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Germany - London-based Park Avenue Productions collaborated with German sister company Citigate SEA to produce a spectacular live show for the launch of the newly-formed HSH-Nordbank in Hamburg. The event, staged at the city's Colour Line Arena, celebrated the merger of two of North Germany's main financial institutions - Hamburgische Landesbank and LB Kiel.

Whilst the event's logistics were handled by Citigate, it fell to Park Avenue to co-ordinate all the technical and creative aspects of the show, one of the highlights of which, was a dramatic 20-minute aerial display of colour and movement artistically directed by lighting designer Simon Tapping and choreographed by Micha Bergese- well known for his work on the Millennium Dome's Central show.

Park Avenue realized an ambitio

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USA - Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, on tour since August 2002, make their final stop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 27 September. Audio Analysts, global tour sound suppliers for the Springsteen tour, recently expanded their JBL VerTec sound system for the stadium leg of the tour, making it the largest VerTec system assembled to date. "We wanted to have plenty of dynamic range, with seamless coverage everywhere," explained Albert Leccese, VP of engineering/touring for Audio Analysts. "We've been extremely happy with the performance of JBL's VerTec ystem."

The stadium-venue system consists of 120 VT4889 speakers and 56 VT4880 subwoofers configured in alternating rows. All are arrayed from the main stage position. No signal-delay towers have typically been required, as Audio Analysts' VerTec sound system design for the Springsteen world tour relies on lin

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USA - Several people have been in touch to draw our attention to a story that was posted on the online news site of the Atlantic City County News, which reports on a major collapse of the rig for a concert planned to take place at the city's Boardwalk Hall venue, featuring Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.

According to the news report, the large steel grid, on which a substantial amount of technical equipment was rigged, collapsed in the early afternoon during set-up. It also mentions that whilst most people escaped unhurt, three sustained minor injuries. The truss was apparently attached to the Boardwalk's false ceiling which was installed in the venue as part of a recent $90 million upgrade. An investigation is now underway. You can read the full report at the website below.

(Ruth Rossington)

featured content

Indochine X PixMob Fan Immersion

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's - 40 thousand LED pixels on a ceiling!!! Indochine's whirlwind tour transports fans to another level of the live experience - immersing them from floor to ceiling with PixMob's X4 wristbands, and an LED ceiling made entirely of its NOVA Minis! With the vision of Indochine's creative team, PixMob used its LED fan-technology to turn attendees and venues into an ocean of effects, and a starry sky of LED magic. Très très cool!

Read more about the Indochine tour in the latest issue of LSi

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UK - Brighton's Komedia has become one of the most popular venues in the UK for the promotion of new talent in theatre, comedy, cabaret and music. It's also become a leading light on Edinburgh Festival's Fringe in recent years. Its theatre and smaller cabaret space pack in over 500 shows a year, a figure that's set to rise sharply with the completion this summer of a comprehensive re-fit.

The theatre's home for the past five years has been a none-too-elegant former Tesco supermarket building in Gardner Street, in the vibrantly bohemian North Laine district at the heart of Brighton. Inside is a different story, with the upper floor a traditional end-on 200-seat theatre complete with a small bar, and the downstairs room a smaller cabaret, music and comedy space.

Director Tim Hawkins explains: "The theatre's only used around three or four days a week, but that's still quite

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UK - Skan PA Hire's attention to detail is immediately apparent on a visit to the FOH tower at Glastonbury, where the Reading-based company has provided PA and manpower for the second stage since 1991. Behind the two Midas Heritage consoles and equipment racks lurks a domestic scene equipped with sofa, coffee table stacked with audio magazines and a fully functioning kitchen built into 19" racks.

"We work with more than 60 sound engineers over the three days of the festival, and we only have a small window to make a good impression," says Skan director Chris Fitch. "Little details can make a big difference." Obviously this principle extends beyond domestic appliances to high standards of equipment, staff training and safety.

When Fitch and co-director Abby Llewellyn bought Skan from founder Peter Howard in 1996 (Fitch had worked for the company since

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France - With the 'Midnight Sun' summer festival tour dates now confirmed, Jamiroquai got into the swing early by playing an unpublicized free concert to race-goers at the legendary Le Mans 24-hour race, on the evening of Saturday 14 June. An audience of 40,000 revelled as Jay Kay and the band gave an unbroken 135 minutes of seriously good entertainment.

The performance was the highlight of an Audi UK-sponsored mini-festival (which lasted considerably longer than their racing car!) with further performances being provided by French and Italian bands throughout the weekend. The event was managed by Indeprod, a live event, video and new media solutions provider, commissioned by Audi UK. The company was assisted by Le Mans-based companies Bebop and Acropolis.

Indeprod's Nigel Dean became France-based, taking on the onerous task of converting a tree-strewn, rubble-covered field in

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UK / US - Sennheiser UK has announced a major distribution deal with US manufacturer, Rane Corporation. The Washington State-based company is a renowned innovator of affordable, problem solving, professional audio tools for the live touring, installation and DJ markets - an extensive range of which will be exhibited on Sennheiser's stand at PLASA 2003 (7-10 September), Earls Court, London.

Both companies view the agreement as a significant strategic move that will capitalize on complementary product lines. Sennheiser UK director of marketing, John Steven, comments: "Rane has an ideal product portfolio to fit with Sennheiser UK's existing brands, providing Sennheiser with an opportunity to offer extended systems integration solutions across a range of its customer markets.

"The RPM family of digital signal processors (DSP), coupled with Drag Net software, is a powerfu

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UK - We're seated in a large sitting room with an impressive mantled fireplace at its centre. Built of massive stone blocks, the room contains small, familiar details. Framed paintings on the walls appear to be in motion; the gargoyles are both terrifying and friendly. Yes, it's the spooky, cosy world of Hogwarts and the 5,000 lucky children surrounding it are in a state of high excitement for the latest Harry Potter story, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, including an appearance by author JK Rowling.

Lighting & Video

Sponsored by Bloomsbury Publishing, and taking place at London's Royal Albert Hall, the event is driven by Clear Channel, as LD Mark Cunniffe explained. "Graham Pullen as executive producer and Katherine Allen from Initial were pivotal to making it work, while Phil Christianson in the production manager's seat did a fantastic job. There were

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USA - Martin Professional Inc has hired Matthias Hinrichs as control product specialist. Working out of Martin's West Coast office, Hinrichs will provide sales and technical support for the growing Martin line of control products, which includes the newly released Maxxyz professional lighting console.

"By providing excellent customer service, as well as supporting the sales department with all questions regarding control products, Matthias will help provide the right product for the right application," commented Michael Nevitt, control product manager at Martin US. "He was an integral part of the Maxxyz Beta Test Group for the past year, which makes for a seamless transition into the Martin team. It's a great benefit to have another control expert on the staff."

Henrichs, a German native who originally hails from Berlin, moved to Los Angeles in 2002. Prior

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UK - The Orkney Islands, off the coast of Scotland, might be considered one of the least likely locations for a high-profile dance club and live music venue - but that is precisely what Neil Stevenson, who runs Groove Records and promotes bands on the island, has established in the capital of Kirkwall.

'Fusion', as he has called it, is literally that. And to serve bands' and DJs' technological interests, Stevenson has enlisted top-quality project management and leading pro audio brands. This, he believes, will give bands the comfort factor should they wish to play a secret gig prior to embarking on a major tour, and obviate the need to carry their own production, other than backline.

He thus turned to LMC Audio's Birmingham branch, whereupon the experienced Mark Bromfield set about putting together a sound and vision spec, based around Martin Audio Blackline loudspeakers and B

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UK - Following a short spell away from the industry, Adrian Mulcahy has joined the sales team at Leisuretec Distribution Ltd. Mulcahy was formerly employed at Marshall Amplification in the role of Artist Liaison, where he was responsible for product endorsements. Prior to this he was worked for MI retailers Music Village, where he gained experience of the extremely competitive retail market.

Nick Spalding MD of Leisuretec Distribution commented on the appointment: "I am delighted that Adrian has joined our sales team as I believe he is very customer-focused, an element that is crucial in our aim to provide high levels of customer service through our 'Pure Distribution' policy'."

Leisuretec Distribution currently offers in excess of 5,000 products from more than 75 manufacturers to trade customers only.

(Ruth Rossington)

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USA - Elation Professional has introduced the Pro Haze DMX, a high-output DMX-compatible haze generator targeted at the professional market. Suited to theatres, stage shows, concerts and nightclubs, the Pro Haze DMX produces a thin, even layer of haze, as opposed to bursts of thick fog.

With a 560W heater core and a haze output of 2500 cubic feet per minute, the Pro Haze DMX is powerful enough to handle even large-size concert halls and theatres. No warm-up time is required and the unit will start generating haze as soon as it is turned on. The unit can be operated with any standard DMX512 controller, allowing clubs and lighting directors to co-ordinate haze production with their other DMX-compatible lighting fixtures and special effects. The hazer can also be operated via remote control, either wired or wireless, and comes with wired timer/volume remote control. An optional 10

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UK - I-Vision has supplied 12m of its new I-LED 1200 colour changing LED strip light system to lighting specialists Fentura Production Services. These went straight out on the road for a UK tour with L'Oreal, starring renowned hairdresser Trevor Sorbie.

I-Vision's latest DMX-controlled LED lighting product utilizes Luxeon high-brightness LEDs. Fentura's Tim Matthews explains that they added the I-Vision strips to their hire stock because the fixtures are ideal for 'set' lighting, and are equally as bright as other LED products - but more cost effective. Matthews' lighting design for the L'Oreal show featured seven I-LED 1200mm strips and four I-LED 600mm strips, which were used to up-light the shiny PVC set, designed by Russ Mamik of Pulse Event Services. The LEDs produced a full range of pastel and deeply saturated colours.

Matthews' biggest challenge was to make the set look

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UK - PLASA Media has learned of the death of Arthur Lampkin, the founder of Wembley Loudspeaker. Paul MacCallum, who took the company over from Lampkin and is its current managing director, has provided us with the following obituary:

Arthur was from a large family of 10, and in his earlier years, life was a huge struggle for all of them. However, he managed a good Grammar School education and became interested with (then still relatively new) radio/wireless. During World War II, he was one of a secret team making concealed radios/transmitters for use by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the airforce.

Following the war, he was asked to set up a new loudspeaker factory in Wales (Truvoice - part of Phillips) and instigated the first flow-line assembly, along with various test procedures. In 1957 he moved back to London area and was the service manager for Goodmans L

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UK - Red Bull UK staged their biggest ever event in Hyde Park, London, in early August. The event, hosted by Tess Daly and Brian Dowling, involved 40 teams launching their homemade flying machines off a 6m high runway into the Serpentine, cheered on by thousands of enthusiastic onlookers.

Attended by an estimated 150,000 people, who watched the 40 teams of mad participants launching themselves in home-built 'flying machines' from the huge floating runway, the event was the climax of 18 months of planning and development, which involved over 110 Red Bull staff.

At the centre of the serpentine was the main runway, built by Star Hire, an impressive 40m long by 10m wide, leaving the contestants and their flying machines a 6m drop into the water. To ensure all the crowds could see the action in the park, which is covered in trees, four big screens with relay sound systems were empl

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UK - Vestax Europe has announced that it will be pulling together an all-star line up for DJ Sunday at PLASA 2003. The world famous Carl Cox will be launching his mixer, the PMC-CX, whilst Karl 'Tuff Enuff' Brown and Lisa Unique will launch the all-new PMC-500 club mixer, an industry standard of the future.

Meanwhile Andy Smith of Portishead and Dynamo Productions, will be performing his Document 2 album on the new Vestax scratch mixer and visitors will also be able to see DJ Pogo and Dj Biznizz (En4cers) perform on the Faderboard. Plus, the Vestax World Champion DJ Woody will be throwing open a challenge to all comers to show any innovative tricks on the PDX turntable with the opportunity to win a whole bunch of Vestax goodies. The company is also throwing a party on Sunday 7th with DJ Andy Smith and some very special guests lined up.

Vestax can be found on Stand H80.

(Ruth

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USA - Wybron has announced the appointment of industry veteran John W. Fuller as vice-president, sales and marketing, with effect 1 October 2003. Fuller has been involved in entertainment lighting for over 25 years: in the late 70s, he worked as a stagehand and eventually as technical director of Macky Auditorium - a 2,500-seat roadhouse at the University of Colorado.

Since 1992, Fuller has been president of the Lee Filters USA division of Panavision. He says: "Wybron products have consistently maintained the best possible reputation for quality in our industry. While I will miss my colleagues at Lee Filters, I am honoured to become part of the fantastic group of people building some of the best gear in entertainment lighting."

(Lee Baldock)

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UK - This year's Festival of Speed, the 10th anniversary event at the Earl of March's idyllic Goodwood estate, was dominated by a stunning structure built for Ford by Edwin Shirley Staging (ESS). Designed by Gerry Judah of Judah Design and turned into reality by ESS's Steve Colley and Graham Turner, the spectacularly sloping structure presented replicas of the three Ford GT40s which won the historic 1st, 2nd and 3rd place victory at the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour race.

"The project was all about 100 years of Ford," said ESS project manager Rob Smalldon, "and was one of the most challenging projects I've been involved with for some time."

From the ground, the structure rose 34m with a width of 25m. Edwin Shirley Trucking (EST) shipped in 217m of regular roof truss, 126m of LT Tower Truss, 604m of cabling and 102 bespoke purlins in a total of 16 trucks. The ESS tea

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UK - The Soundtracs DS-00 digital production console, launched at the NAB Convention in Las Vegas in April, has notched up its first 10 sales since it began shipping last month. The DS-00 breaks new ground in combining a wealth of high-end post-production and broadcast facilities in a compact, modular console at an unprecedented price point.

Among the first 10 customers is renowned songwriter/producer Peter Vettese, whose recent musical collaborations have included Mark Owen, Beverley Knight, Mel C and Annie Lenox's 'Bare' album. Peter is upgrading his Andy Munro-designed production room - Production Suite 2 - at Sphere Studios, south London, having used a Soundtracs Virtua console for several years.

Peter comments: "A lot of production rooms in London are focused around ProTools, which I use at Sphere, but I find that having an external mixing desk with plenty of headroo

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The Netherlands - Rising Dutch singer/songwriter Tasha's World opted to use Trantec's award-winning S5000 wireless radio microphone system from the start of her professional tour 18 months ago. Her unique vocals have caused a stir in Europe, Japan and in the UK with her being awarded an Essent Award in June 2003. Numerous radio and television appearances, coupled with performances at major International Festivals, including The Lowlands Festival and Noorderslag Festival and more recently at the world famous North Sea Jazz in The Hague, have further propelled Tasha's World into a league of her own as one of Europe's most talented 'Hip Soul' artists.

Tasha's World performs live with a complement of eight musicians and two backing vocals. As a veritable 'jazz soul' set-up, Trantec's S5000 MC hand-held condenser microphone operates to maximum effect, providing an ideal complement fo

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UK - It's being described as popular entertainment at its best, a show which reverts to 'a time when men were men and women were broads'. Frank, Sammy and Dean - The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas opened to rave reviews in June at the Strand Theatre in London. Just over a month later it has succeeded in breaking the theatre's box office records with more than 200,000 tickets sold so far. The show, produced by Flying Music, celebrates the talents of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin, who are immortalized on stage in this lavish production set in their favourite live venue, The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas.

LiteStructures was called in to build the stage set. John Roe, LiteStructures' sales representative said: "When Sean Cavanagh, the set designer came to us asking for something tough but attractive enough to keep up with the glitzy Las Vegas image, ClearDeck wa

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