USA - Led by Pastor Jeff Crook, Christ Place Church in Flowery Branch, Georgia, has been serving the community since 1955 by providing a safe place for everyone to come together in worship. The church recently finished construction on their new sanctuary, designed to use the latest in technology to reach a growing congregation.
Requiring a theatrical lighting design that could create the ideal worship environment and front light for their high-definition video capabilities, the church worked with the AVL integration specialists PRODUCTION/co who designed a new lighting system using PHX 250W LED profile luminaires from Altman Lighting.
“We’ve worked with the church on everything from student camps to smaller jobs, so when they began with the construction of their new sanctuary, we were brought on board to oversee the complete audio, video and lighting integration,

South Africa - With the breath-taking eastern foot of Table Mountain as a backdrop, British indie rockers James performed at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. The full technical was supplied by Audio Engineering, who used their new MA dot2 to run the spectacular show.
“What an excellent production,” says Marcel Bezuidenhout, owner of Audio Engineering based in Cape Town. “James rocked it out at the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts playing favourite hits like Lose Control, Sit Down and material from their 15th studio album, Living in Extraordinary Times.”
Associated with the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts for the past 20 years, Marcel has been pleased to watch the annual event take off as his company has steadily built up a retinue of professional gear, the latest being the investment of a MA Lighting dot2 console purchase

USA - Global design and BIM software solutions provider Vectorworks has announced its fourth annual Vectorworks Design Scholarship is now open for entries.
The scholarship enables undergraduate students and recent graduates to gain professional recognition by sharing their work and win up to $10,000.
“The Vectorworks Design Scholarship is an incredible opportunity for up-and-coming designers to promote their work and win funds to support their future endeavours,” comments Alice Lowy, marketing programmes director at Vectorworks. “We look forward to seeing what these up-and-coming designers think up next.”
To apply, eligible students must submit their best individual or group project and answer three questions. A panel of judges will evaluate submissions based on design integrity, originality, the effective use of computer technology and communication of

UK - London’s Ministry of Sound (MoS) has upgraded its lighting control with Avolites Arena and Quartz consoles.
The South East London nightclub has been at the heart of the capital’s scene for almost 30 years. Household name DJs and performers are a mainstay of its offering, backed by serious sound and uplifting lighting.
International technical event production company Bigabox drew on its longstanding relationship with MoS to realise the enhancement of lighting control options in the club’s two main rooms - The 103 and The Box.
“It was my recommendation the MoS team got Avolites consoles for their largest-capacity spaces and that’s precisely what they did,” says Bigabox Productions’ director, Dean Graves. “The guys at Avolites are helpful, informative, passionate and incredible people to work with. It was imperative their products were in the M

Germany - Lighting manufacturer JB-Lighting has announced its commitment to ArKaos’s Kling-Net protocol, which will now be embedded in its newest product lines including the Varyscan P18 hybrid, the Sparx 18 LED wash beam and the Sparx 30 twin zoom LED wash beam fixtures.
JB-Lighting’s head of sales Jörg Zimmermann explained that this is due to “the current and future requirements of lighting and visual design” which are constantly fluid and need to offer LDs, programmers and operators the most flexible and creative options.
One of those future developments, he observes, will include moving heads increasingly working in conjunction with video content. This is one of the main reasons they have decided “to support all these JB-Lighting devices with a network interface for Kling-Net protocol”, confirms Jörg.
Kling-Net is a plug-and-play control protoco

USA - Obsidian Control Systems and Capture Visualisation report a new global partnership agreement to include a Capture licence with every ONYX console, allowing all NX console owners immediate access to the lighting design and visualisation software.
Every NX2 and NX4 lighting console will include a download of the latest version of Capture after a simple online registration. Users will receive an unrestricted standard license of a Capture Edition depending on console type. All licences are eligible for upgrades through Capture or any of its authorized resellers.
Obsidian Control Systems and Capture Visualisation will be enhancing connectivity between ONYX and Capture over time for a seamless workflow and true plug-and-play experience, including synchronized patching and real-time autofocus.
“Capture has been a great partner for Elation over the years and we

UK - White Light recently supplied the lighting equipment for Disney’s Broadway hit musical Newsies which recently had its UK premiere at ArtsEd.
Set in turn-of-the-century New York, Newsies tells the story of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenage ‘newsies’. When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies the newsies together against the unfair conditions to fight for what’s right.
The show was a smash when it played on Broadway and the lighting designer for the UK premiere is Nic Farman. Nic comments: “I hadn’t seen the original Broadway production but the moment I read the script and listened to the score, I knew it was going to be a great show to work on. The key for the creative team was creating a production that had the high production values associated with a show on a l

UK Equipment rental supplier Visual Elements has invested in a Vista 3 by Chroma-Q lighting & media control system featuring a Vista EX surface - taking its inventory to 18 separate Vista desks.
Established for almost 20 years, Visual Elements provides wet and dry hire solutions to live events clients across the world - including music festivals, theatre shows and film premieres. It is also the in-house supplier to leading London events venue, Tobacco Dock, whose diverse client list includes awards ceremonies, corporate conferences and consumer exhibitions.
A Vista user since the platform launched in 2004, Visual Elements has one of the UK's largest inventories of Vista systems, which range from full size all-in-one consoles to ultra-compact control surfaces.
Visual Elements director, Mike Townsend commented: "Visual Elements has been supplying Vista systems

South Africa - The Soweto Theatre has become a river that has quenched the thirst of art devotees in the busy community of Jabulani in Soweto, near Johannesburg. Staging ongoing productions ranging from poetry to choirs, and beauty pageants to music festivals, the theatre has nurtured both professional and emerging talent.
More recently, the Soweto Theatre took delivery of 20 Robe Robin LEDBeam 150s supplied by DWR Distribution.
“Initially we considered the Robin LEDBeam 100s as part of our venue upgrade,” explained Lebugang Mnisi, technical manager. “Having chatted to Kevin Stannett of DWR, he advised us that the 150s would be a better match.”
According to Kevin Stannett, the Robin LEDBeam 150 is small fixture with a massive zoom range and sweeping beams. Lightweight and compact, it will be useable across all three of the theatre’s venues from the smal

The Netherlands - ELC Lighting, manufacturer of the multi-award winning Ethernet-based digital intercom system for event production and broadcast applications, has announced the appointment of two new distributors. These latest appointments bring the brand’s global sales network total to 39 countries, as Green-GO continues to increase its market presence worldwide.
The new exclusive distributor for Green-GO in Slovenia is MK Light Sound, based in Ljubljana. The long-established and highly respected company provides top-end lighting, audio and multimedia equipment and systems as well as consultancy, engineering, installation and technical event production services.
In Thailand, Bangkok-based Broadcast Audio Service becomes the exclusive Green-Go distributor. A systems design and integration specialist founded in 2008, the company provides equipment and services to a

UK - In recognition of the demand for high-performance reliable LED modules, Forge has introduced a custom module to do exactly that.
Forge has also recently developed a <10⁰ optic to suit the module, fulfilling that demand for a tight crisp beam pattern to complement the medium and wide offering. With Forge’s optic design and manufacturing capability, you can also create your own bespoke beam pattern and achieve specific light distribution. All of this is before you even consider your light CCT and CRI requirements - you really can put light where you want it, says the company.
(Jim Evans)

USA - Los Angeles-based Elation Professional’s home team Rams might not have come out victorious in Super Bowl LIII but the company was a winner nonetheless as its new Rayzor 760 LED wash/beam light played an integral role on the American football championship’s celebrated halftime show.
Held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and broadcast live on CBS, the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show featured a headline performance by Maroon 5, along with rappers Travis Scott and Big Boi. Production design was by Bruce Rodgers of Tribe with lighting design by Bob Barnhart of 22 Degrees for what is traditionally the most-watched musical event of the year in the USA.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show marked the live show debut of Elation’s Rayzor 760, a LED luminaire with seven 60W RGBW LEDs, five to 77° zoom, continuous pan and tilt, and new SparkLED technology.
Barnhart,

USA - The Winter Jam Tour 360, Christian music’s largest annual tour, is out on the road with a lighting package supplied by Bandit Lites. This year’s line-up features Christian music’s top artists and speakers including Newsboys United, Mandisa, Danny Gokey, Rend Collective, Ledger, Newsong, Hollyn with special guest Adam Agee and speakers Greg Stier and Zane Black.
With multiple artists on the roster, production manager Jerry Holcomb and lighting designer Kurtis Wheat had to design a rig that would allow each performer distinct looks while still accounting for a line-up that ranges from a rock show, to a rap artist, followed by a speaker sharing the gospel.
“Lighting can often be a distraction to important moments, so I try to create a look that allows the speaker to be the focus, while still allowing the crew to change over the bands on the main stage,”

Australia - Formed in 2003, Parkway Drive are an Australian metalcore band from Byron Bay in New South Wales with an international following. The band’s Reverence tour in support of their sixth studio album kicked off in Canberra in October 2018 and employed 16 Ayrton Ghibli LED spots for the main beam fixtures.
Lighting provider for the Australian leg of the tour was New South Wales-based ei Productions who purchased the Ayrton Ghibli units just prior to the start of the tour. “This was a complex show with lots of lighting, moving staging and pyro flames, and it relied heavily upon the Ghiblis to provide much of the lighting’s punchy looks,” commented Neale Mace, managing director of ei Productions. “The fixtures were chosen by the band’s lighting designer, Steve Granville, after he heard we were looking at them, and I don’t think I’ve seen a light - especi

China - AG reports that 88 Verity Studios drones were chosen to feature in the CCTV New Year’s Gala. The CCTV (China Central Television) New Year’s Gala is one of the world’s most-watched TV programmes.
This event was broadcast live to an estimated one billion viewers across the globe. With 88 Lucie micro drones flying over performers in red Chinese lantern costumes, this is the largest number of costumed drones ever seen in a performance.
Sponsored by, a leading social media platform in Asia, the show opens to The Distance of Time, sung by popular singer Sun Nan and up-and-coming pop star Jason Zhang. As the song builds, 88 Lucie micro drones fly from the back of the stage like butterflies to dance above the 50 performers dressed as blossoming cherry trees.
“This stunning performance proves how compelling drones can be. More than just flying light

UK - Seventy four of Colour Sound Experiment’s AquaBeam moving lights, rigged on a 25.5m diameter circular truss supported by an eight-legged ground support system, were an integral part of Nest, an immersive lighting, sound and sensory installation experience.
Nest was imagined by artists Marshmallow Laser Feast, in Lloyd Park, Waltham Forest, as part of the Mayor of London’s first ever London Borough of Culture event Welcome to the Forest.
The lights were choreographed to run with a special ‘transcendental soundscape’ created by composer Erland Cooper, who compiled a series of ‘sonic murmurations’, working with over 1000 participants including local choirs, schools and musicians.
Matthew Button of Buttonlight was the lighting designer for this project, one of a carefully curated collection of works celebrating ‘Radicals, Make

UK - East of England Arena Events Centre (EEAEC) has announced a collaboration with Pearce Hire. The EEAEC is one of the UK’s top event venues, hosting over 300 events, conferences and meetings a year. The multi-purpose events complex sboasts over 9,000sq.m of indoor space and over 250 acres of outside space. With significant and ongoing investment in the venue and its infrastructure, the venue has appointed Pearce Hire as a preferred contractor working throughout the complex.
“With our HQ based in Peterborough we are ideally placed geographically to offer an outstanding level of service and support to the venue, to the organisers putting on events at the venue, and to the exhibitors at all the major trade and consumer exhibitions which take place here throughout the year,” observes Shaun Pearce, managing director, Pearce Hire.
“Having provided services for man

Slovenia - Lighting designer Gregor 'Grga' Smrdelj helped create a high-profile show by Slovenian vocal group Perpetuum Jazzile at the Arena Stolzice in Ljubljana.
Grga works full time with Event Lighting, one of Slovenia’s leading rental specialists and the show’s lighting equipment provider.
Grga integrated LED and video into his proposal for the stage and production design. It was at the first production meeting that he suggested having the singers on the three different levels, which everyone liked, so they went with it. “I wanted to make a statement, and the idea was that the full profile of all 44 singers could be seen rather than just the front row and everyone else squeezed in behind with only their heads showing.”
Up in the roof of the Arena Stolzice, the Event Lighting crew installed seven straight trusses for lighting positions. Ladders were us

France - Robert Juliat has reported the passing of Jean-Charles Juliat, aged 76. Joining Robert Juliat in the 1960s, Jean-Charles became company manager in 1972 and was a driving force behind RJ’s move into theatrical and entertainment lighting.
“This is a very sad news for all Robert Juliat family and friends,” says a joint statement from François and Frédéric Juliat. “We cannot find the words to express the deep sadness that overwhelms us as we pay tribute to our father, Jean-Charles, who passed away today at the age of 76.
“Blessed with a curious spirit, a passion for the entertainment world and its lighting, and a strong personality, Jean-Charles raised us with the same spirit and made Robert Juliat into an enduring family business of which he can be proud. The flame of his presence will continue to shine in our hearts forever.”
(Jim Evans)

USA - ADJ has announced the expansion of its Focus series of compact and affordable LED-powered moving heads. The new Focus Spot 4Z becomes the most powerful mover in the range, offering considerable versatility thanks to an expansive feature-set that includes motorized zoom.
The Focus Series is popular with a wide variety of users, from mobile entertainers to production companies, to applications in bars and nightclubs and houses of worship. With the addition of the Focus Spot 4Z, the range can satisfy the demands of even larger venues and bigger productions, says ADJ.
Harnessing the power of a 200W cool white LED engine, paired with carefully-designed optics, the Focus Spot 4Z generates a striking beam of intense light. Its LED light-source has a 50,000 hour rating, removing the need for regular lamp replacements required for halogen and discharge lamp-based fixtures

USA - Metal band Five Finger Death Punch is famous for forging close emotional connections to fans at its shows. This was very evident on their recently completed arena/amphitheatre tour with Breaking Benjamin, which featured memorable sing-alongs accented by warm audience lighting from Chauvet Professional STRIKE 4 fixtures, supplied by Christie Lites.
John Santos, the lighting designer for the band, had 10 of the STRIKE 4 LED fixtures spread out evenly on the downstage truss during the tour, which ended in mid-December.
“They were my primary source of audience lighting and my blinders,” says Santos. “The show is designed around the skull over the drum kit and the two bats crossed in the back. My general lighting is very raw and aggressive, like the music. I try to create a look that matches the rhythmic and percussive feel of the music to accentuate the heavy h

Malta - The X Factor landed on Malta for its first season at the end of 2018, culminating in a live final to find the country’s Eurovision 2019 entrant.
The TV series proved to be a big hit on the island, with the ultimate show broadcast live in January from the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre.
Lighting designer for the series was Ismael Portelli, with Duminku Attard and Juan Vella taking care of the programming. Anton Borg Olivier joined the team for the finals, using an Avolites Arena as his master console to give the last rounds of the contest an ‘extra kick’.
“The Arena has a large surface, with a good number of faders and executors, making it perfect for a demanding lighting show like The X Factor,” says Olivier. “And as well as being powerful, it’s also reliable, which is required for a high profile show that’s being bro

UK - Event hire and production company Colour Sound Experiment has invested in Chroma-Q's award-winning Space Force and Color Force II 72 LED fixtures.
The Space Force fixtures were recently utilised on the E-sports gaming tournament FACEIT Major London 2018, which culminated in a live final at the SSE Arena, Wembley in front of 10,000 fans and a global TV audience of millions.
Haydn Cruickshank, Colour Sound MD, comments: "As an LED fixture, Space Force’s cool running and no fans means no noise, which makes it perfect for the demands of film and production work. Color Force II has, in my opinion, significantly raised the performance bar again for an LED alternative to traditional cyc, wash and effects lighting sources.
“Colour Sound has been using Chroma-Q LED fixtures for more than a decade. With innovative products such as theirs, we've built up an extre

USA - When Knoxville-based Shoreline Church, Hope Fellowship Church and City Church came together in December for a night of scripture and song called Lessons & Carols, Harmonic Audio and Concert Productions of Chattanooga accentuated the evening with mood-generating lighting using their inventory of Elation Professional lighting.
“Chuck Hooten, worship pastor at Shoreline Church, wanted to create a new tradition in Knoxville and came up with the Lessons & Carols concept, which combines teachings from the story of Christmas with music,” explains Harmonic’s Drew Hornback, production designer for the event. “It was an inaugural event and we turned to our Elation lights to accent what they were doing.”
Held in Knoxville’s historic Bijou Theater, Harmonic was called on to create a ‘massive look’ with lighting as the stand out element of the

Latest Issue. . .