Spain - More often viewed as a summer holiday destination, the Canary Islands are also an exciting place to spend the Christmas holidays. The winter festivities began on 29 November 2018 with a spectacle, filled with light and colour, in the form of a show lit by lighting designer Jonay Díaz and produced by Las Palmas-based L.F. Sound S.L. Las Palmas, capital city of Gran Canaria, shone resplendently with an opening party of song and dance in which Ayrton Ghibli LED spot luminaires stood out as the main fixture, delivering bright colours and textures to complement the many different musical acts. Under the control of lighting designer Jonay Díaz, and with the production by L.F. Sound S.L, a significant number of Ghibli fixtures were used to project large gobo images onto the facade of the historic Casas Consistoriales building which was used as a backdrop for artist
UK - Pinewood MBS Lighting delivered LED support to gaffer Martin Smith on the new Michael Bay action adventure, 6 Underground. Filmed with cinematographer Bojan Bazelli, principal photography has wrapped on 6 Underground having taken the crew across a number of international locations, including multiple sets in Italy and the United Arab Emirates. Speaking about lighting the project, Martin Smith says: “For 6 Underground we had terrific support from the production’s lighting equipment provider, Panalight. We also had additional assistance from the team at Pinewood MBS Lighting, particularly with the Chroma-Q Brute Force and the huge amount of control equipment that we used throughout the shoot.” Having discussed the project with the gaffer, PMBS invested in a fresh batch of Brute Force fixtures, built specifically for the production.
Germany - Marc Lorenz of Licht-Pixel is a freelance lighting and visuals designer, programmer and operator based in Munich, who works globally on a host of international projects with leading artists. Licht-Pixel owns an amount of specialist equipment related to lighting and visuals control, including a range of popular media servers - Catalyst, Resolume and Modul 8, and the full range of Hog 4 consoles. Lorenz has recently invested in four full Robe RoboSpot remote followspotting systems, BaseStations and MotionCameras. “With this number of RoboSpots I can immediately service medium and even larger events optimally,” explains Lorenz. Licht-Pixel’s RoboSpots are run over fibre systems based on Neutrik opticalCON quad to make cabling easy, including Luminex-based networking devices. The systems have just been out on tour with German pop band PUR and will be
Australia - Wireless LED lighting manufacturer Astera LED has announced the ULA Group as its exclusive Australian and New Zealand distributor. Established in 1992, the ULA Group is one of Australia and New Zealand’s best known professional lighting and visual solution providers, supplying a wide range of architecture, entertainment and digital LED solutions. Sebastian Bückle, Astera’s sales and marketing director, comments: “I see huge potential in the Australian and New Zealand markets, which are highly developed, innovative in approach and growing fast, so we sought a partner that is progressive in thinking and approach with a great reputation for quality and well connected with a diverse and interesting client base. ULA Group ticked all the boxes! They have a huge energy and are highly motivated to push Astera products to the top across multiple markets.”
Europe - MDG reports that Nicolas Duhamel has returned to the company full-time to become its marketing and European business development director. Duhamel, who worked MDG’s marketing manager part-time, will now be responsible for the company’s marketing activities globally and be the central point of call for European distributors whilst seeking out new opportunities to develop the brand across Europe. Duhamel had previously spent two years at MDG, overseeing the overhaul of its marketing resources including the creation of a new website. After returning to his native France in 2016 to take up a position in event management, he has now returned to MDG full-time. "Nicolas never left us completely as he continued to look after our marketing part-time, so we are delighted to welcome him back to the MDG family full time,” says MDG president & CEO, Martin Michaud
USA - The new COLORado Solo Batten from Chauvet Professional made its world premiere on the Times Square Midnight Countdown Stage of the ABC Network’s Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve programme. The bright, IP65-rated fixture creates a uniformly homogenised wash, giving it the appearance of being a single bar of light with no pixels or “round eyes” visible, and no dark corners. This even look can add a distinctive aesthetic touch to any design, particularly in broadcast and theatrical applications, says the company. “This is a light that addresses a need that our customers have expressed for a batten that creates an edge-to-edge single bar of light,” says Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “Designers tell us they’re excited, because this will allow them to create a whole range of new looks.” Featuring 144 LEDs, the linear fixture has 12 equ
USA - Ahead of last week’s NAMM Show in Anaheim, the ADJ group of companies opened its LA-based global headquarters for a dealer event on 23 January. With lighting and sound demos, hands-on product training as well as a free lunch, the event offered ADJ customers an exclusive preview of the new products to be launched at NAMM and also allowed the company to show appreciation to its hard-working in-house staff and on-the-road sales team. Visitors had the opportunity to see seven new ADJ products before they were officially unveiled at NAMM as well as receive an introduction to ADJ Group’s recently acquired Eliminator Lighing series. An audio demo space was also setup to allow customers to hear the brand new Avante Audio AS8 compact column speaker system and the innovative new Imperio versatile mini array system. A new lightshow was also unveiled at the company’s
UK - The West Country waved goodbye to 2018 with the Train of Lights light installation. The Train of Lights was in fact a fully-functioning steam train, filled and decorated with different types of lighting, including the Spectra exterior fixtures from LEDJ, supplied through PL1 Events. After creating and designing the Christmas lighting at Saltram Enchanted Gardens in 2017, Plymouth-based PL1 Events was chosen to decorate the Christmas train. Not only did the company illuminate a moving train, but it also designed the lighting for the stations and along the rail track for the journey, which commenced at Churston and finished almost seven miles away in Dartmouth, before making the return journey. With many different types of lighting utilised throughout, the LEDJ Spectra Par series played a key role - 160 Spectra pars and floods were rigged
UK - The Chemical Brothers’ autumn arena tour of the UK, Europe, and Mexico featured a set design including 93 Solaris Flares from the tour’s lighting provider Lite Alternative, with help from Dry Hire Lighting. With more than enough lumens for any continent, the tour will continue in the US this year. Show designers Adam Smith and Marcus Lyall created an immersive visual experience for the synth duo, where “the visuals become the lead singer”. "Strobes are an integral part of Chemical Brothers’ shows,” explains Smith. “For the 2018-19 shows we created a wall of them. Using Flares allowed us the flexibility to strobe into the audience, but also to saturate them in light as musically appropriate. Their incredible brightness and colours, plus their multi-use capabilities and reaction time, are what made us choose them." Lyall adds: “For arena shows
USA - Obsidian Control Systems is showcasing the newest control product under the ONYX lighting control platform at NAMM in Anaheim. The show will offer a first look and hands-on demo of the NX 4, which will also be shown at ISE in Amsterdam next month. The NX 4 is equipped with a range of professional features and using the latest in industrial components, the NX 4 is designed to handle even the largest show with ease. With a well-arranged combination of motorised and manual faders, as well as an array of playback buttons, the NX 4 offers 44 total playbacks in a compact yet extremely powerful package. The NX 4 includes a high-brightness, 15.6”, full-HD multi-touch screen with support for two external 4K touch displays. Eight assignable parameter encoders, a dedicated Intensity encoder, an assistive mini-touch screen, full keypad and command section, and a dedicated
UK - Eaton’s Zero 88 has reported hit the magic number of ‘88’ in terms of countries to which the ZerOS lighting control products have been supplied. The first award-winning FLX console was launched in autumn 2015. Sales rose steadily throughout 2016. Since 2017, especially following the launch of the FLX S range, sales have increased dramatically via a carefully selected worldwide distribution network. Business for the FLX range initially took off in the UK and Europe, according to Tyler Holpin, UK key accounts & international sales manager for the Cwmbran based manufacturer. However, the hot countries for FLX sales during 2018 were Japan and Australia. Other places doing well and growing fast are South Africa, the Middle East, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and India, and the global reach of the brand and the FLX range in particular has resulted in signif
UK - Staged at Camden’s KOKO club the event was a double first - the artists first headline London show, plus the first broadcast by production company MelodyVR of a live concert in virtual reality. The broadcast was livestreamed internationally via the MelodyVR and as a live 360° Facebook event, giving fans the opportunity of a close up viewer experience of the intimate show by the ex-One Direction star. Lighting the performance, LD Stuart Pring enlisted the services of Version2 for the main rig, adding an array of additional effects provided by LED Creative. Utilising the LED specialist’s Pulse Wand fixtures, the LD created a linear installation that provided an extra depth of perspective to the stage which served to enhance the virtually reality effect. For added visual impact right throughout the 360° experience Sigma Pulse Wands were also used to form
UK - The ALD has launched a fundraising campaign “to adequately compensate” the team behind its Save Stage Lighting campaign. The fundraising campaign was launched at the ALD’s annual Lighting Lunch in December in support of the work of Rob Halliday, Robbie Butler and Paule Constable, who also received ALD lifetime memberships and a standing ovation from the attendees. The volunteer trio shouldered ‘unprecedented workload’ last year to highlight the dangers to the entertainment lighting industry posed by the EU’s proposed Ecodesign regulations, catapulting the issues on to the radars and priority lists of lighting professionals, manufacturers, producers, venue managements and politicians. The trio also pushed the #SaveStageLighting cause into the public eye via an online petition reco
Mexico - Mexico State-based technical production company Kona has invested in Robe MegaPointes and Spiiders. The company was founded in 2012 by Andres Marroquin, who previously ran PRG Mexico / Ocesa. The operation provides sound, lighting, video, rigging and staging for a diversity of events. The company’s Robe MegaPointes and Spiiders inventory currently stands at 26 of each and is set to increase soon, says Kona. Marroquin comments: “The market here in Mexico can be extremely volatile, so as a smaller company we need to think smart and be flexible.” He sees significant potential in the county, which he regards as ‘emerging’, being strategically located between two major oceans, a gateway to the economic powerhouse of Latin America and enjoying a lively healthy musical interchange with the US. “Mexico is in a unique position and our industry
USA - Elation Professional’s Anthony Velazquez and Shawn Butcher have assumed new roles as product specialists. Velazquez has been named Antari product specialist while Butcher has become control product specialist, responsible for Elation’s Obsidian Control Systems line of professional lighting control products. Velazquez has been with Elation for over four years and moves from a position in inside sales. Butcher has been with Elation for two and a half years as a lighting designer and programmer. “We are excited to promote from within our organisation both Shawn and Anthony, who have proven over the years to be strong team players, both with a passion for servicing our customers,” comments Elation sales and marketing director, Eric Loader. “Their focus and dedication on developing these product categories will be key to our growth plans for each bran
Italy - The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino hosted the return of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story 100 years after his birth. The Florentine edition was directed by Federico Bellone and produced by WEC (World Entertainment Company), thanks to an agreement with Music Theatre International (MTI). The book was newly adapted by Franco Travaglio, Jerome Robbins's original choreography was reproduced by Fabrizio Angelini, and the music was provided by the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino orchestra and choir conducted by Maestro Francesco Lanzillotta. Lighting designer Valerio Tiberi drew inspiration for his work "from the new adaptation and the atmosphere of the Upper West Side of New York in the mid-1950s. For this occasion, I requested and used the new Axcor Profile 600 from the Claypaky Axcor series for the first time in Italy." Two versions are available on the
Spain - Cuevas d’Arta in Mallorca is one of the Balearic Islands’ foremost visitor attractions - a series of underground caverns with spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations (one with a height of 22m). The guided tour comes with special effects and the various chambers are given Dantesque names: Hell, Purgatory, Paradise. The descent into Hell is swiftly followed by a light and sound display and in fact during the Summer season the caves are used for events and high society parties. It was with a view to improving the experience for tourists that the owners recently carried out an atmospheric lighting upgrade, turning to Sound Light Spain (SLS), who for the past five years have been the territorial distributor for PR Lighting. The company was recommended to the project by one of its customers, Balearics-based Deejaysgrup, directed by the company’s
USA - Bandit Lites team members gathered in Nashville for the company’s annual general meeting to mark the past year’s achievements and strategise for the upcoming year. The company awarded staff with significant anniversaries or those who have demonstrated excellence in service. In a special ceremony, Bandit chair Michael T. Strickland lauded Leonard Cox, the company’s first employee to retire. Cox served in the military prior to joining Bandit Lites 25 years ago and has proved invaluable to the company serving most recently as the director of logistics and safety. “Leonard came to Bandit in 1993 and has been a true friend and invaluable part of all things facility related,” said Strickland. “Leonard led us in many areas for 25 great years and we will sorely miss him. He is going to enjoy a much-deserved retirement! Thank you Leonard and have a bla
USA - An air of excitement permeates the 17,000-capacity Allstate Arena every night when the Chicago Wolves take to the ice. Not only are fans pumped up to see their talented young American Hockey League team defend its divisional title, they’re also energised by a new twist that the Wolves have added to their pregame player introductions in their 25th anniversary season. Providing a jolt of energy for fans and players alike before the puck drops is a dynamic, fast-moving lighting and pyro show that features Chauvet Professional Rogue fixtures, supplied by Performance Lighting Chicago. “My friend Mark Grega, owner of Strictly FX, called me to discuss adding a lighting effect to the pregame show that would energize the arena,” comments Performance Lighting’s president, Russell Armentrout, who designed the lighting display. “After a few discussions with Mark, i
South Africa - Sandton City Office Tower is one of the landmarks of this premium commercial and residential district of Johannesburg. Recently the building’s owners and operators Liberty Properties approached DWR’s architectural lighting and installations division and asked if they would propose a lighting scheme for its distinctive 40 x 40m pyramid shaped ‘cap’, which tops the 110m metre high, 22-storey skyscraper providing commercial office space. The client’s brief was simply for “colour changing” lights, so DWR’s Johnny Scholtz suggested several options for their consideration and the chosen scheme involves 84 Anolis LED fixtures. These are divided into 60 ArcLine Outdoor Optic 36 RGBs with 31° lenses, utilised for the side panels and base of the cap, and 24 x Divine 160 RGBWs, sixteen fitted with 41° lenses plus eight with 24° lenses to p
UK - Lighting and visuals rental specialist Colour Sound Experiment supplied lighting and LED screens for the recent tour by UK rockers You Me At Six, which promoted their latest album VI. The tour also celebrated 10 years since their first album Take Off Your Colours catapulted them to the top of the charts. Haydn Cruickshank (H) and the team at Colour Sound worked with Jamie Thompson from MIRRAD who co-designed set, lighting and video together with Dave Cohen, with Cohen directing lighting and visuals on the road. Thompson explains that the design brief was to create “something big, epic, memorable . . . and cost effective”. Additionally, the band wanted to play two completely different sets - one comprising music from the first album, and the second featuring songs from the latest one and the other four in between. So, the idea was that the show wo
Belgium - Lighting designer Wouter Verbeke chose Robe fixtures to be at the core of his lighting design for a high impact gig by Belgian band Arsenal at Antwerp’s famous Lotto Arena. With their roots in electric dance, the band now embrace a lively mix of genres from African and Latin American rhythms to pop, hip hop, and indie rock. They are midway through a campaign for their sixth studio album, The Rush of Shaking Shoulders which was launched earlier in the year with a gig in Antwerp’s Old Post Office venue. Wouter had used Robe on that occasion too, and for many other shows in between, so it was a natural choice for this show, with lighting equipment supplied by rental specialist Splendit. The Robe count included 28 MegaPointes, 24 Spikies, 28 Spiiders, 22 LEDBeam 150s and eight Pointes. The starting point for the lighting was that band leade
UK - White Light will be returning to London’s VAULT Festival once again this year to supply the complete lighting and rigging solutions. This will mark the seventh consecutive year that the company has worked on the Festival, having supported it from day one. Located inside the Waterloo tunnels, this year it will run from 23 January to 17 March, with more than 400 shows from over 2,000 artists. It features the best new writing in theatre and comedy along with immersive experiences, late night parties and much more. The event is produced by Mat Burt and Andy George of the Heritage Arts Company. Andy, who is also head of production, comments: “When we first started the festival back in 2012, we had no idea it would grow to become what it is today. We initially thought it would be a one-off yet the more people heard about it, the more who wanted to came along and ge
Sweden - Ayrton has announced Linnea Ljungmark as the latest addition to its expanding international sales team. Based in Sweden, Linnea will be responsible for Ayrton across the whole of Scandanavia, the Baltic and Benelux countries and the Iberian peninsula. Linnea brings to Ayrton a lifetime of experience in the industry, having spent the majority of her working life at Intersonic AB, the family-run distribution company founded by her father Per Olof Jlungmark in 1997. “I’ve worked with my father for as long as can remember, first in the office and at local trade shows, and later as general manager of the newly acquired lighting distribution company, One Two Sales,” Linnea says. During this time Linnea gained in-depth experience in the Scandinavian market and a long association with Ayrton through Intersonic’s distribution of the brand. “I have fond
