Rigging / Staging

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20 November 2024

Norway - In a fusion of architecture, engineering and technology, structural solutions brand Milos (part of Area Four Industries) introduced the Invisible Roof. The structure was constructed in the city of Bergen, on the southwestern coast surrounded by mountains and fjords. Bergen has hosted some of the world’s largest bands, artists and an eclectic mix of music from all genres over many years.

One of the world’s oldest orchestras, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, dating back to 1765, celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2015 and remains a beacon of musical artistry on the world stage. On 22-23 August 2024, the orchestra hosted two outdoor concerts, offering a magical experience for musicians and audiences alike.

Partnering with Creative Technology Norway, Area Four Industries designed and installed a one-of-a-kind venue featuring an arched roo

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12 November 2024

USA - This month, Rockefeller Centre welcomes its newest addition to New York City: Skylift, perched on top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Tishman Speyer, working in partnership with the designers at THG Creative, created a feat of engineering brought to life by the technology-enabled storytellers at TAIT, known for their work on music tours, spectaculars, and attractions around the world.

Skylift allows groups of visitors to be lifted and rotated 30ft above the 70th floor of 30 Rock, also known as Top of the Rock Observation Deck. This offers ‘an unparalleled view’ of the city and a perspective looking down into the streets below. Once elevated, the platform revolves for a 360-degree viewing experience and a panoramic photo moment.

Jim Shumway, vice president - project delivery at TAIT, said, “We welcomed the opportunity to tackle a project with suc

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08 November 2024

Europe - Formerly known as Groupe Novelty-Magnum-Dushow, the European provider of technical solutions for the event and rental staging market has announced its rebranding as Groupe Novelty.

The move, which includes a new logo and fresh corporate identity, positions the rapidly expanding Groupe for further growth and underlines its position as a 360° provider of technical services in France and on a global scale, says the company.

"Our new name, Groupe Novelty, unifies our diverse stable of specialist businesses and sets the stage for further international expansion,” says Jacques de La Guillonnière, founder and president of Groupe Novelty. “With over 40 years of experience and hundreds of thousands of events under our belt, all of our companies already enjoy an extremely strong reputation in France and abroad; with this rebrand, we want to shar

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06 November 2024

UK - IPS has expanded its inventory of EXE Technology hoists with further investment in EXE Rise D8+ with an additional 40 1,000kg and 12 2,000kg double fall chain hoists, considerably expanding their EXE rental stock.

IPS, based in Milton Keynes, is a leading trade hire supplier to the events and production sector, offering extensive rental supply in staging, rigging, lighting, video, sound and power to a wide cross-section of clients nationwide.

Having increased its EXE Rise D8+ fleet in April with 1,000kg and 500kg units, the company has seen an upsurge in demand via its trade hire team with enquiries from its customer base, especially for the 1,000kg units. EXE has played an integral role over the summer season on some of IPS’s biggest projects and festivals across the UK, which have seen the full deployment of EXE hoists IPS now stocks. 

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05 November 2024

USA - Wireless load monitoring brand Broadweigh has announced its presence at this year’s LDI Show in Las Vegas this December. Visitors to the show can find Broadweigh at booth #2019 where the 9-tonne load cell will get its North American debut. The team will also be giving an exclusive preview of its innovations set for release in 2025.

“This is an exciting time for the Broadweigh brand," said Matthew Youngs, marketing manager at Broadweigh. “Our innovations are developed with a deep understanding of the demands faced by today’s live event professionals. We are therefore thrilled to bring our latest solutions to LDI and demonstrate how our products support a safer, smarter approach to event rigging and structural monitoring.”

Broadweigh’s wireless anemometer will also be on display on the booth, illustrating how it enables precise monito

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29 October 2024

UK - The much-anticipated James Eade Rigging Power Systems training course, in partnership with EXE Technology, returned mid-October, leaving participants inspired and empowered with new skills to tackle rigging challenges in today’s demanding live entertainment sector. The event drew rigging and technical professionals from across the country, all eager to deepen their expertise and experience of rigging electrical systems using the latest technology.

The 2024 Rigging Power Systems course, hosted at Rigging Team’s HQ in Stevenage on 10-11 October, boasted a sell-out event attracting delegates from various sectors of the industry and as far afield as Tahiti.

Running for the second year, the course was developed by Matt Millward, head of automation at Area Four Direct UK and chartered engineer James Eade, who has a wealth of industry knowledge in

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25 October 2024

USA - Matthieu Larivee and the team at Luz Studio designed Jason Aldean’s 24-city Highway Desperado tour, which concluded on 5 October at Georgia’s Macon Amphitheatre.

Appreciating that the lower parts of the stage are where most eyeballs (and most cell phones) are focused, they strove to make this area as fan and camera friendly as possible by incorporating multi-level fascia risers into their design.

“The risers were the start of the design,” said Larivee. “I wanted to focus on the lower part of crowd POV. This is where people are mainly watching, and this is the main background of the pictures on social media. This is especially true on amphitheatre tours where it’s hard to manage haze. Therefore, the lower part of the stage is where we get more impact with the artist.”

To ensure that this area popped for the live au

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23 October 2024

USA - Las Vegas-based full service technical production company 3G Productions has invested heavily in Kinesys automation equipment – including Elevation drives, Kinesys Vector control, DST trollies and tracking truss, which is compatible with the Kinesys Elevation system, together with Libra Cell load monitoring systems, Kinesys Array PD-ES power distros and other infrastructure, much of which has been acquired in the last year.

“The Kinesys system is rock solid and does exactly what it says. It’s known for both innovation and practicality, while being accepted widely as an offering of a premium automation solution,” stated 3G CEO, Keith Conrad.

In 2021, the company embarked on a substantial investment plan to ensure that their audio, lighting, video, and rigging equipment featured the latest, best, and most appropriate technologies to offer

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23 October 2024

UK - Cellmaster by Broadweigh, which made its UK debut at PLASA last month, merges Broadweigh’s precision in load monitoring with Chainmaster’s expertise in chain hoists.

Matthew Youngs, head of sales and marketing at Broadweigh notes: “It felt like a very natural progression of our relationship with Chainmaster to collaborate on this new offering. Both brands are industry powerhouses, and we’re keen to ensure the Broadweigh brand is accessible to as many entertainment professionals as possible. Partnering with Chainmaster allows us to achieve this in a mutually beneficial way.”

Broadweigh load cells have long been highly regarded within the industry, trusted for their high precision and accuracy, their robust and reliable design and user-friendly interface. Available as a 3.75t, 4.25t and even a 9t for the most demanding of projects, all B

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15 October 2024

UK - EXE Technology has confirmed further investment from The National Theatre, London. The venue has increased its in-house hoist stock by investing in additional 250Kg, 350Kg, and 500Kg EXE Rise D8+ chain hoists.

The National continues to expand its EXE inventory, updating its old hoist fleet and upgrading to a full range of EXE units. Having introduced the chain hoist systems in 2023, the National Theatre was keen to align with the brand.

The National Theatre has three separate theatre spaces – The Olivier which seats 1150 people, a fan-shaped auditorium and the largest of the theatres at the venue;   The Lyttelton, a traditional-style proscenium arch theatre with excellent sightlines from every seat, which can accommodate an audience of 890, and The Dorfman which has an auditorium capacity of 450 and is completely kitted out with EXE in the r

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11 October 2024

UAE - Trussing and staging specialist Sixty82 has announced that J&C Joel has joined its distribution network in the Middle East. J&C Joel will now serve as the official distributor for Sixty82 in the region.

This new collaboration enhances Sixty82’s ability to extend its reach and provide even greater access to its high-quality trussing and staging solutions across the Middle East.

“We are grateful to J&C Joel for joining our network, which reinforces our commitment to expanding our distribution capabilities and delivering exceptional products and technical expertise to our valued customers,” says Fokko Smeding, CEO of Sixty82.

James Wheelwright, CEO of J&C Joel, stated: “We are thrilled to partner with Sixty82 and bring their innovative trussing and staging solutions to the Middle East. This partnership aligns with o

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10 October 2024

USA - 3G Productions LLC (3G) has announced that it has received a strategic investment from Chimney Rock Equity Partners (Chimney Rock), a private equity firm focused on lower-middle-market industrial investments. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chimney Rock’s investment in 3G was made with the intent ‘to leverage the company’s longstanding reputation in live event production and systems integration services to grow into a national brand, both organically and via acquisitions’. With Chimney Rock’s partnership, 3G expects to actively seek to add new locations and customers and increase its already strong market share.

Under the terms of the agreement, the 3G management team, consisting of CEO Keith Conrad, CFO Andrew Ross, executive VP Jay Curiel, and VP of production Andy Ruiz, will remain in place, and all current employee

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03 October 2024

Europe - On 22-23 August, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra hosted two outdoor concerts in its home city, offering a magical experience for both musicians and audiences alike – under a customised ‘invisible’ Milos roof.

Partnering with Creative Technology Norway, Milos engineers designed and installed a one-of-a-kind venue featuring an arched roof constructed from Keder profiles and transparent canopies. This innovative design allowed the orchestra to perform under the open sky while being fully protected from the elements, ensuring the show went on without a hitch – rain or shine.

“This bespoke design was so successful that we are now working to have this unique roof system included in our catalogue,” says Milos.

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02 October 2024

Europe - TAF has introduced the new and improved Tower 05 – a complete, all-in-one, light-duty tower system for small roof systems, elevation of truss grids, and more.

Transport, setup, and use are extremely easy, says TAF. Just roll out to your location, unfold the outriggers, and attach HT34 truss on top. With HT34’s quicklock connection system, buildup is extremely quick and easy. Versatility is also ensured, with a welded sleeve block that allows for four-way connection of truss segments to suit a wide range of applications.

Tower 05 features a maximum lifting height of 6.5m (21.3ft) and a maximum loading of 500kg (1,100lbs).

New and improved features include steel, side-to-side rotating feet for improved levelling on a wide range of surfaces; adjustable leg braces for increased stability; modified sleeve block allowing for smoother t

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01 October 2024

USA - Creed are back on tour for the first time since 2012. The multi-platinum, Grammy- and American Music Award-winning rock band embarked on a 40-show tour that boasted sold-out performance after sold-out performance while their Greatest Hits returned to four Billboard charts. Lighting designer Mathias Kuhn worked with Bandit Lites to supply a lighting system worthy of the sound that has elevated fans for decades.

Having previously worked with members of the band and management on Alter Bridge, Kuhn was trusted to deliver a design that centred around the direction: a big circle with lights. And while the truss appears to hover over the band, two dozen Bandit Lites-supplied Tyler Ladder Towers act like a drapery of lights between video screens.

“Mathias and I began working on this tour in October of 2023,” said Bandit

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26 September 2024

Germany - Following the successful Las Vegas production Weekends with Adele, the British singer took on the challenge of a month-long residency in a Live Nation-backed, purpose-built, 80,000 capacity open-air arena in Munich.

The singer, who has sold over 100m albums to date, told fans via her Instagram: "A one-off, bespoke pop-up stadium designed around whatever show I want to put on? I couldn't think of a more wonderful way to spend my summer."

The ambitious concert series was led by production manager Paul English and sought technical expertise from a variety of disciplines within the Clair Global organisation, overseen by account executive Andy Walker.

"A great thing that Andy did was get the IT team on board, supplying fantastic internet across the site. It made our lives easy throughout the entire backstage area, which is an im

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24 September 2024

Spain - The initial phase of Gran Canaria Studios, one of Europe’s largest virtual production stages to date, has been completed, offering an environment for international content producers looking to “leverage Gran Canaria’s film location incentives”.

Located on the 1,200sq.m stage 1 of the Gran Canaria Platos studio lot, the virtual production infrastructure has been designed and delivered by ARRI Solutions, integrator Video Cine Import (VCI), and ROE Visual. The Economic Promotion Agency of Gran Canaria (SPEGC) commissioned the studio to accommodate both independent and high-end national and international productions.

“The film industry is one of the region’s economic pillars; we are very committed to the development of this industry on the island and Gran Canaria is spearheading efforts to become a leading hub for TV and film,” stat

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19 September 2024

UK - Serious Stages wrapped up a successful summer, providing stages and site structures for BBC Radio 2’s Party in the Park concert in Moor Park, Preston, 6-8 September.

More than 60,000 fans enjoyed artists featured on the Serious TZ 25m roof main stage for two days, included Sting, The Pet Shop Boys, The Manic Street Preachers, The Sugarbabes, Sister Sledge, Travis, Paul Heaton and Snow Patrol. The stage was designed in collaboration with clients Festival Republic and the BBC, creating a striking performance area. It was flanked by goalposts carrying PA speakers and giant LED screens, with extensions for a DJ platform, stage right, for Radio 2 DJ sets between bands, with a total frontage of 55m.

Serious also installed the stage platform in the tented Radio 2 stage, which featured DJ sets on Friday night and throughout Saturday and Sunday, along

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17 September 2024

UK - Celebrating its “best show for many years”, PLASA Show once again took residence in the Grand Hall of Olympia London from 1-3 September, demonstrating continuous growth - occupying 10% more floor space, welcoming a steady 5% increase in visitors and showcasing over 30 new exhibitors.

Despite an unexpected heatwave in the city and the extended summer festival season, visitor figures for Sunday - the event’s opening day - saw a 9.5% increase compared to 2023, while day two’s footfall also exceeded previous years, according to the show’s organisers.

The show floor welcomed a healthy cross-section of industry visitors, from entry-level professionals to senior leadership, with 15% more students visiting compared to 2023 and 79% of attendees declaring “influential purchasing power”. Key job roles of those in attendance included directors

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17 September 2024

USA - The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) celebrated its 40th anniversary on 11 September at the UBS Arena in New York. First held in 1984, the VMAs have delivered some of pop culture's most memorable moments, including Madonna’s Like a Virgin performance at the first VMAs in 1984 and Britney Spears’ snake-wielding performance of I’m A Slave 4 U in 2001.

For the VMAs 40th anniversary milestone, Matt Steinbrenner returned as the stage designer to help create a fusion of nostalgia, modernity and spectacle.

The design for the 2024 VMAs harnesses the full potential of the UBS Arena. The visual centrepiece of the design is a towering 60ft-tall Moon Person, emerging from a massive video wall and reaching 55ft into the room as if stepping out of the digital world and into the physical.

This dynamic structure served as a me

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17 September 2024

UK - The Area Four Direct UK (A4IUK) team enjoyed a busy, productive and successful PLASA Show 2024.

This year saw a new immersive stand design constructed from Milos M520 Quatro truss, incorporating three video walls forming a vibrant backdrop of dynamic rolling video content – showcasing the Area Four Industries brand portfolio represented in the UK including Milos, Litec, Exe Technology, XStage, Tomcat and JTE.

PLASA London is still the most prominent national expo for A4IUK in the live entertainment, technology and rigging sector. It provided an excellent platform to showcase their products, connect with fellow professionals and engage in fruitful conversations on upcoming projects.

Area Four Direct UK, located on stand J20, enjoyed a buzz of busy footfall throughout the event. The stand had been designed to showcase key product lines i

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16 September 2024

UK - Offering considerable hands-on experience and the first steps into a technical career in the arts, applications are open again for Lighthouse Young Technicians, organised by Lighthouse Poole arts complex. It is a nationally recognised training course for young people aged 13-19 eager to get to grips with lighting, sound and stage management in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings.

“Since its launch in 2018, the Young Technicians course has proven to be a valuable, real-world route into a career in technical theatre,” says Charles Shenton, Lighthouse creative engagement producer.

Guided by industry specialists in a structured 12-week course, the budding technicians navigate all elements of technical theatre to gain the experience they need to pursue a future career, working alongside all technical departments in the build up to opening ni

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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