South Africa - Set, lighting and AV designer, Wilhelm Disbergen, relied on a Hippotizer Boreal Media Server and a giant mirror to create something utterly extraordinary for the ballet production Big City, Big Dreams, staged at the Joburg Theatre, in Johannesburg. The original showcase, directed by Fiona Ramsay, was a collaboration between three dance companies – the Joburg Ballet, Vuyani Dance Company, and Moving Into Dance Mophatong. Over 40 professional dancers adorned the stage as classical ballet infused with contemporary and street dance. The love story, with the city of Johannesburg as the backdrop, portrays a young man in the corporate world who falls in love with a dancer. An artistic and key focus of the set was a giant mirror (15m x 9m) suspended at a 45-degree angle over the white ballet mats below, enabling the audience to see the dancers from abov
USA - Everyday, millions of people around the world get on cycles, pedal diligently, and go nowhere. They aren’t complaining though. Indoor cycling (or spinning), where participants in group sessions pedal stationary bikes with flywheels under the watchful eye of a trainer, has taken off like a rocket, passing running and swimming as a fitness activity in the US, according to a recent Nielsen Survey. A key reason why cycling centres are powering their way into the hearts of so many people is because they offer immersive multi-sensory experiences that make it fun to stay fit. Platinum Sound Light and Video is using a customised audio, music and lighting system to create this type of engaging atmosphere at an international indoor cycling chain. Colour changing Iluminarc Logic Tri-4, circular RGB fixtures controlled with a Logic 4x36 DMX unit, are providing the chain with the
USA – The Mayweather vs. McGregor fight on 26 August was the latest, much-ballyhooed spectacle at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Dubbed “The Money Fight,” it featured UFC star Conor McGregor making his pro boxing debut against undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. But while the packed house was focused on the fight in the arena, ETC was focused on the lights in the arena. ETC’s line of architectural products – Unison Paradigm, Echo and Mosaic – covers every inch of the T-Mobile Arena, everywhere from the luxury suites to the back of house hallways, from the Hyde Lounge nightclub to the concession stands, and even the external lighting showing the arena off to the world. With electrical design provided by ME Engineers and system integration by 4Wall Las Vegas, the capabilities of ETC’s architectural line are on display throughout the T-Mobile. VIPs have
UK - S+H Technical Support provided substantial quantities of its LED starcloth product to production designer Sid Scott of Scott Callaghan Art Production for the 2017 National Eisteddfod of Wales. The nine-day event was staged in a large field near Bodedern on Ynys Môn (the Isle of Anglesey), around eight miles from Caergybi (Holyhead) and approximately 20 miles from Bangor on mainland Wales. The main entertainment hub on site was the Pafiliwn, a 40m deep 1,800 capacity pavilion built by Neptunus Structures, which was new in 2016, and once again utilised throughout the Eisteddfod for a diverse mix of entertainment, from a Sunday service to rock concerts, stand-up comedy, etc. in the evenings as well as a variety of competitions – dance, poetry, music, etc. – during the daytime. Sid created the Pafiliwn production design in close collaboration with lighting
USA - As a full-service production company with the ability to design an immersive attendee experience, Cornerstone AV prides itself on allowing their imagination to be the driving force behind their designs. Known for developing the ideal technological backbone for any event, Cornerstone was once again brought on board to create the production design behind the annual Young Living Essential Oils National Conference. With the production moving outdoors this year to the Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah, the design team wanted to maintain that sense of audience immersion so they developed a complete LED video experience with the assistance of production partner Elite Multimedia. “This event is normally held each year at the Vivint Centre, but since it was currently being remodelled, the producers decided to move the event outdoors to Rice-Eccles Stadium,
Italy - After several years in a poor state of repair, the Embarcadero waterfront bar/restaurant in the Italian city of Salerno has undergone a major refurbishment to mark its 50th year. A comprehensive Yamaha Commercial Installation Solutions (CIS) zoned audio system has been added, which delivers high quality sound while being very easy to control. Established in 1967, Embarcadero has traditionally attracted a wealthy clientele because its moorings attract tenders from yachts passing through the Gulf of Salerno. This year its present owners, Mr Generoso Galderisi and Mr Ettore Merola, have returned it to its former glory. Mr Galderisi wanted to add a cutting-edge audio system and considered various options. He spoke to Mariano and Valerio Fabio of Salerno-based installers Casa Musicale Cav. Quinto Fabio, who suggested a Yamaha CIS system would be the best solution. W
USA - Everyday life came to a halt in the US for a few moments on 21 August, as people stopped whatever they were doing and forgot about whatever cares were on their minds to marvel at the first solar eclipse to be visible across the entire lower 48 states in 99 years. Over half of the country’s population (about 165m people) witnessed the event, according to news reports. Few of these eclipse gazers had as much fun for as long a time as the 10,000 or so who turned out for Bowman, South Carolina’s Solar Eclipse Festival. Held at the city’s new outdoor concert facility Yonder Field, the festival kicked off in the morning with an inflatable animal race and similar events, followed by some safe eclipse watching, and capped off with a concert headlined by former Kid Rock turntablist turned iconic rock star Uncle Kracker. Pumping up the action on stage and captivating
South Africa - Johannesburg based MGG Productions created a futuristic look and feel for the 2017 Discovery Sport Industry Awards held at Sandton Convention Centre’s Pavilion venue. A huge claw-like Prolyte H40 structure, designed by Francois van der Merwe, formed a dome over the stage area and a Robe retinue with control on grandMA2 lite, completed the look while sound was mixed on a DiGiCo S21. The show attracted and acknowledge sport professionals in South Africa. “The client wanted something different,” said DJ Carstens, project manager at the event. “Instead of a usual set, we created an industrial expression. Francois van der Merwe came up with the design.” Lighting incorporated 12 Robe Squares. “The Squares were bright, and they were really great,” commented Francois van der Merwe. “The rig also included Robe Spiiders which I enjoyed. In additio
USA - The Aspen Music Festival and School, for decades the presenters of one of the world’s most renowned orchestral music festivals, celebrates its 68th year in 2017. The just-completed Aspen Music Festival and School (known as “AMFS”) encompasses eight weeks every summer, with multiple venues and more than 400 concert events to delight classical music enthusiasts, many of which are broadcast to audiences worldwide. At such a major music festival, sound quality is paramount, which is why Lawo has chosen to help sponsor the event in years past. “Lawo’s commitment to the arts fits perfectly with the calibre of creativity that is nurtured by Aspen,” says Lawo North America sales representative Michael Mueller. “That’s why we wanted to make a contribution to this prestigious music festival.” The mission of AMFS is to train and educate students for
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 - Pro audio provider, The Warehouse Sound Services, helped this year’s Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) conclude with an explosive finale thanks to over 100 Adamson loudspeakers. Working with Tammo Schuelke, concerts and projects manager for Scottish Chamber Orchestra and production manager Wesley Cameron, The Warehouse had to design a complex system. The over-riding challenge was to ensure perfect synchronicity between the sound of the concert and the visuals of the fireworks. In addition, power, clarity and perfect coverage across the event was critical. The Virgin Money Fireworks Concert brought the festival season to a close in style with a stunning display of over 400,000 fireworks from world renowned fireworks company Pyrovision choreographed to live orchestral music performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra set against the spectacular backdrop of Ed
UK - The new £57m Birmingham Conservatoire building has officially opened its doors. This milestone development elevates the Conservatoire facilities to world-class status and includes a recording and live sound production infrastructure without compromise, and with SSL very much at its heart. The new equipment list includes four SSL Live consoles and five SSL SuperAnalogue consoles, connected with a facility-wide Dante network. With a history dating back to 1859, Birmingham Conservatoire is one of the leading music and drama academies in the UK. Part of Birmingham City University, the development boasts five new public performance spaces, which include a 500-seat concert hall, a 150-seat recital hall, and a 100-seat organ studio. It also includes The Lab, a cutting edge, completely flexible black-box studio, the first permanent jazz space in any UK conservatoire (the 80-se
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
France - On 12 July at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy, L-Acoustics deployed an L-ISA Live hyper-realistic sound system for the singular performance of Verdi’s Requiem by the Orchestre National de Lille (ONL) and the Choeur Régional Hauts-de-France. The 30,000-capacity stadium, normally home to Lille’s football club, was a spectacular yet fitting venue for a performance intended to bring classical music to the widest possible audience. Founded by Jean-Claude Casadesus and the Nord-Pas de Calais region (now the Hauts-de-France region) in 1976, the ONL has resolutely focused on ‘bringing music wherever it will be heard’ ever since, performing both in Lille as well as in over 30 countries around the world. After spending 40 years at the head of the ONL, conductor Jean-Claude Casadesus continues to lead three series each season, while also forging a stellar interna
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
Belgium - The largest summer beach festival in Belgium and one of the most popular in Northern Europe, 2 Meisjes op het Strand, is known for more than just music. Also drawing thousands of fans and attracting a large national TV audience on Flemish network VTM are the breathtaking harbour vistas at the festival site. At this year’s event, Michiel Milbou and his team at Never Fear Shadows did justice to the festival’s music and its surroundings with a stunning stage and lighting design that featured 410 Chauvet Professional ÉPIX Strip IP fixtures, supplied by Phlippo Productions. Never Fear Shadows’ design concept for the festival was built around a 60m x 20m translucent stage structure built exclusively from the ÉPIX Strip IP fixtures. The structure provided sizzling visual support for the music of K3, Niels Destadsbader, Gers Pardoel and other stars. At
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
UK - Dr. Marten’s Boot Room is the aptly named live venue at the rear of the legendary industrial boot manufacturer’s prominent new store in London’s Camden Market. Promoting a regular programme of gigs since its Easter opening, the DM Boot Room has enabled emerging talent, bands and DJs to perform through a Martin Audio CDD PA, installed by Leicestershire-based NoiseBoys Technologies Ltd. NoiseBoys director, Phill Beynon, knew that the store’s aim was to become a cultural hub, upholding the musical heritage of Camden Town by providing a complete experience. As a freelance engineer, he had been familiar with Martin Audio’s high premium technology and was happy to extend the relationship after NoiseBoys was set up nine years ago. Therefore, when his company was approached by the store’s shopfitters, the retail design company Closed Sundays, to equip t
UK - Arthur Holm, specialist manufacturer of sleek, high-end conferencing solutions, has decided to take the mountain to Mohammed in the guise of a new, extra-long wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter that has been fully equipped as a mobile showroom. Having just completed the Spanish leg of its European tour, the van arrives on British shores on 4 September where Simon Druce of Arthur Holm’s UK distributor, CUK Audio, takes over for the UK and Ireland leg. Boasting dimensions of nearly 7m x 2m, the interior of the van is both spacious and luxurious, furnished with durable, neutral-coloured woven fabric and floor tiles, and faux leather table tops. “Attention has been paid to every detail in order to show the products in their best light, and to demonstrate the perfect furniture integration of the retractable monitors and signal distribution systems, “explained Druce. “There
Hungary - Four Robert Juliat’s 4000W HTI Lancelot fixtures were the followspots of choice for Frédéric “Aldo” Fayard, the lighting designer behind the opening ceremony of the 17th FINA World Aquatic Championships, which took place in Budapest and Balatonfüred in July this year. The FINA World Championships is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and the largest sporting showcase Hungary has ever hosted. With over 2,500 athletes from 180 countries and 200 events over a period of 17 days, this was a massive undertaking. Frederic Fayard, who is founder and designer with Concept K in Paris, created and programmed the lighting for the opening ceremony event, which was conceived and produced by the French production ECA2 Group with MUPA from Hungary. The four 4kW Lancelot followspots were supplied by PRG France and were rigged on two technical towers front of s
