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20 October 2025

World - Prog rock musician Steven Wilson is currently on his The Overview Tour, for which tour manager, Dave Salt has chosen Britannia Row Productions to provide sound reinforcement. The crew toured the UK, Ireland, and Europe and are currently in North America before they close out the year in Australia.

“Touring only happens when Steven feels its right to do it,” says Dave. “It’s never rushed. Steven had not toured as a solo artist for over six years, and we had to up the game for this tour and make sure we had the best available people and PA system to deliver the results to his audience.”

FOH engineer Alessandro Melchior describes the project as something “designed to be truly immersive, engaging multiple senses to create a deeper connection with the audience.”

Alongside a well-executed visual design, fans were imme

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20 October 2025

USA - Casa Mañana Theatre is both a landmark and an engine of creativity for Fort Worth’s cultural landscape. For resident sound designer and engineer Allan Branson, Casa Mañana is a place where ‘precision audio and heartfelt storytelling intersect’.

Branson first joined the company in 2021, after years of designing sound for Arkansas Repertory Theatre and Pioneer Theatre Company. “We stay busy pretty much year-round,” he says regarding Casa Mañana’s schedule. “Between our Broadway season, the Theatre for Youth series, cabarets and summer camps, there’s always something happening here. Our mission is to bring professional-level theatre to Fort Worth. For many of the kids who come through our doors, our shows are their very first experience with live performance. It’s amazing to watch their faces when the lights go down and the m

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20 October 2025

USA - After performing a hundred shows across two Las Vegas residencies from 2021 to 2023 plus 2024’s Super Bowl halftime spectacular, Usher opted to record his ninth studio album, Coming Home, and announced a supporting global arena tour, Past Present Future.

Overwhelming fan demand for the eight-time Grammy Award-winner prompted the tour’s expansion to 83 dates across the world. At all stops, Usher’s performances, featuring dozens of songs from across his three-decade career, were backed by a robust Cohesion PA.

The three-stage show used 16 Cohesion CO12 on each of the mains, side-hangs, and 270° hangs. The line lengths were extended to 18 for certain larger venues in Europe. At each performance, a special VIP seating section between the main stage and B stage received an array of four Cohesion CO10 flown directly above as

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20 October 2025

USA - Three long-established acts – Toto, Men at Work, and Christopher Cross – joined forces for a summer 2025 North American tour that featured a lighting production designed by Greg Classen and powered by Bandit Lites.

With stops across the continent in cities such as West Palm Beach, Nashville, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City, the tour ‘blends musical nostalgia with forward-thinking production values’.

At the helm of the show’s bold visual identity was Greg Classen. Backed by Bandit Lites' deep inventory, seasoned crew, and detailed preparation process, Classen’s lighting design transformed the tour into ‘a cohesive and visually stunning production’.

“When I bring Bandit Lites in on a show, I feel confident that from initial drawings and renderings to the finished product being loaded onto the truck, full attention will be p

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20 October 2025

Croatia - Kazalište 21 (Theatre 21) in Sisak, one of the city’s most cherished cultural landmarks, has reopened its doors with a modern Elation lighting system by Audio Video Consulting (AVC), marking a major milestone in the theatre’s post-earthquake recovery. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on 29 December 2020 caused significant damage to the venue, temporarily silencing a key hub of local arts and culture.

The newly renovated theatre is a modern performance venue, capable of hosting theatre, music, and puppet productions at the highest professional level. Operated by Dom kulture Kristalna kocka vedrine – City Theatre Sisak, its contemporary aesthetics are matched by an advanced technical infrastructure, offering a flexible and inspiring environment for artists and audiences alike. At the heart of this transformation is a new Ela

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20 October 2025

USA - Nine Inch Nails’ aptly named Peel It Back tour ended its 38-city global summer run on 19 September at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. The tour will begin a second North American leg on 5 February in New Orleans.

The result of an intense collaborative effort involving lighting designer Paul (Arlo) Guthrie, Todd Tourso and Mel Roy of MTLA, as well as Cory Fitzgerald of Silent House, the stage production ‘immerses fans in a transcendent visual journey’.

This journey begins on the 360° B stage located in the middle of the arena floor, where frontman Trent Reznor performs A Minute To Breathe lit by Chauvet Professional OnAir Panel soft white lights, and later moves on to a full-fledged visual blitzkrieg on the main stage.

Guthrie, NIN’s long-time designer, described how it all came together. “We had an anti-technol

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20 October 2025

The Netherlands - Bar Nola, in the heart of Maastricht, offers the opportunity to experience the ambience and elegance of a big-city bar. The interior, designed by architect Hans Kuiten, features ambient LED lighting by Artecta, chosen by Harald Verjans from Verjans AV, enhancing the mood by casting a warm, inviting glow that complements the fine furnishings.

Owners Tom Hamaekers and Ricky Quaaden are thrilled with how Bar Nola turned out. Its surroundings make it a popular place for customers to relax, sip cocktails, and enjoy the DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.

To create the ambience, Verjans AV installed Artecta Dropper and Neonflex lighting, which integrates seamlessly into the bar’s stylish surroundings. These units, powered by energy-efficient drivers from Artecta and Meanwell, ensure both safety and performance.

Harald Verjans, ow

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17 October 2025

Japan - Loudspeaker manufacturer Funktion-One has appointed Audio Gears Co as its distributor for Japan and Taiwan, building on the company’s successful presence in Thailand and Vietnam.

Audio Gears Japan will be headed by CEO Osamu Satoh and Audio Gears Taiwan by CEO Joyun Huang. With offices in their respective countries, both executives and their teams bring deep industry knowledge, local market expertise and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional audio experiences.

Parent company Audio Gears Co is led by founder Jesada ‘Jack’ Pattanatabut (CEO), owner of Production Company and a respected live sound engineer, together with Bob Siripremanant (COO), owner of After Miracle Plus Company. Between them, they bring more than 60 years of combined experience in pro audio rental, live sound and concert production management.

Osamu Sato

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17 October 2025

Europe - Adam Hall Integrated Systems continues to expand its international dealer network. With immediate effect, installation solutions from LD Systems, Palmer, Gravity, Adam Hall Cables und Adam Hall 19” parts are available in Belgium via DigiNet.

Paul Nijsen, product manager live power, DigiNet, comments, “We are delighted to add Adam Hall Integrated Systems' high-quality installation solutions to our portfolio. The one-stop solution approach with matching brands complements our range in many ways. Our goal is to work with Adam Hall Integrated Systems to implement customised solutions for our customers in order to make a long-term impact on the market in Belgium.”

Leon Vissers, account manager Benelux, Adam Hall Group, adds, “DigiNet combines in-depth market knowledge with technical consulting expertise, making it an important strategic p

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17 October 2025

Estonia - HK Audio has named Rock Distribution as its new official distribution partner for Estonia. The company is now the exclusive distributor for HK Audio in the country, offering the German manufacturer’s products to the local market. 

"I am very pleased to announce that we have taken over the distribution of HK Audio in Estonia,” says Edijs Rudzis, CEO of Rock Distribution. “HK Audio is a strong and recognised player in the field of professional audio technology, and we firmly believe in its innovative strength and quality. This partnership strengthens our position in the market and enables us to bring first-class sound solutions even closer to our Estonian customers. We look forward to a successful future together."

“We are delighted to have gained an experienced and committed partner for Estonia in Rock Distribution,” adds Christia

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17 October 2025

USA - Diamond Rio has touched a lot of musical bases in their storied career during their 15-city fall tour. Reflecting the scope of the six-piece group’s music with dynamic looks that engage audiences is a boldly coloured lighting design by Willis Underhill that features a broad selection of Chauvet Professional fixtures.

Running his show on a ChamSys MagicQ MQ500M+, Underhill of Graffiti Lighting Concepts calls forth a continuously changing stream of colours to reflect the mood of each song. “I like to rely on bold colour combinations to help evoke emotion and help create moments between the band and the crowd,” he explained. “I use a lot of reds, whites, yellows, and deep orange for high-energy moments on this tour. For more intimate moments, I lean towards pastels and similar colours

In one of the band’s earliest fall shows in Paxton IL

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17 October 2025

USA - Alice Cooper brought his theatrical shock rock show to fans worldwide, powered by a full JBL Professional VTX rig supplied by longtime production partner SLS Production Services. The Too Close for Comfort tour just completed its second year with nearly 200 shows, and required a system that could adapt to everything from large amphitheatres to historic theatres.

The touring rig featured JBL VTX A12 line array loudspeakers for mains and side-hangs, VTX A8 speakers for fills, and VTX B18, B28 and G28 subwoofers to deliver low end. The rig also included JBL VTX M20 stage monitors. Power is supplied by Crown I-Tech HD 4x3500HD amplifiers, with JBL Performance Manager software enabling fast deployment and tuning from city to city.

Systems engineer Todd Hartman emphasised the importance of flexibility on a tour that shifted daily between venu

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17 October 2025

UK - PSCo has announced the appointment of Laura McCay as LED project manager, based at Innovation House in Bracknell.

In her new role, Laura will oversee the operational delivery of LED projects from inception through to handover. Her responsibilities include coordinating with customers and cross-functional teams, managing project timelines, resources, and budgets, and ensuring all projects are delivered to the highest standard. Working closely with PSCo’s pre-sales and engineering teams, Laura will also play a crucial role in ensuring seamless execution and troubleshooting operational challenges.

Laura joins from Kinly, bringing with her significant AV industry experience and a proven track record of managing complex projects.

Greg Bennett, general manager at Midwich, said: “I am super pleased to have Laura join the team, who brings wit

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17 October 2025

South Africa - Earlier this year, DWR Distribution welcomed DiGiCo’s Tristan Mazire and Ian Staddon to South Africa for a DiGiCo masterclass. DWR’s Kyle Robson, who represents the DiGiCo brand at DWR, helped coordinate the visit.

The masterclass took place at DWR’s Johannesburg offices in June and at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, with both sessions fully booked. Tristan shared his insights from over 20 years of experience in live sound, post-production, and recording, with a focus on DiGiCo consoles, KLANG, Fourier Audio and Sound Devices integration.

“My experience in South Africa was amazing,” says Tristain. “It’s a beautiful country, and I met so many talented technicians. The training sessions were packed, and delegates were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions about workflows and processes. The level of knowledge here is

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17 October 2025

Austria - The opening show of the FISU World University Games is a high-energy production designed to set the tone for the entire tournament. Capturing the attention of a global audience with a vibrant blend of live performance, dynamic lighting, and large-scale video, to welcome and excite athletes and guests.

The ambitious production was broadcast live on German television and streamed internationally, requiring reliability and seamless integration. At the heart of the visual system was AV Stumpfl’s Pixera media server platform, chosen for its stability, flexibility, and ability to meet the complex demands of the opening ceremony show.

The ceremony was produced by Gerdon Design, who created the video package for the event. Media server specialists Bildmaschine were brought in to provide and operate the playback system. It marked the first collabo

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17 October 2025

USA - LEA Professional has announced the appointment of Andrew Goulson as strategic account manager. At LEA, Goulson will support LEA's sales and expansion efforts.

Goulson has nearly 20 years of experience in the AV industry, specialising in live sound and recording engineering. He will leverage this extensive experience by collaborating nationally with LEA’s outstanding representatives and dealers.

“I’m excited to join such a driven and forward-thinking team at LEA,” says Goulson. “With my background, I feel well-equipped to immediately connect with the technology, understand the needs of our partners in the field, and integrate seamlessly into the company’s culture of innovation and collaboration.”

“We remain fully committed to growing the LEA team with top-tier talent, and bringing Andrew on board is a significant step for

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17 October 2025

UK - The Sausage & Cider Festival rolled out the Milos MR2K roof structure with HTS to 15 locations during the 2025 season, commencing in Wollaton Park, Nottingham, at the end of May and concluding in St Nicholas Park, Warwick, last month. Festival goers indulged in a variety of sausages and ciders from around the world whilst enjoying live music and DJs over a three-day weekender.

The festival demands a stage set-up that delivers both spectacle and safety. HTS were commissioned to deliver the stage structures for all locations, working closely with PKUK, who provided full production support, including lighting, sound, and video.

HTS deployed their Milos MR2K 12mtr x 10mtr roof system, equipped with tech sheds and an access ramp, to provide a robust, visually impressive structure capable of handling the demands of up to 10,000 KG of live

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17 October 2025

Finland - Situated in the town of Kokkola, Centria University of Applied Sciences offers higher education across five core fields - engineering, business, social and health care, humanities and culture.

Led by Centria’s AV and education specialist, Janne Torvikoski, the university has adopted a new technology standard based around Lightware’s Taurus UCX-4x3-HC40-BD solution to unify classroom devices and provide a smoother experience for teachers and students alike.

“Through interviews with our teaching staff, it became clear that the lack of permanent hybrid devices, such as microphones and cameras, and the need to set up the room peripherals for every class, were a huge drain on teachers’ time and caused stress. We needed to rethink our classrooms and develop a more user-friendly solution,” explains Torvikoski.

Most teachers prefe

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16 October 2025

USA - Midwich Group has announced a reorganisation of its North American leadership structure, designed to better leverage the combined strengths of Midwich US and SFM (a Midwich Group company) while enhancing service and support across the US and Canadian markets.

The new structure formalises a holistic approach to regional leadership while maintaining the distinct business models, local leadership teams and operational independence that drive success in each market’.

The restructured North American leadership team includes the following appointments, effective immediately:

Ghyslain Berger has been named chief executive officer for North America, assuming regional CEO responsibilities. Ghyslain has been part of SFM's executive team for over seven years, six of which as COO, and more recently as president.

Chantal Baraniuk Morin ass

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16 October 2025

UK - The LIVE Trust has published its initial grant making strategy detailing its approach to investing in programmes that benefit grassroots venues, artists, promoters, and festivals. This paper covers the Trust’s planned activities running up to the awarding of the first grants, expected in January 2026.

The strategy builds on principles set out by LIVE when establishing the LIVE Trust and draws on input from trustees, sector bodies, policymakers, and grassroots practitioners from across the UK. It sets out how the Trust will use the first wave of funds generated from tours building the £1 contribution into performances at venues over 5,000 capacity (increasingly the norm for qualifying shows).

In this round, the Trust will fund up to six programmes. “Funded organisations will already exist and have the ability to deliver impactful programmes