 cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland under the motto Zum Glück in die Zukunft II (luckily into the future II). The lighting designer Tjorre Hasubski counted on - among other lights - 22 Alpha Spot QWO 800s and 20 Clay Paky Sharpys. They were controlled by a full-size grandMA2, a grandMA2 light, one VPU basic MK2 and two 12 x 2.3 kVA digital dimmers, all made by MA Lighting.

Hasubski said,"The basic idea was that the show had to convey emotions through video images. However it was important for the video not to become too dominant. It had to fit harmonically into the general design concept. During some parts of the concert, lights were used to enhance the video components. However it was necessary to avoid putting the artists into the shadow while doing so. On the other hand, the light also had to stand out from

UK - LiteConsole Ltd will be launched as a global joint venture between Litestructures and Gear4DJs on 1 July 2014. This step forward for the LiteConsole brand will create a solid sales platform for the product range throughout the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, says a statement.

Litestructures will handle the manufacture of LiteConsole in the UK with Gear4DJs managing the distribution worldwide from its brand new warehouse (opening summer 2014). Nick McGeachin, the driving force behind LiteConsole, will be fully focused in the new company on increasing sales and continuing development of the product platform.

Gear4DJs will add specific dedicated back office LiteConsole staff to support Nick, the growing network of official dealers, and to provide direct customer support. Nick McGeachin said, "This initiative represents a wonderful new dawn for LiteConsole. As all

Israel - Prodigy took their full-on maelstrom of mega-loud psycho-rock-rave to Israel, making some seriously deafening noise as the knife-edge excitement of their live show experience shook the Trade Fairs Centre in Tel Aviv to its foundations, complete with a lighting spectacle designed by Andy Hurst featuring over 120 Robe moving lights.

The lighting kit for the one off show was delivered by leading Israeli rental company Argaman Systems from Rosh Hayain, and included 32 x Robe Pointes, 76 x LEDBeam 100s and 16 x LEDWash 600s - all from Robe's Robin series.

Some of the additional Robe fixtures needed to service this show were supplied to Argaman by Danor Rental. Sister company Danor Theatre and Studio Systems is also Robe's very active Israeli distributor, and Danor's own Erez Hadar was at the gig to see the lights in action and appreciate Hurst's eye-popping lightshow first

UK - The Shure Academy European Audio Network has announced another in its on-going series of hands-on wireless microphone technology training days, Wireless Mastered, on Tuesday 22 July - but this one is particularly special, as it is taking place at the home of Arsenal Football Club, Emirates Stadium in North London.

Since the launch of the Shure Academy last Autumn, there have been many training events around the country, including wireless training days in Manchester and Liverpool, and various events at Shure Distribution UK's headquarters in Waltham Abbey, such as an Audio for House of Worship focus day, the Audio Insight 2014 seminars in March and regular QSC Q-Sys audio network training. However, the July event is the first to take place at Emirates.

The event runs from 10.30am to 4pm on 22 July and is aimed at all event production staff, but particularly Front-of-House

USA - Billed as the 'Synthesis of Technology, Art and Music', Moogfest is a quirky celebration of electronic music, geekiness and the legacy of synthesizer legend, Bob Moog. Held over five days in April in Asheville, North Carolina, the city where Moog spent the last 30 years of his life, performances from top acts like Kraftwerk, Flying Lotus, Pet Shop Boys and M.I.A. rubbed shoulders with instrument workshops and seminars on everything from sci-fi futurism to Sonification and Cybernetics.

For the first time, two DirectOut MADI systems were used for the live recording of two of the main festival venues. Moogfest documentation producer KamranV (CEO of CyKiK) and recording producer Nick Tipp (Soniferous Inc) were responsible for overseeing multitrack recording of the entire festival. Together they created a MADI setup based on DirectOut equipment as main recording systems and bro

USA - Country music star Dierks Bentley is currently out headlining his 2014 Riser Tour through the fall with VER Tour Sound supplying the audio reinforcement system featuring Harman's JBL VTX line arrays and Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers. In addition, Christie Lites is providing a full Martin rig for the dynamic lighting system, highlighted by MAC Quantum fixtures.

The audio system features a left-right hang of 16 JBL VTX V25 line array loudspeakers per side, with six VTX S28 subwoofers per side in cardioid configuration. For side fill, VER has supplied supplying eight V25 loudspeakers per side, along with six G28 ground-stacked subwoofers per side. Powering the V25 loudspeakers are Crown I-Tech 4x3500 HD amplifiers, with I-Tech 12000 HD amps powering the subwoofers.

"Dierks really combines country and rock together and this show is very much like a rock and roll production

Puerto Rico - The multi-level parking structure for the new Hyatt Place Bayamón and El Tropical Casino has been a labour of innovation and love, successfully incorporating indigenous art with a synchronized show and creative lighting elements. At night, the building structure becomes a canvas drenched in light, also lit by 25 Iluminarc Ilumipanel 40 IP fixtures, used for their rendition of saturated color and capabilities to function in humid or harsh weather conditions.

Boscaje Iluminado was designed exclusively by digital scenographer ANAITTÉ, for the Hyatt Place Bayamón & El Tropical Casino. Comissioned by PRISA Group, the initiative was awarded the Seventh Annual Excellence in Live Design Award 2014 in the architainment category by the readers of Live Design Online. The Iluminarc fixtures were supplied by Audio Visual Consultants, Inc. of Puerto Rico.

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USA - How do you top something that's already become one of the most widely followed lightshows ever? It isn't easy, but somehow LD Steve Lieberman manages to pull off this feat every year at the Electric Daisy Carnival, Insomniac Events' internationally acclaimed three-day EDM festival.

This year's Electric Daisy Carnival drew over 390,000 fans from every state and 40 countries, according to published reports. Lieberman's design on the 200' wide by 80' high EDC Basspod Stage treated them to an eye-popping example of what happens when a lightshow that's pushed beyond the outer limits wraps itself around some of the best electronic dance music.

"Our vision for EDC is constantly evolving," said Lieberman, president of SJ Lighting. "We are focused on creating environments for the audience to experience the show to its maximum potential; and for artists to have a pl

Rule Changes - Oscar organisers have put new rules in place to ensure fair campaigning in its music categories. Academy members are no longer allowed to contact voters via any means to promote their song for nomination. Members will also not be allowed to attend a live performance of eligible songs unless attached to a screening.

It comes following the disqualification in the original song category this year after it emerged a songwriter had emailed voters to consider his song. Alone Yet Not Alone, the title track from an independent Christian-faith film, beat other high-profile contenders to secure a surprise place on the shortlist.

It was later discovered Bruce Broughton - a former Academy governor and current executive committee member - emailed at least 70 of the 240-member music branch during the nomination period to bring his song to their attention.

The Academy

UK - EnTEEtainment joined the Glastonbury Festival Family for its 18th year managing the technical production at the iconic main Pyramid Stage and Other Stage.

There has always been a special atmosphere around Glastonbury Festival, emanating from the tightknit team assembled around organisers Michael Eavis, his daughter Emily and her husband Nick . Enteetainment are in constant touch throughout the year's planning that goes into constructing the world's most famous festival stages and their associated production, ensuring the 135,000-strong audience enjoys the 51 bands appearing on these two stages across the weekend.

The core team comprises Dick Tee, head of production, along with daughter Frankie Tee, (in the role of Pyramid stage office manager) working her seventh year, Amy Harmsworth (operations and logistics manager Pyramid and Other Stage) working at her 13th Glastonbur

UK - When Martin Audio rental stockist, dBS Solutions, was tasked by production company, Sell a Door Theatre Company, to design a sound system that would take the touring version of the long-running West End show Avenue Q across the UK, the company's MD Chris Bogg was faced with his stiffest challenge in the company's nine year history.

Not only was this puppet-based production the largest tour the company had undertaken, but the size of venues would vary enormously; and on tours where truck space is at a premium, trucking the minimum amount of kit, while keeping the production scalable, was crucial.

The Warrington based company's relationship with Martin Audio dealers, LMC Audio Systems was also critical, and the latter's sales manager James Lawford was able to put a creative deal together that enabled Bogg to secure the new generation theatre system that he had been w

USA - Calgary-based energy company Enbridge is the latest corporation to install a Meyer Sound Constellation acoustic system, with the goal of clarifying corporate communication and facilitating the free flow of ideas. Eliminating the need for lavalier or handheld microphones, the systems support a variety of functions in two adjacent meeting rooms located in the company's new Learning Centre. The systems are part of a complete AV design by Bill Schuermann, senior consultant at the Houston office of SLR Consulting.

"The rooms are used for everything from executive meetings, teleconferencing, and employee training to safety orientations for construction workers, and even occasional social events," says Amin Ladha, AV subject matter expert at Enbridge. "Constellation has performed exceptionally well for all of them."

Constellation is an active approach to exp

UK - Trakway and barrier specialist, Eve, supplied 1,250 aluminium roadway panels and 8,000 Heras fence panels to Download 2014, at Donington Park.

Festival director, John Probyn, who has described the event as the best one yet, comments, "Eve is critical at Download, due to its wide list of products and its knowledge of the venue and all the unique limitations a race track presents."

Eve account manager, Ben Chambers, said, "John has put a top team together in the production office and across the site in terms of suppliers. There's a really progressive approach at Download and it's a pleasure to be a part of."

(Jim Evans)

Estonia - When DJ David Guetta, visited Estonia recently for his only show in the Baltic region, a Martin Audio W8LC Compact line array was on hand to reinforce a memorable show in front of 20,000 people in the Talinn Song Festival Grounds.

The rig was provided by the manufacturer's long-term distributors Audiosky - who were commissioned by production company RLE Concerts. "We have done a lot of gigs for the owner Hardi Loog in the past, in both Estonia and Finland - including Pitbull," reports Audiosky owner Tiit Terask.

In order to provide top quality sound for FOH engineer Carlos Herreros (who also took care of monitor engineer and system tech duties), Terask provided main PA hangs of 12 x W8LC (with a single W8LCD Downfill at the base). Out-fills comprised eight W8LC, with a single W8LCD Downfill, while four W8VDQ cabinets were deployed as front-fills. A total of

UK - One Direction recently kicked off their latest stadium tour, Where We Are, to celebrate their third album, Midnight Memories. Working with designers Ray Winkler and Ric Lipson of Stufish, Brilliant Stages delivered a series of staging elements designed around a central theme of a skatepark.

Stufish designed the three-dimensional diamond-shaped 'skate park' with multiple performer levels that spread across the 54m wide x 21m deep main stage. The set incorporates pairs of ego- and band-risers, perimeter ramps and screamers arranged either side of a steep central slope, which rakes upstage at a 19° angle to a height of 4.5m, and is fronted by a 34m long skate thrust to the B-stage.

Brilliant Stages designed and built the decking and supporting framework for the walkways and risers, along with scarlet powder-coated aluminium access stairs and onstage treads,

USA - "The annual CMT Music Awards telecast is one of the best of its kind, and in some ways the best music awards presentation of all. Last night's production proved me right once again,"* enthused media critic Ed Martin about the 2014 event.

This year's star-studded CMT's was lit by Tom Kenny for the fifth consecutive year, and he utilised a variety of Robe fixtures including Pointes, MMX Spots and LEDWash fixtures on his massive lighting rig in the Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee.

Hosted by Kristen Bell and produced by Michael Dempsey Productions along with John Hamlin, Amy Johnson and Margaret Comeaux from CMT, the live broadcast received a great response from both the public and media. Thirty thousand country music fans also packed the arena to catch the amazing line-up and witness many live show-stopping performances and unique collaborations.

Kenny a

UK - West London based lighting and visuals rental specialist Colour Sound Experiment renewed its long term working relationship with Glastonbury, supplying lighting to three key areas - Arcadia, Block 9 and The Glade. They also kitted out nine major bars around the site with practical and effects lighting.

A Colour Sound crew of 25 and several hundred lighting fixtures hit the tors of Somerset and imbibed the vibes and the beautiful rolling countryside of Worthy Farm for the five-day event, which again sold out to its 135,000 capacity despite erratic weather and heavy rain through much of the weekend.

Colour Sound's Haydn Cruickshank comments, "I am extremely proud that we are involved in all the most alternative and coolest elements of the site. A serious amount of effort goes in to the detail from everyone involved, and the results speak for themselves in terms of visu

UK - Leisuretec Distribution are set to host a month of Interactive Days in July for their trade customers, in partnership with Audio-Technica and Allen & Heath.

Starting on 3 July with the subject of Wireless, attendees will cover topics such as UHF and digital technology, frequency bands, regulation, licensing and intermodulation, along with an overview of the Audio-Technica products and features. The session is designed for anyone who regularly uses radio mics.

Installation Products is the theme for the day for 10 July and it's designed specifically for installers and system integrators in order to aid them in their system designs. Microphone technology, polar patterns, IDR overview and programming and Audio-Technica products and applications will all be covered.

The Conference Systems Day takes place on 17 July and is designed to cover in detail, the Audio Technica ATCS-

Sweden / Italy - LumenRadio has announced that another leading fixture manufacturer will include the wireless CRMX OEM modules for some of their products - the Italian based company Studio Due.

With over 30 years of innovation, design and manufacturing experience, Studio Due has been creating lighting solutions to support lighting designers, architects and lighting consultants all over the world. Studio Due's product range, historically composed of moving head spots, outdoor multiray effects and controllers has been diversified introducing new lines of colour changers specifically designed to satisfy the requirements of the architectural lighting market.

"Gianluca and his team are extremely talented and professional. It is a joy to work with a company that's maintaining the highest standards of quality for its equipment and services", says Jessica Björk, LumenRadio'

UK - UK-based audio specialist, Soulsound, has split its operations, as it looks to clearly define its offer and expand to reach a global audience. The move sees a clear line being drawn between the Soulsound Agency and the Soulsound Resource Centre.

While the overall objective of supporting employability in the audio industry remains as the company's unifying arrowhead, it has evolved to recognise that the Soulsound Resource Centre is equipped to reach audio students and practitioners around the world.

"The agency is very local and London-based. It keeps a small number of people - roughly 30 - in regular work," explains company founder, Darryn de la Soul. "The resource centre is aimed at improving skills all over the world, by creating a community of audiophiles and setting the standards that engineers should aspire to."

Following a period of foundation,

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