UK - Ten 47 officially launches its Powerline QC connector to the market PLASA 2017. Having won an award for innovation at last year’s show and after extensive field trials, the two-piece Single Pole 500 amp connector will be shipping from stock in early October. Building on the proven original Powerline connector series with familiar safety features such as mechanical keying, colour coded insulators and IP2X finger proof contacts, the Ten 47 " QC " range offers many enhancements over existing designs. New innovations include improved insulator strength, retained louvre band (IP protected), centred contact alignment, low connector mating forces and environmental sealing to IP68. In addition, the proprietary sandwich contact retention system within a two piece insulator body allows replaceable front ends and eliminates the need for a "Cotter/dowel pin" common on simi
UK - Ayrton continues its 15th anniversary celebrations with the launch of new products at the 40th PLASA London show where it will exhibit on Stand K32 alongside its exclusive UK distributor, Ambersphere Solutions. Ghibli, Ayrton’s first LED spotlight delivers an impressive 23,000 lumen output which makes it powerful enough for large scale arenas, and features a 7:1 zoom with a 8.5° - 57° beam spread. An optional High CRI Mode can be implemented for situations demanding even higher quality light output. Ghibli also features CMY colour mixing, variable CTO, and a complete effect section including two gobo wheels, a prism, an animation wheel, two frosts, and a rotating framing system that allows a full wipe, all in a most competitively priced package. MiniPanel-FX is a new addition to Ayrton’s FX-Zoom range. Small in dimensions but mighty in output, with a zoom sp
UK - Elation Professional has added two world premiere product launches to its list of innovative product offerings at the upcoming PLASA show in London. Showing at Stand H40 for the first time anywhere, Elation will be debuting the Artiste Dali, a full-featured moving head with state-of-the-art LED / Laser Phosphor light engine and the second luminaire in Elation’s Artiste series. The second world premiere product is the new Dartz 360, a full colour-mixing LED beam/spot fixture with gobos and effects that gives all new projection possibilities from a narrow-beam luminaire. Both luminaires have been nominated for a PLASA Award for Innovation. The new Artiste Dali’s features include eFly wireless DMX, CMY+CTO variable color mixing, color wheel, rotating and static gobos, prisms, animation, zoom and frost. Combined with the powerful new LED/Laser Phosphor engi
Europe - When it comes to some of the biggest names in the business, performing at some of the largest stadiums and venues across the globe, MDG know a thing or two about providing the perfect haze and atmosphere - for both the lighting and the artists. Stellar artists Adele and Phil Collins both engaged the design services of Patrick Woodroffe who, in collaboration with Roland Greil, both from design practice, Woodroffe Bassett Design, produced some stunning shows for their latest tours. On each production, Greil took on the mantle of associate lighting designer, lighting director and operator so has a unique perspective on the role and delivery of haze and fog across a wide spectrum of environments and venues. Woodroffe and Greil specified two different types of MDG machines across three tours in all: Adele’s LIVE 2016 tour and Phil Collins’ Not Dead Yet tour bo
USA - Chance the Rapper is enjoying plenty of popularity and critical comment in general, and on his past US tour in particular, which featured an eye-catching show designed by another rising star in our own industry, Michael Apostolos. Like the artist, Michael is also based in Chicago. They met through Chance’s management team four years ago, when Michael started as LD, and he is now the creative director as both their career trajectories have soared. Michael put Robe moving lights right at the heart of the Be Encouraged tour, specifying 30 x BMFL Spots, four BMFL WashBeams and 56 x LEDWash 1200s as well as eight CycFX 8s for the tour, all supplied by rental specialist, Solotech. The lights were positioned across five overhead ‘finger’ trusses, fanning out from upstage center and along the deck upstage of the band risers. The LEDWash 1200s for
UK - High End Systems will launch its new SolaFrame 750 automated luminaire at PLASA 2017. The fixture will make its debut on HES Master Distributor AED’s stand C30 at London Olympia.The SolaFrame 750 will also appear on ETC’s stand J30. Compact yet full-featured, the SolaFrame 750 offers many of the effects capabilities of the company’s flagship White Light LED products, making it a suitable fit for theatres, houses of worship, night clubs and other medium-sized venues. Delivering 11,300 lumens, the SolaFrame 750 includes a full Framing Shutter System, CMY/CTO- linear colour mixing and replaceable fixed colour wheel systems, rotating gobo wheel plus rotating animation, frost, iris, 6 to 50 degree zoom and a three-facet rotating prism. Sola Series product manager Matt Stoner commented: “For some time now, users have asked for a full-featured fixture designed fo
Artistic Licence will be exhibiting at PLASA London, Olympia, 17-19 September, Stand C32. This year, its new set design promises an electrifying experience, as visitors can attempt to blow up our products using a Van de Graaff generator! The important message here is that our premium splitters and gateways have unusually high levels of electrical protection built-in, says the company. This is great news for expensive consoles and moving lights, which can all be damaged or destroyed by accidental mains connection, generator spikes or lightning strikes. DMX-Protect is a new product that serves only to provide electrical protection of other equipment. It is a low-cost retrofit solution to ensure your investment is protected. See what you think - it will be on show in the Awards for Innovation gallery, as well as Stand C32. Just announced is the next generation of Artisti
UK – PLASA 2017 will mark the global tradeshow debut of the recently launched Ion Xe lighting desks and the soon-to-be released ColorSource Cyc fixture. Also to be unveiled is the eagerly anticipated Cobalt software version 8.0. Additionally, Source Four turns 25 this year and ETC will be honouring the occasion on stand J30. With compact footprints and full-featured Eos software, the new Ion Xe and Ion Xe 20 consoles bring award-winning programming power to smaller venues. Since the new consoles feature the same backlit keyboard layout as their larger Eos family siblings, workflow can transfer seamlessly from desk to desk. Accompanying the consoles are the new Eos Fader Wings which provide 20 or 40 standard faders in handy, USB-connectable modules that match – and are compatible with – all the latest Eos family hardware. PLASA visitors can get a sneak preview of
UK - City Theatrical will be demonstrating its latest technology at PLASA on stand H50 at Olympia. DMXcat makes it easy for anyone to control, analyse, or test any DMX lighting fixture, whether it’s a simple LED PAR or a complex moving light. The system consists of a small hardware dongle and a suite of mobile applications. Together, they combine to bring wireless DMX and RDM control plus several other useful functions to the user’s smartphone. The DMXcat solves the problem faced by all users of modern lighting equipment: How to turn on and test DMX lighting gear without using a complicated lighting console. The DMXcat works with both Android and iPhones. SHoW DMX Multiverse can broadcast up to five universes of DMX data in the 2.4GHz band (for use worldwide) or four universes of data in the 900MHz band (for use in the Americas). These tiny circuit board moun
UK - Robe is delighted to be back in London at Olympia for the 2017 PLASA exhibition – which sees the event and the organisation celebrating 40 years at the forefront of the vibrancy and innovation of the entertainment technology industry. Robe’s focus will be on its just launched MegaPointe all new multi-purpose moving light - globally launched just 10 days ahead of PLASA - which is its first international trade show. Another show-stopping lighting design can be enjoyed by all visitors on Stand D40 which will put the drama and excitement of theatricality and live performance at its core. Those blown away by the stunning lightshow featuring on the MegaPointe launch video will be able to see it up-close on the stand. Robe is once again a platinum sponsor of PLASA in recognition of the great energy and buzz that has always been at the heart of the show, which i
Germany - Since 1997, Berlin's Stars in Concert at the Estrel Hotel and Convention Centre has brought a wide range of musical theatre acts to over four million spectators, making it one of the most successful live shows in Germany’s history. To provide a permanent wash lighting solution to the long-running series, which features shows such as the Beatles’ All you need is Love and Elvis Das Musical, the Estrel Festival Centre recently added 18 Rogue R2 Wash and 10 COLORado 1 Quad Zoom fixtures from Chauvet Professional, supplied by Fischer. Both the Rogue and COLORado fixtures were positioned on trussing above and to the sides of the stage to add a full spectrum of wash lighting to complement the existing rig. While the Rogue fixtures provide powerful and dynamic wash lighting across the vast 15m- wide elevated stage area, the COLORado fixtures provid
UK - Stage Electrics has supplied over 120 new lights to Liverpool’s Royal Court. The range of lights supplied included a selection of, ETC Lustr Mk2 Spots and Fresnels, ETC ColorSource PAR Deep Blue, ETC Smart Rack power controls, an Interspace Cue Light system, Chauvet Ovation battens as well as Smoke and Haze machines, Green Go comms and GDS Blues system. After this update to their performance lighting rig the Royal Court Liverpool calculated its production lighting energy saving to be in the region of 70%; this is a shining example of the benefits that can come from LED lighting. The entire order was delivered to fit in around the venue’s current re-fit and busy production schedule. The delivery was met on site by the venue crew who set about unpacking and rigging it immediately for their in-house show ‘The Royal’. Rob Beamer of Stage Electr
USA - This summer, the centennial celebration of Cleveland Metroparks featured fireworks, events, and activities honouring the past and celebrating the future of Cleveland’s green urban landscapes. On a July evening, city dignitaries hosted a gala event which included dazzling outdoor lighting, supplied by ILC, and controlled by W-DMX wireless devices. “We utilized our new W-DMX G5 units to drive data for Elation Q5 Volt fixtures,” explains Renee Herbert, business development executive at ILC. “The event took place in the Brookside Reservation and was host to over 500 dignitaries and supporters of the Cleveland Metroparks. Around the event’s entrance area, we utilized 50 fixtures to light trees and foliage in Cleveland Metroparks’ green and gold colors. “The W-DMX units transmitted reliable data over 500 feet and ran consistently for several hours. This p
USA - Paul McCartney’s long-running One on One World Tour has added 21 dates in the US this summer and fall. Claypaky fixtures help showcase the evolution of his music from the 1960s to today. The US leg of the ongoing tour kicked off in Miami in July and will conclude in Detroit in October. Lighting designer LeRoy Bennett is tasked with highlighting “a vast array of musical styles over the decades” during the course of the three-hour show. High-tech AV solutions, including layers of transparent video, LEDs and lasers, form a backdrop for the history of the former Beatle’s music but remain unobrustive to fans. “While we use many aspects of technology you never see them all at once, and they are never overpowering,” notes lighting director Wally Lees. Upstaging provided the tour with 12 Claypaky Scenius Profiles, 12 Scenius Unicos and 96 Sharpys. The
USA - Bandit Lites has announced the hiring of Laura McElmurray to its global headquarters. McElmurray will be taking on the role of accounts payable manager. McElmurray received degrees in both accounting and business administration and joins Bandit following working several years in other industries as an accountant. Shay Simpson, Bandit’s controller, comments: “Laura has been such a valuable addition to the accounting team. She not only brings with her 10-plus years of experience in Accounts Payable and general accounting, but a level of detail that is imperative in her role. I look forward to seeing her expand her accounting knowledge with her career at Bandit Lites.” (Jim Evans)
Denmark - Working with the Danish award-winning band Carpark North since 2014, renowned lighting designer Johnny Thinggaard Lydiksen raised the bar on this year’s festival tour, creating a 16m wide LED screen as fuse to mind blowing visuals. The 5,8m long LB-100 LED ball strings complimented the 5 4,5x2m video screens, while creating a flexible stage screen suitable for for different stage sizes on tour. Combining Denmark’s top band within electro rock with one of the most influential lighting designers in the country was a perfect match for spoiling festival audiences with a creative and first-class show. Recently, at Denmark’s second biggest festival Smukfest 2017, Johnny and Carpark North performed in front of 25,000 music fans. “I wanted to create a large background behind our video system, adding an extra dimension. At first, I worked with traditional vide
UK - The CPS Group, based on the south coast, has long had a close relationship with leisure and event venue operator BH Live. Since 1994, CPS has secured a reputation for providing high-end technical services and installations of performance lighting, pro-audio, and AV technology to the entertainment and leisure industries across the south and the UK. So, it came as no surprise that BH Live’s technical stage manager, Simon Bagnall contacted Simon White at CPS in the first instance when he was looking for a new console. “Our choice for another MA Lighting dot2 console from Ambersphere Solutions through CPS was to build on standardising our stock of control surfaces across our venues,” opens Bagnall. “We purchased our first dot2 about 18 months ago. Since then, we have invested in two further consoles along with a fader and button wing. The platform has proved itself
UK - Occupying the same position as for PLASA’s inaugural return to Olympia in 2016, GoboPlus.com, will be exhibiting at the 40th PLASA 2017 on Stand B2 in London Olympia (17-19 September). GoboPlus.com is the one-stop online shop for custom and standard metal, glass and plastic gobos, accessories and Rosco E-Colour filter, It will share a stand with its sister company, Cut Colour Plus, the bespoke filter-cutting and comprehensive scroll-making service supplying the entertainment, educational and architectural markets. GoboPlus.com has recently expanded its inventory to encompass complementary products and will be showing the Rosco Image Spot Projector for indoor and outdoor use, and the Martin Rush Gobo Projector. Both of these gobo projectors can be purchased directly from the GoboPlus.com website at www.goboplus.com. GoboPlus will also show a selection of Suprabeam pro
UK - At 37 years old, MDG knows all about longevity and the value of creating high quality products for its clients. With this in mind, MDG UK will be celebrating PLASA’s milestone 40th Anniversary with a selection of its award-winning and world-renowned haze and fog generators. These rock-solid machines continue to cement MDG’s long-standing reputation for the finest and most reliable atmosphere generators on the market. The ATMe haze generator, the ME2 fog generator and the ICE FOG COMPACK low fog generator will be shown on Stand D50, alongside theONE award-winning dual fog and haze generator, and complemented by theFAN, the indispensible variable speed digital fan. MDG’s ATMe haze generator is a development of the industry standard MDG Atmosphere haze generator. It shares the same compact dimensions, but with increased output and power efficiency, and the add
UK - Since Luminex's soft launch of the super-flexible GigaCore 10 Gigabit switch - at Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt earlier this year - it has fast established itself as the manufacturer's most versatile plug-and-play Gigabit Ethernet Switch to date. The GigaCore 10 is specifically designed to address the rigours of the live events and touring industry where effortless set up, flexible use options, compact size and rugged reliability are key. To complement this, Luminex has designed a thoughtful range of accessories to enable easy rigging in all professional environments - including touring trusses, 19 inch rack and wall mountings. Safeguarding the product's industry relevance, Luminex has developed and validated the key features of the GigaCore 10 in collaboration with its dealer network, third party manufacturers and end users. With eight fully pre-configured Et
World - Robe has gone Mega this morning with the global launch of its much anticipated new multi-functional moving light fixture - the MegaPointe. This “reference point” product was revealed worldwide on Robe’s website at midnight. This followed a series of eye-catching and intriguing teaser videos “Now there is MEGA” which have generated much excitement globally throughout lighting and visual communities. Utilizing an exclusive 470W short-arc lightsource, Robe’s diligently crafted MegaPointe optics produce bright parallel beams, spot gobo projections, together with super-quick movement, smooth CMY colour mixing and a multitude of effects available for splitting and shaping the light in Spot, Beam or Wash modes. The zoom ranges from 1.8 to 21 degrees in Beam mode – tight, powerful and punchy, and goes from 3 to 42 degrees in Spot mode with crystal c
UK - When Bat Out of Hell-The Musical co-producer Michael Cohl stood on a make-shift stage outside the London Coliseum at the press launch in November, he declared his latest project, along with fellow producers David Sonenberg, Randy Lennox and Tony Smith, and production manager, Simon Marlow, to be the biggest rock musical to premiere in London since We Will Rock You. Peter Marshall, director of theatre for PRG XL, oversaw the provision of kit to the musical: “The show initially opened for a 12-week run in Manchester at the start of the year, before transferring to the Coliseum for the summer season from June to August. It was brilliant to continue our relationship with producer Michael Cohl and general manager Julian Stoneman again - after supporting them on Rock of Ages, and very exciting to work with Patrick and Finn, providing some of the latest
Australia - IKONIX, the Australian audio-visual production expert, has supplied an Avolites Ai RX8 media server and two Avolites Miami Dongles, to run 960 gigabytes of content for Queensland's largest youth performing arts event, Creative Generation (CGEN) - State Schools on Stage 2017. The event, now in its 13th year, was held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Queensland. GCEN aims to mentor the next generation of performers, providing opportunities for them to work with professional artists. More than 1800 students aged between four and seventeen took part in this year's event. Zachary Burton, co-founder of IKONIX alongside business partner Richard Saunders, worked with the CGEN team to manage and coordinate the production's entire lighting and video aspect. "IKONIX has been working with CGEN since 2014," says Burton. "This year we decided
Spain - Multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winning Spanish singer / songwriter and musician Alejandro Sanz performed a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ show at the Vicente Calderón Stadium in Madrid to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his best-selling and landmark fifth studio album, Más, released in 1997. The production team wanted some spectacular visual moments to make what was already going to be an outstanding show even more memorable, so the show’s production manager Borja Gonzales contacted stage automation and engineering specialists WIcreations. WI’s Geert Stockmans headed their team after the introduction, which initially came six months ahead of the gig via Frank Janssens, a Belgian lighting specialist living and working in Spain. Geert and Frank have worked together many times, including on Malu’s 2016 tour. Containing a diverse collectio
