Global design and BIM software provider Vectorworks has announce the official release of Vectorworks 2026, empowering designers to cut through busywork and focus on bringing their best ideas to life. With a renewed emphasis on clarity, collaboration, and streamlined workflows, Vectorworks 2026 introduces a host of innovations that help architects, landscape architects and designers, and entertainment professionals boost productivity and push the boundaries of design. The 2026 release includes Vectorworks Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Design Suite, Fundamentals, ConnectCAD, Braceworks, and Vision, with the English-language editions of this version now available. “At Vectorworks, we know that every project is an opportunity for…
Author: Alicia Pollitt
The Plasa Show is one of the highlights in the calendar for the live entertainment technology sector and this year’s event saw more than 200 exhibitors coming together to show off their latest products and network with industry experts. The first incarnation of the Plasa Show took place all the way back in 1977 and Highlite International has been an exhibitor at the event since 2016. A lot has changed over the years with continuous advancements in technology driving development. This year, Highlite International showed off several new lighting and audio products. Infinity impressed with its brand-new Infinity Furion…
For three decades, the Rio Loco festival has opened Toulouse’s summer festivities, transforming the heart of the city into a vibrant celebration of world music. Located on the Prairie des Filtres site near the iconic Pont Neuf, the festival draws 6,000 daily attendees to its main stage however, as urban festivals face increasing scrutiny over noise pollution, Rio Loco found itself caught between delivering a musical experience and maintaining harmony with the local community. The challenge was significant. Traditional sound system deployments were creating noise levels that exceeded acceptable limits in residential areas within 50 metres of the venue, with…
Music Matters Productions (MMP) opened its doors to the Atlanta production community as German Light Products (GLP) rolled into town with its 2025 Roadshow. The event gave lighting professionals a hands-on look at GLP’s latest innovations and capped the night with the highly anticipated debut of the MAD MAXX fixture, sending its bold new beam high into the Atlanta sky. The roadshow stop at MMP’s Atlanta headquarters gave designers, programmers, and technicians a chance to test new gear in a real working shop environment. Guests explored GLP’s newest lineup which included the Creos, Matrix Eye, and the all-new Nexus battery-powered…
Astera’s R&D department have been busy again, this time developing the SolaBulb, 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 team was learning more about the huge 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 light source was unique as a…
In a social media post, Fuse Technical Group has revealed that the company has acquired London based video technical production company, Video Design. Considered a leader in video technical production for many of the United Kingdom’s largest touring acts and live events for over 10 years, Video Design was founded by the late Alex Leinster in 2015 to provide technical expertise to live events and concerts using LED, projection, camera systems, media servers, and playback engineering. Leinster’s vision has continued through his employees, who have been with the company and this move will aim to continue to keep his legacy…
What challenges did you face during the development of the Olympion Roof System? “The biggest challenge was the timeframe. We received the order in early January – for two roofs, each in a different configuration – with the first one to be delivered in the first weeks of May. In that short window, we designed the complete system, including two new truss types: the XL77TOW tower trusses and the XXL119 horizontal trusses. The team pulled off a huge effort: designing many new parts, building jigs for both the robotic and hand welding lines, and overcoming inevitable production setbacks. Delivering everything…
Nine Inch Nails and their production crew descended on Manchester’s Co-op Live stage with an ambitious show design as part of the band’s return to worldwide touring. Technically orchestrated by Tour Advisor, Chris Kansy and Production Manager, Pierce Scott, the much-anticipated Peel It Back Tour featured reimagined versions of the band’s vast back catalogue across two performance stages and the debut of an exciting new touring product. “I’ve been involved with NIN on and off for about 25 years. Before this tour, Trent [Reznor, NIN frontman], who I respect greatly, got a hold of me and asked if I could…
Launched on World Hearing Day, the Healthy Ears, Limited Annoyance (HELA) Certification is the world’s first safe listening accreditation. The initiative is targeted at every job role in the live events sector – from bar managers to concert promoters, as well as those operating in technical positions. Speaking exclusively to TPi, Jon Burton – a respected sound engineer, lecturer at the University of Derby and member of the Governance Board at HELA – shares what went into creating the HELA Certification, and why it is so important for the future of the industry. There are two levels of the HELA…
Castlefield Bowl’s Sounds of the City has firmly established itself as a staple on Manchester’s festival calendar, with this year’s edition featuring artists such as Elbow, Rizzle Kicks, Basement Jaxx and Bloc Party. A familiar face to readers and GTL Sessions attendees, Tour Manager Lotje Horvers met with TPi to offer a glimpse into the logistics behind Bloc Party’s latest tour of festivals and venues on both sides of the Atlantic. Horvers, a self-confessed fan of the band, coined the show a “dance party with non-stop bangers”. She elaborated: “I started with Bloc Party earlier this year and it’s been…
The UK has certainly had its fair share of homegrown showmen over the years, and one who has more than stood the test of time is Robbie Williams. The self-proclaimed ‘King of Entertainment’ recently embarked on a tour, which saw him perform in stadiums, arenas and even to the backdrop of an historical landmark. Featuring a golden rocket set piece, multiple costume changes and surprise guests, the BRITPOP Tour was produced by an 80-strong crew, with Production Manager, John Lafferty at the wheel. “The thing with Robbie is, every tour is so different and this tour is much bolder than…
Industry professionals descended on the Norwegian city of Kristiansand in July to attend a panel theorising on the future of live production and current industry trends, and see the deployment of HARMAN branded products over several stages as part of Palmesus 2025 – a two-day music event like no other. The Martin Color Lab Innovation panel was moderated by Director of Global Corporate Communications at HARMAN, David Glaubke, and featured guests Mark Buss, Global Product Line Manager at HARMAN International; Henrik Kristensen, Product Manager, Stage Lighting at HARMAN International and Kevin Wetzels, Creative Director at TWOFIFTYK Media. Wetzels began the…
Whenever I’m asked my thoughts on a show I’ve covered, I’ll admit that nine times out of 10, I’ll dive straight into ‘production talk’. However, when it came to Billie Eilish, my predominant memory was the sheer control that the 23-year-old singer exerted over her audience. Her mere presence on the stage, sometimes without even uttering a word, was enough to enrapture her fans. Few singers would be able to silence The O2 like she did when performing an a capella looped vocal for her song When the Party’s Over. What was evident from this show was how Billie was…
At the Plasa Show, the European associations AFIAL, APESA, AVITA, Event Confederation, PLASA, PSA, and VPLT have informally joined forces at an international level. The group represents manufacturers, distributors, dealers, system integrators, production companies, professional end-users and technical service providers involved in live events. The new alliance provides a platform for exchange, pools expertise and resources, and offers a strong voice in European legislative and regulatory processes. The associations come from six European countries: Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. They include: AFIAL (Association that groups manufacturers and importers of Audiovisual Technology, www.afial.net, Spain APESA (Alliance of…
Ahead of its tenth year in business, leading Pro AV marketing agency The Inside Story has agreed to acquire Get It In Writing, the highly influential US-based PR agency led by industry veteran Daniel Liston Keller. The result is The Inside Story Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary which will be based in Las Vegas and serve the broader Americas region including the United States, Canada and LATAM. Like its parent company, The Inside Story Americas will offer a full suite of marketing services. Keller will serve the new company as President while Barney Jameson, founder of The Inside Story, will…
Eliminator Lighting has introduced the Vortex 150—a next-generation barrel mirror scanner that delivers classic motion with modern power. Equipped with a potent 150-watt cool white LED, the Vortex 150 blasts vivid, razor-sharp beams through a rotating mirror, creating dynamic aerial effects that fill any space with energy and movement. Building on the success of the original Vortex, the Vortex 150 is Eliminator’s the latest evolution of its barrel mirror scanner series. This new model supercharges the high-energy classic effect with a powerful 150-watt white LED light engine. Designed for nightclubs, mobile DJs, entertainment venues, and party environments, the Vortex 150…
Linea Research, the UK-based specialist in high-power amplification and DSP solutions, has announced further updates to its distribution strategy with the appointment of Rea Sound as its new distribution partner for Ireland. Rea Sound holds a solid reputation in the market for professionalism and customer service. The company becomes the first stocking distributor for Linea Research in Ireland and as such customers will have ready access to their amplifiers and DSP products. Rea Sound’s introductory showcase of the Linea Research range of products, for dealers, integrators and end users, is set for the upcoming Church Resources Show (18 September -…
Ginger Owl Productions celebrates 12 months of GOAllAreas in action across over 30 high-profile events in music, sport, awards, fashion and beyond. One year on from quietly introducing its online event management platform, GOAllAreas, the team at Ginger Owl Productions is reflecting on a landmark year of innovation in accreditation and access control. Since its debut in August 2024, GOAllAreas has supported over 30 events across the UK and Europe – from the BRIT Awards 2025 and British Summertime Festival, to VE Day 80, the Back to the Beginning Concert, Fashion Awards, and F175 Live at The O2. The system…
