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UK - Brit rockers You Me At Six have stormed through the UK this month on their first ever arena tour. Lighting designer Louis Oliver of Okulus chose an array of Clay Paky's newest product, the award-winning Mythos, for his vibrant show design.

Co-headlining with pop punk foursome All Time Low, the band played such venues as Cardiff Motorpoint Arena and London's O2. For this run of major shows, Oliver used his design for the band's Cavalier Youth touring campaign. However, he scaled it up with more dramatic looks, using 27 of the super powerful Mythos supplied by Zig Zag Lighting.

"For the arena tour, we just made everything bigger and grander," says Oliver. "The video screen behind them has expanded so when we started looking at the fixture choices for the run we

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UK - The new addition to Nexo's STM modular line array series, the compact M28, has been installed in La Belle Angele nightclub in Edinburgh.

Nexo has had a long history with the live music venue, which opened in 1992. For a decade, the original Nexo SI 2000 system provided sound for live acts including Oasis, The Libertines and Radiohead. Destroyed in 2002 by a fire which ravaged the Cowgate area of the city, the club's owner, Hafid Mahboubi, has fought a long and hard battle to have it rebuilt.

"After 13 years it was a great feeling to be able to return to the venue we built and bring it back to life," says George Macdonald, who worked as club promoter, resident DJ and technician at the club until the fateful fire. "I was lucky enough to be trained on the original Nexo system, and I have many fond memories of what we achieved with it. I ended up taking co-owne

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USA - Barry Manilow has taken to the stage for his One Last Time Tour with Bandit Lites providing the lighting. In what is being hailed as his grand finale (or at least a goodbye to a full production touring show) Manilow brings his epic catalogue of hits from his 40+ year career to the adoring masses.

Back in 1998, Seth Jackson was told he was 'filling in for a guy' and now jokes, "I don't know when that guy is coming back!" "Over the years I moved from lighting director to lighting and set designer, production designer, and now I'm the show's creative director and production designer," he said. "We've been around the world a few times, spent seven years in Las Vegas residency, and now I guess we've got One Last Time."

Planning for the tour started back in October with conversations between Manilow and Jackson starting with a blank drawing board

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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

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UAE - Lighthouse is one of the most successful and prolific lighting and production design practices in Dubai. Headed by Terry Miranda and his brother Steve, Lighthouse is busy continuously through the thriving events season in the UAE, and also works in other parts of the Middle East.

The Mirandas founded the company 10 years ago in 2003, initially with Terry as an LD and since then have evolved into a complete turnkey design and production house with a reputation for imagination and flair.

Lighthouse invested in Robe products immediately after they set up, and have stayed with the brand. They now have over 250 Robe units of various types which are used almost exclusively to facilitate their own shows.

The kit ranges from the most recent CycFX 8s, MMX WashBeams, Robin Beam 300s and PARfects - to older products like the ColorMix 240, ColorSpot and ColorWash 575 and 1200E ATs

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USA - Wireless LED lighting manufacturer Core Lighting enjoyed a busy PLASA Focus in Orlando last month and has already committed to the Kansas City event in May.

This was in fact Core's second PLASA Focus - their first being in Baltimore in 2014, and since that time, the brand has upped the ante with the opening of a new US operation based in Virginia, which was launched in November.

Says UK based Core Lighting's MD Phil Ion, "The Orlando expo was great timing for us in relation to the launch of our American operation a few months earlier. The location was excellent as with the numerous entertainment industry businesses operating out of Orlando and the place has a real buzz about it."

The latest Core innovations were showcased at the exhibition, with particular emphasis on the new PinPoint and the new Mk2 version of the best-selling ColourPoint battery powered upl

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Europe - Continuing their long-term working relationship, XL Video have supplied a compact and versatile projection package for DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist's Renegades of Rhythm European tour.

XL Video project manager, Jay Mobbs-Beal worked with manager & production manager, Jamal Chalabi, to create the video specification for the tour.

The shows, which spanned across Europe from the UK over to Estonia and Lithuania, featured a projection backdrop flown behind the DJ booth. With varying venue sizes, XL Video supplied two different screen types for the tour - one 4.8m wide by 2.7m high, and a smaller 4.3m x 2.4m screen.

For the projection, XL Video supplied two Panasonic PT-DZ 10k projectors, one live and one backup, and a 0.8 lens and 0.36 short throw lens which were alternated dependent on venue and screen size. XL are also supplying the 0.36 lens for the continuation of the

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The Day the Music Died - The Music Producers Guild is backing a campaign to ensure that songwriters get a larger share of royalty income generated by digital music sales. Spearheaded by the British Association of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) and entitled The Day the Music Died, this initiative will focus on the role and importance of songwriters and composers in the digital music industry. It will press for three key actions - a 50/50 split of gross digital royalty income, the removal of auto-predictive search functionality in search engines, which point people to illegal content and a push for all digital advertising income to be paid to creators for all usage.

BASCA is also asking for more transparency around digital deals and is calling for improved regulation of illegal content on search engines, plus the easier removal of infringing websites and apps. P

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South Africa - Durban in South Africa once again came alive with the buzz and the excitement of the 2015 Metro FM Awards, with Robe BMFL Spots taking centre stage - as part of a rig of nearly 150 Robe moving lights - for a stunning stage presentation at the Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.

Staged for the third consecutive year right in the heart of the city, attended by 4000 enthusiastic guests and VIPs, the massive evening organised by one of the country's leading radio stations was broadcast live on national channel SABC1 and saw the presentation of 20 coveted awards and nine special live performance collaborations.

Co-ordinating all the technical elements was Dream Sets. Their Project manager was Robert Hoey, who was also working on the event for the third year for event producers, Blue Moon. Lighting designer Francois van der Merwe from the Wizardry Group wa

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Czech Republic - Often hailed as the 'Czech Pink Floyd', progressive rock legends Stromboli have played a special one-off sold out show at Prague's O2 Arena to celebrate their 30th anniversary, with lighting and set designer Radek Havlicek choosing to use an array of Clay Paky fixtures to complement his impressive volcano-themed set.

Havlicek, of design agency and rental operation Pink Panther, worked alongside his colleague Petr 'Panki' Volek to choose 50 x Clay Paky A.leda Wash K10, 20 x Sharpy, 12 x Alpha Beam 1500, 24 x Alpha Spot 1200 and 12 x Shotlight Wash fixtures for the vibrant and immersive design, which was centred upon a vast volcano set piece to represent the band's name.

"We rigged some of the Clay Paky fixtures on ringed trussing around the volcano," explains Havlicek. "We positioned 14 of the K10s, which we used for vibrant washes of colour, on

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UK - As one of the few UK partners selected to join the new Soundcraft Vi network, Liverpool-based Adlib has been consolidating its growing fleet of VI6 and Vi3000 consoles - for rental, sales and installation.

Confirms director Dave Kay, "The Soundcraft Vi series remains our first choice of console in view of its simplicity, reliability and usability. We provide regular training for potential users, backed up by a great service and support team."

Despite making an immediate commitment to the company's new Vi3000 hybrid - investing heavily for both sales and rental stock - he emphasises that the Vi6 shows no sign of letting up, even after eight years.

"This is because the software and feature set has evolved over the years, making it still very much a current product which continues to be specified," he says. "In 2015 we have already had the consoles

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UK - Warner Music UK has chosen the reliability and quality of the Chauvet Professional PVP S7 LED video panels for showcasing the latest music videos at their West End offices in London's Kensington Borough.

The 3-by-2m screen, consisting of 24 individual PVP S7 panels, was installed to project content visible from the high street over 500m away, by Emiror Research, a team of specialist audio consultants who pride themselves on creative and innovative electronic installations.

The company attends to the audio and electronic installation needs of Chappell Music and Atlantic Records amongst other prestige clients. The screen forms the public part of a larger installation of screens throughout the property. Run via the proprietary Chauvet VIP drivers, through a HD Kramer switching and matrixing system, the screen updates an older Barco product.

Emiror Research CEO, Giles Smith

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Denmark - When the specifiers of the aesthetically stunning new build Musikkens Hus (House of Music) in the northern Danish city of Aalborg were planning the venue in 2009, they filled it with some 250 traditional tungsten Source Four fixtures. Although by the time the venue opened, the rig seemed outdated, with the help of ETC's Danish distributor Bico, the venue nevertheless ended up with the most up to date lighting products on the market, including ETC Gio control, Sensor3 power control and over 50 ETC LED fixtures.

The project was first specified - and budgets allocated - when LED fixtures were still in their infancy and would not have been relied upon as a venue's main house lighting; tungsten was still in charge. So in 2013, in order to help the 20,000 sq m venue plan for the future, Bico's project manager Søren Jørgensen worked closely with venue consultant

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Germany - Jazz and pop star, Roger Cicero and his band have been on tour throughout Germany and Austria promoting his latest CD, Was Immer Auch Kommt.

Lighting, sound and stage design, were of the highest quality to complement Cicero's superior mix of swing jazz.

The prime service provider Soundhouse commissioned the company Big Mama Production from Hannover for the implementation of the lighting. The rig featured semi-circular segments of staggered truss, with PR Lighting fixtures much in evidence.

Among the effects used by lighting designer Fabian Kuhn was a selection of XR200 Beam and XLED 590 as well as some powerful XL5000 series spots, which were provided by Focon Showtechnic, PR Lighting's German distributor

Jens Ottenhus from the German distributor Focon Showtechnic says, "PR Lighting fixtures are finding their way increasingly into professional rental

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UK - Entertainment Workshops (EW), the Rye-based education facility providing essential alternative education in creative media and production arts for students of school-age - has been highly commended in the Micro Business Award category of the Apprenticeships 4 England 2015 Training Provider & Apprentice Employer Awards.

Operations Manager, Paul Byrne, received the award on behalf of the Sussex charity, which was one of seven small businesses shortlisted as finalists for the category.

Also in attendance was EW employee/apprentice, Phil Smith, who recently completed his level three apprenticeship in Live Events & Promotions. He said, "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the team at EW to achieve this apprenticeship, the constant support and encouragement has been invaluable"

David Byrne, Chairman said: "It's fantastic to have another great award to add to

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Germany - The Sinus - Systems Integration Award is presented this year for completion of the new ARD (Consortium of German Regional Public Broadcasters) 'Tagesschau' studio. This new production environment incorporates state-of-the-art technology and is innovative in terms of its optical design. It has been home to Germany's most successful news programme since April last year. The Sinus is awarded for the creative application of AV media technology and systems integration. The awards ceremony will take place on 16 April as part of Prolight+Sound and this pre-eminent industry award will be presented to the contracting clients 'Norddeutscher Rundfunk' and 'ARD-aktuell' along with the companies involved in the project.

In addition to the news presenters' innovative desks, the most conspicuous feature of the fully refurbished studio is the 17 metre long, semi-circular multi-media w

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Mexico - Hi Tech Audio is exhibiting at sound:check Xpo and representing d&b audiotechnik in room Salon Tarasco when the show returns to Mexico City from 26-28 April.

Hi Tech Audio sales director, Fernando Roch says, "We have been working hard to build the d&b brand in Latin America and we welcome the opportunity to meet new and existing customers. It's the most important audio event in our region, it brings together the best in our industry and d&b is at the heart of that.

"Hi Tech Audio plans to enhance d&b market visibility during the show by targeting, theatres, permanent installations, and rental companies are areas in which d&b will continue to strengthen its position as market leader," explains Roch. "I look forward to being a part of this development, supporting the growth strategy and contributing to the further success of the company."

Visi

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Germany - Three international entertainment technology brands - Altman Lighting, Core Lighting, and Interactive Technologies will team up to showcase the latest in lighting and wireless control solutions at the Prolight & Sound exhibition in Frankfurt from 15-18 April. Visitors will find products from all three manufacturers located on Hall 9.0 Stand A65.

Core Lighting, the UK manufacturer known for its innovative, wirelessly controlled LED products, will debut its new LED batten - the StripPoint. Featuring 18 RGBW LEDs, the W-DMX controlled StripPoint delivers 4000 lumens of output and is powered by a lithium ion battery. Available in 1m lengths, the fixture also features individual pixel control and an IP65 outdoor rating. Also a first for Prolight & Sound, CORE Lighting will display the new PinPoint wireless LED pinspot complete with Bluetooth and W-DMX control. Joining these

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Germany - Martin Audio has released a teaser print image and an accompanying video for a new product launch under the banner of The shape of things to come.

The print image features a striking icon which is said to represent the driver of this yet unnamed product. The video is a little more revealing showing an 'old' loudspeaker exploding and the words scrolling on the screen, 'Time to break with convention, time to evolve, time for a new breed, a breed that delivers sound like never before' before revealing the shadowing outline of the new product and a driver echoing the icon from the print image.

Luke Ireland, managing director, said, "This new product range will feature groundbreaking technology that will further Martin Audio's credentials as the true innovator in the marketplace and will deliver our customers a clear competitive advantage. We are extremely exc

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Germany - Zero 88 is set to launch a new lighting console, FLX at Frankfurt. Says the company, "FLX creates more time to be imaginative, inventive and efficient ...Its clean, straightforward, intuitive user interface offers tools like Patch Wizard and Auto Palettes to take care of all the prep work, so LDs and operators can be free to work faster and more harmoniously."

The FLX will offer straightforward three-step programming - what, how and where - you want it, streamlining time and the operational process.

Further, "Even when working with fixtures that colour mix using different methods, the software will work everything out so all the fixtures respond correctly and accordingly.

"The simple yet sophisticated philosophy of FLX enables operators of all backgrounds and experience levels to feel instantly comfortable, due to familiar industry standard synt

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Germany - MA Lighting is well known for its approach towards professional lighting control and enjoys a distinguished reputation for quality and reliability. Now MA presents a new range of compact lighting control solutions - the dot2.

The dot2 range consists of three lighting consoles; dot2 core, dot2 XL-F, dot2 XL-B; two playback expansion wing solutions; dot2 F-wing and dot2 B-wing and the dot2 Node4 (1K) network output node as well as the dot2 onPC console software and the dot2 3D visulisation software solutions.

Designed for small and mid-sized projects and venues, dot2 offers advanced functionality with outstanding ease-of-use. Full tracking backup is available via plug and play networking.

Intuitive operation is the core of the dot2 philosophy and with all connectivity onboard, the dot2 range is suitable for most theatre, touring, corporate, television and education l

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UK - Instantly memorable and clearly identifiable as emphatically live for reasons best forgotten, this year's Brit Awards proved the best yet for audio providers Britannia Row Productions Ltd (Britrow). "Every year we reflect on the show and make adjustments to improve the following year," said Britrow's Josh Lloyd who mixed FoH for all but Royal Blood. "You can always make improvements, that's part of the legacy that Derrick Zieba left for us. This year some new equipment added some genuine enhancement."

The essential dilemma of The Brits hasn't changed, the unrelenting demands of the camera lens dictate that sightlines shall always be clear so audio is rigged as high as possible, while down on the floor sit the assembled masses of the recording industry who know what good sound means and expect nothing less.

"We updated this year's PA design drawing

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