I realised when writing Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual that we needed to record an audiobook. Stress, exhaustion and competing demands can make sustaining attention tricky on the road. An audiobook would be a great option for neurodiverse people – like myself – who need content to be delivered in an engaging way. Luckily, Jeremy Hindmarsh from the English alternative rock band, Swervedriver, contacted us stating that he loved the paperback. He offered to produce an audiobook, so we got to work trying to craft something suitable for the exacting ears of people who work with sound…
Author: Alicia Pollitt
This summer, the UK events industry demonstrated once again its extraordinary determination, professionalism, and adaptability. The PSA is proud to represent the hardworking individuals and companies underpinning our vital ecosystem of festivals, concerts, sporting fixtures, and cultural gatherings delivered over the past few months. The commitment to excellence and a shared passion for delivering unforgettable experiences have been the driving forces behind every event, large or small. The summer is the beating heart of the UK outdoor events calendar – a time when months of planning, logistics, and creativity converge on fields, parks, stadiums, and city squares. This year, the…
With nominations now open for its Breakthrough Talent Awards 2025, Production Futures has announced the addition of two new categories, which highlight the great work of the industry itself in supporting and developing emerging talent. Whilst the principal focus of the Awards remains on recognising the achievements of newcomers across the production industries and seeking to inspire future generations, Production Futures CEO Hannah Eakins is keen to shine a spotlight on those companies and organisations who are leading the way by promoting initiatives and pathways for newcomers to the production industries. “The two brand new categories – ‘Industry Initiative…
Concert Stuff Group (CSG) proved once again why they stand alongside the best companies in the live event industry. For the last week of August, CSG helped deliver an electrifying run of five concerts at Soldier Field, featuring an all-star lineup of Oasis, My Chemical Romance, The Lumineers, and two nights of System of a Down. And if that wasn’t enough, across town, CSG’s G2 Structures and Guardian Barrier Services were on the job at Wrigley Field, building the framework for Chris Brown’s performance, while Guardian also participated in ARC and North Coast Music Festival. Two stadiums, two festivals, eight…
The national Green Events Code of Practice (GECoP) has been updated to provide a clear, robust, and nationally consistent framework for event organisers, local authorities, and the supply chain. The revised code reflects current best practices and aligns with national policy, aiming to help the UK live events sector achieve ambitious environmental targets. The GECoP is published by Vision for Sustainable Events, with the review chaired by LIVE Green. It was supported by a working group that included event sustainability experts—specifically A Greener Future, Creative Zero, and Hope Solutions—as well as event promoters Festival Republic and AEG. Following a successful…
Karno has announced that Universal Audio has joined SEPIA as a platform partner, bringing the legendary UA1176 compressor to the SEPIA platform. This collaboration brings one of the most respected compressors in recording history into Karno’s digitally controlled analog ecosystem, combining authentic circuitry with modern workflow integration. Founded in 1958 by recording pioneer Bill Putnam Sr., Universal Audio has become synonymous with high-quality analog design and innovation. First introduced in 1967, the 1176 was the world’s first FET compressor and quickly became a fixture in studios for its fast attack, musical response, and ability to add character as well as…
Latin Grammy-winner Rauw Alejandro dreamed big for his showstopping tour in support of his 2024 album Cosa Nuestra. The global production, promoted by Live Nation, featured salsa dancers, a seven-piece backing band, a four-act narrative reminiscent of star-crossed romances like West Side Story or Romeo and Juliet. The Cosa Nuestra World Tour was backed by Cohesion for 47 dates across North America and Europe and accrued 32 sellouts, including three evenings each at Intuit Dome in Inglewood and Brooklyn’s Barclays Centre, as well as four consecutive sellouts in San Juan. The Puerto Rican-born Alejandro and his team insisted on a…
“When I was a kid, for a little while I lived in India, where my dad is from. We had access to a few American albums, and from a very young age I was intrigued by music,” began FOH engineer Jai Vatuk, on his introduction to music. “When I went to see Led Zeppelin play, it cemented the fact that I wanted to be in the industry – I was fascinated by the scale of their whole production. I remember distinctly saying to my best friend ‘that’s what I want to do’. I was pointing at Jimmy Page playing the…
In addition to moving its schedule up a month earlier, the 2025 edition of Hype’O Dream dance festival had live band performances on stage for the first time in its 11-year history. The festival featured dance bands like Regi, The Subs and Compact Disk Dummies. The festival organisers’ goal was to be true to their event’s original dance DNA. They accomplished this in no uncertain terms. The 2025 edition of Hype’O Dream celebrated its dance festival roots in brilliant fashion from the floor-filling music, to the kinetic lighting and production design from John&Jane that featured 266 CHAUVET Professional fixtures. The…
London’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club returned to the streets of Soho last month for a day of music, dance, and celebration. After a successful first run in 2019, Ronnie Scott’s Street Party made its long-awaited return on August 2nd, transforming Frith Street into an open-air festival that welcomed thousands of jazz lovers to a free, single-day celebration powered by KV2 Audio. In conjunction with Ronnie Scott’s Charitable Foundation, the street party offered a chance to shine a light on the foundation’s vital work supporting jazz and music education for young people. The day featured DJ sets, family-friendly activities, outdoor bars,…
2025’s MTV Video Music Awards set a record for the most viewed and engaged VMAs in history. A diligent team of audio engineering professionals from Firehouse Productions trusted Shure wireless audio technology to ensure the evening’s production was as iconic as the artists performing. The audio production team comprised Audio Coordinator Mark Dittmar, Broadcast Production Mixer Sean Prickett, Music Mixers Eric Schilling and John Harris, RF Coordinator Cameron Stuckey, FOH Mixers Dan Gerhard, Adam Armstrong, Simon Welch and Mike Bové, and Monitor Mixers Chris Prinzivalli, Brett Taylor, and Tom Pesa. Firehouse Productions provided the event’s equipment. The team deployed 56…
4Wall Entertainment has made a significant investment in Elation’s PARAGON series, adding hundreds of PARAGON S and PARAGON M LED profile luminaires to its rental inventory across multiple U.S. locations. According to Wes Bailey, CEO at 4Wall, the PARAGON’s compact size and host of innovative features were decisive factors: “PARAGON S fills a valuable need for us due to its compact size and wide feature set. The fact that it’s also IP54 rated made purchasing these an easy decision.” Bailey also highlighted the fixture’s variable CRI engine, multiple front lens choices, and ultra-quiet mode as significant advantages. “Previously, there were…
The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour has circled the globe multiple times since it officially kicked off in 2022. During that time, the singer has found himself performing at large stadiums to some of the biggest audiences of his career and embracing a level of audio and video production to match. To elevate the sonic fidelity of these performances, the team of live sound professionals behind this, led by Front of House engineer Derek Brener, monitor engineer Lewis Lowder, and RF technician Diego Correa, have made Sound Devices Astral ARX16 receiver and Astral HH Wireless Microphones the centrepiece of…
Solotech has announced the appointment of Mark Lightfoot as Managing Director, United Kingdom. Lightfoot is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience and a proven track record in strategic leadership. Most recently, he served as CFO as well as interim CEO at Chess, a leading independent technology service provider in the UK. “I’m very pleased to welcome Mark to our executive team. His expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder relationships, and financial control will be invaluable assets to Solotech as we continue to strengthen our market position and drive our vision,” mentioned Martin Tremblay, President and CEO, Solotech. Lightfoot…
PK Sound has welcomed pro audio industry veteran Mike Case to its team in the role of Director of Global Network & Partnerships. Based in the U.K., Case brings a strong history of establishing disruptive new technologies and advancing industry-leading brands to the Calgary-based manufacturer. “PK Sound has developed the most exciting and relevant new technology I’ve seen in years, with the power to significantly change the way people work in this industry,” said Case. “Not only do PK’s robotic systems deliver better acoustic performance than conventional line arrays; they also save time and money thanks to a truly new…
tvONE has expanded its North, Central and South America (NCSA) sales team with the appointment of two new Regional Sales Managers. Steve Payne joins as Midwest Regional Sales Manager, and Mike Dailey takes on the role of Northeast Regional Sales Manager. Based in Chicago, Steve Payne brings 20 years of AV industry experience. His career spans sales with AV manufacturer Analog Way, along with extensive hands-on expertise in live events, rental and staging as a video engineer, and integration work as both a field engineer and onsite collaboration engineer. Based in Northern New Jersey, Mike Dailey offers three decades of…
TAZAAR has set a new standard for asset tracking with the launch of its innovative GeoTag DIN Rail. Making its global debut as a central part of the PLASA Show’s Innovation Gallery, the new solution provides visibility to asset management professionals who need to know exactly where every power unit is at any time. The new solution sees TAZAAR’s rugged GPS tracker reimagined to bolt directly onto generators, power units, and heavy industrial equipment, making it the perfect solution for protecting expensive power equipment. With GeoTag DIN Rail, TAZAAR is solving the problem of how to effectively protect expensive equipment…
URSA is well known in the Film and TV industries, with a decade of experience in developing comfortable and robust solutions for body worn technology. In 2025, the company celebrates 10 years of trading with its brand-new products specifically designed to address the unique needs of theatre. The Tracker Pouch is an integral part of the range and was developed in collaboration with key zactrack team members. Based in Austria, zactrack develops automated tracking solutions for a wide range of applications. Its mini, SMART, and PRO product lines provide precise tracking for lighting, audio, video, and camera systems. Outputting data…
