Lighting

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13 September 2024

Germany - Arri has announced the Arri SkyPanel S60 Pro. The latest addition to the SkyPanel family combines the benefits of the classic SkyPanel S60-C with innovative updates that service the needs of today’s professionals while delivering cost-performance and versatility.

To satisfy the increasing demands of production workflows, SkyPanel S60 Pro offers new and enhanced technical features. The digital twin, an exact replica of the luminaire in Unreal Engine, developed by Arri Solutions, offers “unparalleled customisation and control throughout the entire production chain”. This digital twin reduces workloads and improves efficiency in preproduction, on set, and in post-production by allowing crews to quickly synchronise real-world and virtual camera and lighting systems for live collaboration.

Enhanced serviceability is also featured with Clou

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12 September 2024

USA - Rob Koenig and his team are working with Metallica on the second North American leg of the band’s M72 World Tour.

Elevating the show on this tour “to a new, and even higher level of engagement” is an innovative production design by Dan Braun, supported by an equally original lighting design by Koenig that features 144 Chauvet Professional Color Strike M motorised strobe washes supplied by Premier Global Production.

The design’s 360-degree stage brings the band closer to the crowd and affords clear views from anywhere in the big stadium. Those views are also bold, as Koenig pours volumes of bright light on the stage, impressively without having any truss-mounted fixtures, except for a small number around the drum riser.

“This kind of stage was all part of Dan Braun’s vision for the tour from the start,” said Koenig

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12 September 2024

UK - First performed on Broadway in 1964, in a production which won 10 Tony Awards, Hello, Dolly! is the classic Jerry Herman musical about Dolly Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker who travels to New York to find a match for the miserly, unmarried Horace Vandergelder. It has been revived countless times over the years, having first arrived in the West End in 1965.

Now, almost 60 years on, a new production has recently opened at the London Palladium, directed by Dominic Cooke and starring Imelda Staunton. It also features a lighting design by the Olivier Award-winning Jon Clark who approached White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to supply his lighting rig.

This latest production of Hello, Dolly! has been several years in the making. Initially intended to open in July 2020, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has

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12 September 2024

UK - Avolites, a Robe business, chose this year’s PLASA Show to debut its new Diamond 7 (D7) console in the UK – the newest addition to the Avolites Diamond collection.

The two variants, the D7-330 and D7-215 received lots of attention across the show days from students and industry professionals. The console offers high-end performance that can travel anywhere you go.

Also making its debut at the PLASA Show was Prism One, the latest version of Avolites’ Prism media software (soon to be released) designed principally for lighting designers.

Key new features include an added preview window, cross fade on a layer, hardware decode acceleration for H.264/H.265, control over multiple banks and layers, live input and NDI input, as well as virtual return and region of interest on outputs.

All of these were demonstrated to an enthusiast

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11 September 2024

USA - The SC4 Fine Arts Theatre at St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan, faced an urgent need for a lighting upgrade due to an outdated system that had been in use for decades. Japheth Boivin, director of integration at Mercury Sound & Lighting, an AV solutions company that had previously installed a video streaming system and digital signage for the theatre, spearheaded the lighting design for the renovation and chose Elation KL and Fuze series luminaires.

“The main impetus for the project was that the previous system was failing on all fronts due to its age and obsolescence,” commented Boivin, who says that the previous mix of conventional PARs and ellipsoidals dated anywhere from the ‘60s to the ‘90s. “They wanted a technology upgrade to something more reliable, more capable, and more versatile.” 

The 300-sea

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11 September 2024

Spain - 50 minutes of total immersion – that is the aim of Lumina Catedral de Toledo. Since December 2023, visitors have been able to experience the multimedia production in the Gothic cathedral of Toledo in the centre of Spain. The main components are large-scale project mapping, precise surround sound, and a lighting design that makes the architecture of the cathedral appear even more impressive.

As the technical service provider, Meraki Cultura Audiovisual SL relied on a combination of LD Systems Curv 500 array systems for the sound and Cameo lights from the Zenit, Opus, and Evos series for the lighting of the temporary installation.

“Lumina Catedral de Toledo is a globally unique multimedia and cultural experience,” explains project director Alfonso López Rivera, managing director of Meraki Cultura Audiovisual SL. “The

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10 September 2024

Sweden - Hov1 (pronounced Hovet) is a Swedish hip hop group formed in 2015 with 26 top ten hits in the Swedish Singles Chart, 12 of which reached the top spot. The band is currently undertaking a tour of Sweden visiting the major cities of Gothenburg, Malmo and Stockholm. 

French-born but Sweden-based lighting designer, Jonathan Rikner, of NCOAB Productions chose Ayrton Rivale Profiles – the first ultra-equipped luminaire in Ayrton’s Ultimate Series – as a major part of his lighting rig, all of which was supplied by CT Sweden.

Rikner described the size of the venues for this tour and how he uses the Rivale Profiles in his design: “The venues throughout the tour were full with an average capacity of 9,500 people, and we looked forward to the highlight show in Stockholm on 31 August which played to 18,000 people.

“With throw distance

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10 September 2024

UK - Kiss Me, Kate has made a much-anticipated return to the London stage at the Barbican Theatre. Starring Adrian Dunbar and Broadway legend Stephanie J Block, the show tells the story of two fraught ex-lovers who may or may not still have feelings for each other and who are forced to work together on a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew.

Directed by Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher, this latest revival features a lighting design by the multi-award-winning Don Holder, who approached White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to supply his lighting rig.

Having originally been performed on Broadway back in 1948, Kiss Me, Kate first appeared in the West End in 1951 and has subsequently been revived countless times over the years. One of the most recent revivals was the Drama Desk Award-winning 2019 Broadway reviva

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10 September 2024

UAE - Creative Technology Middle East (CTME) is based in the UAE, KSA, and Qatar, and delivers technical design, planning and production for some of the most ambitious and dynamic live events and system integration projects in the region.

Creative Technology has been steadily investing in new Robe moving light fixtures over the last three years, including the recent purchases of 24 x Fortes, 80 x LEDBeam 350s and four RoboSpot BaseStations with Motion Cameras.

The latest purchases have happened since CTME’s head of lighting, Sam Connolly, started with CT three years ago, and were driven by him coupled with the company’s previous experience with Robe moving lights, including BMFLs.

However, the time had arrived to update these with newer technologies. Before joining the team at CTME, Connolly enjoyed 10 years working in the region on inter

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10 September 2024

UK - Event production company NL Productions has been awarded the contract opportunity to deliver Dundee’s Christmas Village for the next three years. This development promises to bring festive magic to the heart of the city, “offering a vibrant celebration that will engage the local community and attract visitors from far and wide”.

The contract will run for further years until Christmas 2026. Earlier this year Dundee City Council announced they were looking to partner with a professional event management company to run the festive attraction in December.

The Christmas Village will be designed to appeal to all ages, offering something for everyone. The centrepiece is a 10m x 20m real ice rink where visitors can glide into the festive season. The Christmas Market will showcase local traders and caterers, offering unique gifts and seasonal treat

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10 September 2024

UK - Australian manufacturer LSC Control Systems enjoyed a successful PLASA Show in London this year. The company showed its renowned solutions alongside its UK distributor, A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET), and also on the stand of its new owner (and headline PLASA Show sponsor) Robe lighting s.r.o.

“PLASA this year was a really positive experience,” said LSC’s founder and managing director, Gary Pritchard. “Being in two such high-profile locations allowed us to get the full benefit of the show’s top-quality visitor base. The level of interest in our products, and the awareness of their advantages, was very satisfying.”

As a leading specialist in data distribution, power and lighting control, LSC’s increasingly popular solutions offer advanced protections and monitoring capabilities, giving the benefits of safety, reliability an

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10 September 2024

Europe - Follow-Me has announced the appointment of Thijs Bruins as global sales manager. Bruins will oversee the Follow-Me global sales network, aligning existing partners, expanding the network to improve customer experience and providing a strong base for the company’s future growth.

“We are really happy Thijs is joining Follow-Me,” Marc van der Wel, managing director says. “He brings lots of technical and commercial knowledge, industry experience and enthusiasm to our growing company.”

Bruins has a wealth of technical expertise. Starting out at a young age as a lighting technician and continuing to juggle this freelance work and training, his early experience underpins his deep understanding of the live events, theatrical and AV industries.

After years of freelancing, Bruins moved on to the role of manager of special projects at

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09 September 2024

USA - Texas-based rental and event production solutions company LD Systems has invested in 32 new Robe iForte LTX moving lights, purchased specifically to pair with their existing 14 RoboSpot remote follow spotting control systems.

“The iForte LTX is a proper ‘Swiss Army knife of fixtures’ – highly versatile and very robust,” commented LD Systems’ lighting operations manager, Nathan Brittain.

The company already has substantial quantities of other Robe products – Pointes, MegaPointes and Spikies – in its rental inventory which are in constant use on touring, concert, and festival systems as well as special events, spectaculars and one-offs, plus the RoboSpot Systems which up to this point had been working with BMFL LT fixtures.

Brittain explains that they were looking for an IP-rated high-powered moving light, especially for t

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09 September 2024

USA - Production/lighting designer Rob Sinclair is using Elation Proteus Maximus LED Profile lighting fixtures to support country star Zach Bryan on his ongoing Quittin’ Time tour. Playing North American dates in support of his fifth studio album, The Great American Bar Scene, which was released in July, the Proteus Maximus has been instrumental in supporting Bryan’s live performances in the challenging conditions of outdoor stadiums.

The Quittin’ Time tour marks a significant milestone in Zach Bryan’s career. His rise to country music stardom has been meteoric, and his production has grown alongside him. The artist took a big step last year when Rob Sinclair came on board as lighting designer as the production grew from a bus and a trailer to playing arenas in-the-round to now sold-out stadium shows.

Sinclair has h

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09 September 2024

UK - At the PLASA Show 2024, Highlite showcased a wide range of products from several of its brands including Infinity, Showtec and DAP. The range included some of Highlite’s most popular products as well as some impressive new offerings.

New additions to the Infinity Raccoon range included the Raccoon S420/4 strobe with over 70,000 lumens strobe power, Raccoon W40/4 wash with over 41,000 lumens RGBW wash light, Raccoon P7/7 high-end par with 7 RGBCALDB LEDs, Raccoon Junior P4/7 high-end par with 4 RGBCALDB LEDs and Raccoon Junior P7/4 high-end par with 7 RGBM LEDs.

Showtec's new products included the Titan Strobe Flex FX and the Octostrip Flex Set - 1 m. The Showtec Titan Strobe Flex FX is a set of eight high-power LED strobes and a dedicated controller, each pod containing a powerful 100W cold white COB strobe LED and a ring of 12 individually co

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09 September 2024

The Netherlands – “Delivering innovation and connecting communities” is a rallying cry for IBC 2024 on the show’s website. The Chauvet family of brands – Kino Flo, ChamSys and Chauvet Professional – will be embracing this concept at the convention by showcasing a selection of products developed around the company’s goal to “reach across worlds and see the physical and digital converge.”

Among the first things visitors will encounter at the booth is the special demo area created to showcase the multi-award-winning Kino Flo Mimik image-based video lighting tile. Using patented technology to connect ‘worlds’, Mimik projects light that mirrors video content while applying a higher tonal and colour rendering range.

With its capacity to translate incoming RGB video signals into five individual colour emitters, Mimik generates synchron

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06 September 2024

Europe - Goldensea has announced that it has agreed to acquire the business of SGM Light AS, and that SGM is now under the ownership of Goldensea. In the coming days SGM will restart trading under a new legal entity, retaining the SGM name.

Established in Italy in 1975, and now located in Aarhus, Denmark, SGM is a well-respected lighting manufacturer pioneering the use of IP65 moving lights before, more recently, focusing on architectural lighting. Both these aspects create strong synergies with Goldensea, which is investing heavily in both entertainment and architectural IP65 solid state lighting products.

SGM has always focused on technological innovation, being one of the first in the industry to launch all-weather waterproof moving head fixtures. It has experienced R&D, creative, operations and sales teams alongside mature sales channels and

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06 September 2024

UK - Following a “resounding success and sell-out event” in Bristol earlier this year, Stage Electrics has announced that their showcase is hitting the road. The first destination is Brighton, promising an opportunity for people interested in entertainment technology to connect, explore, and experience the newest products from leading brands.

On confirming the next Showcase location, Dave Coull, Group CEO, said: "We are excited to bring the Stage Electrics Showcase to Brighton. This is a chance to connect with our valued customers and demonstrate many of the market-leading products and services we provide.

“But the Showcase isn't just about the latest technology; it's about building relationships, sharing knowledge, and helping our clients find the right solutions for their performance spaces and venues. Showcasing the innovation and expertise

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06 September 2024

Italy - In the summer of 2024, Italian musicians Francesco Renga and Filippo Neviani, known as Nek, embarked on a tour that celebrated the best of their extensive discographies. This highly anticipated tour, aptly named Renganek Live 2024, blended Renga’s soulful rock with Nek’s dynamic pop-rock, offering audiences a musical experience grounded in a shared rock matrix.

Designed with flexibility and sustainability in mind, the tour utilises a semi-production setup that integrates essential aspects of a full-scale production with a more efficient and simplified approach. This combination ensures smooth execution across numerous tour dates, while also providing the adaptability to address the unique challenges and opportunities of each venue.

At the heart of the tour’s lighting setup is a sophisticated control system managed by renowned l

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06 September 2024

France - Since 2024, visitors to the Cité Immersive Viking in Rouen have been able to delve into the fascinating world of the Vikings. The multimedia exhibition retraces the Viking invasion of Normandy in the ninth and tenth centuries and brings the culture and history of the region to life in a multimedia and immersive way.

The organisers behind the exhibition have commissioned a specialist for the technical planning and implementation: the event technology service provider Novelty. Mathieu Cabanes was responsible for the lighting design of the various exhibition rooms. The French lighting designer originally comes from the world of opera, but has also made a name for himself with major corporate and sporting events. In the Cité Immersive exhibition, Cabanes relies on the versatile LED bars from the Cameo Pixbar G2 series and the RGBW PAR spots from the Q

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05 September 2024

USA - For this year’s Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama, production company TMS chose to go with the proven IP protection of Elation’s Proteus line of multi-environmental luminaires for the Shoreline Stage. With summer heat, frequent thunderstorms and a windy salt-spray setting to deal with, TMS sought the robust durability and weather-resistant performance of the established line of IP-rated luminaires.

Held 17-19 May on the white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, with production management provided by Lambda Productions, the annual three-day music festival serves as the kick-off to summer with both established artists and emerging talent playing on five different stages. The event is produced by AEG/Hangout Music Fest.

TMS has handled lighting production for the festival for many years and this year chose a nearly all Elation Proteus rig for the

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05 September 2024

USA - The annual three-day Northern Nights Music Festival takes place in and around the Cooks Valley Campgrounds in Piercy, CA.

Adding to the atmosphere this year was a new lighting rig designed by Brian Willison that featured 160 Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied by 4Wall Entertainment. Included in this mix were 22 Maverick Force S Spots, 12 Maverick Storm 2 BeamWashes, 32 Color Strike M motorised strobe-washes, 14 Rogue R1 FXB units, 62 Colorado 1QS RGBW wash lights, six Rogue R1 Washes, and 12 Colorado PXL 16 motorised battens.

The colour rendering prowess and intense output of these fixtures were used to create a variety of deeply evocative looks that contributed to the transformative vibe of Northern Nights. When designing the rig, Willison strove to create a harmonious balance between the lights and the 31.3’ by 18.8’ video wall.

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05 September 2024

USA - Based in San Diego, California, turnkey production design studio and rental company Maktive says it is “dedicated to bringing the GLP fixture experience to the masses”.

The company has been quick to back up this pledge by ordering large quantities of the German company’s latest generation of IP65-rated fixtures, all on the advanced X5 platform.

When it “blind purchased” 150 of the new JDC2 IPs after seeing prototypes at the LDI booth last November, it became its single largest investment in one type of fixture. And by then it had already bought 100 each of the impression X5 IP Bar 1000 and Fusion by GLP Exo Beam 10s, as well as 50 of the new impression X5 IP Maxx.

The IP fixtures already serve the company well in all elements, as they travel coast-to-coast during the outdoor event season. But Bryan McClanahan, who set up the p

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04 September 2024

South Africa - Production designer Wilhelm Disbergen has completed an array of video-focused shows across his home country, utilising tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers to transform the look and feel of each piece.

Disbergen – who has served as video and production designer for dance and ballet, musicals, opera, theatre and corporate projects – focused on two of Johannesburg’s National School of the Arts (NSA) productions recently, using Hippotizer Media Servers on both to raise the bar on visual design.

One of these was Project 24, which invited audiences to experience a new generation of emerging choreographers from the school to showcase new choreography. During the production, the students gave shape and form to abstract concepts and ideas as they offered a unique perspective and window into the mindset of young