Italy - The 85th anniversary of the world seaplane speed record set in 1934 at Desenzano seaplane base by Marshal Agello was commemorated on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October in Desenzano del Garda, in the province of Brescia. His record stands at 709.202 km/h and has never been broken to this day. A series of air show stunts were performed for this celebration, which attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators, culminating in a display put on by the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian air force stunt team. Claypaky also took part in the event with a light installation set up on the terrace of the Hotel Estée in Desenzano, which could be seen on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. The installation consisted of 10 Xtylos units. Nine projected a very long Italian tricolour flag onto Lake Garda like the trails of coloured smoke from the MB-339 aircraft of the Italia
USA - Marking the popular event’s 15th anniversary, this year’s Riot Fest was successfully reinforced by Technotrix with Martin Audio MLA, WPL and WPC line arrays on four stages in Chicago’s Douglas Park. With a variety of high-powered artists ranging from Slayer, Anthrax, The Flaming Lips, Violent Femmes and Bikini Kill to The Raconteurs, Patti Smith, Wu Tang Clan and the Village People, Riot Fest offered some particular challenges in terms of controlled coverage on site and noise mitigation off site. As Technotrix Audio lead, Brent Bernhardt, points out, “As always, there’s a commitment to keeping off site noise to an absolute minimum. We’re still avoiding the same two hospitals behind and alongside Stages 1 and 2, along with neighbourhoods around the festival.” Asked about using Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision Longbow (WPL) system for the fi
UK - A lot has happened in Maggie Rogers’ world since 2016, when a video of her demoing a then-newly-recorded song, Alaska for Pharrell Williams at NYU went viral. Following opening slots on major tours with both HAIM and Mumford & Sons last year, Rogers dropped her own major label debut, Heard It in a Past Life, this past January, which charted in the second highest slot of the Billboard 200. Consequently, the artist has spent much of 2019 on the road in support of the album. The “look and feel” of Rogers’ tour this year has been a collaborative effort between the artist and lighting designer Ben Everett, who first started working with her when he lit Rogers’ first-ever show in London two years ago. Having toured with an impressive roster of bands over the past five years, Everett is now part of the UK-based MIRRAD team, which has been supplying
Poland - The Polish state folk group of song and dance, Mazowsze, is named after the country’s Mazowsze region. In 2018 it became even better known after featuring in Paweł Pawlikowski’s movie Cold War - and just before that, it invested in some of Robe’s large Tarrantula LED wash beams, which met a tender specification that was initiated by technical manager and lighting designer, Lukas Rúzewilz. Their impressive rehearsal and performance facility on the outskirts of Warsaw has been open since 2009, and Lukas has worked there for a year, before which he was the technical manager of the Dramatic Theatre in Warsaw, another cultural landmark. Mazowsze’s 600-capacity venue is funded by the government and, in addition to being home to the company, it stages several other dance, music, theatre, comedy and ballet shows, amounting to around 250 a year.
UK - The latest season of Strictly Come Dancing, the celebrity dance show, kicked off in September with a new performer, the VL1100 LED from Vari-Lite. David Bishop, in his new role as the show’s lighting designer, sees the introduction of the VL1100 LED as a significant improvement for the Strictly lighting rig. “I chose the VL1100 LED as an upgrade to a fixture we already knew worked well in our show environment,” said Bishop. “The original VL1000 had served the program well for many years, but the VL1100 LED’s extra output, combined with removing the vulnerability of the traditional bulb, made this new fixture an obvious choice.” The reliability of the LED source, combined with the VL1100 LED’s framing capability, high output and consistent colour temperature, help Bishop to maintain the quality of image that viewers expect. “Whilst
Australia - Further evidence of the growing multi-dimensionality of art can be found at the 24th edition of the Communicating the Arts conference which, for the first time, sees participants from the performing arts join those from the visual arts. The theme of this edition is Cultural Leadership. “An example of great leadership is when in the face of challenges, people can stick to the values of inclusion, rigour, honesty, respect and courage.” This is an example of what the participants will learn from attending as explained by Wesley Enoch, artistic director at Sydney Festival who will also hold the opening keynote. Taking place at multiple cultural venues in Sydney from 12-14 November, some 250 Australian and international cultural leaders, senior arts professionals and innovators will gather for three days of immersive learning, masterclasses and exhibi
Belgium - Although the Fantasia festival succeeds in attracting some of the hottest EDM and trance DJs year after year, it’s built a loyal fan base with much more than music alone. Drawing on the power of its wildly imaginative and elaborate stage scenery, Fantasia succeeds in cocooning festival-goers in a multi-sensory experience that intensifies the power of its electronic music. Forming the central visual backdrop to this year’s stage was a representation of an exotic burlesque palace measuring 15m tall by 45m wide. Providing dramatic visuals to accentuate the mystique of the stage was a lighting design by Creative Rental Solutions (CRS) that included a collection of Chauvet Professional Rogue R2 Wash, RH1 Hybrid, COLORdash Par H12IP, STRIKE P38, and COLORado Panel Q40 fixtures. “Given the ambition of Fantasia’s organisers to create ever more impressive st
USA - Master Sound Productions of Miami has taken delivery of a full complement of Elation Professional’s IP65-rated weatherproof lighting fixtures. In operation since 1996 in one of the country’s most competitive markets for entertainment technology providers, Master Sound Productions is known as one of the most versatile event rental and full production companies in South Florida. “South Florida is very competitive; you’ve got to diversify in this market to stay ahead,” comments Lazaro Soto, owner of Master Sound Productions. “Our goal is not to be the biggest event production source in South Florida but to be the very best one. That’s why I’ve chosen to offer my clients a 100% outdoor-rated all Elation lighting rig.” Over the past couple of years, Elation Professional’s Proteus line of IP65-rated lighting fixtures has established itself as the
Columbia - Pop-rock singer songwriter Andres Cepeda is one of Colombia’s most popular artists, loved for his multi-genre repertoire, humour and dynamic style. He recently played a month of sold-out shows at the 1,300-capacity Teatro Major Julio Mario Santo Domingo in the north of Bogota. His long-term lighting designer Nestor Gaitan - universally known as Cariňosito (‘care bear’) - lit the show, and used the theatre’s 12 Robe MiniPointe moving lights which are part of the house lighting rig. These were rigged on four vertical stands on tank trap bases, positioned two (stands) either side of a prominent central LED screen. The miniPointes were used extensively throughout the show. Andres’ large band for this series of shows was enriched with the sounds of a full brass section. The musicians and backing vocalists were split between a raised deck above th
USA - In Dayton, Ohio, in the heart of the downtown Arts District, the Mead Theatre is the cornerstone of the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Centre. Opened in 2003, the 2,300-seat venue hosts a wide range of performances, including the Dayton Philharmonic, Dayton Opera, Dayton Ballet, touring Broadway blockbusters, rock concerts, comedians and more. Helping to inspire the imagination and refresh the spirit of the three-balcony facility, Scenic Solutions of Ohio specified and installed FloppyFlex LED neon into the architectural details of the venue. In addition to the installation in the concentric rings of the ceiling that culminate in a representation of the night sky when the Wright Brothers took their first flight, “We used 204m of FloppyFlex White 2100K deployed in the existing coves that accent all three balconies,” says Andrew Persson of Sceni
USA - Lighting designer Justin Townsend specified 38 High End Systems SolaWash 2000 High CRI automated LED luminaires for Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Since its summer opening at New York City’s Al Hirschfield Theatre, the show has received critical acclaim not only for the glam costumes and glitzy scenery, but also for its rich lighting. A review on Broadway World says it’s “sumptuously-designed in more shades of red than you previously knew existed on the colour spectrum”. New York Stage Review notes “The real stars are the artists who don't appear onstage. Lighting designer Justin Townsend can evoke anything from a pulse-pounding nightclub to the shadowy alleys of Argentina to a hallucinogenic electric-green drunken dream.” Townsend, a two-time Tony Award nominee, says: “The SolaWash 2000 unit has been instrumental for my work on M
Germany - International Christian Fellowship Munich (ICF) has recently upgraded its audio system with an Allen & Heath dLive solution for its weekly services and events. ICF Munich is a non-denominational free church, which in addition to its regular Sunday services, also hosts other live events with up to 800 participants. Due to size of the services and events, a large number of microphones and extensive I/O is needed for the speakers and live performers. As such, one of the main requirements for ICF was an audio system that could meet the demands of a professional concert. To serve its growing needs, ICF’s new audio system comprises a dLive S5000 paired with a DM48 MixRack and two DX168 expanders for additional I/O. A Dante card is utilised for multitrack recording, connection to wireless microphone receivers and the PA. Head of audio technology, M
USA - Carrie Underwood recently wrapped up her Cry Pretty Tour 360 with a lighting package provided by long-time vendor, Bandit Lites. Underwood has been thrilling audiences around the globe all year with her all-female tour featuring a an ‘in-the-round’ lighting design by Nick Whitehouse of Fireplay production studio. “This tour is by far the most ambitious design yet for Ms. Underwood and it has certainly paid off in terms of visual artistry,” said Bandit Lites vice president, Mike Golden. “Carrie has a veteran staff in tour Manager Geoff Donkin, production manager Graham Holmes, show producer BarrymLather and lighting director Nate Cromwell, and with Nick Whitehouse and the visionary team at Fireplay, this year’s production is unmatched and flawless.” Drawing inspiration from the Cry Pretty album artwork, Fireplay designed a stage using the ey
UK - Pixel Artworks has designed and delivered The Garden of Light, a multi-sensory installation for McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, Ashford. The Garden of Light uses the latest LED pixel lighting and immersive audio technology to create a 360° virtual garden environment and is part of the expansion of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet. In tribute to Kent’s status as the ‘Garden of England’, The Garden of Light provides shoppers with a multi-dimensional walkthrough experience designed to stimulate the senses and reflect on visitors’ connection with nature. The experience will also feature “Europe’s largest living wall installation”, made up of more than 120,000 leafy green plants, and although the experience is free, visitors are encouraged to donate money towards building a sensory garden for the William Harvey Hospital. Light i
UK - The Institute of Physics for the UK and Ireland (IOP) has an impressive new London HQ, built from the ground-up with a modern architectural statement that has AV designed-in from the start. The site is an old plumbing supplies shop in the developing creative industries area near Kings Cross, London. Leaving just the original brick façade, it has been transformed into something completely new. The polished concrete structure of this £13.5m project brings focus to the large screens and interactive experiences that will greet more than 200,000 IOP visitors every year. It is a space that radiates cutting-edge science, and one that required visual and audio technologies to be as much a part of its essence as the concrete itself. Recursive AV, the AV consultant on the project, had the opportunity to liaise with and influence the architects more than two years before c
Latvia - The Latvian College of Culture (LCC) in Riga is part of the larger Latvian Academy of Culture and is described as "the best place to study creative industries" in the country. The college has a continuous and built-in effort to keep up with the times, which is why school administrators called on SGS Sistemas, Clair Brothers distributor in the region. Normunds Eilands and Guntars Bluss of SGS were asked to recommend the best loudspeakers for LCC’s next upgrade of its audio production equipment. After evaluating the school’s needs SGS recommended the Clair Brothers kiT12-i loudspeakers, and kiT-Subs. Along with the selected kiT12-i loudspeakers and kiT-Subs, the Clair Brothers PLM 12K44 power amplifier was also specified and installed. Other equipment chosen by the college includes a Lab.gruppen power amplifier; a Midas digital mixing console plus a Midas in
Norway - Touring theatre productions in rural areas of north Norway can be very challenging, especially with limited local facilities and equipment that has to cope with fast-changing extremes of temperature. But an Alcons Audio LR7 pro-ribbon system is proving equal to every challenge for the country’s northernmost regional theatre. Established in 1971, Hålogaland Teater was the first regional theatre in Norway, serving counties of Troms and Finnmark. It occupies a modern building at Teaterplassen in Tromsø, built in 2005, which features two modern theatre stages, a cafè stage and a rehearsal stage. It tours productions all year to 15 regular venues located throughout Troms and Finnmark, often in local dialects. The varied programme includes contemporary and classic drama, musicals, children's theatre and more. These shows need an audio system which can be easily
Qatar - The IAAF World Athletics Championships took place in the Middle East for the first time since the inaugural event in 1983. The 10-day competition saw nearly 2000 athletes from 209 countries compete. The 17th edition of the event took place at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. For 2019 a multitude of technical innovations were introduced to the event including light shows, new camera angles and increased engagement with athletes. Florian Weber, IAAF event presentation manager, was responsible for the athletics presentation concept and challenged Creative Technology (CT) to deliver. In order to successfully deliver the track projection, it was essential that the stadium was dark which required the sports lighting to be switched off. Naturally, switching the stadium lights off during a televised stadium sports show is not something Broadcasters are comfor
USA - Peter Frampton recently concluded his Peter Frampton Finale - The Farewell Tour, where FOH engineer, Jim Yakabuski, used an SSL Live L550 to produce a signature analogue sound. Yakabuski began mixing audio in 1981, and with almost 40 years of mixing and touring under his belt, was only introduced to SSL a few years ago – admitting he was at first reluctant to switch to the console manufacturer. “I wanted to hear from my colleagues that stability on the road was not an issue – and I did,” he recalls. “So I knew I needed to get a board and give it a try. With an upcoming tour approaching, I decided to look further into using an SSL L550 for the FOH mixer. I made some calls, and then was treated to a few hours of one-on-one instruction from SSL's Fernando Guzman which peaked my interest. I was ready to dive in.” Peter Frampton Finale - The Farew
USA - Colombian reggaeton artist J Balvin recently wrapped his North American Arcoiris (Rainbow) fall tour, playing 25 cities from San Juan, Puerto Rico to LA. The colourful visual production by The Squared Division who collaborated with The Friends With You Art Collective who designed his Coachella performance, featured a large complement of Claypaky Mythos 2 and Scenius Unico lighting fixtures from lighting and video vendor VER PRG. Nathan Paul Taylor, Production Designer with The Squared Division, devised the show’s concept; Andre Petrus of Clear All Visuals was the associate lighting designer and programmer. “It was a very bright show – Nathan used every colour in the book and every song was taken to 100 percent,” says Petrus. The rainbow theme was apparent in graphical elements and colour, and a cloud-shaped LED screen topped a stairway at centre sta
UK - UK - A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) has announced a partnership with Leeds City College, which commenced with the distributor supplying a full range of production technologies for the institution’s new £60m Quarry Hill Campus. Leeds City College is one of the country’s largest further education providers, with over 20,000 students attending its courses. The new campus, which includes the college’s School of Creative Arts, puts students right at the heart of Leeds’ cultural quarter - surrounded by institutions such as Leeds Playhouse, Leeds College of Music and Northern Ballet, and the BBC. To create learning environments where students can achieve their full potential, there is a significant programme of investment in the college’s campuses. This includes offering industry-standard facilities which allow students to fully develop the skills an
Indonesia - To enhance the architecture of the Sopo Del Office Towers and Lifestyle Centre in Jakarta, Chayolite recently installed Martin by Harman lighting fixtures. The Sopo Del Office Towers and Lifestyle Centre is mixed-use development featuring office spaces, premium retail stores and a lavish hotel. The complex consists of a massive 41-floor tower, a smaller 28-floor tower and a shared lifestyle centre. Sopo Del’s architecture and design showcases an interpretation of North Sumatra’s ulos heritage and value, representing bravery and strength. In order to accentuate the buildings’ ulos-inspired design with immersive lighting, Sopo Del hired leading lighting and acoustic consultants PT. Litac to deploy a cutting-edge lighting display. To accomplish this task, Litac designed a lighting solution consisting of Martin Exterior Dot-HP fixtures. “We wante
USA - With its fresh water springs, meandering wooded paths, and sparkling lake, Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida, is normally a tranquil, relaxing place. But on the last weekend in October, this 800-acre slice of paradise assumes a different, more frightful persona as the site of the Suwanee Huluween Festival. Combining a bag full of musical treats from a diverse array of acts that includes a mix of big-name stars like Bassnectar and rising artists, with some tricky scenic elements that scare the senses, the three-day festival has become a Halloween ritual for a growing number of fans. Enhancing their experience throughout the grounds as well as at two of its stages this year were over 200 Chauvet Professional fixtures supplied and installed by The Design Oasis. Abbas Ritscher and his team at The Design Oasis, which included John Hollingshead and Joe Donnelly
USA - El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie premiered globally on Netflix recently. Production sound mixer Phillip Palmer relied exclusively on Lectrosonics Digital Hybrid Wireless to record almost all of the dialogue and many incidental and ambient sounds that would normally be added in post-production. His lab included three Venue 2 wideband modular receiver systems, eight SMV transmitters for body mics, four HMA plug-on transmitters for boom and plant mics, a couple of older UHs which were used for the ‘voice of God,’ on set, and a couple of LT transmitters for sound department communication. “Wideband tuning is important given the increasingly crowded spectrum we have to work with these days,” says Palmer, “so the Lectrosonics Venue 2 was an obvious choice. It’s a rackmount chassis that can hold up to six receiver modules, so you can mix and match tuni
