Lighting

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15 September 2025

UK - Adlib enjoyed a standout season of festivals and headline tours. From the Hebridean Celtic Festival (HebCelt) in the Scottish Isles, to Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool, Radio 2 In the Park in Chelmsford, to Glastonbury, the Green Man Festival and Manchester’s Sounds of the City, Adlib’s teams across the UK successfully delivered integrated technical production across audio, lighting and video.

The summer months also saw an impressive roster of headline acts partner with Adlib including Noah Kahan, Sam Fender, Yungblud, Nelly and Pitbull, from stadium tours to unique outdoor events across Europe.

Adlib’s account managers, technical specialists and crew supported both new and long-standing clients throughout the season. In July, Adlib once again partnered with Scotland’s biggest music festival, TRNSMT, where 50,000+ people were expect

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15 September 2025

The Netherlands - Neushoorn – Dutch for ‘rhinoceros’ – is a busy, buzzing and vibrant music venue in the heart of Leeuwarden, complete with two halls, a cafe area that’s also used as a performance space, rehearsal rooms and studios, plus strong educational ties with local vocational college, Firda, which focuses on music, drama, theatre and the arts, running both technical and creative courses.

The venue received a tranche of funding at the end of 2023 to upgrade its technical infrastructure, which has included purchasing a bunch of new Robe LED fixtures that are primarily rigged in the main hall, including 22 x Paintes, 12 x LEDBeam 350s, four LEDBeam 350 FW (Fresnel wash – for smoother edges and enhanced colour homogenisation), six Spiiders, eight TetraXs and 16 x LEDBeam 150s. These were delivered during 2024 by Robe’s Benelux distributor, C

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15 September 2025

USA - The city of Anaheim in California has unveiled an upgraded lighting system that enhances the city’s natural and architectural landscape, powered by technology from Pharos Architectural Controls.

At night, rows of palm trees lining Anaheim’s streets glow with custom RGBW LED uplights, while nearby monuments are brought to life with internal LEDs. Previously, the city relied on a basic control system that offered only limited functionality such as RGB-only control across entire banks of palm trees, with sections run on independent cell modems that frequently dropped offline. The result was a fragmented and unreliable experience that lacked cohesion.

Seeking a more robust and creative solution, Anaheim turned to Pharos Architectural Controls. California-based automation and connectivity specialists Wired Media Solutions (WMS) were commissioned

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15 September 2025

UK - In support of its aim to increase knowledge and accessibility in the sector, Production Futures has just launched its global online community platform. The platform has been created to connect newcomers, freelancers, students, and employers, in an unprecedented way, unlocking around-the-clock access to jobs, training, events, and up-to-date industry insights. The platform, which attracted a substantial waiting list in the run-up to launching, is an important step forward according to Production Futures’ Hannah Eakins:

“Over the last three years, we’ve been lucky to work with our partners to grow an IRL (In Real Life) community, built on connection, access, and the belief in the potential of young people and newcomers to production. Through 15 live events, we’ve met more than 15,000 people, and more than 47,000 have chosen to connect with us thro

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15 September 2025

South Africa - Almost 100 of ADJ’s LED-powered wash fixtures were deployed by MGG Productions to illuminate Cape Town’s DHL Stadium. The project was designed to produce a vibrant backdrop – visible across the city – for the Earthshot Prize ceremony, which was held in Africa for the first time in 2024. Despite inclement weather, the ADJ fixtures performed flawlessly, lighting the stadium’s distinctive façade in a vibrant green to highlight the event’s environmental mission.

Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot’ challenge in 1962 to land a man on the moon within a decade, the Earthshot Prize was launched by Prince William in 2020 to search for the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges. Every year over the course of this decade, five solutions with the best chance of helping to achieve one o

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15 September 2025

UK - Robert Juliat enjoyed a very busy PLASA Show 2025, where it exhibited on the stand of its exclusive UK distributor, Live Technology.

The RJ Bizet range of LED profiles and Fresnels were on show in pride of place, alongside the Tristan LED followspot and SpotMe followspot tracking system.

Bizet 670SX profile spot is a range of powerful white LED spots, which provides an LED alternative to the RJ 700SX 2kW Series. Designed for front-of-house applications, with a choice of three zoom ranges, Bizet is available in tuneable white (500W) or fixed cool white (600W). It ensures superior colour rendering, boasting a CRI of 96-98 and a TM30 Rf of 94-96, and delivers high-quality whites and precision lighting.

All RJ 600SX Series and 700SX Series lens tubes are fully compatible with Bizet lamp houses, making Bizet an interesting option for transiti

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15 September 2025

USA/Europe - Obsidian Control Systems is expanding its Netron data distribution line for system integrators and fixed installs, complementing the EP1 and EP2 wall-mounted EtherDMX gateways.

Netron’s Integration Series encompasses professional-quality DMX and Ethernet control solutions – purpose-built for permanent AV environments. From EtherDMX nodes and data splitters to managed network switches and wall stations, every device works natively with Onyx and all other major lighting control systems, offering a complete ecosystem for signal distribution, networking, and control. New products in the Netron Integration Series include:

The EN6D is a powerful DIN Rail or wall-mount Ethernet-to-DMX gateway with six RDM-compatible wire terminals or RJ45 outputs. Easy to configure with a range of integrated presets plus a wide array of advanced merge and r

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12 September 2025

Poland - Follow-Me has agreed a strategic sales partnership with P.S. Teatr, a prominent provider of lighting and stage systems in Poland. The new partnership positions P.S. Teatr as the exclusive sales partner for Follow-Me in this growing territory, expanding access to performer tracking systems for theatres, concert venues, music festivals, and corporate events across Poland, while influencing Central Europe.

"We are extremely proud to have established a strategic partnership with Follow-Me, recognised worldwide as one of the leading companies in the field of innovative performer tracking technologies," says Michał Frąckowiak, CEO at P.S. Teatr. "This agreement marks an important step forward for our company. It not only expands our portfolio with a premium-class solution, but most importantly strengthens our position as a provider of comprehensive ligh

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12 September 2025

China - Christie reports that Jianye Display has deployed high-performance HS Series 1DLP laser projectors for a new immersive cultural performance at the Three Kingdoms Ancient Battlefield Scenic Area in Chibi Town, Xianning, Hubei Province. The installation brings fresh vitality to the epic tale of the Battle of Red Cliff, ‘captivating audiences with breathtaking visuals and artistic flair’.

Produced by Hubei Dingtu Culture and Tourism, and directed by renowned multi-disciplinary artist Luo Kege, Red Cliff: Borrowing the East Wind combines live performance with advanced display technologies to recreate one of the most legendary battles in Chinese history. Seven Christie DWU19-HS laser projectors deliver stunning visuals on the left citadel wall and the sails of a massive onstage warship, immersing audiences in a vivid reimagining of this pivot

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12 September 2025

Turkey - Every night, fans of Empire of the Sun, affectionately known as Empyreans, wait in line to see the Australian duo’s Ask That God tour. Many follow the band from city to city.

Less of a traditional concert, and more like an experience where sci-fi mysticism slams into concert energy, Ask That God blazes its own path in every possible way.

Oliver ‘Olly’ Suckling was more than up to the task on the long-awaited EU leg of the Ask That God tour, which concluded 30 August at Bonus Parkorman in Istanbul, after beginning in July at Sagres Campo Pequeno in Lisbon, with stops in Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, The UK, Poland, The Czech Republic, France, Belgium and other countries along the way.

After designing the show, Suckling ran it on a rig supplied by Lights Control Rigging (LCR), using t

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12 September 2025

Europe - David Schubert has joined the sales team of GLP as senior sales manager. In his new role, he supports sales activities in Germany and Switzerland, contributing to the continued expansion of the company’s market presence.

A trained wholesale and foreign trade specialist, Schubert brings more than two decades of experience in the professional event and media technology industry. Following his vocational training, he gained extensive expertise in both inside and field sales and soon specialised in the distribution of lighting technology. Since 2010, he has been continuously active in sales, focusing primarily on field sales from 2015 onwards.

“I am very excited about my new role at GLP and about introducing our innovative products to customers, supporting them in turning their creative ideas into reality, while also nurturing existing partn

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11 September 2025

UK - During the PLASA Show in London, the European associations AFIAL, APESA, AVITA, Event Confederation, PLASA, PSA and VPLT announced their intention to join forces internationally.

The group represents manufacturers, distributors, dealers, system integrators, production companies, professional end-users and technical service providers involved in live events.

The new alliance (Entertainment Technology Industry Alliance - ETIA) offers a platform for exchange, pools expertise and resources, and provides a strong voice in European legislative and regulatory processes. The associations represent six European countries: Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

The associations are: Event Confederation (umbrella organisation for Belgian event professionals); AVITA (Audiovisual Association of Finland); APESA (French Allia

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11 September 2025

USA - Hip-hop act Wu-Tang Clan capped their touring career this summer with The Final Chamber, a 27-date North American farewell tour celebrating the New York group’s 30-plus years at the forefront of rap. An impactful production anchored the shows, with lighting designer Ben Walton and associate lighting designer/programmer Eliot Jessep relying on Elation’s Pulse Panel FX and Proteus Hybrid Max to deliver the eye-catching looks the milestone demanded. Lighting supply came from Fuse Technical Group.

The farewell concert series in June and July followed the April release of the album, Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Jessep, in his first collaboration with Wu-Tang Clan, joined the tour via director Jennifer Bui, with whom he had previously worked on The Kid Laroi and Lil Baby. “It was a natural flow into this project,” he

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11 September 2025

China - Christie reports that its partners, Jianye Display and Shanghai Qingying Digital Technology, have deployed more than 100 Inspire Series 1DLP laser projectors across multiple exhibition halls at the new Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum. The installations deliver vibrant, high-impact visuals that transform the museum into an interactive journey of scientific discovery with a distinctly futuristic feel.

Located in Guangming District, the museum is themed around Digital Civilisation, with architecture inspired by a giant spacecraft. Its flexible, open spaces house four permanent halls featuring 950 exhibits, over 80% of which are interactive. Since its opening, the museum has drawn more than one million visitors in just three months, establishing itself as a leading hub for science popularisation in Shenzhen and a benchmark for innovation

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11 September 2025

UK - This year, Highlite International – an exhibitor at PLASA Show since 2016 – showed several new lighting and audio products.

Infinity impressed with its brand-new Infinity Furion FX402 bar – an IP65-rated LED batten with 10 high-power 60W RGBW LEDs in 10 tilt heads and 60 warm and cold white strobe pixel LEDs – a fixture which further strengthens the Furion series.

Showtec’s new Xpression series was introduced, along with the Titan Strobe 200 FX, the Stage Blinder 200 Blaze and the Goliath. The Xpression series consists of the 2000S – Spot, the 2000B – Beam and 2000W – WashBeam with each light designed to work together to create a truly unified lighting experience. Additional LEDs add colour capabilities to the traditional effects of the Titan Strobe 200 FX and the Stage Blinder 200 Blaze, while the Goliath blends modern technolog

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11 September 2025

The Netherlands - Astera has launched SolaBulb, billed as ‘the only bulb on the market with an inbuilt 15º - 50º zoom range that is optimised for maximum lux output’.

The SolaBulb project first germinated when LunaBulb was being launched in June 2024, as the R&D team was learning more about the potential of the LunaReflector to emulate the style and look of PAR bulbs. A SolaBulb prototype was quickly produced.

Astera’s head of product development, Ben Díaz, explained that it was soon realised that SolaBulb – a small, versatile, high-quality lightsource – was completely unique as a product.

Ben highlights that high-level innovation also comes with some risk, so he travelled to the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand with prototypes, meeting a range of lighting professionals to gather their feedback, both to improve the samples a

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10 September 2025

USA - Creative Technology Group (CT) and NEP Sweetwater (Sweetwater), both long-standing audiovisual operators under parent company NEP Group, have announced the launch of CT Film & Entertainment. This new division, operating under the Creative Technology brand, unites Sweetwater’s creative leadership and industry expertise with Creative Technology’s vast international platform.

“This is the world we have been wanting to compete in,” says Ron Drews, president of NEP Sweetwater. “With so many productions going international, this gives us the opportunity to provide the same level of service in Ireland, Dubai, China, Holland - and far beyond - as we do here in the United States.”

With over 40 offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, CT Film & Entertainment will be built for scale – offering a combination of

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10 September 2025

UK - White Light supported the Watermill Theatre’s bold and atmospheric production of Jesus Christ Superstar, with lighting design by Rory Beaton. This reimagining of the rock opera transformed the intimate Berkshire venue into ‘a space of epic scale and spiritual resonance’, thanks in no small part to a lighting design that was both technically ambitious and emotionally precise.

From the outset, Beaton’s vision was clear: to turn the Watermill into a derelict, sacred space - part concert hall, part gothic chapel - where a group of storytellers could gather, instruments in hand, to share a timeless tale. “We wanted the space to feel like it carried architectural weight,” he explains. “To be able to flip between a raw, church-like intimacy and a full-blown concert aesthetic.”

With limited physical space and minimal scenic elem

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10 September 2025

Canada - By any measure, the numbers are impressive: 750,000 visitors from all over the world, over 10,000 participants in 120 events, a 2.2-k parade route plus 428 Chauvet Professional fixtures on the massive main stage and grounds.

Fierté Montréal (Montreal Pride Festival) has always been about far more than size, even though it is one of the largest pride fests in the world. At its core, this 11-day event in Montreal’s Olympic Village revolves around a deeper meaning, one based on the idea of all people living life to the fullest.

This philosophy was reflected in the theme of this year’s festival:  Blossom Here, Now! It also radiated from the uplifting lighting and production design created by Gil Perron that transformed the main stage and sprawling site in and around Olympic village into a visual wonderland that

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10 September 2025

Europe - PPDS, global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, has announced the appointment of digital signage sales specialist, Hendrik Hack.

Taking the role of sales manager digital signage for north and northeast Germany, Hendrik joins PPDS with a career spanning almost 10 years, specialising exclusively in digital signage and interactive display sales and project management.

Based in Hamburg, Hendrik brings knowledge and experience to PPDS’ DACH sales team, providing a holistic perspective of the AV channel, having previously held roles in manufacturing, distribution, sales, projects, and aftercare.

Reporting to Konstantin Flabouriaris, sales director for DACH, Hendrik will play a key role in PPDS achieving its growth ambitions for Philips digital signage, as well as value added solutions such as Philips W

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10 September 2025

USA - Bandit Lites has announced the addition of Mark Butler as project manager. With decades of international experience in the lighting and entertainment industry, Butler brings considerable knowledge of touring, production, and technical leadership to the Bandit team.

Butler, who is transferring from Las Vegas to Knoxville, has collaborated with top artists, cruise lines, and theatrical productions. His expertise includes Vectorworks drafting, show control, rigging, automation, and live event setup, along with his positive demeaner he brings to every project. He has successfully managed cross-disciplinary teams, trained crews, and led large-scale technical operations in high-pressure environments around the world.

“I’m grateful to use my experience to make life on the road easier for the crew,” said Butler. “What stands out most to me is B

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09 September 2025

UK - The winners of the 2025 PLASA Awards for Innovation were announced last night at PLASA Show, currently taking place at Olympia, London.

Run in association with LSi, the PLASA Awards for Innovation are among the industry’s most respected accolades, shining a spotlight on pioneering technology that advances safety, efficiency and performance through fresh approaches, inventive engineering, and sustainable design.

This year, 37 products were put forward, with the judges ultimately recognising 7 innovations. The panel also decided to present the Gold Award, which recognises a product that is a true game-changer for the industry.

The judging team for 2025 brought together 11 independent and impartial technical experts from across the sector, chaired once again by chartered engineer and LSi columnist, James Eade.