UK - Lighting and visuals rental specialist Colour Sound Experiment supplied lighting and video for the recent UK tour by Welsh rockers Feeder, who are back on the road with their Arrow album tour. Bryan Leitch is the band’s LD and visual designer and the person who took the tour to Colour Sound after previous excellent experiences with the west London based company. “It was a video-based tour so ideal for Colour Sound,” he comments. Colour Sound also invested in some new lighting fixtures to ensure that Bryan had exactly the rig he wanted. Bryan has worked for Feeder since 2004. On this tour he was joined on the road by technician / crew chief - and Colour Sound regular - James Hind. His creative inspiration for the design started with three festival shows last summer where they used an upstage screen split into three sections, a format that lead si
Poland - The Leonardo da Vinci Energy of the Mind exhibition, which recently opened in EC1 Łódź City of Culture in Poland, is being lit with 120 x Robe ParFect 100 LED luminaires. Taking centre stage in the EC1 building, an impressive fusion of industrial art, heritage and modern design that sees the original power station of Poland’s third city reimagined as a vibrant science and technology centre. The acclaimed exhibition - which has previously appeared in Paris, Munich, Brasilia and London - is a collaboration between EC1 Łódź, the Cité des Sciences et de l’industrie in Paris and producers, the Muzei Nazionale della Scienza et della Tecnologica Leonardo da Vinci. Installed in the majestic former turbine hall of EC1, over 70 exhibits include historical models, interactive installations, films and contemporary examples of bio-inspired robotics,
Germany - ROE Visual enjoyed a successful Prolight + Sound 2018, introducing new team members, as well as two new products. Roelof Bouwman, managing director of ROE Visual Europe, comments: “Prolight + Sound is an important exhibition for our industry, all the major players come together to share experiences and look for new products and innovations. The quality of the visitors visiting our stand has been outstanding. We were happy to illustrate our innovative drive, by showcasing both the new Diamond 2.6 series and the Vanish 18 panels. These new products, have received very positive feedback from our customers and users.” Bouwman continues: “As commercial partner of the AV Alliance, we were asked to participate in a panel discussion on The future of LED during the annual meeting here in Frankfurt. This offered a unique opportunity to discuss the developm
UK - Housed on the UK's largest broadcast entertainment set, Revolution is Sky One’s new extreme sports show which pits skateboarders, BMXers and skaters against each other across a custom-built course. Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the show is centred around an extensive track layout, constructed at Cardington Studios against a super-vibrant set created by scenic designer Dominic Tolfts and art director Ben Telford. Working alongside the production crew, illumination rental and installation specialists LED Creative provided their Sigma 60 and BYTE Control system to the show, allowing the team to create the fast-paced mix of electric-bright colour and movement that encircles the on-track action. The BYTE Controller units have been developed by the company specifically to work in unison with their Sigma product range, allowing maximum artisti
USA - The stage was set up to resemble a wrestling ring, but the 1000 or so students from four states who gathered at suburban Naperville North High School recently didn’t “duke it out”, they belted it out, in the form of beautifully sung and choreographed musical arrangements. Their spirited performances were part of the third annual Clash of the Sequins, a competition involving 22 show choirs from across the Midwest that raises funds for performing arts programs. Providing a sparkling and rocking high-energy visual backdrop for the day of non-stop singing and dancing was a Garrett Vander Veen-designed lightshow, anchored by 48 Rogue R2 Wash fixtures from Chauvet Professional. Vander Veen, owner of V2 Productions, covered the entire 48’ wide by 32’ deep stage with his Rogue fixtures, flying eight of them on upstage truss, 24 on the mid-stage ‘claw’ and
UK - Stage Electrics has announced the addition of the complete range of MagicFX special effects to complement its existing stock of pyrotechnics effects, smoke and haze effects machines. “We already have a range of effects and effect machines in our product range and we wanted to expand on these with effects such as confetti streamers, bubble blasters and stage flames, which are so popular at events and festivals,” says James Cookson, product sales account manager at Stage Electrics. “Our policy is to only stock equipment from leading manufacturers such as Le Maitre, whose quality and safety standards we have absolute confidence in. MagicFX fits those criteria perfectly.” Stage Electrics recently made a very large sale of MagicFX product to laser show and laser system design specialist ER Productions, who purchased a range of Magic FX Confetti systems and st
UK - Lighting designer Michael Straun recently deployed a full array of Martin by Harman fixtures to create a dynamic lighting design to support James Arthur’s UK headlining Back From the Edge arena tour. James Arthur has scored numerous chart-toppers and awards since winning the ninth season of The X Factor in 2012. In support of his new album Back From The Edge, Arthur recently embarked on his first ever UK arena tour. Tour manager JP Firmin and creative director Meggan McKenzie from UK creative production company The Live Dept. hired Straun to join their team, and together created a fresh and exciting lighting design for the tour. Straun partnered with McKenzie, tour lighting director Dan Williams and lighting supplier Christie Lites to create a dynamic visual experience for the tour, powered by a robust selection of Martin fixtures. “Megga
USA - Charity Behind the Scenes reports that TMB recently reached a significant milestone as one of its Pledge-a-Product Partners. TMB has now donated over $100,000 to the charity from sales of its ProXS professional lighting fixture accessories. The ProXS line includes pattern holders, donuts, top hats, half hats, irises, barndoors, colour extenders, beam benders, spill rings, colour frames, and more. For more information visit http://tmb.com/proxs/. Colin Waters, CEO of TMB, explains why his company supports the charity, “Behind the Scenes is such a great programme. We are glad to do our part, helping this valuable work.” Rick Rudolph, the chair of Behind the Scenes, acknowledged the moment saying, “When Colin proposed becoming a Pledge-a-Product Partner we never dreamt that a line of fixture accessories could do so much to help industry professionals in need.
Germany - Laserworld has updated its Purelight Series so they come in a smaller housing, are lighter and built with enhanced laser sources. The company promises "great white balance and high power at low price". The Purelight Series units are available in 6W, 10W and 20W power and have graphics-capable scanners at 30kpps 8° ILDA, which makes them suitable for a large number laser show applications. The optics section of the laser systems has no air circulation, which significantly reduces maintenance efforts for the Purelight systems. The Laserworld Purelight Series, launched at PL+S 2018, are suitable for large nightclubs, festivals, outdoor stages and any kind of application that requires high power and good white balance, says the company. (Jim Evans)
Europe/USA - The new Philips VL2600 range of LED moving head luminaires from Philips Entertainment Lighting has been designed as a smaller, brighter and lighter LED alternative to the VL2500 Spot and Wash moving heads. The VL2600 range combines LED light source engineering with the quality, colour palette and performance of the Philips Vari-Lite brand. In terms of light quality, output power, reliability and cost, the three fixtures in the VL2600 range are simply the highest performing luminaires - and the most attractive investment proposition - in their class, says the company. Having listened to the wishes of customers worldwide, Philips Entertainment Lighting has exceeded the output of the VL2500, while expanding the available package and its potential applications with the addition of a dedicated Profile fixture, plus the added advantage of a beam-shaping system w
USA - In 1984, the US federal government added the Capitol Theatre to its National Register of Historic Places. When it comes to the history of rock music in the US, few venues have packed more of it into their confines than this 92-year-old former vaudeville/cinema house just north of New York City. Eric Clapton performed here; so did Bob Dylan, David Bowie and the Rolling Stones. The Grateful Dead played 13 dates here in a one-year span, and Janis Joplin debuted her signature Mercedes Benz song on its stage, much to the surprise of her band, after writing it in a hurry at a local bar. History wasn’t the only thing glowing at the 1,800-seat theatre on Saturday night 10 February, when Pink Talking Fish paid tribute to some iconic music from Capitol Theatre alumni with a concert that ran through Pink Floyd’s The Wall album, along with some juicy tunes
European Theatre - Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) will acquire five new venues in Germany as it confirms a takeover of theatre operator Mehr! Entertainment. The deal, agreed for an undisclosed amount, brings the company’s global portfolio of venues to 51 and ATG’s first major international purchase since the 2016 management change and the stepping down of co-founders and joint chief executives Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire. ATG’s purchase of Mehr! Entertainment means it will operate the Starlight Express Theatre in Bochum, the purpose-built venue which has been home to the long-running musical since 1988. It will also take over the Mehr! Theatre in Hamburg, the Admiralspalast in Berlin, the Capitol Theatre in Dusseldorf and the Musical Dome in Cologne. ATG chief executive Mark Cornell said: “These major venues across Germany are each unique and captivating in the
Germany - PR Lighting presented one of its most expansive displays yet at this month’s Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt. With a dedicated booth adjacent to their German distributor, Focon Showtechnic, their theme was Water Proof Products in the form of a series of IP65-rated fixtures. Although they found the attendance generally lower than previous years, according to international sales director, Ernie Armas, due to their inspired and eye-catching water display units, they managed to drive a constant flow of traffic to their stand. “This allowed attendees to see a series of moving heads perform over the duration of the show under water conditions,” he notes. “Furthermore, the design of our booth allowed visitors to play with our units and get full hands-on experience, by using a simple controller attached to the pedestal.” PR Lighting displayed
Indonesia - Multi-platinum and Dove Award-winning recording group Hillsong United have told interviewers that their sixth studio album Wonder was inspired in part by the things they’ve experienced visiting new places. It is fitting, then, that the group recorded some songs on their new record in Bali, home of their church’s first campus in Asia. Located in a pleasant, low-key new building on a tree-lined street, the recently opened Bali campus embodies the warm, inviting and uplifting spirit that draws over 80,000 people each Sunday to Hillsong churches on five continents. Although the Bali church building itself is relatively simple in its structure, it quickly engages visitors with help from its immersive and colourful lighting, created with Chauvet Professional fixtures, supplied and installed by ASIIS. “The people from Hillsong first saw us at an exhib
Germany/UK - Data Strategy’s Iain Roche and White Light’s technical director Dave Isherwood shook hands at Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt on a deal for a total of four to six QC-Check workstations, incorporating PAT4 and CAB5 PAT and Cable Test Processors from joint-venture partners Out Board. QC-Check’s test database and logging software will be fully integrated into WL’s InspHire asset management system, which will provide real-time tracked test results for the company’s entire hire inventory. The first single-bay QC-Check workstation - custom-built by SES Entertainment Services - will arrive within weeks. The most complex of the order, the distro department’s QC-Check workstation, is designed for optimal workflow in the quick and efficient checking of multiple power distribution outlets. Heavier-duty distro connectors are positioned conveniently at the front, whi
UK - Jands Vista's flexible hardware and time-saving user interface provided the right tool to control a cutting-edge lighting design for Bury Court Opera's modern production of Handel's Giulio Cesare. Loosely based on historic events during the Roman Civil War, Giulio Cesare - translated as Julius Caesar in Egypt - tells the story of feuding family dynasties, revenge, and obsessive lusts of the most powerful figures of the ancient world. With Bury Court Opera's focus on using a young cast and production team to provide a fresh take on classic operas, the lighting was key to achieving their artistic vision. To deliver the show's innovative lighting design by Prema Mehta, lighting programmer Robert Price specified the Jands Vista control solution. He comments: "I use Vista as I love being able to tailor its software and hardware for an
South Africa - The new Steyn City School opened its doors in January 2018. DWR Distribution installed curtains and curtain tracks as well as a lighting, audio and AV in the auditorium which will be used by the Dramatic Arts and Music departments as well as for everyday use like assemblies. Steyn City School is situated just outside the Steyn City Parkland Residence. Interestingly, what is now a residential estate was once abandoned land which included an old mine quarry. A tender process saw DWR Distribution sub-contracted to supply the audio visual and lighting in the auditorium. Later, DWR were also awarded another tender, this time for the full curtaining system. “We were one of the last subcontractors appointed and it was a very tight schedule,” comments Kevin Stannett from DWR. “Working on a brand-new school from scratch and being involved with the co
USA - There’s nothing funny about the comedy business: when everything is riding on the setup and the punch line, the sound has to be absolutely perfect. That’s why the top-earning comics on tour today - names like Amy Schumer and Kevin Hart - have looked to Frederick, Maryland based Showtime Sound LLC and its CEO Scott Tydings to make sure that their audiences “get it”. That pursuit of clarity, intelligibility, and coverage is exactly why the DC area’s first Certified Provider for rental (CPr) has been steadily acquiring an ever-growing inventory of L-Acoustics sound components for both touring comedians and other productions. With its already large inventory, Showtime Sound has just added an additional 40 K2, 36 Kara, 20 X8 and 12 LA-RAK II, each housing three LA12X amplified controllers. Showtime Sound has also now sold off all of its previous loudspeaker
UK - Jason Bruges Studio was commissioned to create a series of installations for the closing celebrations for Hull; the 2017 UK City of Culture. The project ran for over two months from December to January and featured multiple SGM products. “When Jason Bruges Studio approached me to design the lighting for this city wide installation that was to be outdoors during the winter months, I knew we needed SGM onboard,” comments Carlos Valente, the lighting designer behind the installation Where Do We Go from Here? “Asides from the obvious low-power, IP rating, and bright factors, we also found the fixtures provided great lighting for camera with features to calibrate the LEDs Refresh rate.” The site-specific installation used a specially choreographed interplay of light, shadow, and sound to guide people through three areas around Hull’s Old Town.
Sweden - Rental and production company Tylösand Sound has recently invested in Robe’s new MegaPointe. The company, based in Halmstad and run by Paul Aladin, specialises in the supply of lighting, audio and video design services and equipment for shows, installations and corporate events. They deliver production for a lot of events at the nearby Tylösand Hotel, owned by pop superstar Per Gessle of Roxette which is located on the beach, with a large, busy and vibrant conference and event facility. The company has also built up a reputation for working with a collection of inventive digital artists on their installations and shows, bringing a different and more inventive edge to the array of standard lighting projects. Paul started Tylösand Sound in 1996, and before then, like many in the Swedish entertainment technology industry, he worked hard as a DJ, and t
Australia - Located in Sydney, New South Wales and originally established in 1885, Abbotsleigh is an independent boarding school. The school has been working behind the scenes on an upgrade to its concert and assembly hall lighting systems. Led by the systems integration team at Barbizon Australia, the renovation project most recently undertook the upgrading of the house lighting systems in the concert hall using Chalice LED 150W downlights from Altman Lighting. “We first came to this project while conducting a review of all the lighting fixtures and systems for the various venues within the school, and then preparing a schedule for renovations over a two to three-year period,” comments Paul Lewis, systems sales director for Barbizon Australia. “The overall scope involved upgrading the fixtures to LED and updating the associated control systems as well. “Stag
UK - The Association of Lighting Designers (ALD) has released a guide to the proposed EU 2020 lighting regulations as part of its Save Stage Lighting campaign that aims to secure an exemption for stage lighting from the proposals. The Proposed 2020 EU Lighting Regulations - A Primer collects relevant information about the existing regulations (EU1194/2012), the regulations proposed for September 2020 as part of the EU’s Ecodesign Working Plan 2016-2019, and the key differences between them. The guide highlights how the proposed regulations will not only affect tungsten lighting, but all specialist lighting fixtures used for show lighting, including arc and LED. The document also exposes that manufacturers would stru
Mongolia - ProLights LED fixtures are helping Mongol TV meet the balance between creative and financial needs for their production of talent TV show, The Voice of Mongolia. Officially syndicated in 62 countries and with a global audience of 650m viewers, The Voice is Mongol TV's follow-up to their successful production of the Got Talent franchise for the past two years. Mongol TV CEO Nomin Chinbat chose to bring these two talent show franchises to Mongolia as part of a long-term goal to deliver local content which meets international TV standards. Set inside a Soviet-influenced indoor circus venue, UK lighting designer and consultant Tom Kinane, who had worked on Mongolia's Got Talent, was brought in to oversee the lighting production. He comments: "Given Mongol TV's long-term goal to focus on producing popular international show
Painting with Light has produced a vibrant, inventive visual solution for Zoo of Life, a production directed by Luc Stevens to celebrate 175 years of Antwerp Zoo, being staged at the new Queen Elizabeth Hall venue in Antwerp. The team from the Genk based creative practice was led by Luc Peumans. Painting with Light’s project manager, Wouter Verhulst comments: “Normally you might have two weeks to build a production on this scale and ambition, but we had just three days and nights.” With this time restriction in mind, the set is composed largely of digital scenic elements and was designed in conjunction with Carla Janssen Hofelt. The Painting with Light brief also included editing special video material shot by Mathieu Marck of Arendsoog (Eagle Eye) from around the Zoo, and combining this with new graphical content produced by Painting with Light’s Sina S
