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17 November 2025

Poland - Łódź-based DWD Sound goes back to 2009, when founder Dawid Gabara - after years working as a sound engineer and collaborating with numerous artists - decided to establish his own production company. What began as a personal venture has evolved into a full-scale provider of stage technology, offering stage, lighting and sound solutions for open-air concerts, large conferences, corporate events and a wide range of live productions.

With the company growing rapidly in recent years, upgrading the audio department became a strategic priority. Before investing, the team conducted extensive market research. “In the end, we chose Outline,” says Gabara. “The efficiency, dynamics and sound quality were decisive factors.”

DWD Sound’s setup comprises 24 Superfly, 12 Mantas 28 and 12 DBS 18-2 subwoofers, supported by Outline’s amplifiers a

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17 November 2025

UK - Holotronica, the Bristol-based holographic effects specialist, is set to celebrate the opening of its new studios at Church House in the village of Long Ashton. The restored stone building, originally constructed in 1907, will serve as both a large, revitalised event space and as a creative hub with office/studios available to rent on the lower ground floor.

The new facility includes a large hall and stage designed for showcasing Holotronica’s Hologauze products, as well as a dedicated research and development studio for their holographic FX systems.

The grand opening will take place on 6 December for locals to see live demonstrations of Holotronica’s holographic technology. Lady Emily Smythe, who was responsible for building Church House, will ‘magically come alive again from her oil painted portrait and walk onstage’ to welcome guests

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17 November 2025

USA - Garbage have just concluded their 37-city Happy Endings tour with lighting design by Emmanuelle Gigi Pedron. “With Garbage, the music swings from gritty to cinematic in a heartbeat,” said Pedron. “I am busking the show, so I get to ride those mood swings in real time - it’s chaos and control, just like the band.”

Helping Pedron on this journey is an all Chauvet Professional rig supplied by Christie Lites. To accent the dramatic quality of the show, she follows a “lighting 101” principle of playing with intensity levels, moving starkly from bold brightness to more shadowy looks.

Pedron also uses a backdrop curtain made of aluminium chains to add to the kinetic feel of the show. “The backdrop moves nicely,” she said. “It moves with breeze from the fans and shimmers. I love how it catches light in unpredictable ways -

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17 November 2025

USA - Bandit Lites provided lighting for the latest Papa Roach tour, collaborating once again with lighting designer Mathius ‘Mathes’ Kuhn to bring the band’s energy to life on stage.

“Working with Bandit is always great,” shared Kuhn. “The gear is very well maintained, the prep is unmatched, and the crew is top notch. I also like working together with the Client Reps on fitting the design into a budget and giving the band the best bang for the buck.”

Kuhn praised the synergy between his design vision and Bandit’s experienced team: “It’s always great to have a team of touring-experienced client reps, project managers, and shop personnel that can look at my production design drawings and translate that to something tour friendly.”

The lighting design features moments that capture the emotional depth and high-impact perfor

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17 November 2025

UK - The birthplace of Queen Elizabeth II and named in honour of the young Queen’s childhood nickname, Lilibet’s, at No.17 Bruton Street in London, features ‘a refined menu of seafood and an equally elegant interior’.

Tateside were responsible for the design and implementation of a complete background audio system based on K-array’s Vyper family of loudspeakers. Lilibet’s is just one of more than a dozen high-end hospitality spaces in this neighbourhood that trust in K-array’s audio solutions.

“Working in collaboration with the consultant and local distributors 2BHeard, the scope was to design and install an elegant, yet discreet, distributed background audio system that would respect the prestigious nature of the venue,” says Joby Morris, project manager at Tateside. “The design did not require high SPL DJ playback, like somethin

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14 November 2025

USA - Fashion giants Hugo BOSS launched their premier men’s fragrance BOSS Bottle Beyond at an event staged at the Empire State Building. The highlight of the event was a live performance by Colombian singer/rapper and Hugo BOSS brand ambassador Maluma from atop the building’s 90th floor platform – the first time such a performance has ever been attempted.

To ensure “impeccable live audio” for Maluma, as well as the event’s 600 attendees and fans watching on the livestream around the world, an audio production team from Clair Global utilised Sound Devices Astral Wireless.

Although other artists have filmed videos and performances on top of the Empire State Building in the past, this was the first to be done completely live for an audience and supported by a worldwide livestream. “There were so many aspects of it that made it special –

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14 November 2025

Tunisia - For more than half a century the Hammamet International Festival has taken place at the coastal town’s theatre overlooking the sea, designed in the Neo-Greek style and widely considered to be ‘one of the most beautiful open-air venues on the Mediterranean’.

In its 59th year, the 2025 edition of the festival attracted up to 1,100 people each night proving as successful as ever thanks to the combined passion and energy of the artists, organisers, technicians and a loyal audience that returns year after year to enjoy a varied programme of music, theatre and dance.

Also returning to the festival each year is Tunis-based event services company Sybel, bringing more than 30 years of live sound experience along with a Nexo sound system to provide consistent audience coverage for every type of performance.

The main FOH system

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14 November 2025

Germany - For decades, Das Fest in Karlsruhe has ranked among southern Germany’s largest open-air events, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each July to the city. The 2025 edition took place from 24 to 27 July and, despite variable weather, attracted more than 243,000 festivalgoers. Including the pre-event, Das Fest am See, the total attendance climbed beyond 268,000.

The line-up featured national and international acts including 01099, Amy Macdonald, Clueso, Faithless, Grossstadtgeflüster, Max Giesinger & Friends, and Zoe Wees.

Crystal Sound has been involved with Das Fest since its earliest days. “We’ve been looking after Das Fest virtually since the beginning,” recalls Jonas Goldschmidt, event technology specialist at Crystal Sound. “Today, we are responsible for audio, lighting, rigging a

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14 November 2025

UK - In the summer of 2025, the Matterley Estate in the South Downs National Park near Winchester was transformed into a fictional city with eight themed districts, over 50 hidden venues and 12 main stages. The Boomtown Festival once again impressed this year with its combination of music, theatre and visual art.

The stage and lighting designs always make a major contribution to the magic of Boomtown. The British event technology service provider GLS Lighting was once again responsible for the realisation on several main stages this year – with a focus on lights from Cameo.

For the Grand Central Stage, account and project manager Wil Gregory created a setup that could be harmoniously integrated into the spectacular stage architecture with its handmade backdrops by the London design studio Brutal. “We wanted to optimise the set design of

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14 November 2025

USA - Bethlehem Baptist Church, located in Greensburg, Kentucky, is a small, rural Christian congregation in a community where faith and tradition hold deep significance. A modest, brick building with a steeple, its interior is reflective of a traditional Baptist style, with pews arranged in rows facing the pulpit. Although open and airy, the parishioners struggled to hear and understand the sermon at times. Amplifiers from LEA Professional were the chosen solution to increase headroom during musical worship and provide better intelligibility for spoken liturgy.

Church staff contacted Alex Peake, a project manager at JCA Media, to design a new audio system for the sanctuary. He recommended the Connect Series to meet the church's goal of high intelligibility.

“Most amplifiers are being commoditised and sold at almost the same price,” said Alex Pea

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14 November 2025

USA - A compact yet effective lighting rig, comprised exclusively of ADJ fixtures, was deployed for a hometown performance by techno DJ Stacey Pullen. Taking place on the patio outside Detroit’s TV Lounge nightclub, Pullen played a mammoth ‘open to close’ DJ set with dancefloor illumination provided by ADJ Jolt Bar FXIP, Vizi Beam 12RX and Vizi Wash Z19 fixtures.

The longest running nightclub in Detroit, TV Lounge is the spiritual home of electronic music in Motor City. Throughout the summer, the venue’s indoor space is occasionally augmented for special events by transforming its patio into an open-air dance floor with the city skyline providing an impressive backdrop.

The task of carrying out this transformation from a technical perspective falls to ART Visuals, the recently formed lighting arm of well-established Detroit audio production a

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14 November 2025

UK - STLS was commissioned by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council along with The Epsom Playhouse, a much-loved theatre in Surrey, to modernise its house lighting system, upgrade the existing dimmer room, and install new lighting fixtures across the auditorium. The project aimed to improve lighting quality and energy efficiency, and create a cleaner, more integrated control environment that would serve the venue for years to come.

The scope of work included the design, supply, installation, programming, and testing of a complete new lighting and control system. The goal was to deliver a modern, flexible, and efficient setup that met the demands of both day-to-day operations and high-profile live performances, all while respecting the character and functionality of the venue.

The installation came with several logistical challenges. The venue is only clo

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14 November 2025

USA - The historic Soldiers and Sailors auditorium in downtown Chattanooga hosted Black Jacket Symphony’s The Era of Yacht Rock Tour. LD Gable Larramore used the Chauvet Professional Rogue and Colorado fixtures in his rig to create a summer-by-the-sea look on stage – albeit 300 miles inland.

“This being the Yacht Rock tour, I made a ton of gradient sunset and water-coloured scenes to sell the vibe 100-percent,” said Larramore. “The main goal was to accent the music tastefully, while still being engaging and exciting. At the same time, I wanted to ensure that every one of the 14 band members was lit properly.”

Helping Larramore conjure up the captivating colours in his show, including his immersive monochromatic panoramas, were his rig’s 24 Colorado Batten Q15 fixtures, which like the rest of the lights are owned by the

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14 November 2025

Japan - At the upcoming Inter Bee show in Tokyo, d&b audiotechnik will introduce the CCLi Compact Cardioid Line Array, designed specifically for installed applications. Building on the success of the CCL system, which was launched in January 2025, CCLi offers the same technical advantages and acoustical properties, while adding ‘distinctive features tailored for fixed installations’.

The CCLi system offers compact dimensions (209 x 593 x 355mm) and a sleek design, making it suitable for system integrators, consultants and venue owners who are looking for ‘an innovative, powerful and subtle installation solution’. It offers broadband directivity control (down to 60 Hz) with low-frequency cardioid behaviour to focus acoustic energy onto the intended audience areas. This reduces unwanted low-frequency reflections from the side and rear wal

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14 November 2025

Europe - Absen has appointed Eero Rask as director of digital out-of-home (DOOH) for Europe. In this role, Eero will lead strategic growth, innovation, and operational activities across the region’s fast-evolving DOOH landscape.

Eero has held senior roles at Elisa Videra, LG Electronics, and Symbicon, delivering impactful AV solutions across Europe.

“I’m thrilled to join Absen at such an exciting time for the DOOH industry,” says Eero. “Absen’s reputation for innovation and quality is unmatched, and I look forward to building strong partnerships and delivering digital experiences that truly connect with audiences.”

“We’re delighted to welcome Eero to the team,” adds Ruben Rengel, vice-president of global business development. “His deep industry knowledge and strategic vision will be instrumental in accelerating our DOOH

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14 November 2025

World - Powersoft has announced two new appointments: Alessandro Bizzarri joins the company as marketing communications specialist, while Sofian Osman takes on the role of solutions engineer for south-east Asia.

With more than a decade of experience in the professional audio and musical instrument industries, Bizzarri initially entered the industry as a sound engineer in the distributor sector, before embarking on a decade-long career across editorial and marketing roles.

Commenting on his appointment, Bizzarri says: “In the professional audio industry, Powersoft is a true top-of-mind brand when it comes to performance and reliability in amplification. My professional goal in recent years has been to transition from the distributor side to the manufacturer side”.

Complementing this appointment, Osman joins Powersoft as solutions engineer

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14 November 2025

USA - Elation has announced the appointment of Jeff Washburn as regional sales representative for the US South-Central region.

Washburn brings a wealth of sales and business development experience gained during long tenures with High End Systems and Martin Professional. He comes to Elation from a position as sr. manager business development at ROE Visual, where he developed new client relationships and project opportunities.

In his new role as regional sales representative at Elation, Washburn will be working closely with the sales team to identify new opportunities and drive growth across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

Washburn started in the new position in October and states: “I’m excited for this opportunity. Innovation, a diverse product portfolio, and a leadership team that genuinely values its customers and employees are

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13 November 2025

Europe - Following another successful year on the road, BikeFest Spain returns for its fifth edition from 30 January to 1 February 2026, once again uniting the live events and entertainment technology community for a good cause.

Riders from across the industry are invited to take part in the 400km journey from Valencia to Barcelona, raising funds for Backup Tech, the charity providing vital financial and wellbeing support to technical professionals across live events, theatre, and entertainment.

Since its launch, BikeFest has become a highlight of the industry calendar, combining challenge, camaraderie and charity in equal measure. Each year, participants tackle a multi-day coastal route ending at the ISE show in Barcelona. Accommodation, meals, and a dedicated support vehicle are all included in the entry fee.

In 2025, the

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13 November 2025

UAE - RCF has strengthened its presence in the Middle East with the opening of a new regional office. Located in Dubai, this strategic expansion enhances proximity to the market and strengthens relationships with distributors, rental companies, integrators, and consultants.

To lead this initiative, Yannik Dahms has been appointed Middle East technical business developer for RCF and TT+ Audio. Yannik brings extensive experience as application engineer at RCF France. With a background as an instructor and system designer, Yannik will now play a key role in enabling RCF technologies throughout the region, providing field support and overseeing team coordination for all related activities.

Fully operational since November 2025, the new Middle East office serves as a technical and educational hub, supporting regional partners and fostering the adoption of

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13 November 2025

India - UK amplifier technology manufacturer MC² has appointed Alphatec as its exclusive distributor for India. Founded in 2015, Alphatec is an established distributor of global AV brands in India.

Commenting on behalf of MC², Richard Fleming looks forward to developing a productive relationship with Alphatec: “Alphatec’s extensive coverage and detailed knowledge of the Indian market is unrivalled. Their aim is to elevate the audio industry in India by supplying professionals, businesses, and enthusiasts with the tools they need to create exceptional sound experiences. We are excited to be part of that mission and look forward to working closely with the Alphatec in this vibrant and exciting market.”
 
Devasis Barkataki, founder and managing director of Alphatec adds: “We are proud to bring another renowned global brand to the Indian mar