Europe - Grammy winners Clean Bandit are an EDM tour de force. Following their critically acclaimed appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival earlier this month, they played Glastonbury and have other summer festivals around Europe through August. The American leg of their tour is scheduled for October. In large venues and small, 18 Solaris Flare Q+ fixtures are integral to the band’s show. “We’re using two sets of six for side-washes, and seven units upstage, all with Kasmer diffusers for a really clean look,” says tour lighting designer and programmer, Liam Griffiths. “I wanted the diffusers to hide the LED sources, which can be harsh on camera. I use the fixtures in two-pixel mode and as strobes. I've used Flares on almost every tour I've done and the new Flare Q+ is far brighter. Most of the time I actually find myself restricting them to 75%!” Show des
Denmark - Lighting designer Martin Holst wanted to make impact with a floor-based and cost-effective lighting / set package that was fully tour-able for Danish singer songwriter Rasmus Walter’s 2017 tour - and chose 24 x Robe picklePATTs and six BMFL Blades to be at the heart of the design. The floor package also included LED strips which outlined an upstage scaffolding structure on which the picklePATTs were rigged together with some side lights. It was augmented at each venue by a specified ‘top’ rig. The equipment was a new investment for rental company Vigsø Dry Hire via Robe’s Danish distributor, Light Partner, and these were the first picklePATTs in Denmark! Robe’s reporting team caught up with Martin and Rasmus during a gig at Vejle Musikteater which also happens to have a Robe house lighting rig, so Martin was able to integrate 12 x MMX Spots
UK/USA - City Theatrical’s new DMXcat multi-function test tool recently received two prestigious awards in one week, first gaining the Lighting Product of the Year award at the ABTT Theatre Show in London on 6 June, and them receiving the Live Design Lighting Product of the Year award from Live Design magazine in New York City on 12 June. City Theatrical‘s 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. (Jim Evans)
UK - PRG XL Video, the UK operation of Production Resource Group LLC (PRG), has announced an investment in new Robert Juliat lighting technology, adding the Dalis 862 asymmetric LED footlight to its inventory. Used as front-edge stage lighting, the rear of the batten is black, and so inconspicuous from the audience’s viewpoint. The fixture outputs white light which is tunable from 2200K to 6500K, and has 48 asymmetric reflectors arranged in two rows. Each row can be controlled independently, and this enables the footlight to be used for both short and long throw capabilities for upstage and downstage lighting. PRG’s European head of asset management, Paul Weaver, comments: “The Dalis fixture adds an extra dimension into the PRG fleet. Its functionality of stage marking within the unit itself is a step forward in theatrical lighting fixtures, and makes them ideal
UK - Rose Bruford College of Theatre Performance has been awarded a Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which was introduced by the Government to recognise and reward excellent teaching in UK higher education providers. The TEF awards were decided by an independent panel of experts including academics, students and employer representatives. Drawing on national data, and evidence submitted by each university or college, the TEF measures excellence in three areas: teaching quality, the learning environment and the educational and professional outcomes achieved by students. Based on the evidence available, the TEF Panel (which is made up of students, employers widening participation experts and academics) judged that “Rose Bruford College delivers consistently outstanding teaching learning and outcomes for its students. It is of the highest quality f
Estonia - Robe LEDForce 18 PARs and Anolis ArcSource Outdoor 4MCs were specified – together with other lights – to illuminate the Pesapuu (Nest Tree) Watchtower in Rõuge, Estonia. The new 30m high Watchtower is located near to Rõuge Suurjärv, Estonia’s deepest lake in the Rõuge parish of Vöru Country, a conservation area recognised for its outstanding natural beauty. The structure − which replaces an original wooden watchtower built in 2006 - was designed by Tallinn based architect Karmo Tõra. The industrial looking steel tower juxtaposes yet blends with the landscape, it looks attractive and interesting in winter and summer and resembles a tree with two bird’s nests. It’s also a symbol of great pride for the picturesque town and residents of Rõuge explained Mayor Tiit Toots, who fully endorsed the project and its proposed lighting scheme. Road
USA - It was a happy union for metal fans when Killswitch Engage and Anthrax, two of the genre’s most influential bands, announced earlier this year that they would be joining forces on the Killthrax Tour. The 34-city tour, which concluded in May, more than lived up to its advance billing, serving up heaping helpings of KSE’s signature metalcore sound with its heavy guitar riffs and Anthrax’s compatible, but distinctly different, thrash brand of metal music. Helping to set off the KSE section of the dual concert was a fast-paced multi-dimensional and richly coloured lightshow anchored by Chauvet Professional Rogue R1 FX-B and Rogue RH1 Hybrid moving lights supplied by JDI Productions. Josh Mihlek, KSE’s production manager, designed the rig with the JDI Productions team. “The idea behind our show was to use a lot of colour and big looks but at the same time p
Belgium - The Belgium-based percussive entertainment group Drumspirit has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance for 35 years with its unique blend of dance, theatre, comedy and music. Continuing with this tradition, the group has added a new more theatrical feeling to its current series of Hexahedron shows featuring Milk Inc. drummer Michael Schack and Netsky. Key to creating this new mood is an evocative Bart Rogge lightshow that features 12 Maverick MK2 Spot and 48 Rogue R2 Wash moving lights from Chauvet Professional. “Given the genre-defying performances of Drumspirit, to bring a theatrical feeling to the Hexahedron shows was no easy feat,” commented Rogge. “The versatile Maverick and Rogue fixtures, however, proved to be essential elements in the implementation of my theatrical lighting concept.” Both the Maverick and Rogue fixtures were
UK - Chroma-Q's award-winning Color Force II and Space Force luminaires have been selected to help a roster of international artists deliver star performances on the iconic, premier Pyramid Stage at this year's Glastonbury Festival. The Festival's Pyramid Stage provides a global showcase for some of today's biggest artists - including this year's headliners, Radiohead, Foo Fighters and Ed Sheeran. Andy Porter, head of lighting for the Pyramid Stage and rental company, Neg Earth Lights, felt that the Chroma-Q fixtures would be suitable for the high-profile slot, so specified nearly 50 Color Force II 48, 1.2m LED battens and six Space Force LED soft sources. The Color Force II fixtures are being used to provide coloured illumination of the stage from the distinctive Pyramid-shaped enclosure, with the Space Force units providing soft, white side lighting. Des
World - The Claypaky Scenius Unico and Claypaky Mythos2 have been selected by award-winning lighting and production designer Mark Cunniffe and lighting director Matt Jones as the workhorse fixtures for Ed Sheeran in his current record-breaking worldwide tour. Cunniffe has been working with Ed since the artist began touring in 2011, developing a close creative partnership that has evolved over time as the star's music has spread to reach international acclaim. "The first thing that we created for Ed was so small it fitted into the back of a truck," says Cunniffe. "Since then the shows have grown to reflect Ed's natural career progression. For this tour, we wanted a show that could go from arena to stadium. We wanted it to play as wide as it possibly could." To achieve this, Cunniffe designed a goblet-shaped set, fondly named 'the chalice' by the designer who worke
UK - RealSound & Vision Ltd, the Oxfordshire-based sound, stage lighting and AV system integrators who have achieved UK-wide success and recognition within the education sector, has announced the appointment of David Wilkins as their sales manager. Wilkins is well known in the lighting industry with previous roles at Northern Light, Selecon and Strand. He now adds this experience to broaden the multidisciplinary skill set at RSV. On joining, Wilkins commented that: “It will be an exciting opportunity to drive the Company forward”. David Nibbs, managing director, added: “I am very pleased to have David on board as part of our team and I’m sure that he will be successful in significantly raising the RSV profile and our levels of successful business in Education and elsewhere.” (Jim Evans)
UK - PRG XL Video, the UK operation of Production Resource Group (PRG), has announced two new additions to its music team. Robert Watson and Michael George have both joined as account managers and bring a diverse range of talent and experience to PRG. Michael George has joined the company from Blink TV where he specialised in filming and streaming of live events – a service PRG XL has already begun to offer with the live streaming of Stormzy’s recent sold-out Brixton Academy shows. Stefaan Michels, director of music, PRG XL Video, comments: “It’s a pleasure to have Michael join the team. He’s great to work with. It is exciting to expand into the live streaming market and with Michael’s expertise and high standard of delivery, it’s sure to be a resounding success.” Robert Watson brings more than a decade of experience in live production, working a
Belgium - Tegen de Sterren Op (TDSO) is a highly popular, TV series on Flemish commercial channel VTM that uncompromisingly satirises and sends up politicians, celebrities and anyone else on the ‘fair game’ radar - all in the name of incisive entertainment by a very talented cast. There is also an equally talented production team behind this success, including creative practice Painting with Light, who were tasked with designing a completely new set together with lighting and video. They worked on the set elements with scenic specialist Deusjevoo, their near neighbours at Genk’s C-MINE complex. It was a visual concept that brought an urban chic feel to the seventh TDSO series, also delivering dynamic lighting and video. The show was recorded in the NEP Studios in Londerzeel with a live audience and was produced by Dedsit. Two interconnected stages we
UK - Open Technology will secure energy savings of up to 40 per cent for Cardiff University after installing its intelligent lighting system to an additional four lecture theatres across the campus. Last year the company was commissioned to install its LiGO intelligent lighting system in seven of the University’s lecture theatres. The installation, done by consultants Houghton Greenlees and installers Evans Electrical, brought the total of LiGO controllers across the university campus to more than 30. Cardiff University explained that Open Technology and LiGO were chosen due to the lighting system’s features, which include: presence detection to reduce energy use when rooms are unoccupied; time control settings to match occupancy times for lecture theatres; and, daylight balancing to complement available daylight. These features will deliver up to 40 per cent
USA - The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival returned to the 700 acre field known affectionately as The Farm with more than 65,000 in attendance in search of good vibes and great music. Bandit Lites was proud to be asked by Lambda Productions to provide a lighting package for multiple stages, the iconic Tower at Bonnaroo, along with several floor packages for artists in attendance. This year’s line-up of more than 100 acts included U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weeknd, Chance the Rapper, Major Lazer, Flume, Lorde, The XX, Travis Scott, Cage the Elephant, Marshmello and The Head and the Heart. U2’s show designer, Willie Williams, designed the mainstage festival system for U2’s immense show on Friday night. It was then dropped, re-hung and re-configured for the acts to use on Saturday and Sunday. “Willie’s design had a similar flavour to their curren
USA - Country superstar Eric Church’s Holdin’ My Own tour begins to create an immersive experience for fans as soon as they enter the concert venue. Forget standard house lights. The first thing that strikes visitors when they walk into the arena, whether it’s Barclay Centre in Brooklyn or Staples Centre in LA, is the warm white (and very bright) glow from the 63 Chauvet Professional STRIKE 1 fixtures in Church’s touring rig. Butch Allen of Blame Funnel Creative, who specced the multi formatted STRIKE 1 units from Christie Lights, uses them in lieu of house lights to set an emotional tone for Church’s deeply personal tour. “We wanted the whole arena itself to be part of the show, to create a totally immersive environment, since this tour is all about Eric connecting to his fans,” said Allen. “The STRIKE 1s are our house lights. Then, once the concert starts,
South Africa - Just over two years ago, Bernard Gramann became the sole owner and founder of Core Productions, a Cape Town rental based company. In this time, his equipment retinue has grown to include Robin 300 LEDWash fixtures, Robin Mini Pointes, Spikies, the MVS Hazer, base plates, a Beavis and Huey Distro, Prolyte trussing and much more. “It’s been quite a ride over the past few years,” Bernard is now able to say with a smile. While he has had his fingers burnt on a few occasions by people he trusted, the challenges have moulded him to make a difference in the establishment he now runs. “In a short time, we have built an amazing company with amazing people in it,” said Bernard. “There isn’t much more to say other than we are an honest, ethical and an exciting team to work with who love what we do and respect those who we do it with, and for!.<
UK - Northwest based technical production supplier, Sterling Event Group, has continued its dedication to investing in its equipment by purchasing the latest lighting gear from Clay Paky. After success with other industry leading Claypaky products, such as Alpha Spot and B-eye and Sharpy fixtures, Richard Bowden, MD of Sterling, decided to invest further by purchasing the Mythos 2 Hybrid fixture, which is currently specified by leading designers for many TV shows and concert tours. Richard commented: “We have had great success with our previous Claypaky fixtures in terms of performance and reliability, we are looking forward to using the Mythos 2 in the coming months across lots of our client’s events. In fact, the fixtures are already straight out of the door on a fashion show for one of the UK’s best known retailers.” Other recent additions to the Ster
UK - Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance is London’s International Drama School. Students from over 40 different countries study on the 15 different vocational and professional degree courses, with notable alumni including Gary Oldman, Hayley Squires and Tom Baker. Every year, the College hosts a Graduate Exhibition in order to give its graduating students a launchpad into the industry. Having worked with the College for over ten years now, White Light was called upon to provide the complete technical solutions. This year’s Graduate Exhibition was named Beginner’s Call and took place at the Ugly Duck in central London. The head of production was Anthony Sammut, the production manager was Toscane Luckett whilst Sam Jackson was the technical manager. Sam states: “My role on the exhibition was to work closely with Ollie Brennan (technical superv
UK - All Spotlight and Headline Sponsors have been confirmed for the 10th anniversary edition of The Knight of Illumination (KOI) Awards, which will be held once again at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London on 17 September. One of the biggest nights in the Entertainment Technology industry calendar, the KOI Awards celebrate the exceptional creative talents of international lighting and digital content designers working in the UK across the sectors of television, theatre and concert touring & events. Awards in each of these sectors are sponsored by individual industry organisations known as the Spotlight Sponsors. Coming on board for the first time as Spotlight Sponsors this year are ADB sponsoring the Theatre Award for Plays, Altman Lighting sponsoring the Television Award for Small Studio, Avolites sponsoring the Concert Touring & Events Award for Stage
USA - Robe’s Spikie has been named as one of the 2016-17 Live Design ‘Products of the Year’, which were selected by a panel of industry experts and aficionados, including designers, programmers and engineers active in the essential production disciplines of lighting, sound and video. Robe’s Craig Burross (national business development manager) went to New York to accept the Award, presented during a special ceremony at the Upper Story by Charlie Palmer in midtown Manhattan. Craig commented, "I was honoured to accept the award on behalf of Robe and everyone in our ‘family’ greatly and sincerely appreciates this new product recognition for Spikie. We would like to say a big thank-you to everyone at Live Design and of course to our amazing Robe Lighting customers!" Bob Schacherl, CEO of Robe North America said, “We are extremely pleased with how well t
France - The Accor Hotel has played host to its share of high-profile sporting events, such as the World Indoor Athletics Championships. Recently, the 18,000 capacity venue was the site of another sports spectacular as it welcomed the Meeting de Paris Indoor, a one day track and field event that featured some of France’s top Olympic athletes such as Kevin Mayer and Renaud Lavillenie. French production house Franck Sono provided suitably energetic visuals for the meet with a collection of Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by Algam. A total of 15 Maverick Hybrids, 16 Rogue R1 FX-Bs, 15 R1 Beams and 18 Nexus 5x5 fixtures lent added impact to the competition by creating a variety of impactful, and often contrasting looks throughout the venue. This was especially evident at the main podium, which was the centre of spectator and media attention. To illuminate th
UK - Illumination specialists LED Creative supported set designer Rudi Thackray and lighting director Gurdip Mahal, in helping set the scene for James Corden and The Late Late Show’s recent visit to London. Filmed in front of a live studio audience, The Late Late Show transferred its regular format of star guests, sketches and musical performance from its US home for a run of shows at Central Hall Westminster. Maintaining the general feel of the US show, Rudi Thackray’s vibrant set, shrouded in fluorescent pinks and blues, was a perfect backdrop to the show, contrasting perfectly against the grandiose surroundings of the venue. One of the key features in the design was the inclusion of over 40 LED Creative Sigma Pulse Wands, cleverly placed throughout the set to provide ultra convenient, colour shape and movement. Quick to install and easy to control,
Israel - Tel Aviv based Light Architects Cochavi & Klein are known for their style and propensity for invention and they are also impressed with Robe’s Spiider LED wash beams. The designers seized the opportunity of the Picnic Passover with Black Coffee, a pumping electronic music event presented by The Tripping in Tel Aviv’s most famous urban oasis, Hayarkon Park, to utilise 48 x Spiiders and 24 x Robe Pointes on a circular trussing structure, forming a massive ‘sun’, which was winched above the crowds on a crane. The sold-out event featured sets from award-winning, rising-star South African DJ and music producer Black Coffee, plus DJs Jenia Tersol & Benji. They, together with a hugely enthusiastic audience, enjoyed the unique setting of the park, which is known for its magical aura and ancient rocks brought from all over Israel. These ro
