UK - Edinburgh-based Black Light has invested in the ETC ColorSource family by adding 30 ColorSource Pars to its expanding rental fleet. Slightly smaller than a D40, the ColorSource Par is a budget friendly solution for customers who do not want sacrifice quality for price. Eight homogenised LED arrays consisting of ETC’s unique recipe of Red, Green, Blue and Lime colour system enable the ColourSource Par to provide a rich bright light unlike any other LED wash light in its class. Designed and built to last in the USA where Calder Sibbald, Black Light director, recently visited the production facility. Calder, commenting on his trip to ETC Southwest HQ, says: “The culture within the ETC organisation is just amazing to witness and experience.” Already widely used in Black Light’s installations, the reliability, ease of use and incomparable output of the
Norway - Production house Innlandet Lyd & Lys has made what it calls a future-proof investment in Nexo’s STM Series modular line array. Just two years old, Innlandet was started by two 20 year-old engineers who have been steadily growing the company with Nexo products. Amund Kvernvold and his partner Marius Nordeng are the newest faces on Norway’s audio rental circuit. Located just two hours outside Oslo, their business had expanded to the point that they wanted a main PA solution that could take them to the next level. Having started out renting Nexo Geo S12 line arrays, they were impressed by the modularity of STM Series, which they describe as “small but huge”, able to scale up from small events in a private house to a large festival. “When we started looking to invest in a bigger system, we wanted to have an all-in-one solution, not a brand with diff
UK - Munich-based Astera has appointed Ambersphere Solutions as its exclusive UK distributor. Ambersphere Solutions is also the exclusive UK sales, support, service and training centre for Ayrton, Claypaky, MA Lighting and Robert Juliat entertainment lighting products. As of today, Ambersphere Solutions becomes the exclusive distributor of Astera products for the entire country as it will be distributing and servicing the German brand`s battery powered entertainment and film lighting X-series. “I was introduced to Astera at PL&S by an existing Astera distributor friend of mine and was blown away by the smart system thinking,” says Glyn O'Donoghue, Ambersphere’s managing director. “At Ambersphere, we only work in the professional lighting sector and Astera products fit within our portfolio perfectly. Our clients are really going to appreciate the adva
UK - A group of industry representatives will cycle from Chippenham to London Olympia on Saturday 15 September to increase awareness of mental health within the entertainment and events industries. All donations will go to Backup, the technical entertainment charity which helps industry members and their families get back on their feet during times of hardship. Starting at 7am, the cyclists will traverse 100 miles across the North Wessex Downs towards London in time for the PLASA Show. So far, eight cyclists have signed up to the challenge, including Peter Heath and Shane McGreevy of PLASA, John McEvoy and Bryan Raven of Whitelight, and Ben Tredwell of Autograph. This bike ride is part on an on-going collaboration between PLASA and PSA to support the mental health of all those working within lighting, AV, live sound, rigging and staging. This collaboration continues
Here We Go Again - 10 years after unexpectedly making cinema history, Mamma Mia is back with a prequel that looks like it could be both as camp and successful as the first time around. With an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Colin Firth and Cher, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is released this week and has been touted by lead actor Amanda Seyfried as a "better" movie with "more heart". It follows an original that became a popular classic and the highest grossing film at the UK box office of all time - despite being widely panned by critics on release. At the premier of Mamma Mia Here We Go Again Pierce Brosnan, who plays a past love interest of Meryl Streep's character Donna, told Sky News he wasn't bothered by bad reviews. "The critics could have a good old field day with us, but I think at the end of the day the people are going to enjoy it ev
UK - Event production and equipment specialists Light Fantastic Production Services (LFPS) has welcomed three Elstree University Technical College (EUTC) students at its Borehamwood base. EUTC, a university technical college for 14-19 year-olds, delivers an academic curriculum as well as specialist courses in creative arts and media production. Those, who benefited from work experience at LFPS, are Key Stage 5 (16-19 year-olds) students on the school’s BTEC Production Technology course. During their spell with the company, Luca DeLauri, Drew Topping and Ellis Montgomery were given a hands-on introduction to the busy LFPS lighting, audio, video and scenic construction departments, along with the chance to be part of the crew servicing ‘real world’ productions. Speaking about the placement, Montgomery says: “My time spent with Light Fantastic really has hel
Italy - API has named Digiland Srl as its new distributor in Italy. Founded in 2001, Digiland sells recording equipment, provides technical support, designs and manufactures audio cables, and offers sound-proofing and acoustic treatments. Digiland owner Massimo Biasibetti comments: "We are proud of having earned this strong recognition. We feel honored by the chance of helping API grow and fulfill their great potential in the Italian market. As new API Italian distributors, a whole new set of creative chances await our customers. “API is a milestone which every serious audio engineer simply can't avoid. When you are able to hear and test API gear for yourself - you will simply get it. That's how bright we see our immediate future working together with API.” (Jim Evans)
UK - EM Acoustics recently put their new HALO-A large format line array system through its paces during two days of intensive demos at London’s LH2 rehearsal/production studios (see LSi July’s event report). In addition to HALO-A, the company also took the opportunity to show off the compact HALO-C line array – the inspiration behind HALO-A – as well as several EMS Series models, including the new, award-winning EMS-41. EM Acoustics’ operations director Mike Wheeler, comments: “The venue was amazing. We had enough space to demo HALO-A properly and compare it to the much smaller HALO-C system to prove to visitors that we really have managed to take HALO-C to the next level – the natural EM Acoustics
USA - The ANSI Board of Standards Review has approved a revised version of ANSI E1.46, Standard for the Prevention of Falls from Theatrical Stages and Raised Performance Platforms. The standard has been revised to address changes to the OSHA regulations for fall protection, while keeping the document's useful guidance for preventing falls from stages into the orchestra pit or the house. ANSi E1.46 – 2018 can be downloaded at no cost from the ESTA TSP website at tsp.esta.org/freestandards. The no-cost download is made possible by the sponsorship of ProSight Specialty Insurance. Alternatively, the standard may be purchased for $40 from ANSI and IHS at webstore.ansi.org/ and global.ihs.com/ respectively. (Jim Evans)
USA - The Knight of Illumination Awards USA (KOI-USA) has announced the judging panel for the Live for Broadcast category. Panel chair Jeff Ravitz comments, "I'm very lucky to have been able to assemble a stellar panel of judges. I wanted a well-rounded mix of experienced eyes working with me to select this year's KOI-USA Live for Broadcast Award recipients, and well-rounded they are." KOI-USA Full Live for Broadcast panel: Jeff Ravitz - lighting designer and chair of the judging panel who has turned innumerable live performances into broadcast ready television shows, including for Bruce Springsteen, Lollapalooza festival, and Canadian pop star Justin Bieber Amy Tinkham - creative director, producer, and writer, Amy has previously worked as a choreographer for artists including Madonna, Aerosmith, and Earth Wind and Fire, and has directed events including Amer
UK - PLASA Show, the world-wide event for entertainment technology, is returning to London Olympia from 16-18 September, and the seminar programme is beginning to take shape. Attendees will have access to back-to-back professional development sessions across the three days, delivering content from all sectors of the industry including lighting, live sound, AV, rigging and staging. Only a slice of what’s to come has been announced, but many hot topics are already covered, from immersive audio and the latest AV technology, to pioneering design software and electrical updates. Audio experts from Britannia Row Productions are hosting a series of seminars to help both the younger generation and seasoned professionals. As well as discussing the future of immersive audio and outlining their training courses, Britannia Row will run a demonstration of speaker sys
Columbia - sE Electronics International, Inc. and Fingerprint Audio – sE’s North and South American distributor - have appointed Konectar Pro Audio as the exclusive Colombian distributor of sE’s entire line of microphones, patented Reflexion Filter products, and studio accessories. “We are very pleased with Konectar’s approach to this important market and are proud to have them on board representing the line in Colombia,” says Josh Thomas, Fingerprint Audio’s general manager. Konectar Pro Audio was founded in 2015 by Oscar Montoya (CEO) and his wife Genith Lopez, who each worked on the technical and administrative sides of event production for many years. Montoya says, “We have always been dedicated to advising and selling solutions for audio, video, lighting and stage. Now, we will be showing our customers the benefits of sE Electronics products,
Europe - Integrated Systems Events, the producers of the Integrated Systems Europe exhibition, has announced that its 2021 edition will be held at Gran Via, part of the Fira de Barcelona exhibition complex in Spain on 2-5 February. The new venue will become the permanent location for the AV and systems integration show. An ISE statement says, “The decision to relocate the ISE exhibition comes after 18 months of research into the viability of remaining at the RAI Amsterdam. With annual growth in ISE exhibitors and attendees approaching 10%, and the international AV market forecast to grow by 5% per annum through to 2021, it was concluded that ISE was outgrowing its popular Amsterdam location. “ISE 2018 attracted 80,923 attendees, of which 22,000 were visiting the show for the first time while 1,296 exhibitors filled 53,000 net sqm of floor space in 15 halls.
Portugal - Airstar, the French lighting balloon technology specialist, delivered a remarkable performance for the opening ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) of Lisbon, on the banks of the Tagus. Before battling it out in Lisbon’s Altice Arena, one of the country’s largest concert halls, delegations from 43 countries gathered at the MAAT to walk on the ESC’s ‘Blue Carpet’, under the light of Airstar’s lighting balloons. Airstar specified and installed 30 Crystal and Solarc lighting balloons. Raphael Vaz, head of Airstar’s Portuguese subsidiary, explains: "We had lengthy discussions with the client, and we were able to come back with a solution that was a perfect fit for such a high-profile event, but also perfectly adapted to the constraints of the venue. We wanted to bring out the magni
South Africa - DWR Distribution and L-Acoustics will be hosting a special presentation and demonstration at The Teatro at Montecasino on Tuesday, 17 July 2018. The new Syva collinear source and the Kiva II system will be demonstrated for the first time in South Africa. There will be product overview from L-Acoustics’ sales manager, Tim McCall. Featured products will include the X Series coaxial speakers, ARCS Wide, ARCS Focus, KARA and more. There will also be coverage of the new P1 Measurement Platform and AVB Processor, new software and advances and workflow improvements in LA Network Manager. Booking is available on line at: http://dwrdistribution.co.za/register/l-acoustics-open-day/ (Jim Evans)
UK - When independent Welsh production company Cwmni Da converted their open plan office into a new studio earlier this year, in the town of Caernarfon on the northwest coast of Wales, the award-winning television producers sought to minimize their carbon footprint by installing a more energy-efficient lighting system. Lighting company Lumio Media obliged by suggesting, specifying and installing an LED lighting package of TV-optimized Elation Professional luminaires. Cwmni Da produces a variety of television content for Welsh-language broadcasters S4C and C4, as well as the BBC. “Cwmni Da is a green company and they were keen to use all LED lighting in the new studio,” stated John Penny Williams, lighting director at Lumio Media, who supplied and installed the full lighting rig, as well as scaffolding and all the distribution electrics and data for the projec
USA - If Hollywood film makers were looking for an ideal natural backdrop for a 4th of July fireworks display, they would do well to travel about 400 miles east to Tempe Town Lake. The glistening water and the wide-open dome of a desert sky add a compelling and powerful dimension to the pyrotechnics that are launched from the waterway’s graceful Mill Avenue Bridges every year. It’s a scene that other venues would be hard pressed to match. But the same environment that provides such a dramatic setting also poses special challenges for anyone trying to set up a stage for this Independence Day event. John Garberson of Creative BackStage, who has been involved in Tempe’s 4th of July fireworks festival’s stage show for 18 years, knows how to handle the setting’s natural elements. He convinced the festival’s organizers to switch from a motorized roof to a Stageline to
UK - A variety of Nexo sound reinforcement loudspeakers have been installed by audio systems integrator T.G.Baker at the intu Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester. These have been fitted in the atrium space known as The Orient, which is Europe’s largest food court and features more than 30 restaurants, cafes and bars. intu Trafford Centre is the second largest shopping centre in the UK, now owned by Intu Properties. Hosting more than 30m visits annually, The Orient food court is its entertainment and hospitality hub. Attracting nearly 30,000 visitors a week, this two-level atrium space is also used for live events, fashion shows and seasonal celebrations, centred around a giant video screen. Systems integrator T.G. Baker worked closely with Nexo’s UK office to design a complete audio solution for this large and reverberant space. The primary system is a Nexo Geo M
USA - Veza Sur is a Miami-born craft brewery with Latin-American roots. Located in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami, this establishment is all about “great brews and good vibes”. To ensure quality sound, Veza Sur elected to deploy loudspeakers for both the inside and patio areas. And to this end, they purchased loudspeaker systems drawn from the WR and Artec Series catalogues of DAS Audio. Sound Investment Audio was contracted to handle the Veza Sur project. Working closely with John Fiorito, East Coast territory regional manager for Sound Investment Audio, the team ultimately assembled a SR system consisting of eight DAS WR-6412FX 2-way passive enclosures, four WR-322SFX bass reflex subwoofers, six Artec 308 two-way passive enclosures, and two Artec 322S bass reflex subwoofers. Fiorito discussed the project. “Veza Sur is the newest brewery to open in Wy
UK - As part of the Odin Line Array tour in the UK through June and July, owner Harry Carnaby of Allstarz Productions used the system in the Queens Theatre Hornchurch London on a production called Elements. Harry said, “We used four Odin T-8A top boxes per side flown and two Odin S-18A subs per side on the stage. The sound was something different, we’ve used many different brands and the sound that Odin produces is crisp, clear and sounds amazing from such a small/light range of cabinets. “We liked them so much we have placed an order for a number of the Odin speakers and will be using them on an upcoming UK tour.” The Odin tour continues - 14 July Corringham Essex, 20-21 Yalding nr Maidstone Kent and ends in Bude Cornwall 27-29 July. (Jim Evans)
Greece - The Summer Nostos Festival at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) in Athens is an arts, sports and education festival that is open to the public free of charge. Music, dance, sports, arts and architecture discussions, film and video screenings and programs for children and families are combined for an entire week in June as part of a multi-faceted programme of events for all ages. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation returned in 2018 for the fourth consecutive summer as the host, organizer and exclusive supporter. The Summer Nostos Festival encapsulates the idea of “nostos” (homecoming), the inexhaustible desire to return to all things familiar including emotions and places. Lighting designer George Tellos of Lighting Art relied on MA Lighting for his design and used one grandMA2 full-size with three grandMA2 light, two MA NPU (Network
UAE - The Burj Khalifa's transformation into the world's tallest World Cup scoreboard is stunning fans in Dubai and around the world. During each match, the 828m high building's 1.2m LEDs act as pixels to display a live stream of updates, and light up with the flag of the winning nation. This is just the latest innovation at the world's tallest skyscraper, which continues to establish itself as a focus for world-class technology and events. Six months ago, it all kicked off with a spectacular New Year's Eve Light Up 2018 launch, masterminded by Emaar Properties and realised by AO Creative, that broke from all conventions to stage a Guinness world record-breaking, multimedia light and sound show. Emaar Properties' ambitious vision for the New Year's Eve event was fulfilled by AO Creative, the creative division of Arts Outdoor Lighting Technology. More than one m
UK - Star Events redesigned the entire Great Oak Stage sub-structure and super-structure to accommodate Roger Waters’ Us + Them production, which opened the BST Hyde Park series last Friday. With gags including smoking Battersea Power Station chimneys rising above the stage, graffiti strewn flying pigs and the surround sound effects synonymous with Roger Waters, Us + Them managed to set a new precedent, even for a Hyde Park performance. The Pink Floyd-heavy two-and-a-half-hour show contemporised the politics from the band’s mid-70s/early-80s canon through a series of stunning visual sequences fitted to the songs. The back of the traditional performance box was pushed up and film, cartoons and stills on the resulting 1,100sq m video wall focused on state-sponsored torture, refugees, human rights, Donald Trump and the singer’s support for Pale
Israel - KLANG, the German-based manufacturer of immersive 3D in-ear mixing technologies, has appointed AEM of Tel Aviv, as its exclusive distributor in Israel. AEM specialises in the importation and distribution of products associated with stage and studio monitoring and represents many key brands. Its founder and owner, Alon Eitan is very highly regarded throughout the Israeli music industry as an expert in the field, something that KLANG:technologies head of sales, Phil Kamp, feels is a great advantage: “Alon is the trusted go-to man in this sector for a host of Israeli musicians, producers and engineers, so as well as possessing an incredible depth of technical knowledge, he has also cultivated the broadest possible range of relationships within the marketplace. We have no doubt that AEM, with its excellent customer support, is perfectly placed and equipped to de
