Japan - ON, an international provider of AV solutions with operational hubs in Brazil and Portugal, was entrusted with the full AV integration and daily operation of the Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, a standout cultural and technological space, which has already welcomed over 500,000 visitors.

The Pavilion, designed by internationally acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma, explores the theme The Ocean: The Blue Dialogue through immersive storytelling, interactive installations, and large-scale projections.

ON was contracted by Rimond SRL, the general contractor for the project, to deliver the complete AVL infrastructure for the Portugal Pavilion - covering everything from equipment acquisition and system design to installation, integration, a

USA - Building on the momentum of its 40th anniversary last year, Adamson (booth #6071) will unveil its new XG Integration Amplifiers, alongside highlighting its VGt and VGs intelligent speakers from the flagship Vergence Group and the FletcherMachine spatial engine.

XG Integration Amplifiers represent a major leap forward in power, integration and system intelligence. Designed with real-world AV installations in mind, the XG line delivers up to 16 kW in a compact 2RU form factor, whilst combining native Milan-AVB for audio and control over a single cable, DSP and integrated protection and monitoring, all in a convenient rack-mounted solution.

Available in 1RU and 2RU models and 4 and 8 channel configurations, the new XG Integration Amplifiers mark a milestone by enabling end-to-end Adamson system interoperability for a larger portion of Adamson's pr

UK – Elation’s Paragon LED profile moving head has been awarded Lighting Product of the Year at the ABTT Theatre Show.

The Association of British Theatre Technicians’ (ABTT) Annual Awards took place on last week at Alexandra Palace, following the first day of the ABTT Show. Accepting the award on behalf of Elation was business development manager Graham Hill, who shared:

“We’re absolutely delighted to receive this recognition from the ABTT. Paragon was designed for work in virtually any application, also the creative and technical demands of theatre professionals. This award is a real testament to the incredible work of our team, the years of R&D behind this series, and the valuable input of our design partners who helped shape what Paragon has become.”

An experienced jury of working theatre practitioners and industry peers co

   

On Broadway - UK-originated productions and creatives received 13 prizes at this year’s Tony Awards. Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which premiered in London in December 2023, was this year’s biggest winner at a ceremony held in New York’s Radio City Music Hall. It won awards including best sound design and a special award for its illusions and technical effects team, with Miriam Buether taking home the prize for best scenic design of a play for the show.

Sunset Boulevard, directed by Jamie Lloyd, picked up three prizes, including best revival of a musical and a best actress gong for Nicole Scherzinger, while performer Jak Malone took home best featured actor in a musical for Operation Mincemeat.

SOLT and UK Theatre co-chief executive, Claire Walker said: "This year’s Tony Awards have been a brilliant showc

UK - PLASA Show 2025 is now open for free registrations. This September, the UK's market-leading trade event for live entertainment technology will set the stage for breakthrough products, big ideas, and invaluable industry connections. Celebrate entertainment technology and the people behind it at PLASA Show, returning to its home at Olympia, London from 7–9 September 2025.

Drawing 7,500+ professionals from across the global industry, the show offers unrivalled access to 250+ leading brands, an expert-led seminar programme, and hands-on experiences with next-generation technology.

Headline sponsored by Robe, PLASA Show 2025 features an expanded show floor filled with world-class manufacturers, distributors and service providers. Attendees can explore the latest tools and technologies for lighting, audio, AV, staging and rigging – all under one r

Mexico - Mexican band Matute is playing dates in Mexico and the US with their Disco Stereo Tour, which takes fans on a journey through ‘the most iconic LPs of the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s’. Claypaky Tamboras, Sharpy X Frames and Midi-B FX fixtures light up the stage as Matute ‘blends the analogue charm of vinyl with immersive visuals and a setlist packed with dance floor classics’.

The group has established a loyal fanbase over nearly two decades, especially among Latin American and US audiences who crave their live shows that mix Spanish- and English-language hits from some of the most influential artists of the disco era. The new tour will highlight the influence of past decades on modern music, creating a concert that feels fresh yet has elements of nostalgia.

Matute’s Jorge D'Alessio helms the creative production of the tour.

The Netherlands - A dynamic package of Robe moving lights has been installed at the busy P3 popodium music venue in Purmerend, a city and municipality in the province of North Holland in the west Netherlands.

The recent upgrade, originally planned before the pandemic and delivered once the restrictions started being lifted, comprised 14 x Esprites, eight Paintes, 16 x LEDBeam 350s, eight LEDBeam 150s and four T1 Profiles.

P3 has two music halls – of 850 and 350 capacity – and a theatre space that accommodates 130. The venue opened on April Fool’s Day 2006, and the now head of technical and production, Ferry Veenman has worked there for 17 years, the first six as a bartender, and one of the regular lighting technicians, Edo van Randen, has clocked up 18 years. In that time, they have seen a constant stream of great shows and superlative music.

France - Etienne de Crécy, the Lyon-born electronic music maestro has blazed new paths by giving his sounds the space (in both the literal and figurative sense), to flourish. This is evident in his current tour, which celebrates 30 years of his pioneering work, not only in his musical performance itself, but also in the supportive stage production design by Pierre Claude.

“I love minimalism and I try as much as I can to leave as much space as possible for artists and their music,” said Claude. “For me, that’s what the audience primarily expects at a concert. Etienne de Crécy wanted to take this even further; he wanted a track to be immediately identifiable by a colour, so that on social media, people would know which track is which, just by seeing a photo. He also uses this approach for his album covers, which are very minimalist and instantly reco

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UK - As UK City of Culture 2025, Bradford is playing host to an extensive programme of events in the arts and entertainment field. With a rich and diverse cultural heritage as the backdrop to a year of celebration, Bradford 2025 has invested in a number of existing and new creative spaces to further opportunities for people to engage in cultural events. One such significant venue is the appropriately-named Loading Bay, a multi-use arts centre located in a disused warehouse.

Music, comedy, talks, exhibitions, immersive theatre, and even live video-gaming take place across its two performance spaces and gallery. To ensure the best possible experience for artists, performers, and audience members alike, the Bradford 2025’s technical team enlisted Bradford-based production specialists Pro Audio Systems (PAS) to supply and install all the audio and video techno

UK - IPS (Impact Production Services) has announced the launch of its new website (www.ips.co.uk), marking the next major step in its ongoing work to enhance customer experience and improve operational efficiency. The launch follows the recent opening of IPS’s new warehouse in Milton Keynes, a major physical upgrade now mirrored by this significant digital development.

The new website represents a substantial improvement on the long serving platform that supported IPS through many years of growth. As user needs have evolved and the scale of operations expanded, the redesign was driven by the goal of creating a modern, intuitive, and transparent digital experience that better reflects IPS’s service-led approach.

Built with functionality and accessibility at its core, the refreshed site features a fully mobile responsive interface, enhanced ai powe

USA - Global design and BIM software provider Vectorworks, part of the Nemetschek Group, has announced the availability of its AI Assistant (Preview), an innovative new tool designed to give users instant and accurate answers to their Vectorworks-related questions.

As a preview feature in the release of Vectorworks 2025 Update 5, the AI Assistant (Preview) marks the first phase of integrating AI learning technology into Vectorworks software, with the long-term goal of providing more intelligent, personalised, and time-saving solutions to designers.

Available through the Help menu and the Vectorworks Home Screen, the built-in AI assistant is designed to give customers quick, context-aware answers to their questions, allowing them to stay focused on their creative work. Whether users need to learn new features or simply seek guidance, the AI Assistant

USA - At InfoComm 2025, dBTechnologies will highlight scalable solutions engineered to meet the diverse demands of today’s integrators - from small commercial installs to large-scale, networked systems.

A key focus will be the IS Installation Series: passive, weather-resistant loudspeakers designed for seamless integration in permanent installs, including hospitality, retail, and outdoor environments. Built for reliability and consistent voicing across models, the IS Series offers flexibility for any project scope. Regular demos will be held in Demo Room W230D.

The company is also demonstrating the wide range of its live sound reinforcement products with Vio, DVA, Fifty Line, and Opera Reevo Series.

The Constant Curvature Vio C Series delivers precision-controlled sound for venues that demand consistent coverage and ease of deployment. Thes

Italy - K-array has announced a landmark step forward in AV-over-IP integration. Through a simple software update, its full line of Kommander amplifiers is now NDI-enabled, making K-array the first professional audio brand to natively embed the Network Device Interface (NDI) protocol directly into its amplifiers. No external gateways, licenses or additional hardware required.

NDI is a low-latency, IP-based protocol capable of transmitting synchronised audio, video, and metadata over standard networks. While widely adopted in the video broadcast and live production sectors, its expansion into the audio domain marks a strategic evolution, one now being driven by K-array’s adoption.

“Bringing NDI into our amplifiers, at no cost to the user, demonstrates how our software-defined architecture is ready to embrace every evolution of AV-over-IP,” says

USA - Avante Audio, a member of the ADJ Group of Companies, is set to present its latest pro audio solutions at InfoComm 2025 this week. Avante Audio's products will be featured prominently within the immersive AVL Experience, along with sister company ADJ Lighting, at Demo Room W230A and booth #7973.

The AVL Experience is designed to provide attendees with a comprehensive demonstration of integrated audio, video, and lighting systems. Avante Audio's participation will highlight its commitment to delivering high-quality, versatile audio solutions suitable for various applications, from live events to permanent installations. Attendees who visit demo room W230A can join an immersive audio, video and lighting experience at select time to hear the impressive clarity of Avante Audio.

Among the products on display will be the Akro Series, Avante Audio's f

Europe - Celebrated Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, has delivered his latest live offering through an L-ISA immersive spatial audio system, an all-encompassing sound experience taking fans through three decades of operatic and orchestral excellence.

The tour’s core sound engineers all began their careers with UK tour supplier, Britannia Row Productions. FOH engineer Davide Lombardi, systems engineer Alessandro Cestaro and monitor engineer Stefano Serpagli, describe the rental house’s partnership as a familial experience.

Davide begins: “I started in the Britannia Row warehouse in early 2000s; Britannia Row and particularly Bryan Grant, gave me my first opportunities in the international live music business, so when there is a chance to work together, it’s always a real pleasure as it feels as though I’m coming back home.”

Working w

Thailand - AtlasIED has announced the opening of new offices in Thailand. This move represents a significant step in the company’s global expansion efforts. The new location enhances AtlasIED’s presence in the APAC region, allowing the company to provide innovative solutions and dedicated, on-the-ground support to customers worldwide.

Located strategically in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, the new office will function as a regional hub for customer engagement, operations, and sales. This setup will enable AtlasIED to effectively meet the needs of its expanding client base throughout Asia and beyond.

"The launch of our Thailand office serves as a launchpad for opportunities that expand not just our geography but also our influence and impact, positioning us to drive innovation and customer engagement as we continue to write the next chapter of our

USA - The 60th edition of the Academy of Country Music Awards saw a return to the Ford Centre at The Star in Frisco, Texas – hosted by country legend Reba McEntire for the 18th time.

Co-lighting designers Michael Berger and Travis Hagenbuch both have a long association with the event, starting out as interns many years ago. “It’s been a nice full-circle experience working with Travis in this capacity since he really took me in during that first year,” credits Berger.

This year a vast armoury of over 160 GLP fixtures illuminated artist performances (with a nod back to highlights of the last 60 years). Leading the charge were 73 JDC Lines (500s and 1000s), which edged the band risers, the award presentation stage and other areas.

The latest generation of the popular hybrid strobe – the JDC2 IP – also made a high-profile app

USA/Europe - Elation has announced the launch of its new OPS Series (Outdoor Permanent Specification), a durable, long-lasting solution for permanent outdoor installations.

The OPS series enhances some of Elation’s most popular IP65/66-rated lighting fixtures, providing a ruggedized version designed specifically for demanding environments such as theme parks, cruise ships and other marine environments, museums, experiential installations, and more. Built for long-lasting performance in harsh conditions, the OPS Series ensures consistent, reliable use in both indoor and outdoor settings.

The OPS Series incorporates more durable, robust materials, including corrosion-resistant components and protective finishes, to create a hardened version of the fixtures. With this rugged specification, Elation offers an even more reliable solution for projects on

UK - Solstice AV has announced the latest addition to its leadership team, with the appointment of Louise Abbey as the company’s new marketing director.

Louise brings more than 20 years of B2B marketing knowledge and experience to the company, having held senior positions across vendor, distributor, and reseller organisations operating in the fast-paced ICT sector. Louise will lead the company’s marketing strategy, working as a key advisor to the board and collaborating with Solstice’s vendor and reseller partners to unlock new opportunities and drive mutual profitability.

Based at Solstice AV’s Gloucestershire headquarters, Louise’s appointment follows recent milestones for Solstice AV, including the recent appointment of Chris Ball as chief finance & operating officer, plus UK distribution partnerships with LED display leader LianTron

Germany - d&b audiotechnik has introduced Create.Control, a standalone software that opens the creative possibilities of the d&b Soundscape ecosystem to a wider range of users.

With Create.Control, the creative freedom of object-based mixing now gets its own space, enabling sound designers, engineers, and creatives to explore extensive features in an independent environment - whether in pre-production or during a live show. Users can design and prepare projects offline, adding a new layer of flexibility and creative workflow to the d&b system across churches, theatres, and concert halls.

Create.Control brings peace of mind to system engineers working with guest engineers and creatives. By having a dedicated native software for the mixer, there is no longer the need to share the R1 system interface to creatively work with Soundscape. While

Spain - Madrid is packed with nightlife options to suit any taste and any budget. With so much choice, clubs and bars in the city need to work hard to stand out, and Ayala 120 is doing just that. 

Nestled discreetly in Madrid's exclusive Salamanca district, between Goya and Manuel Becerra, Ayala 120 seamlessly blends elements of a sultry nightclub, high end cocktail bar, and lively salsa club, making it a go-to spot for those looking to party late into the night. 

With a capacity of 300 and music playing from 7pm until 6am most days, the club needs a reliable and memorable sound system to keep the dancefloor full and to ensure customers keep coming back. To make this happen, the owners looked to high-end loudspeaker manufacturer Renkus-Heinz.

“Our goal was to transform the customer experience from ordinary to extraordinary by providing an

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