USA - The Treetop Trail is reimagining what it means to visit the Minnesota Zoo. As the longest elevated pedestrian loop in the world, the 1.25-mile Treetop Trail brings guests up to 32ft into the canopy, offering a breathtaking birds-eye view of the zoo and animals below. In addition to creating a sense of awe and wonder, it connects guests with nature and inspires action to save wildlife in Minnesota and around the world. The zoo has already named the new ambassador to the trail's habitat: a North American porcupine named Quillber.
There are several ‘lookouts’ along the trail, which serve as areas of interest in which zoo docents inform visitors about the area they're in or animals they can see. These lookouts will also be used for small-scale musical performances throug

Indonesia - Suara’s independent art, music, culture and educational festival is set on the pristine Tabanan coast on the Indonesian island of Bali. Founded for the good of its community, the unique two-day event has a clear mission to bring together locals and visitors to connect and celebrate the beauty of Balinese heritage and nature.
Now in its second year, the location for Suara is Nuanu City, ‘a home for visionaries and creators’. The festival itself welcomed around 4,000 visitors daily who could enjoy a packed schedule of workshops, cultural activities and performances across nine unique stages.
An outdoor festival requires high-performance, flexible and discreet loudspeakers and when it came to choosing the supplier for Suara, K-array was the ‘first choice’ for general producer Vladimir Belyakov and sound engineer Semen Chumanikhin: “Having experienc

UK - Taking its inspiration from street market culture, the recently opened Arcade Food Hall at the restored Battersea Power Station has seating for 500 customers and boasts 13 different cuisines on its menu. As well as the Food Hall, the 24,000sq.ft space also features two bars, three restaurants, and a private dining room and has been an instant hit with diners. Along with winning food and drink offerings, the space also hosts a wide variety of events, from product and PR launches to summer socials and music after parties.
Given its multi-functional nature, premium audio was essential for the venue, with integrators HD Pro Audio (part of Marquee Group) engaged to design and install a suitable system.
HD Pro Audio had previously carried out interim work and programming updates on Arcade’s existing Tottenham Court Road venue, having been introduced by a longstanding
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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

Germany - Electro-Voice has received a glowing endorsement from Steve Harris, the bassist, founder and band leader of Iron Maiden - one of the most influential and enduringly popular bands in heavy metal, with sales over 70 million albums worldwide. Renowned for their stunning live shows, the band’s The Future Past Tour 2023 recently wrapped on 6th October, and saw stadiums packed with a new generation of fans alongside seasoned metalheads.
Harris’s signature sound and fast-fingerstyle technique have made him one of the most instantly recognisable bassist in heavy metal - as noted by Loudwire magazine, which named him the best hard rock and metal bassist of all time.
The relationship with Electro-Voice cements the long-standing trust that Harris has placed in his EV-equipped rig, solidifying a shared commitment to uncompromising audio quality that st

Australia - Canberra’s Belconnen Art Centre has chosen Prolights' EclDisplay range as the main lighting system for its innovative Window Gallery, an exhibition gallery overlooking the street. The space operates in 24-hour mode and is visible from the outside, attracting the attention of passers-by at all times of the day, meaning a suitable lighting system was required.
For this, Linda Buck - technical manager at Belconnen Art Centre - relied on Show Technology, Prolights' distributor in Australia, to select the new system. She explains: “The Window Gallery is a tricky space to deal with as you have light in the day coming through and then night time too. I decided to look at different options for profile-type lights in the gallery space that also had Casambi control.”
Prolights’ EclDisplay range was ultimately selected, with the installation of spotlights in

Norway - When dining at a Michelin Guide restaurant, the focus isn’t usually on the audio - more often everyone’s eyes are focused on the plates of well-crafted food. However, Villa Heftye - a laid-back bistro in the heart of Oslo - recently took the focus away from revamping its ever-changing seasonal menu to renovate its listed restaurant with a custom Genelec sound system.
Villa Heftye began life as a bank back in 1864. Commissioned by Jorgen Haslev Heftye and designed by Norwegian architect Georg Andreas Bull, it was bought in 2018 by local investor Runar Vatne for NOK 80 million. In 2021 the villa became restaurant Villa Heftye, an elegant yet casual bistro with an emphasis on French-inspired cuisine that uses seasonal Nordic ingredients.
"The brief was to build an audio system with the best possible sound," begins Henning Dyngvold, founder of Appletify who in

Germany - German Light Products (GLP), a leading German manufacturer of professional lighting technology, has appointed Dubai-based Provision AVL as its distributor for the entire Middle East region.
As a leading provider of pro audio, lighting, video, rigging and staging solutions in the Middle East, Provision AVL is now able to offer customers in the region access to GLP’s entire portfolio of innovative solutions, coupled with “outstanding local service and support”.
Kevin Boujikian, general manager of Provision AVL, comments: “We are pleased to add GLP’s world-class product range to our portfolio and offer it to our customers. As one of the leading brands in the industry, GLP’s products are recognised by professionals for their technology and quality. We are confident that this partnership will be a great success. Our customers look forward to having ac

UK - A new chapter for The Purple Guide was announced at Vision 2025’s Sustainable Event Summit on 18 October 2023. The new chapter concerns Environmental Sustainability for Events and offers a concise overview of the subject, signposting areas of best practice for outdoor events to enable the industry to assess national environmental standards by local authorities, with an aim of reaching Net Zero by 2030.
Chris Johnson, Vision: 2025 chair, and Steve Heap, event industry forum chair, took to the stage in front of a packed marquee of event professionals, to announce The Purple Guide’s latest chapter. Heap explains: “There is a collective voice within our industry that agrees action must be taken, which is why it felt right for the EIF to commission Vision: 2025 to coordinate the writing of this new chapter, to provide consistent, national guidance to benchmark s

USA - Genelec Inc. (aka Genelec USA), the US distribution arm of Finland-based active monitor manufacturer Genelec, announces a wave of appointments, promotions and new hires in 2023, as the company continues to develop its strong sales force, streamlined logistics, and industry-leading customer support. Additionally, the company’s headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, have been remodelled with a variety of ultra-modern updates and amenities, including an open-area floor plan with expanded dining facilities, as well as a new modular office cubicle layout to handle the bolstered employee roster.
First, longtime Genelec USA team member Eric Daubney has been promoted to digital content manager. Out of college in 2012, he worked in the world of recording studios, music publishing, and post-production, where he regularly encountered Genelec studio monitors. “I had never hea

Mexico - The Moon Palace is the biggest and busiest hotel and conference centre complex on Mexico’s sought-after eastern coast Riviera Maya region, just south of Cancun.
Owned by Palace Resorts, the property offers three large indoor conference and event centres plus three substantial outdoor terraces and a beach venue, the latter of which can accommodate up to 10,000 people for concerts. All these spaces are operated via umbrella company Palace Productions which is also responsible for production and delivery of the constant and diverse stream of business and private events.
Armando Manjarrez is the technical director of Quantum, Palace Productions’ technical services enterprise that supplies and co-ordinates all technical requirements - lighting, audio, and video - across the Moon Palace complex. Quantum owns substantial amounts of lighting, audio and video kit,

UK - A brand new contemporary art gallery has opened in Brighton’s cultural centre of North Laine where an extensive selection of contemporary art is complemented by a Void Acoustics system to entertain its patrons.
Helm Gallery is co-owned by entrepreneur Luke Davis and art curator Eden Maseyk, who have realised their creative vision across 7,000 square feet set across two floors. This multi-purpose, inclusive arts space hosts unique art events; ‘sip and paint’ classes; and exclusive exhibitions from local and worldwide artists, as well as offering a dynamic social space where a resident DJ performs every weekend.
Marquee AV were appointed to provide a stylish, high end music system which would enhance, but not detract from, the key focus of the space - the art adorning the walls. The gallery has been designed as a crisp, bright, modern white space with all fix

World News - The MTV Europe Music Awards have been cancelled over "devastating events in Israel and Gaza". Organisers Paramount said this was "out of an abundance of caution". "Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward," a statement said.
The show was scheduled to take place in Paris on 5 November, with performances from BTS's Jung Kook and former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne. Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj were nominated for best artist. Paramount describes the MTV EMAs as "an annual celebration of global music," but said as "events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration.”
"Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abundance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew me

USA - Apogee Electronics has announced the appointment of Alex Oana as its new global sales manager, effective immediately.
With a career spanning over 35 years in the audio industry, Oana brings a wealth of diverse experience and expertise to Apogee. His journey has included roles as an award-winning recording engineer/producer, FOH mixer for Pharrell Williams and N*E*R*D, salesperson for Vintage King Audio, vice president of Slate, where he spearheaded the creation and development of the Raven, and the founder of Audio Test Kitchen - a web platform offering unbiased comparisons of audio equipment.
Alex Oana commented: "Joining Apogee is an opportunity to contribute to a brand I've long admired as well as relied on as an audio engineer. My sales role is about providing service to our distribution and dealer partners who enable Apogee to continually expand and delight

Korea - Neumann’s Miniature Clip Microphone System (MCM) has been making waves since its release. In Korea, with artists like Jang Ha-eun (classical guitarist), Mellow Kitchen (saxophonist), and KoN (violinist) joining the ranks of MCM users, it is evident that Neumann's MCM is making waves.
Jang Ha-eun is a popular South Korean singer and classical guitarist who has made a name for herself on the international stage. Most notably, she was one of the finalists at the popular South Korean talent show Superband 2 and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York with the Union City Orchestra. Her collaboration with prestigious orchestras such as the Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bolshoi Theatre National Opera Orchestra have further showcased her exceptional guitar skills and musical talent.
“I always aim to achieve the best sound quality for all my perfo

USA - Tony Caporale uses the word ‘array’ quite often when talking about his 61-universe lighting design for Grammy-winners, Tedeschi Trucks Band on their recently completed North American tour. That’s not just because he used 53 Chauvet Professional Strike Array fixtures to convey the 12-member band’s outsized energy level; in actuality it has to do with his approach to creating the dynamic production that supported their music.
“I’ve been saying ‘array’ a lot when I talk about this show,” said the designer and programmer. “The word really just sums up the vision we had for this show. We’ve grouped all of the fixtures in this rig in clusters, to create what I call an ‘array-style look’. Brian Pirrone, who has a great knowledge of this band, helped great deal in connecting me to their spirit.”
The array configuration that Caporale arrived at

USA - Located in the Perkinson Music Centre at the 122-year-old private Millikin University in Decatur, IL, Kaeuper Hall is a 167-seat auditorium that has just taken delivery of the very first white Martin Audio Torus system, matched to the room décor.
It is the Hall’s first ever permanently installed sound system, despite its multipurpose usage. “There was no PA in there previously, they had just been using speakers on sticks … since forever, yet it runs pretty much the whole gamut of performance,” according to designer Graeme Brown, whose company Advanced Audio & Lighting Systems carried out the integration. This includes events ranging from lectures to individual recitals and opera rehearsals to guest performances and intimate concerts.
The university contacted his company for a quote, and Brown was soon on site carrying out a survey. His concern was no

France - Chaillot - Théâtre national de la Danse, one of France's six national theatres, is currently renovating its Salle Jean Vilar. The work is part of a dual drive to improve energy consumption and modernise stage design tools, including the replacement of existing lighting fixtures to ensure an early and carefully considered transition to LED technologies.
Built in 1937, the TNC is an exceptional venue in Paris because of the place it occupies in the history of live performance in France with the creation of the Théâtre national populaire founded by Firmin Gémier, and subsequently supported and developed by Jean Vilar. It is also part of world history since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed here in 1948.
Today, a cultural institution 100% dedicated to dance, in a location facing the Trocadéro fountains and the Eiffel Tower, the theatre com

Ireland - The International Rugby Experience celebrates the game at an international level and is located in the centre of Limerick City.
Designed by architect Níall McLaughlin, the new seven-story building provides a space to draw visitors to Limerick, as well as providing a new hub for the local community.
The International Rugby experience boasts six floors with 22 exhibits that follow the game from a community, grass roots level, up to the players, clubs and nations that have reached the top.
To bring the immersive experience to life, The IRE (International Rugby Experience) turned to Rockbrook Group, local specialists in system integration, automation and AV, and commissioned them to deliver the complete integrated AV system for the entire project.
There was a requirement for speakers that not only delivered exceptional audio but also blended seaml

Colombia - Hippotizer Media Servers have been installed at Caracol Televisión studios as part of a set upgrade for the popular singing competition Yo me Llamo (My Name Is).
The network is one of the biggest clients for AV equipment supplier and production design company Visual in Motion, which regularly deploys LED screens, lighting fixtures and Media Servers to set.
For the latest season of Yo me Llamo - where contestants mimic famous singers in live performances to be crowned winner - Visual in Motion collaborated with the network to design a set concept and specify LED screens, lighting, control, content and Media Server systems. The result was a decadent, classic theatre set complete with red velvet drapes, chandeliers and gold-framed LED screens driven by a Hippotizer Nevis+.
“The main challenge that we encountered was the amount of

The Netherlands - Elation Professional recently held a successful event for its European distributor network. rELATIONship 2023 was a special gathering that the lighting manufacturer says was more akin to a family get-together than a business meeting. The event was held 16-18 October in the beautiful surroundings of the historic Abbey Hotel Rolduc on the outskirts of Kerkrade, hometown of Elation's European headquarters.
Over 60 representatives from Elation’s European partner network took part, looking to "strengthen personal bonds and celebrate the ties that make the family-owned company special".
“rELATIONship was a blast and a huge success,” says Marc Librecht, sales & marketing director at Elation Europe. “For us, the most important part of doing business is the relationships we have the opportunity to build and the memories we create with some wonderfu

Australia - Anyone looking out from the banks of the Brisbane River this year might see a new feature on the water: Oasis Cruising’s new entertainment riverboat. With a permanent residency on the Brisbane River, the three-level events boat offers voyages with sweeping views of the city skyline, while talented international and local DJs ignite each custom-designed space with high quality audio. Integral to this experience is an onboard PA system enabling extensive control, coverage and fidelity, courtesy of French loudspeaker manufacturer Nexo.
Nexo’s flagship point source system, the P+ Series, in combination with the compact full-range ID24 Series, were selected to supply audio to the dancefloors and all covered areas aboard Oasis. Nexo’s optional contemporary white colour schemes were chosen for each system, allowing the modules to blend seamlessly into the boat’

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