Italy - Turin’s Kappa FuturFestival was billed as Italy's largest EDM event. It was staged at Parco Dora, an evocative urban park where metal pylons, rather than trees, mark many paths.

Rising out of the ruins of an abandoned Fiat and Michelin manufacturing complex, the 456,000sq.m park exudes a stark and hauntingly moving aura with concrete towers and 30m high metal beams dotting its grounds.

For the 85,000 or so who attended the music was performed by many of the world's leading EDM artists, including Tale of Us, Skrillex, Tiësto, and Carl Cox.

Accenting that music with a bold, futuristic lighting design that incorporated the architectural elements of Parco Dora, was Giovanni Ricciardi, who described the process this way: "This year, in addition to taking care of the lighting part of all the stages of the Kappa FuturFestival, I took care

Spain - In Barcelona, Claypaky will unveil two new moving head lighting fixtures in the Arolla Aqua Series.

Equipped with a custom 900W white LED light source, Arolla Aqua LT delivers over 40,000 lumens. This consistent and unwavering output rivals high-power-range lights and the size can compete with medium-power fixtures, offering unmatched versatility for diverse lighting needs.

The Arolla Aqua LT's centre-weighted peaked beam is optimized for a more consistent illumination and quality of light. Its 4°-52° zoom range empowers seamless transitions and dynamic effects, thanks to the high zoom speed, the ultra-intensive narrow beam and a 170mm (6.7 in) front lens.

In moving heads with large lenses, sunlight can often sneak in, reflecting internally and causing heat buildup that risks damaging crucial components like gobos and colour filters

Sweden - Launched in 2004 and part of a global franchise, Swedish Idol is one of the most popular shows on Swedish television. Broadcast live on channel TV4, it provides a platform on which hopeful Swedish singing stars can showcase their talents and compete to gain widespread recognition.

The latest series of live performances ran from 12 October to 7 December at the Filadelfia Convention Centre in central Stockholm, and was lit by lighting designer, Linus Pansell, who included Ayrton Kyalami, Rivale Profile and MagicBlade FX fixtures in his rig.

“The Kyalamis and MagicBlades were crucial for me to build the show,” says Pansell. “I’m usually quite negotiable to changing fixtures to fit the suppliers’ inventories, but this time I really wanted these specific fixtures. I could easily swap out other lights in the rig, but I was very

UK - London -based event production company Halo has added 24 x Robe Painte moving lights to its rental inventory, which were delivered in September following the PLASA professional lighting and sound expo by the team at Robe UK.

These are added to Halo’s existing lighting rental inventory, which already includes several other Robe moving lights – Pointes, MegaPointes, Spikies, Spikie+s, Spiiders, and LEDBeam 150s – all of which have been purchased in the last six years.

Halo’s CEO Yann Guenancia and his team including hire manager Andrew Luck made the decision after considering various options and receiving a demo of the Painte fixtures at Halo.

Yann stated, “We needed a premium ‘LED spot’ and a compact hard-edged luminaire to add to our inventory and, having enjoyed so much success with Robe’s Pointe and Spiider fixtures, we

Spain - Prolights is preparing for a dynamic showcase at Integrated Systems Europe. The company's stand - located in Hall 6, booth 6S200 - will feature an expanded exhibition space, highlighting key products from its portfolio for live events, TV, and theatres. Visitors will also get an exclusive look at five new products making their official market debut.

The HaluPix DUO is a dual layer LED matrix that seamlessly integrates lighting and video capabilities into a modular design. This twin-source unit offers high-power, long-throw white beams alongside high-brightness video and strobe features, with full pixel-level control.

The Astra Profile900 is a flagship, high-power profile moving head designed for large-scale live productions, studios, and theatres. Powered by a 900W LED source, it delivers an impressive 43,000-lumen output (as measured by phot

Kuwait - For the opening ceremony of the Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait in December, lighting and production designer Roland Greil deployed 173 Proteus Maximus LED wash/beam fixtures along with 49 Proteus Excalibur beam lights, both IP65-rated moving heads.

“When lighting a magnificent, 360-degree, theatrically produced stadium ceremony, where you’re dealing with throws of 50-100 meters or more, besides lighting the stage or field of play you also want to achieve some magic and theatrical spice, and what you need there is firepower,” says Greil.

Using 222 moving heads to light a major event stadium ceremony may sound like a substantial number, but compared to many similar opening ceremonies, the fixture counts for the Arabian Gulf Cup was more modest. For the Asian Cup opening ceremony in Qatar a year earlier for example, Greil had over three times

Mexico - Café Tacvba from Naucalpan de Juárez, have blended Mexican musical influences with mainstream rock sounds in their 35-year career. Inspired by the likes of The Smiths, The Cure, and Violent Femmes, they've added alt rock and psychedelic elements to their inimitable style. Later, the Grammy and Latin Grammy winners also invited hip-hop to their party.

"Their music is super eclectic, going from the simplest Mexican folk songs to the blistering electric punk & rock sounds they are accustomed to belting out night after night," observed Felix Peralta.  "They are one of the most amazing live bands I have ever seen - and I feel fortunate to have seen a lot of live bands throughout my 30-plus years in the industry. Most importantly, they’re some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet."

Peralta has been lighting Café Tacvba for about eight

Australia - Following the news that LSC Control Systems will distribute the products of UK-based Avolites in Australia and New Zealand, LSC has announced the appointment of a dedicated Avolites specialist. Clare Springett, as business development manager Avolites Australia and New Zealand, will head up sales and support for the famous lighting control brand in the region, beginning with immediate effect.

A well-known presence in Australia’s professional show production world, Clare is an experienced lighting designer, production manager, arts practitioner, venue manager and theatre technician. 
Most recently she worked as sales and hire manager at Concert Lighting Systems Australia and was the touring LD and operator for Tim Minchin’s 2024 tour Unfunny – An Evening with Tim Minchin and his Piano. Also on her resumé, she is a Green Room Award nom

UK - The Royal Shakespeare Company, a major British theatre company in the UK, has selected ETC control and fixtures to upgrade its flagship Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST), including Apex 10 and Apex 5 consoles, Eos Apex Processor, Eos Programming Wings and more.

The theatre is a leader in creative technologies and digital development. The RSC recognised the urgent need to upgrade the lighting equipment to increase the theatre’s environmental sustainability and efficiency for the future. ETC dealer Stage Electrics supplied the new equipment to the venue. This upgrade has been made possible with the support of Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme.

Together, the teams at both the RSC and Stage Electrics identified the technical requirements and, following several conversations and hands-on time with Eos Apex, determined that it was

The Netherlands - The Schouwburg Kunstmin in Dordrecht is a busy, bustling theatre and performing arts venue, which has made another major purchase of Robe LED lighting fixtures with 83 x T11 Profiles. These have been added to their Main Hall house lighting rig, replacing all the old, fixed position incandescent profiles and PCs.

The venue is both a producing and a receiving house, and in the Main Hall, the busy and vibrant programme of performance – embracing musicals, dance shows, cabaret, comedy, and concerts – can be lit with an all-Robe and fully LED lighting rig and investment funded entirely by the theatre itself.

Simultaneously, the venue purchased 12 x Robe ParFect 150s to replace their conventional PARS, another four T1 profiles – bringing the current total to 12 when combined with others bought in 2022 to replace their ageing 2Ks on

UK - Sometime around the start of the second century, in the spot where The Guildhall now stands, the Romans completed a coliseum which housed chariot racers and, yes, gladiators. On 13 November, a bit of this ancient grandeur (happily without actual gladiatorial combat!) returned to London, as the city hosted the premiere of Ridley Scott's Gladiator 2 at Leicester Square, complete with set pieces inspired by Roman architecture.

The setting, created by Limited Edition Event design, welcomed a glittering array of guests, including the film's director and stars, along with King Charles. Contributing to the festive tone of the event was a lighting design by Richard Godin that was run on a Chamsys MagicQ MQ250M desk, anchored by a legion of Chauvet Professional LED video panels, all supplied by Milton Keynes-based IPS.

At the heart of the design

USA - During a 25-minute OHM fitness class, lighting is synchronised with the video feed to create a fully immersive workout experience. As a workout progresses, lighting changes colours, and instructors intensify the music as the workout becomes more challenging. During cool-down, instructors turn to softer, calming music to help relax members.

OHM Franchise, headquartered in Arizona with studios nationwide, turned to Randy Stearman, owner of Arizona-based integrator Holocron LLC, to create a lighting and audio package that could be replicated at every location. Stearman chose the Connect Series amplifiers from LEA Professional to drive each workout.

“LEA is right in that sweet spot where we have the power requirements, the channel counts, and the super-efficient architecture,” said Stearman. “The ease of integration and flexibility of their a

Spain - Christie has announced the launch of the Sapphire 4K40-RGBH projector, which combines solid-state RGB pure laser illumination with a dual laser phosphor system, into a high-brightness hybrid RGB laser projector. With hybrid illumination, users have a projector that provides maximum flexibility. Sapphire is designed for any 2D application, front or rear projection, all active and passive 3D formats, and any screen type.

The Sapphire 4K40-RGBH delivers vibrant DCI-P3 colour, 36,400 lumens of brightness, native 4K clarity in 2D and 3D on all screen types, and front and rear projection. It also offers high frame rate options, from 4K at 120Hz to 2K resolution at 480Hz. 

“With its unique hybrid illumination architecture, the Sapphire 4K40-RGBH is a flexible solution for 2D and 3D front and rear projection applications,” says Larry Paul, execu

Spain - With the growing importance of ISE in recent years, GLP German Light Products has significantly expanded its presence at this year’s expo. Several new products – including one international and two European premieres – promise to cause a stir at stand 6R100.

The new Wild Bar 16 LED tilt bar, featuring 16 powerful 40W RGBL LEDs and IP65 protection, will receive its international premiere at ISE 2025. Developed for use in outdoor or dirt-intensive events, the device delivers sufficient power for show lighting in all areas of application, with a light output of 6,000 lumens, a motorised 190° tilt and a zoom range of 3.9° to 51°.

The new JDC Burst 1 is a robust, powerful LED strobe and wash light with IP65 protection, which ensures reliable performance in all weathers and adverse conditions. The device has a powerful white strobe line th

Denmark - SGM Lighting ApS has announced the appointment of Leif Orkelbog-Andresen as its new global sales director. With over 16 years of experience in sales and business development within the architectural lighting industry, Orkelbog-Andresen brings exceptional expertise and a deep understanding of market dynamics that will drive SGM’s ambitious global growth strategy, says the company.

Orkelbog-Andresen’s appointment comes at a defining time for SGM, following its acquisition by Golden Sea, a global leading lighting manufacturer. By combining Golden Sea’s manufacturing power with SGM's advanced R&D, testing, and production facilities in Denmark, the SGM brand and legacy are well positioned to deliver innovative lighting solutions tailored to the evolving demands of both the architectural and entertainment industries.

“We are thrilled

Europe - Follow-Me has announced the appointment of Henk-Jan Blok as technical applications specialist. With two decades of experience in the live production industry, Blok brings a wealth of knowledge in technical applications, systems engineering, and customer support to his new role.

Blok joins Follow-Me from his previous position as support and application specialist at ELC/Green-GO, where he provided advanced global support, training, and technical sales assistance. Prior to his tenure at ELC/Green-GO, Blok spent 12 years as a system engineer at Ampco-Flashlight Rental, contributing to high-profile projects such as the Eurovision Song Contest 2018, Pinkpop Festival, and Tiësto’s Elements of Life World Tour.

"I’m excited to be joining Follow-Me, a company that shares my passion for constantly improving the technici

Australia - A new bridge in Sydney has become a captivating landmark through the use of dynamic lighting, controlled by a system from lighting control specialists Pharos Architectural Controls.

The Sydney Gateway Twin Arch Bridge is a new and vital transport link, connecting the suburb of St Peters and surrounding areas with Sydney Airport. This has improved the connectivity and accessibility of the area, making it easier for those travelling to and from the airport.

While the bridge is providing an important function, it has become a visually stunning element of the built environment through the addition of colourful and dynamic lighting. This effect has been achieved with the specification of Coolon’s Spectrum RGBW IP, controlled by a number of solutions from Pharos.

The Pharos system is creating a mesmerising kaleidoscope of colours, dis

Canada - Designer Gil Perron lit the Luc Poirrier Ferrari collection and the Performance Zone at the Montreal International Auto Show, with 232 Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by LSM.

Valued at over $61m, the Ferrari collection featured some 35 vehicles, dating back to 1962 up to the present, including the Monza SP2, the LaFerrari Aperta, and the Enzo, as well as models like the 296 GTS, SF90 Spider, and F8 Spider. Lighting these was not without its challenges.

"Having cars ranging from shiny canary yellow to satin anthracite black right next to each other required some adjustment in actual physical positions of instruments," said Perron, who credits his programmer Helene St-Pierre with helping him meet this challenge. "Helene showed extreme patience, as I can be a bit obsessive when it comes to focus and colour balances! All in all, this invo

USA - At the 23rd Annual Parnelli Awards during NAMM 2025, Bandit Lites was awarded Lighting Company of the Year. Bandit chair and founder, Michael T. Strickland, accepted the honour with client representative Mike Stanley joining him on stage.

“Bandit is humbled to again receive this award,” said Strickland. “The Parnellis are indeed the Oscars of the live event industry. Bandit people make the difference, and we work every day to be the best version of ourselves possible. We dedicate this to the late Kent Shafferman, who we lost last week.”

Bandit Lites has been nominated every year since the awards’ inaugural event. Globally, Bandit has now earned 31 Lighting Company of the Year honours since 1993.

“Bandit always puts people first, and that is our key to success,” finished Strickland. “We kept every single employee fully pa

Spain - The Robe Group and all its businesses will be at ISE 2025 in Barcelona next week, on booth P100 in Hall 6 (Lighting & Staging).

Robe will launch two new products, the iStrobe and iEsprite LTL WashBeam, underlining the growing influence and importance of this trade show for the rental, staging and live events sectors.

Several other new products being showcased will include the just launched iForte Fresnel, the Painte Fresnel, the Svopatt and the SVB1.

For the first time at ISE, Robe presents an eye-catching live performance expo-special show. The Robe booth will feature a stage, and in between the live shows, fully choreographed and time-coded VOG (Voice of God) product presentations will take place throughout all four days of the expo.

The Robe Group’s businesses – architectural and LED lighting brand Anolis,

France - Tracking startup Naostage is growing its presence in Europe with the addition of four new distributors. These strategic partnerships in Poland, Spain, as well as the Benelux and Scandinavia regions serve the demand for expanding need for Naostage’s K System beaconless, live 3D tracking solution.

Operating through its subsidiaries in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland, Arva Audio is representing Naostage in Scandinavia. Lars Baun Frederiksen, CEO of Alfa Audio A/S in Denmark, daughter company to Swedish Arva Trading, sees Naostage as an essential addition to the company’s portfolio: “Tracking technology is becoming increasingly important in pro audio, and Naostage is a perfect match for the immersive solutions we provide.”

Headquartered in Gdańsk, Lauda Central has over time evolved into a cross-border sales and marketing platform d

Europe - German rapper and pop singer Cro took fans on a musical journey through his career, spanning more than a decade, when he played 11 dates in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on his Cronicles Tour 2024 supported by Claypaky Sharpy X Frame and Skylos lighting fixtures.

Creative director Clemens Hofbauer aimed to build a show within a very modern and contemporary world, versatile enough to support a narrative that took the audience from the artist’s past through the present and into his future. Hofbauer also provided production design and video content for the tour. Satis&Fy was the lighting and set vendor.

Lighting designer Roland Greil of 360º Collective selected 67 versatile Claypaky Sharpy X Frames and 20 Skylos laser-source beam fixtures, to illuminate the artist and the very minimalistic and contemporary stage architecture

USA - This past holiday season, lighting design group Lightswitch and production house Upstaging collaborated on a new lighting experience at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Impressed by the magical lighting Lightswitch had created for Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois – one of the nation’s most cherished light displays which has featured Elation lighting since 2016 – Meijer Gardens sought the same level of quality and entrusted Lightswitch to design something spectacular for their space.

The creative team delivered an art and nature-inspired display of experiences, many of them interactive, that delighted visitors from 27 November to 4 January. Creative direction, lighting design, and programming were all spearheaded by Lightswitch, with Upstaging providing

Spain - Wireless LED lighting specialist Astera has positioned its booth – P300 in Hall 6 – at the ISE expo in Barcelona, right at the heart of the rental and staging section to capitalise on the crossover worlds of live shows and events and film/broadcast production.

The stand is designed to riff with the official QuikSpot product video, filmed at a castle in Slovenia, and this new product – launched December 2024 – will be a major focus for Astera at the show.

QuikSpot is a flexible battery-powered LED lighting fixture designed to meet the demands of fast-paced environments for events and media productions, combining ease of use, accurate performance, and rapid setup for professionals who value efficient and versatile solutions in a compact format.

This zoomable, single-source spotlight draws inspiration from the efficient workflow

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