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30 July 2024

UK - John Simpson was a force to be reckoned with, a passionate collaborator and true pioneer of the theatre industry. Chair of Backup from 2016 to 2022, John improved the lives of many through his hard work and tireless dedication to the theatrical industry.

The Backup trustees are gratefully announcing that this dedication has continued after his death with a generous legacy bequeathed to Backup. Through this gift, John has enabled Backup to move forward confidently into 2025 and beyond, safe in the knowledge that technicians in need will continue be able to count on their support. John’s generosity will also enable more training to take place, furthering the reach of Backup’s support network and bettering the lives of even more people throughout the industry and beyond.

John worked tirelessly for over 50 years in theatre. His interest was form

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30 July 2024

France - Robe’s new iBOLT made its French debut in grand style at a recent Monumental event at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Laon Aisne in the Hauts-de-France.

Monumental is an interactive music and visual live experience concept imagined and presented by DJ, music producer and live experience innovator Michael Canitrot.

He has styled a series of these bespoke performances which are staged in and around some of France’s most striking landmarks. Built in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Laon Cathedral heritage site is one of the most important and stylistically unified examples of early French Gothic architecture.

The event’s lighting was designed by Mikael (Mika) Trochu who specified the six iBOLTS, rented from Dushow, which were positioned in an arc around the DJ booth, so they were right at the epicentre of th

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30 July 2024

UK - Rik Kirby has been appointed to the newly-created role of commercial manager for TiMax, and Out Board motor control brands, recently acquired by Focusrite Plc.

Originally from the UK where he worked in international sales management for BSS Audio and Turbosound, Kirby moved to the United States and Renkus-Heinz in California over 20 years ago, before starting his own pro-audio distribution company, Allied ProTech.

Returning to the UK, Kirby assumes the global development of sales and promotion channels for both TiMax Spatial and Out Board motor control, building upon the thriving business of both brands to further develop new opportunities for growth across all territories and sectors.

“I first encountered the TiMax products over 20 years ago at an AES event where we were respectively presenting,” explains Kirby. “I was really draw

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30 July 2024

UK - Celestial, the Somerset-based drone show artists, lit up the skies above The Secret Garden Party in Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire, on Saturday night as part of the That’s Show Business spectacle with its drone show, Creativity Unchained.

The show was ‘a collaborative effort with Secret Designs and was a powerful ode to the freedom of creative expression, urging a break from the impact of consumerism on artistic expression and calling for a return to the roots of pure, untainted creativity’.

The drone show used vivid imagery, such as skulls, dollar signs and a phoenix rising from the ashes to underscore its message that creativity should have no bounds, winning over the attention of the festival goers. The show, spanning 130m wide and 70m high, featured an impressive 504 choreographed drones.

Celestial were invited

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30 July 2024

Germany - With the Opus X4 Profile, Cameo has introduced its most powerful LED moving head to date. The new top model is a spot profile moving head with a 1,400-watt LED white-light engine which generates enormous light output of 50,000 lumens and provides powerful spot and gobo projections – even on the biggest stages.

Its little brother, the Opus X Profile, has already made impressions in the past with its 750 watts in countless live, TV, and theatre productions. The Opus X4 Profile now marks the next stage in Opus development: the combination of a 1,400-watt LED engine, 193mm front lens, and particularly large 5°–55° zoom range enables equally flexible use as a spot and as a profile moving head. At the same time, the X4 Profile is only slightly larger and heavier than the X Profile, despite its large leap in performance, and is still just as flexibl

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30 July 2024

UK - Avolites has announced the return of an Avolites original employee - Rebbecca Cadd - as one of its Titan trainers and training co-ordinator for the UK.

Rebbecca initially worked for Avolites some years ago and has since worked for other lighting console brands in the UK.

Avolites’ MD Paul Wong says, “Rebbecca’s extensive relationships with UK users and companies, as well as her knowledge of Avolites, makes her ideal to ensure that Avolites can satisfy the increasing demand for our training.”

Rebbecca comments, “I’m delighted to be re-joining the Avolites family, particularly at a time when there is such a programme of positive change and investment. The product roadmap excites me as I can see where this is all heading and I’m looking forward to being on this re-invigored journey.”

Sales director Ron Carrington add

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30 July 2024

Europe - Obsidian Control Systems has achieved considerable success with its popular Netron line of DMX/RDM Splitters and Ethernet to DMX gateways and now offers ‘the world’s first IP66 range of data distribution devices for entertainment applications’.

Available now are a six-port EtherDMX Node (EN6 IP), a six-port DMX/RDM Splitter (RDM6 IP), and an eight-port managed POE Switch (NS8 IP).

The Netron IP66 range, which was recognised at 2023 PLASA Show 2023 with an Award for Innovation, blends the proven chassis and connector technology of Elation’s IP65 Proteus range of lighting fixtures with the Netron data platform. Utilising a custom-designed sealed chassis and die-cast body, impact resistant paint, IP ports and touch controls, the Netron IP66 range provides reliable data distribution for any location that requires dust and moisture protec

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30 July 2024

UK - DiGiCo is known throughout the industry for its high levels of support and customer care. The ethos of understanding is not just reserved for customers, as James Thompson found out when he landed the role as mechanical designer at DiGiCo.

Thompson is autistic and for him that means being hyper focused and having acute attention to detail. Thompson had not often used DiGiCo consoles and, as a designer, on the job experience is essential. As a freelancer for T&B Events, Thompson has mixed on a variety of consoles, so when they suggested joining them over the summer and mixing on a DiGiCo Quantum 225, he jumped at the chance.

T&B Events are a production company on the UK’s South Coast specialising in live events and during the summer they are kept very busy with festivals. Owned by Ben Wood and Thomas Hands, the company has been facilitat

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30 July 2024

UAE - Creative Technology APAC has recently increased its stock of Ayrton fixtures, adding 30 Argo 6 Wash fixtures to its existing inventory of Ayrton Diablo LED profiles.

The general manager Marcus Lim explains why the company decided to invest in Argo 6 Wash: “We were looking to expand our stock of wash fixtures with an IP65 rated unit and, after some internal evaluation against other similar products, we found that Argo 6 Wash was the best fit for our market segment. It’s a good all round wash light, with an added plus point of offering a pixel map option. We also like the weight, size, lumen output, and of course the IP rating.

“In addition to this, we have a long working relationship with the local distributor for Ayrton, Total Solution Marketing, and we know we can rely on their service and support over the lifetime of the products.”

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30 July 2024

UK - SWG Events extended their long association with the Glastonbury Festival, again deploying Martin Audio systems in a number of feature areas.

According to head of audio, Simon Purse, they made significant changes to two stages: BBC Introducing and Woodsies, while also providing Martin Audio systems for The Park Stage and Leftfield.

BBC Introducing embraced Martin Audio for the first time, having traditionally had its sound delivered by another brand.

The move from its usual enclosed tent behind the Pyramid Stage to a more open, saddlespan structure required a fresh, upscaled approach to the PA, as it was able to attract a larger audience. “We were able to swap out the previous system for a ground-stacked [Martin Audio] WPS system - so it was quite a major upgrade. Having more PA meant we were able to deliver a superior sound,” stated

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30 July 2024

Portugal - Europalco has announced a significant expansion of its facilities. The acquisition of an adjacent 18,000m² land increases Europalco's total operational area to 42,000m², nearly doubling the current space and extending the perimeter to almost 1 kilometre.

"This major step reflects our continued commitment to growth and innovation," said Pedro Magalhães, CEO of Europalco. "The expansion will allow us to double the capacity of our main warehouse from 4,000m² to 8,000m², creating 12,000m² of storage space. This increase will significantly optimise logistics, improve production capacity, and further modernise and streamline our facilities."

Magalhães continued, "Throughout our 27-year history, the dedication and hard work of our exceptional team have driven Europalco's success. Every employee has played a vital role in our continued grow

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30 July 2024

Olympic Return - Celine Dion returned to the stage for the first time since revealing a serious health condition, giving a powerhouse performance at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The Canadian superstar had been rumoured to be singing a duet with Lady Gaga, but instead went solo on the Eiffel Tower to bring the four-hour event to a climax.

It was Dion's first live performance in four years, and came a year and a half after she revealed a diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) - a rare neurological disorder that causes muscles to spasm and can be debilitating. It also affected her distinctive, forceful voice. The 56-year-old, known as the "queen of power ballads", has been having therapy to "rebuild" her voice. In Paris, her delivery of Edith Piaf's classic L'Hymne à l'Amour gave encouraging signs that the treatment is working.

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29 July 2024

USA - Hootie & the Blowfish are currently on their 43-city Summer Camp With Trucks tour, taking fans on a musical journey through 29 years of Hootie & the Blowfish hits, sprinkled with covers of classics by the likes of R.E.M. and Led Zeppelin

Dates have included Michigan’s Pine Knob, where 14,000 fans packed the amphitheatre earlier this summer.

There is even a point in the show where the set takes on an outdoorsy appearance with frontman Darius Rucker and the band singing in front of a campfire. That flourish, like so many other visuals on this tour, is part of a lighting and production design by Kevin Northrup and Will Lowdermilk of Silver Bullets Design.

Drawing on the performance features of over 100 Chauvet Professional fixtures, supplied by Special Events Services, Northrup and Lowdermilk have created a multi-layered

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29 July 2024

Europe - ETC has announced the launch of season two of its podcast series, On Headset. Offering a glimpse into the fascinating realm of theatrical lighting design, this immersive audio experience invites listeners to join real-time programming sessions with renowned lighting designers as they craft the visual magic of major productions.

In season two, also known as The Paule Project, listeners will embark on an educational journey with internationally acclaimed lighting designer Paule Constable and programmer Will Frost, as they share lightly curated recordings of headset conversations during the tech rehearsals of the National Theatre's production of The Normal Heart. This i play, depicting the 1980s HIV/AIDS crisis in New York, serves as a perfect case study in theatrical lighting, providing valuable insights into the creative pr

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29 July 2024

Indonesia - Meyer Sound has announced a new distributor in the growing Indonesian market. PT Promedia Sejahtera Raya, a newly formed entity, will exclusively represent Meyer Sound in Indonesia, bringing their professional audio and cinema products to the region.

This new entity is a collaboration between PT Promedia Innovative Solution, a prominent player in Indonesia’s pro audio market, and Sejahtera Raya Group (Cinema 21), Indonesia’s largest cinema chain with 1,300 cinemas nationwide.

“We are excited to announce this new distributor in Indonesia,” says John McMahon, Meyer Sound’s senior vice president. “After meeting with Yosua and his team at InfoComm, we knew this partnership would be instrumental in expanding the Meyer Sound brand in this dynamic market. The road ahead will have many opportunities for product launches, demos, traini

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29 July 2024

USA - Located in the heart of Ocean Drive in Miami’s South Beach, the Palace Bar, renowned for its status within the LGBTQ+ community, has been serving up dining experiences for more than three decades. The venue recently went through a complete overhaul of its sound system, including 14 Powersoft amplifiers.

Since its first opening in 1988, the Palace Bar has built a nationwide reputation thanks to its exuberant drag brunches and live entertainment, with more than 1,500 guests visiting each weekend. With music serving as the lifeblood of the venue, the owner of Palace Bar, Tom Donall, was keen to improve the previous audio equipment with a sound system that would be capable of conveying the energy of the Palace Bar shows.

“Being one of the most well-known gay restaurant bars in the world and putting on a famous drag show, the sound and the clari

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29 July 2024

USA - Country music singer-songwriter Alexandra Kay is out on tour with a lighting system provided by Bandit Lites. With her 2023 release All I’ve Ever Known, Kay used her lyrics and powerful vocals to weave stories fans can relate to and identify with. In addition to the album debut at #1 on the iTunes Country Charts and #1 on the iTunes All Genre Chart, Kay is featured on Jelly Roll’s Leave the Light On single from the summer’s hottest blockbuster film, Twisters.

Lighting designer Corbin Alvae drew inspiration for the lighting from All I’ve Ever Known. “When I was working on this design, I had to go into her shoes and feel the emotions she was feeling. That’s when the concept came about: something hard hitting, but visually appealing that fit her style in a way that made her fans feel even more of the emotion

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29 July 2024

USA - Free Chapel Church, a contemporary Christian congregation based in Gainesville, Georgia, is redefining the worship experience with innovative audio solutions from EAW.

The flagship main campus in Gainesville boasts a comprehensive EAW setup, including Anya ADAPTive line arrays and EAW SB828P dual drive subwoofers, meticulously engineered to cater to the venue’s unique architectural nuances. Glenn Setchfield, the global audio director at Free Chapel Church, emphasised the importance of EAW’s ADAPTive technology in tailoring sound dispersion to optimise acoustics.

According to Setchfield, “Our main campus presents challenges due to its fan-shaped layout. The decision to implement EAW’s Anya line arrays was driven by the need for superior coverage and clarity. EAW’s ADAPTive technology empowers us to precisely direct sound, expanding hor

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26 July 2024

USA - Sonic Sphere is an ever-evolving concert hall for the 21st Century. Conceived in the tradition of German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Kugelauditorium, a nearly spherical concert hall built for the 1970 World Expo in Osaka, Sonic Sphere is the Brainchild of Ed Cooke, a British cognitive science expert and entrepreneur, sound architect Merijn Royaards, and engineering director Nicholas Christie.

Since 2021, Cooke and his team have built Sonic Spheres in France, UK, Mexico, and the United States, including Burning Man. Each time, the hall has grown bigger; the sphere at The Shed in New York City is the eleventh and most advanced sphere, after iterations of increasing size and technical sophistication.

The result is the first Sonic Sphere to be suspended in air, costing more than $2m. The infrastructure includes 1,178 steel struts, 3,500 yard

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26 July 2024

UK - HearAngel (a LimitEar company) and Sonical have announced a software licensing agreement to integrate the HearAngel smart hearing safeguarding solution into Sonical’s CosmOS operating system for headphones. This collaboration allows manufacturers using the Sonical platform to offer hearing safeguarding either as a standard feature or user option.

Stephen Wheatley, CEO of HearAngel, stated, “CosmOS is enabling the next generation of headphone platform, allowing for personalised and updated devices through downloadable cloud apps. The functionality needed from your headphones can now be changed anytime based on preferences and usage.”

Gary Spittle, CEO of Sonical, added, “Hearing safeguarding is increasingly important, with extended listening at high volumes potentially causing permanent hearing damage. HearAngel provides easy-to-use infor