UK - Technical production specialists Light Fantastic Production Services supported S2 Events with a comprehensive lighting, audio and support package for a spectacular Havana nights themed event. The networking reception was a key date in the dynamic schedule at Focus/18, the six-day celebration of design excellence that welcomes enthusiasts from around the globe. Held at the Chelsea Design Centre, London, the Focus/18 brief was to assist in the delivery of a magical guest experience, inspired by the season’s new collections; playful, bold and confident. Delivering a rich mix of crisp lighting effects, deep colour washes and clear audio, the on-site LFPS production crew, headed up by project manager Andrew Maxted, built on the Havana theme, filling the Design Centre’s three grand atriums with a vibrant mix of tropical colour and spicy salsa rhythms. To match
USA - Central Florida’s Action Church is on the move, with three locations already established and another set to launch later this year, all of which rely on Allen & Heath dLive systems. First opening its doors not much more than four years ago in Winter Springs, the fast-growing upstart christened its second location two years later in nearby Oviedo, spanned out further in 2017 to another in Sanford, and is set to lay out the welcome mat at a new location in Winter Park later this fall. John Williams, the church’s music director, also steers the development of the audio systems in use at all locations. Working in conjunction with volunteers and the Bradenton, Florida-based Crown Design Group, Williams installed Allen & Heath’s dLive systems based upon their versatility, sonic quality, budget-friendly price point, and the unified approach they brought t
South Africa - Cape Town-based Audio Engineering took delivery of their new Absen LED Screens just in time for the Lamborghini Urus launch, followed by the launch of the new Porsche Studio situated at the Cape Town Waterfront. “We didn’t even have a moment to unbox the panels at our offices,” says Marcel Bezuidenhout, owner of Audio Engineering. The Absen gear, comprising of 84 panels, four senders, two scalers and flying gear, went straight to the Lamborghini dealership in Century City, where DWR Distribution’s Bruce Riley and Bradley Bruchhausen were on site to help set it up for the first time. DWR are the distributors of Absen in South Africa. “Once the Absen was up, everyone was over the moon,” adds Bezuidenhout. The positive feedback continued at Audio Engineering’s next event, the launch of Porsche’s new home at the V&A Waterfront, and a coup
Germany - Audio rental specialists It’s A Bird, under the direction of Cornelius ‘Conny’ Vogel, are off to a flying start with their newly-purchased Nexo Geo M10 mid-size line array. Now entering his 20th year as a Nexo rental user, Conny Vogel added the Geo M10 system to inventory, seeing it as an alternative to the Geo S12 array that he has been using since 2008. “The new M10 weighs half as much as the S12 system, and it has significantly easier rigging,” says Vogel. “We notice a longer throw, especially for vocals, and a significantly better performance in the vocal range. Because it has a much better rear rejection, there are fewer feedback problems on stage.” A good example of Vogel’s observations was a sell-out concert by the internationally-successful German singer Ute Lemper. Performing at Raesfeld with the Russian Chamber Philharmonic St Peters
Russia - Moscow’s new Zaryadye Concert Hall opened in style in September with a gala performance by the Russian National Orchestra. The modernist structure houses a 1,560-seat main auditorium lit by a house rig of Claypaky fixtures. Claypaky’s Russian distribution partner DOKA was commissioned to provide technical expertise for the project and specify a lighting solution. To facilitate the breadth of events held at the auditorium – from theatre and classical concerts to conferences - the company designed machinery that required specific lighting fixtures to match. Lighting equipment is mounted on special mechanisms allowing to lift projectors up above the ceiling and handle technical maintenance without dismantling them. DOKA supplied 54x Claypaky A.LEDA B-EYE K20 LED, 12x Claypaky Scenius Spot, 12x Claypaky Scenius Profile and 30x Claypaky Show Batten 100 LED.
USA - When describing his lighting design for the second leg of superstar Romeo Santos’ Golden Tour, Bruce Rodgers of Tribe, Inc. says: “It’s all about scale and simplicity.” The scale is immediately apparent to anyone who catches a show on the 18-city tour that began in September. Dominating the area over centre stage is a colossal overhead truss structure that resembles a UFO about to land. Intense brightness radiates from the hovering form, courtesy of 117 Chauvet Professional Maverick MK3 Wash fixtures, which were supplied by 4Wall Entertainment Lighting. The ‘simplicity’ Rodgers refers to may not be as instantly obvious, but once the initial awe inspired by this circular overhead panorama passes, it too becomes easy to appreciate. For all its size and power, there is no waste in Rodger’s lighting design. No distractions. No dead-end flourishes
UK - Canon recently held the launch of its new camera the EOS R at Shoreditch Electric Light Station, London. The camera giants invited journalists along to take part in an experiential experience in which they were transported to a utopian land 400 years in the future. The experience was produced by award-winning theatre company Les Enfants Terribles, known for their work on Alice’s Adventures Underground. Having provided the lighting on a range of immersive projects, White Light was called upon to supply the equipment for this particular launch. The lighting designer for the event was Charlie Morgan Jones, who comments: “Canon wanted to launch their new camera yet do so in a way that was interactive and provided the journalists in attendance with an unforgettable experience. Les Enfants came up with the concept that a Canon ambassador was lost in the future and
Australia - Versatility, value for money and a dash of pizzazz are some of the factors influencing the choices made by Sydney-based LD Peter Rubie when he is creating his work. Peter Rubie has spent the last 11 years devising a wide variety of lighting design work for different types of performances but specialises in productions that are a hybrid of classical and modern/pop/rock music. His lighting ‘choreography’ requires an intimate and up-to-date knowledge of what’s available and how it can be used to achieve different effects. He often uses Robe products, distributed by specialist lighting and staging equipment suppliers, Jands. Robe has released a number of LED products in the last year and having been a fan of Robe’s previous LED range, Peter was keen to get his hands on them. ‘I programmed a big private lightshow launch for Jands when they rele
Mexico - Xcaret México, a resort and amusement park, has upgraded its hotel entertainment venue, the Teatro del Rio, with an Allen & Heath dLive system. Due to the layout and distance between the stage and FOH, any Cat 5 run was impractical. As such, the installation included two dLive DM48 MixRacks, one positioned under the stage and the second in a control room at FOH. Supplied by Representaciones de Audio, the MixRacks are further equipped with Dante cards and connected over two underground fibre-optic links. dLive’s powerful scene management system enables rapid, complex changes on stage, while all signals are then processed and mixed locally with matrix outputs sent over Dante to the DM48 at FOH, where they are patched to a speaker processor. Sound engineer, Diego Andrade comments, “dLive is a complete and powerful mixing tool for both studio and li
UK - CPL supplied full technical production, including video design, equipment and crew, to show producers Pandora Events for a large Glambassador motivational event. The event featured numerous presentations and awards as well as a gala dinner for Tropic Skincare in Hall 12 at the NEC, Birmingham UK. CPL’s project manager Mike Radford, working with Lee Gruszeckyj and Karl Johnstone, composed a contemporary stage and screen design, which utilised over 200 panels of the company’s new ROE CB5 indoor / outdoor LED screen product - so new that it had only been delivered to the warehouse the previous day. Three onstage LED screens were flanked by two IMAG screens out to the sides giving an impressive widescreen look. The central screen was made up of two pieces - an arch with a central cut-out panel - which was manually removed for artist entrances and exi
USA - Good feelings and creative energy are flowing freely on the Summer Plays On tour, which continues to fly high long past the autumnal equinox, with sold-out October dates everywhere from PNC in Charlotte, to the Grand Ole Opry, to the Royal Albert Hall in London. Co-headliners Lady Antebellum and former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker are not only friends, they also occasionally share the stage on this tour. This kind of connectivity and creativity are also evident in the tour’s shared lighting rig, which was developed by CLLD LLC. Used by the design teams for both Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker to create two very distinct shows, the power-packed rig features Chauvet Professional Rogue and STRIKE fixtures, supplied by Upstaging. “This was a special project for us,” said Chris Lisle, head of CLLD LLC. “We did the rig, but
UK - It took a year of negotiations, but 2018 saw Stonehenge host its first-ever live DJ set. And lighting creative Motion Mapping, complete with a pair of Green Hippo Hippotizer Karst Media Servers supplied by A.C. Entertainment Technologies, was tasked with delivering a digital video projection show equal to the brooding majesty of one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World. Up until this happening, ‘playing Stonehenge’ had proved impossible. Deep, booming bass, large crowds, and ancient stones are not always a good mix and English Heritage, Stonehenge’s current protector, had turned down numerous requests from music acts. But one Alon Shulman was perfectly placed to make the gig happen. Shulman is a special advisor to English Heritage and a business partner with DJ Paul Oakenfold. His live DJ set pitch ticked all the boxes: the show - including Live fro
Spain - Starlite, which takes place at the Cantera de Nagüeles in Marbella, has been described as the best boutique festival in Europe. The music and cultural event, now in its sixth edition, has become the longest festival in the world, with more than 50 days of concerts. It is an event for those who want to enjoy intimate concerts from global superstars in an incomparable venue. The stage itself is surrounded by 60m-high rock walls, creating a secret, hidden venue beneath the stars for the 2,200 guests. All inventory, including GLP JDC1 hybrid strobes and KNV Arc fixtures, had to be brought up a steep hill to the former quarry, which houses a main outdoor auditorium where VIP attendees sit in eight-seater ‘Bubble Boxes’ and a second DJ area. This was the first year that GLP’s Spanish distributor, Monacor Iberia had been involved, and they were brought
Argentina - The Lollapalooza festival, created by Jane’s Addiction front man, Perry Ferrell, is a global entertainment phenomenon that brings the world’s hottest music acts together. This year’s festival in Argentina saw the likes of Chance the Rapper, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Imagine Dragons, Wiz Khalifa, Lana Del Rey and so many more. Clair Brothers was there to deliver the sound to the thousands of frenzied fans in attendance. Although the 2018 festival didn’t make it to the final day due to severe thunder and lightning storms, that didn’t dampen the spirits of Fabian Giordano, owner of Giordano Sonido - Clair Brothers rental partner in the region, who has provided audio for Lollapalooza in Argentina since 2015. “Yes, we were disappointed about having to cancel the final day of shows, but the two days we did have were amazing. The Clair Brothers i218
UK - After taking Las Vegas by storm, Channing Tatum is bringing a new production of Magic Mike Live to London this autumn. Opening at the Hippodrome Casino in November, full service technical production company Hawthorn has been chosen to supply lighting equipment to the production. Conceived and co-directed by Tatum, Magic Mike Live is a large-scale, live production show based on the hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL. The show will see the theatre at the Hippodrome Casino transformed into an intimate 325-seat in-the-round performance space where guests will witness artists perform a 360° dance and acrobatic spectacular. Hawthorn is supplying lighting from its extensive hire range to meet the specification of theatre lighting designer Philip Gladwell. Having designed the rig for the Las Vegas production, Gladwell has modified it to
Spain - Ultra Enterprises has spent its second consecutive summer in Ibiza, delivering nine-weeks of Resistance at the world’s largest nightclub. In keeping with the group’s consummate production values, a special Funktion-One Vero sound system was drafted in for each event. Key to the success of this Ibiza run is the stunning visual and acoustic canvas it provides for the top name artists who come to perform. The Ultra team pride itself on enabling the best possible audience experience by using the best technology available. According to Richard Milstein, creative director and director of design for Ultra Worldwide and Resistance, working with Tony Andrews and his Funktion-One team has long been a key part of achieving those high aspirations: “Sound is one of the most important components of this. Funktion-One - especially for our Resista
Peru - Latin pop-rock artist Gian Marco performed three sell-out shows at Lima's Gran Teatro Nacional del Perú in October, backed by an array of Claypaky Mythos2. The lighting was designed and operated by Gianfranco Di Vitto, who specified 35 Mythos2 rigged in a seven-line array behind Gian Marco and his band. At the core of Di Vitto's design were powerful beams of striking colours, creating fast-moving shapes and patterns on the stage. "I needed a versatile fixture that would allow me to create a different look for each song - one that would really wow the audience," explains Di Vitto. "The Mythos2 offers a high intensity output with incredible beam quality." Behind the Mythos2 rig, Di Vitto - who has been Gian Marco's lighting and set designer for 25 years - specified 27 LED panels that loomed above the stage, hung in erratic patterns. "The light b
Croatia - AV solutions provider HUST has completed the design and installation of new audio and video systems for the largest conference hall of the Croatian Catholic University (Hrvatsko Katoličko Sveučilište) in Zagreb. HUST was commissioned to provide the main conference hall with a triple projection system and high-quality audio throughout, with a focused sound system for the centre screen. To deliver uniform sound levels and clarity throughout the hall, HUST designed a distributed system using Community D8 two-way high output ceiling loudspeakers, with D10SUB ceiling-mount subwoofers adding extended response and low frequency impact. An additional pair of Community V2-28 dual eight-inch full-range two-way loudspeakers is positioned above the stage to focus sound on the main 5.5m wide screen. Two further 3.6m screens and three high output Epson 3LCD full
Europe - Colour Sound Experiment supplied lighting, video and rigging equipment plus crew to the recent Tash Sultana UK and European tour. The Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is wowing fans worldwide with the debut album Flow State and enigmatic one-person show. Detroit based lighting designer Cam Anderson started working with Tash at the end of 2017 during a US tour, and evolved the current stage design with the artist to compliment the performance and style. It includes a distinctive flown triangular truss upstage, together with a series of staggered video panels behind the centre-stage position which bring structure and form to the performance space. These elements were crafted working closely with Tash and her international production crew. The resulting set is highly visual, and the rig can be up/down-scaled to deal with v
Australia - Adelaide Oval has been described as one of the most picturesque Test cricket grounds in Australia. Its importance on the international cricket circuit is undisputed, being headquarters to the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA). Its sporting credentials extend to other areas, with South Australian National Football League (SANFL) also calling it home and the venue playing host to Australian rules football, rugby league and union, soccer and tennis, as well as regularly holding concerts. It has three stands, the Western, Eastern and Southern or Riverbank Stand, all constructed as part of a major refurbishment completed in 2014. The Riverbank Stand boasts a new L-Acoustics Kara system, supplied by Jands, L-Acoustics certified provider distributor for the region. The system delivers improved coverage and intelligibility, all without the need for expensive ac
UK/USA - They may have their own distinctive flying saucer, but sometimes for Jeff Lynne’s ELO, taking the boat is the smarter option. “The thing was, we were down to the wire,” says production manager Richard ‘Wez’ Wearing. “We simply had no time from the band finishing prior commitments here in the UK to going onto ELO in the States. The only way to get any proper production rehearsals for the US tour was to set up everything in Neg Earth’s LH2 production facility here in the UK, then put it in a sea container and ship it straight to the US.” Not an insignificant call? “There are pros and cons on the financial side - yes, it was a cost, but there was no time to do anything else. When we got there, we had just one set up day then straight into the first show.” Fortunately, since the triumphant return of Jeff Lynne and ELO, which began in the UK
UK - Specialist illumination company LED Creative is working with lighting director Stuart Pring on the latest series of hit comedy show Roast Battle. Filmed before a live audience on a custom installed set at the Electric Brixton Theatre, London, Roast Battle features some of the UK’s finest comic performers pitted against each other in a no holds barred verbal assault. Helping create LD Stuart’s look for the show, LED Creative has supplied a selection of their Alpha Soft Wands, including a consignment of built-to-order 500mm units, all controlled using the company’s in-house designed BIT 8-Way Controllers. Complementing the installation, which incorporates a range of equipment from Version2 Lights, the Soft Wands provide highly controllable, linear LED accents across the semi-industrial, ‘grunge’ set design, a fitting backdrop to the rut
USA - As the second-oldest professional symphony in the United States, the Grammy Award-winning St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is proud of its longevity and tradition. For the past half century, the SLSO has performed in Powell Hall, a world-class acoustic concert hall that seats over 2,600. Its acoustics are excellent for the orchestra itself but far less than excellent for amplified sound. Until recently, spoken word for lectures and presentations was difficult to understand and sometimes came with feedback. Reinforcement for both instruments and vocalists during amplified concerts was also challenged with gain-before-feedback issues that were only partially remedied by destructive equalization. After extensive research, the SLSO found that Danley Sound Labs’ point-source technologies deliver excellent intelligibility and gain-before-feedback. “When I first heard t
Germany - Twenty years ago the former central railway station in the spa town of Baden-Baden was repurposed as the ticket office and foyer for a new venue, Festival Hall Baden-Baden, the country’s largest venue for opera, ballet and live classical music. Thanks to its state-of-the-art acoustics, Festival Hall Baden-Baden is renowned for its excellent sound. It also stages presentations, jazz, rock and other amplified events. For these, a new Yamaha CL5 digital mixing console is helping to keep the venue’s commitment to the highest quality audio on the right track. Since Festival Hall Baden-Baden opened in 1998, the former station’s neo-Renaissance style ticket hall and waiting rooms have formed a historic entry for visitors into the modern, 2500-capacity auditorium, which was built in the space where the track and platforms used to be. The auditorium was de
