Germany - Follow-Me has announced its distribution agreement with A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) Ltd, who will demonstrate the remote follow spot control system at Prolight+Sound 2018 this week. Follow-Me is a network-based software package that allows the user to harness multiple moving lights from any manufacturer in any orientation to follow multiple targets or performers. Independent and flexible, the system requires no sensors, belt-packs or proprietary hardware, and provides seamless fixture takeover with any lighting console. The Follow-Me product line offers both creative and commercial benefits over traditional Front of House or truss mounted follow spots. Creatively these include freedom in lamp positioning; multiple fixtures following a single performer, improved follow spot angles; and consistent timing for cues. From a production perspective, oper
The Knight of Illumination Awards (KOI) committee has announced that the inaugural Knight of Illumination Awards USA (KOI-USA) will launch this year, culminating with a ceremony in Las Vegas on 20 October, timed to coincide with the LDI show. The competition, known for celebrating the work of lighting and video designers, will be co-produced by Informa, producers of America's leading event for lighting designers, the LDI show, and The Fifth Estate, specialist content creators and long-time managers of the KOI Awards in the UK. "We are thrilled to bring such high-quality awards ceremony to LDI," says David Johnson, managing director of LDI. "The KOI Awards are well-known throughout the industry as a reputable, high-class affair, and its special focus of honouring design work aligns perfectly with the goals of the Live Design franchise to raise awareness about this very specia
The Netherlands - Don’t Let Daddy Know (DLDK) is one of the biggest international EDM parties taking its Ibiza roots and transitioning into a worldwide dance phenomenon known for spectacular production values. The 2018 Amsterdam edition, produced by Dutch7, returned to the renowned Ziggo Dome for two nights, for the first time with creative lighting designed by Bas Knappers from Netherlands based creative practice, Live Legends. Live Legends has previously provided programming and operating teams for the event and in the design ‘hot seat’ Bas specified 122 x Robe Pointes and 40 x MegaPointes as part of a large lighting rig? supplied by Rent-All together with video and sound. An all-star line-up included Axwell Λ Ingrosso, Steve Angello, Nervo, Nicky Romero, Timmy Trumpet, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Headhunterz, Wildstylez and much more superlative music.
Germany - TMB and Company NA will once again partner this year at Prolight + Sound, Frankfurt, bringing a blend of fellowship with innovative, high-performance technology. Now a tradition at select Messe Frankfurt shows, Solaris Flare IP HD outdoor LED fixtures can be seen lighting the Grandhotel Hessischer Hof, opposite the Messe main entrance, every night during the show. HD Single-head and HR dual-head versions of Flare IP are available for a variety of architectural applications and can be seen up close at the show stand. This year TMB introduces the ProPlex IQ Tester, the FIRST Ethernet tester for entertainment production. Inspired by input from top production and staging professionals, the IQ Tester is a true “all in one” device, and a watershed addition to the ProPlex range of Data Distribution Devices. Several additional new products can be seen, inc
Australia - When Ben Hunt, head of lighting at the Empire Theatres, Toowoomba, in Queensland first fired up their new Robert Juliat Dalis LED cyclorama lights, his first impression was “finally we’ve found something up to the task”. “It’s no secret that to light a cyclorama with conventional asymmetrical floods is going to require some serious power along with its consumable lamps and colour filters – especially when you’re lighting a 14m by 9m cloth,” commented Ben. “That task had been dealt with by sixteen, four cell Selecon Aurora cyc floods and you could hear the power meter groan every time we flicked the switch on!” Ben added that the theatre had been looking at the LED cyclorama light market intently for the last few years waiting for the right product to pop up that would allow them to light their cyclorama with a quality light, but also giv
Portugal - Portuguese National Broadcaster RTP, in a joint initiative with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), selected the combination Ampco Flashlight and local Portuguese partner Pixel Light as supplier for lighting, rigging and motion for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon. The combination of Ampco Flashlight’s international experience and local Pixel Light’s professional knowledge proved a winning team for one of the most demanding and popular live TV shows in the world, with a live TV audience of over 200 million. Dennis van der Haagen, CCO/COO Ampco Flashlight Rental comments, “For years we have been the supplier of motion systems through our CyberMotion technology. The experience we have with this production and our international acclaimed status as a full-service company convinced us that we should apply for the lighting and rigging packa
Germany - The Chauvet Professional Maverick, STRIKE and COLORado series of fixtures have earned widespread praise as well as a large following in recent years, thanks to their high output, brightness and reliable performance. Now the company is “taking these popular series to the next level” by introducing products at Prolight + Sound that “open even more creative possibilities for lighting designers”. Visitors to the Chauvet stand will get a first- hand look at the new Maverick Storm 1 Wash, an IP65-rated LED moving fixture; the STRIKE P38, an IP65-rated compact warm white LED blinder/strobe; and the COLORado Solo Batten, an IP65 RGBAW LED batten that produces a seamless and unique edge-to-edge homogenized appearance without visible round “eyes” or pixels. “The new fixtures allow us to offer more versatility in three very important series of products t
South Africa - Vectorworks Trainer Francois van der Merwe presented Basic to Advanced training from 12 to 16 March 2018 at DWR Distribution in Johannesburg. As a respected lighting designer and a seasoned Vectorworks user, van der Merwe’s main concern was to assist delegates in increasing their workflow. Van der Merwe has presented training at DWR, distributors of Vectorworks in South Africa, since 2012. “The programme for every course is unique, and we go through all the changes, updates and added features of the software,” he says. “Vectorworks has been the platform to work on, and in my view, the best choice for our industry.” With many users relying on tutorials that are focused on architecture, van der Merwe instead demonstrates how to approach a show which is a very different process to how an architect would tackle a building. “Over the years,
UK - PLASA Focus Leeds is bringing the world’s latest entertainment technology to the North of England on 1-2 May at the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds. Visitors can expect new releases from top brands, an array of immersive workshops, and leading-edge seminars covering lighting, live sound, rigging, AV and staging. The show is the perfect place to see brand new products for the first time in the UK, including the highly anticipated grandMA3 lighting console. Visitors will also see Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision Series, Vari-Lite’s VL2600 range, Sennheiser’s Wireless G4 System and Robe’s MegaPointe. The seminar programme serves many different tribes, from immersive audio and theatre refurbishment, to festival lighting and set design software. There is something for everyone at the industry leading show. The reinvention of the Chester Storyh
Germany - Chamsys will launch its QuickQ series of consoles at Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt. Designed to put more powerful lighting control in the hands of students, theatre/house of worship volunteers, and programmers, regardless of experience level or budget, the console is suitable for smaller-scale shows. Available in three models, the QuickQ range features an intuitive interface and a conveniently large 9.7” touchscreen. Helpful prompts and videos accelerate the learning process, making it easy even for inexperienced users to set up, program and operate the console. Among the console’s user-friendly features are easy-to-understand buttons and faders, simple colour selection menu, readily accessible intensity control tools, and fingertip-controlled zooming and scrolling. The three models in the QuickQ series are: QuickQ 10 - supports one universe,
USA - When singer-songwriter Cole Swindell announced plans for his 2018 headlining tour, it was easily his largest to date. Swindell has continued to grow both as an artist and as a touring phenomenon. Looking to now build a high-energy, yet intimate storytelling experience for his first arena headlining tour, Swindell’s production team once again teamed up with the Nashville-based production provider Elite Multimedia for lighting, LED video, and live IMAG video support. “We have done headlining tours before, but nothing on this scale with our own opening acts for an extended arena tour run,” began production designer James ‘Mo’ Butts. “As an artist, Cole will give us broad stroke ideas, but then will leave a lot of the technical aspects up to us to sculpt into the final design. Going into this tour design, we really wanted to showcase Cole’s evolution as an a
UK - Edinburgh based lighting, sound and AV company, Black Light, continues its relationship with ETC by acquiring 26 High End Systems SolaFrame 750s to their already impressive hire stock. Calder Sibbald, head of hire & production at Black Light says: “Black Light has been looking for the next addition to our ever expanding moving light stock and eager to see what High End Systems could bring to our strong relationship with ETC. We were blown away with the demo from Jeremy Roberts from ETC, with its high output, smooth operation and excellent price point - it was the perfect unit for us to add to our fleet of moving light.” The SolaFrame 750s are the smallest and newest LED framing fixture in the Sola Series family of automated tools. Designed for use in small to medium sized venues, the SolaFrame 750 features a compact footprint but with a massive feature se
Sweden - Niklas Pohlman is a freelance lighting designer based in Sweden’s two largest cities, Stockholm and Gothenburg. He focuses on lighting artworks and fine art installations. Recently, he specified Anolis ArcSource 4 MCs LED fixtures to illuminate Do You Go Here Often?, three striking pillars wrapped with a bronze fabric effect created by sculptor Yvonne Thornqvist outside the Göteborgs Stadsbibliotek (Gothenburg City Library). The bronze treatment is actually a wrap of the pavement-to-first floor level sections of three concrete structural pillars running through the front of the building, which is one of the busiest public facilities in the city. Fulfilling many roles, the library is a hub for literary vibrancy and learning, a meeting place and a lively community and social space. The work was commissioned by HIGAB a community-based provider of
UK - The record-breaking production of Shrek the Musical has exploded back onto the stage this year on a second UK & Ireland tour and Hawthorn has joined the adventure. With lighting equipment supplied to meet the design of leading lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, Hawthorn invested in Martin MAC Viper Performances and MAC Aura XB fixtures to meet the requirements of the Shrek tour and many others, expanding its lighting inventory as part of its ongoing programme of investment in new equipment. The rig was further made up of MAC Viper Wash DXs and ETC LUSTR2 Profiles. Utilising Chroma-Q Color Force 72 Battens, Hawthorn offered an updated Cyc lighting solution, removing the need of the older, heavy ETC Par battens. Hawthorn also supplied smoke effects and two Robert Juliat Cyrano Followspots to complete the design. All this was controlled off a GrandaMA2 netw
UK - It is with great sadness that we report that Barry Bartlett died on Good Friday, 30 March after a year-long struggle with cancer. He died peacefully surrounded by his family. Britannia Row Productions, where Barry worked for many years, issued the following tribute. Barry had been a freelance sound engineer all his working life and had worked as such for Britannia Row Productions for many years. In 2012 he became the course director for Britannia Row Productions Training, a post he held until his passing on Friday. At the end of 2017, Barry also took up the part-time post of training manager for Britannia Row Productions. Britannia Row said in a statement: "Barry was driven by a few key passions. He was passionate about music in all its forms and in its history, live audio, passing on his vast knowledge to others through his course writing and editing and tutoring
UK - The Association of Lighting Designers (ALD) has launched #SaveStageLighting campaign to seek an exepmtion for stage lighting from the EU’s proposed Ecodesign Working Plan 2016-2019, which would require all light sources across venues and theatres in the EU to meet a notional efficiency target. The organisation says in a statement: “The #SaveStageLighting Campaign must demonstrate to the EU Energy Directorate the widest possible cultural opposition to these proposals. Theatrical performances rely on theatrical lighting - it is the glue that binds every aspect of a performance together. Theatre lighting relies on having the right tools available to create just the right effect at just the right moment. “A successful outcome to the #SaveStageLighting campaign is essential to secure exemption for stage lighting from these proposals. The consequences of failure w
USA - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) is out on the road with a lighting package provided by Bandit Lites. The British electronic music band, comprised of Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper and Stuart Kershaw, has been a staple in the synthpop scene even nearly 40 years after their debut performance in Liverpool. With 13 albums under their belts including the most recent release, The Punishment of Luxury, the OMD (so named to refute any potential punk band assumptions) has offered their insight on society ranging from the relationship of man and machine to a commentary on modernism. And with a decidedly contemporary sound, it is only fitting the lighting complement the music while keeping focus on the band. Bandit Lites supplied Showline Nitro 510C LED Strobes, Elation Paladin Strobes and Clay Paky Sharpys for the tour where lighting designer
USA - 2018’s Monster Energy Outbreak Tour is on the road with DJ Kayzo headlining and a full complement of new Elation Professional lighting fixtures hyping the rhythms of one of dance music’s newest and most sought after EDM DJ’s. Outbreak tours showcase emerging artists on their breakout tours and are an opportunity for young talent to get exposure. After DJ Kayzo released his debut album Overload on 19 January, he hit the road on the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour, his first national tour. Production includes a light show from Pin Point Lighting featuring some of Elation Professional’s newest luminaires - DARTZ 360 LED beam/spot fixtures, Paladin hybrid LED lights and Chorus Line 16 LED pixel bar wash luminaires. Production specialists Pin Point Lighting of Philadelphia provided the lighting rig and design for the show. “The artist wan
UK - Over 700 international television buyers from across the globe recently headed to ACC Liverpool for BBC Worldwide Showcase, the world’s largest international television market hosted by a single distributor. Taking place on 18-21 February, the event brought together producers, talent and BBC executives as well as Britain’s most successful creatives. For the 12th year running, creative technical event production expert Hawthorn supported BBC Worldwide to showcase its premium programmes, delivering two hotly-anticipated evening events. Putting premium British content right at the centre of the global stage, the evening events showcased the best of BBC talent and creativity to an audience of TV executives and producers. Led by the BBC Worldwide team, Hawthorn’s group creative director Peter Harding helped to produce and deliver the production design
UK - Bristol-based lighting and video rental specialist Fineline was the LED screen supplier for the 2018 Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) shows at the Royal Albert Hall, which has seen another series of show-stopping performances and collaborations which help raise awareness and funds for the charity. This year’s line-up included Kasabian, The Courteeners, Def Leppard, Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue from UB40 who appeared as a trio, Nile Rogers and Chic, comedy from Russell Howard as well as The Who’s Roger Daltry, who has been instrumental in driving the annual RAH concert week since it started in 2000. This year he curated an evening of special guests including Muse frontman Matt Bellamy leading a super group including Graham Coxon who performed some of the Beatles’ greatest hits. Says Fineline’s Rob Sangwell, “It has been a fantastic experience all roun
Estonia - Built in the 14th century, the unusually shaped Hobuveski building in Tallinn, Estonia, originally served as a mill and was later used for storage. In 2003, the circular structure was converted into a theatre and events venue and has since become recognised as one of the most extraordinary theatres in Europe. A recent refurbishment saw the installation of modern technology, including a Gio @5 console, ColorSource luminaires and Sensor3 power control from ETC. Until recently, the 140-seat venue relied on makeshift solutions for performances. With no real infrastructure, changing from one production to another involved building a new, temporary lighting and sound system, almost every time. In 2017, the Hobuveski received the investment and permission it needed to proceed with a major refurbishment. The revamp included a much-longed-for permanent installation of light
Germany - Artistic Licence is set to unveil a number of new products catering for the Art-Net/sACN, DMX512 and DALI lighting control markets. Artistic Licence CEO, Wayne Howell, will be present throughout the show to answer questions, aided by German distribution partner, Soundlight. On show will be the next generation of Artistic Licence ethernet-to-DMX gateways. Based on a more powerful chip technology, the range provides full support for the award-winning Art-Net 4 protocol, giving access to impressive new functionality not offered in earlier releases. The dataLynx II is a 1U 19″ rack mount Ethernet to DMX512 gateway. It converts 12 universes of Art-Net (supports all versions up to Art-Net 4) or sACN ethernet into DMX512/RDM. The product features 12 DMX512/RDM outputs, using front mounted Neutrik connectors: a choice of XLR 3-pin, 5-pin or 8-pin (Ethercon) connec
USA - ADJ Lighting has announced six spring road tour dates to demonstrate its latest lighting, video and audio technologies. The company will highlight the latest lighting technologies that were on display at NAMM 2018, plus new products set to debut at Prolight + Sound 2018 in Frankfurt. Four of the six tour stops are open to ADJ dealers and end users. These locations are Los Angeles, Englewood, NJ, Miami, and Nashville. The other two locations, El Paso and Salt Lake City, are end-user only events. “We always get such great feedback directly from users during our ADJ On Tour events,” said Alfred Gonzales, national sales manager of ADJ USA. “There’s nothing quite like meeting one-on-one to demo ADJ products to installers, rental houses, event producers and mobile entertainers. ADJ has such a wide variety of lighting, audio and video technologies from almost ev
Germany - Eaton’s Zero 88 is looking forward to a busy Prolight+Sound expo in Frankfurt where, on Stand B50 in Hall 3.0, the specialist UK based lighting control manufacturer will highlight a range of innovative lighting control products including its award-winning, flagship FLX console range. The all new FLX S24 and FLX S48 consoles, the original FLX and ZerOS Wing will be demonstrated on an action-packed stand, all running the latest version of console software - ZerOS 7.9.4. Visitors can also see the Chilli Pro range including the new Chilli Pro 12 Bypass dimmer with RCBOs. A selection of data distribution and networking devices from Zero 88 will also be showcased, including Split2.8 RDM, EtherN.8 RDM and the SCD Server Pro DMX generator. Zero 88’s PLASA award winning RigSync is an inventive time-saving feature available within the latest version of ZerOS
