France - Three Groupe Novelty companies mobilised their respective technical expertise to deploy a night-time audiovisual immersive experience for the Parc des Oiseaux with a 17,000 m² projection onto a semi dried out lake.

Located 30km North of Lyon (France) as the crow flies, the Parc des Oiseaux welcomes 280,000 visitors every year between April and October, when birds migrate back to this region which boasts over 1,300 ponds. To extend its appeal into the winter months, the largest bird park in Europe has taken on a new technical and artistic challenge with Les Nuits du Parc: an immersive night-time trail which ran from November to March 2025.

The idea was to make people discover the park from a new perspective, as park director Emmanuel Visentin

Europe - Although Marc Carolan has become well known for carrying several racks of analogue outboard gear when touring as the front-of-house mixer for Snow Patrol and Muse, he is just as likely to apply some of his favourite plugins hosted on Fourier Audio’s transform.engine. But while he has long simply chosen the processing tool that fits the application - whether it’s analogue or digital – this summer, using Fourier’s platform, he plans to push the limits of what he’s previously been able to do in the digital domain.

Carolan, who has been working in live and studio sound for over 25 years, also including with The Cure, Italian superstar Cremonini, and many others, follows a simple principle when selecting what signal processing to apply to a sound source. “It has always been about the tool that fits, the tool that works. I’m quite agnostic a

USA - Country superstars Brooks & Dunn wrapped their 2025 Neon Moon Tour at the end of April with a lighting package from Bandit Lites. The Country Music Hall of Fame duo followed up their 2019 Reboot album with Reboot II in 2024, introducing a new generation to country music’s greatest hits.

“It is an absolute pleasure to once again be working with the iconic duo of Brooks & Dunn and their team,” said Bandit Lites client representative Allen Deneau. “Bandit and Brooks & Dunn have been together putting out great show after great show together for what seems like forever, and this year was no different. I appreciate that they lean on us, decade after decade, to provide a great rig and an even better crew to make it all happen. This is a fun partnership.”

With fans clamouring to see Kix Brooks and Ronnie

UK - Pearce Hire, the award-winning provider of innovative and sustainable technical solutions to the events industry has confirmed its return to PLASA 2025. As the company prepares for a busy season, the timing of this year’s show coincides with a significant period of investment in new equipment, aimed at strengthening its core departments and enhancing production capabilities across the board.

Exhibiting at stand R-A05, Pearce Hire invites visitors to learn more about its latest acquisitions. These investments are designed to support a wide range of event types, from festivals and exhibitions to corporate and live productions, with improved solutions across audio, lighting, power distribution and staging. With a continued focus on sustainability and energy efficiency, the new additions are tailored to meet the growing demand for high performing and envi

USA - Sadly, we report the passing last week of Robe Lighting’s Bob Schacherl. Robe has issued the following tribute:

"Bob Schacherl – beloved friend, colleague, Robe Family member and professional entertainment lighting industry legend – sadly passed away last week, aged 70.

Bob served as CEO of Robe Lighting Inc from 2013 until his retirement in 2019 and will be much missed by all in the Robe organisation alongside those in the industry who had the privilege of working with him.

Robe lighting s.r.o. CEO Josef Valchar stated: “Bob was a great team builder! He joined some already excellent people in place at Robe’s Fort Lauderdale, Florida, headquarters and helped boost our presence in the USA by assembling a fantastic sales and marketing force. His opinions, ideas and vast knowledge were invaluable to our

UK - Area Four Industries Direct UK, provider of structural solutions and trussing systems for the entertainment, events, and motorsport industries, has announced the appointment of Alistair J. Frary as its new director of motorsport.

With over two decades of experience in motorsport engineering and live event infrastructure, Alistair brings a combination of technical expertise, operational leadership, and industry insight to the role. His appointment marks a significant step in Area Four Industries Direct UK’s ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence within the motorsport sector.

Alistair J. Frary has a distinguished track record working across premier motorsport series, including Formula 1, WEC, and touring cars, where he has led the delivery of bespoke structures, paddock solutions, and event infrastructure. In his new role, he will overs

UAE - LEA Professional has announced the appointment of Gopi Ethirajan, technical sales manager at HL Group, to the LEA pre-sales support team. In this role, Ethirajan will play a key role in supporting LEA's pre-sales efforts, working closely with the team to expand the company’s presence and build strategic customer relationships throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Ethirajan has 18 years of experience in the AV industry, specialising in consulting, integration, distribution, and project management. His extensive background gives him a perspective and a deep understanding of customer needs. As a trusted advisor, 100% dedicated to LEA, he will leverage his long-standing relationships within the industry to support the company’s mission.

“I’m looking forward to helping a company that’s not only leading the charge in continu

Impact Assessment - Government ministers have pledged to carry out an “economic impact assessment” of its planned changes to copyright law following alarm from across the creative industries and within parliament itself. Ahead of a vote in parliament this week, Labour has vowed to produce a report exploring “the breadth of issues raised in the AI and copyright debate”, including the ways in which AI developers are able to train their systems in the UK.

This marks an acknowledgement of the fears expressed by creatives in recent months, with the likes of Elton John, Cameron Mackintosh and Tom Stoppard condemning a proposed opt-out system under which tech giants would be automatically permitted to train AI models on work unless its creators expressly forbade it.

The government’s latest commitments form part of amendments to the Data (Use and A

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France - The fantastic line-up for Showlight 2025’s speakers is now complete. We are excited to bring you over 30 speakers covering lighting topics from every discipline and every corner of the globe. Here’s the last group of speakers who’ll be coming to the Parc des Expositions, 19-22 May 2025. There’s something for everyone, so book your ticket now and join us in glorious Dijon!

Frédéric ‘Aldo’ Fayard

Light and laser for New Year’s Eve at Burj Khalifa

Founder of Concept K, Aldo Fayard has 30 years of global experience working on live tours, large-scale events, cinema and permanent installations. He will give us the lowdown on his stunning installation for the New Year’s Eve show in Dubai Downtown, which encompassed a combination of several permanent technologies mixed with a temporary ins

Italy - The Art of James Cameron is a journey into the heart of his cinematic imagination: from the dystopian vision of The Terminator to the poetic worlds of Avatar, through the epic tales of Aliens and Titanic, the exhibition is housed in the Museo Nazionale del Cinema located inside the Mole Antonelliana. This renowned architectural landmark in Turin is known for its design and towering height featuring a panoramic platform at the top for breathtaking views of Turin and the Alps.

The exhibit is far more than a retrospective or an audiovisual experience. It is an immersive, multisensory installation – an ‘autobiography through art’, to quote Cameron’s own words. The exhibition unfolds across six thematic sections and showcases over 300 original props including drawings, paintings, costumes, photographs m

UK - Solstice AV has announced a new strategic UK partnership with i3Connect, specialist in large-format touch displays and interactive technologies for collaboration and education.

With Solstice AV now handling local distribution, resellers across the UK will benefit from faster delivery times, enhanced availability and a more efficient ordering process.

Born from the merger of i3-Technologies and CTouch, i3Connect combines the latest technology with a strong commitment to sustainable innovation. From classrooms to boardrooms, i3Connect offers solutions designed to shape the future of learning and collaboration, with a portfolio that includes touchscreens, interactive boards, wireless presenting and more.

“We’re excited to join forces with Solstice AV,” said Kurtis Oliver, country sales manager UK at i3Connect. “This partnership is a

World - Toto and their engineers are well established in the music industry. When a colleague suggested to Ken Freeman, Toto’s front-of-house engineer, that he should swap to DiGiCo, he agreed and the switch became permanent.

Starting with an SD 10, then the Quantum 338, he recently upgraded to a Quantum 852 for the 2024 Dogz of Oz tour and has never looked back. Steve Kallos, at the monitor position, could not have imagined swapping from his SD10, but when his trusted console was not available, the Quantum 338 was “thrust upon” him – and he is very glad it was.

“With my previous console,” Freeman recalls, “I always had to run a Waves server for EQ and compression, but when I switched to DiGiCo, I found it was such an open, beautiful sounding desk, I was able to lose the server. I use MainStage as my host software with Universa

Malta - Café Del Mar Malta, one of the island’s best-known beach clubs, has upgraded its sound system with a state-of-the-art Funktion-One installation, supplied and supported by trusted audio partner Futuretech. The new setup features Funktion-One’s latest technological developments, bringing an enhanced level of audio performance to the venue’s world-famous sunset sessions and high-profile events.

The 4,000-capacity open air venue, which looks out over the Mediterranean, required a sound system that would deliver dynamic and engaging audio on the dancefloor without disturbing its neighbours. Futuretech designed a custom installation comprising an Evolution X and F121 main system with PSM318 DJ monitors, plus Compact Range systems in the VIP area and surrounding zones.

“It’s all about giving our customers the best experience while keeping

UK - Full Production, a leading UK entertainment technology solutions provider, has committed to the Q-SYS platform to future-proof its audio-visual systems design and enhance integration speed, operational reliability, and control flexibility.

First adopted by Full Production for the new Treetop Golf visitor attraction in Bristol, this new system architecture represents a significant investment in R&D. This, Treetop’s sixth site, and the third built by Full Production, sets a new benchmark for installation quality and reliability.

At the Bristol site, Q-SYS seamlessly integrates with lighting controllers from Visual Productions and spatial audio elements within QLab to create an immersive environment. Players’ movements activate sensors, triggering actions in sound, light, video, and atmosphere.

Developed by US-based pro audio manufa

USA - The highly anticipated Grand Opening Celebration of the National Medal of Honor Museum took place on 22 March, with a nighttime spectacular that showcased Elation lighting with the company’s new ultra-long-throw Proteus Atlas beam FX fixture taking centre stage. Located in the heart of Arlington, Texas, and the newest national museum in the United States, the National Medal of Honor Museum honours US Armed Forces personnel who took extraordinary action in the service of others.

Designed by renowned Rafael Viñoly Architects, the museum is a tribute to over 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients and the millions of Americans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. The opening night celebration was a grand affair, with dignitaries, donors, and Medal of Honor recipients in attendance, along with local citizens of Arlington.

The nigh

UK - ChamSys’ strong commitment to support – as evidenced by its long history of providing standard-setting educational and support programmes – will come shining through at the company’s PLASA Leeds stands (N-A28 and N-B23, shared with Chauvet Professional) at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, 13-14 May. 

In addition to showcasing products such as its flagship MagicQ MQ500M+ Stadium Console and the new MagicQ Compact Wing, making its first UK public showing, ChamSys will be hosting a full schedule of educational events, including presentations by celebrated LDs Ed Warren and David Howard, as well as interactive demonstrations.

In his session, the multi-award-winning Warren will be demonstrating how he uses MagicQ for live and pre-programmed shows in a seamless fashion every time. During his interactive Q&A session he will walk visitors thro

USA - Shure has announced its new IntelliMix Room Kits are Certified for Microsoft Teams and now shipping in Americas (excluding Brazil). Availability in other regions is expected to commence in the coming months.

The systems are designed for effortless deployment in small, medium, and large collaboration spaces, ensuring seamless integration and compatibility within Teams environments.

“Our initial test meetings were a great success. The Shure MXA902 Ceiling Array Microphone and Loudspeaker delivered outstanding sound quality, and the audio processing was exceptional, significantly enhancing our AI-driven meeting experiences,” said Jim Prothe, director of marketing at Magenium, a Microsoft solutions partner. “We appreciated the clean setup and ease of configuration. The larger touch controller prevented any accidental taps of Teams buttons. It

USA - 1 Sound has launched the SUB210, a powerful single-channel subwoofer that is only 12” wide.

The SUB210 subwoofer features two opposing-facing 10” woofers. It is designed for positioning parallel or perpendicular to walls, or even for low-profile 12”-tall deployment. This subwoofer has a sonic advantage in its coupling with a wall, floor, or ceiling. This 1200W subwoofer provides deep bass response down to 35Hz and can develop up to 128 dB SPL.

This bass enclosure has eight M10 rigging points for hanging, to allow further deployment flexibility, with two recessed handles at the bottom. It is also designed to accept a recessed Pole Cup for mounting satellite speakers using 1 Sound’s Active Speaker Tubes or an industry standard M20 screw-in pole.

UK - Solid State Logic has announced the appointment of 22live as its distributor for SSL Live products in the United Kingdom. The company will provide local reach including sales and technical support on behalf of SSL across the UK, as well as supporting its customers in the music, education, and performance venue markets. The appointment covers the entire SSL Live product line including consoles, interfaces, software solutions and more.

Sam Bath, sales and distribution manager for the SSL Live portfolio, commented on the new appointment: “I am excited that we are partnering with 22live, as they carry a strong reputation and presence in the UK live sector. This relationship will help us extend and expand the full range of services we can offer customers for our SSL Live product line, including sales, rentals, support, and training." 

22live has a

Canada - Riedel Communications has announced that Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena has implemented Riedel MediorNet decentralised routing as part of the venue’s reimagination, with the help of system integrator Matrix Video Communications Corp (MVCC).

MediorNet provides much-needed flexibility and reduces set-up time when production teams switch from hockey mode to basketball mode in the arena, or one of hundreds of other events throughout the year. Similarly, the arena’s new Riedel intercom ecosystem, consisting of a Riedel Artist intercom system, Riedel Bolero Wireless Beltpacks, and Riedel SmartPanels, greatly simplifies communications.

Scotiabank Arena was built for NHL and NBA games, but it also hosts an average of 100 concerts and hundreds of other events annually. Regarded as one of the top arenas in North America, the venue is similar to a br

Japan - World Expo 2025 opened in Osaka on 13 April, returning to the Japanese city that hosted its first World Expo some 55 years ago.

Covering a 960-acre site on the Yumeshima (Dream Island), more than 160 countries are showcasing their cultures, crafts, technologies and visions of the future in a series of exhibits that includes the extraordinary France Pavilion, designed and operated by official French exhibition organisers Cofrex. Located at the entrance to the Expo, the visually striking venue is expected to welcome more than 20,000 visitors each day over the coming six months.

“If there were just one feeling associated with the French mindset, it would be love,” believes French president Emmanuel Macron.

“The way we chose to embody the theme of love is through pulsations, guided by music and a steady heartbeat in a journey throug

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