Formed in East London in 1975 by bassist Steve Harris, Iron Maiden have sold more than 100 million albums across 19 studio records and performed over 3,500 live shows to date. The band’s core lineup also consists of lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, guitarists Dave Murray, Janick Gers & Adrian Smith, and touring drummer Simon Dawson (following Nicko McBrain’s retirement from the road). Pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, the prog rock stars have left an indelible mark on the alternative music world during their five-decade career. As part of their 50th-anniversary world tour, Run for Your Lives,…
Author: Alicia Pollitt
BlackTrax has announced BlackTrax Core, a new deployment option designed to make professional real-time tracking more accessible for a wider range of productions. This allows the BlackTrax software to run on their own compatible computer, removing the need for a dedicated BlackTrax server and expands the possibilities of real-time tracking within their environments. “BT-C gives productions a more cost-effective way to deploy BlackTrax by running on a compatible computer rather than requiring a dedicated server. It creates a more accessible entry point for compact shows, with the flexibility to scale into a larger BlackTrax deployment as production needs grows.It is…
LANG is expanding its portfolio with AVORA, a new outdoor LED solution in the 3.9mm pixel pitch category. AVORA achieves a brightness of up to 5,500 nits, is HDR capable, and its IP65 protection rating makes it suitable for both outdoor and indoor use. It is built on SMD technology, and the cabinet also features Black Face and Black Body for compelling contrast. Processing is handled by a Novastar A10s Pro receiving card, which improves both contrast and colour depth, enables precise HDR rendering, and reduces cabling requirements. This also allows AVORA to integrate seamlessly into existing Novastar ecosystems. The…
Jerry Harvey Audio today announced 10 new DiamondCast finishes for its custom in-ear monitors (IEMs), expanding the brand’s premium personalisation options for musicians, audiophiles, and audio professionals. Available as custom shells or faceplates, the new finishes combine distinctive colourways with real reclaimed diamond material, creating a unique look for each pair of monitors. DiamondCast is made from high-density resin material with real reclaimed diamond chips embedded throughout. The diamond material is reclaimed from chips produced by professional diamond cutters, providing a conflict-free source while adding a visual character not possible with traditional shell materials. The new collection includes 10…
Broadweigh to join long-standing product partner Rigging Team on stand G27 at PLASA Show 2026, giving visitors the opportunity to get hands-on with the latest developments from the wireless load monitoring specialist. PLASA Show will see members of the Broadweigh team, including Matthew Youngs, Elliot Van Laere and Oliver Price, on the stand throughout the event to demonstrate new products, talk through applications and answer visitors’ questions. Among the developments being showcased will be Broadweigh’s new wired solution, designed specifically for permanent and theatrical installations, where continuous, reliable load monitoring forms an integral part of the rigging infrastructure. The team will also demonstrate Broadweigh’s latest software, developed as an upgrade to…
Adriatic Sound Festival (ASF) returned to Fano Airport on the Adriatic Coast of Italy for the second time with a production featuring performances by Fisher, Anotr, Honey Dijon, and more. Far from conventional, ASF Founder, Luca Lewis, may just be the first person to pivot from a career as a professional footballer to festival organiser. Speaking exclusively to TPi, he shares how he enlisted the support of STUFISH Entertainment Architects to translate the Roman history of Fano into the creative vision for an electronic dance music festival. “I grew up in Pesaro, and I was driving one of my friends…
Despite playing the two biggest headline shows of his career in his hometown, Dermot Kennedy was keen to keep in theme with his recent project The Weight Of The Woods, which saw the singer-songwriter return to his roots and transform Dublin’s Aviva Stadium into a woodland. Stripping the show back to basics was “important to Dermot”, said Production Manager, Ben Pomphrett, who recruited suppliers which included: Solotech (audio), Christie Lites (lighting), Quantum Creative (media servers), Ox Event House (set pieces), Popcorn (catering), CSE Crosscom (radios), Musicmann (staging), Beat The Street (buses), and EST (trucking). For the Aviva Stadium shows, local…
Over a decade since their debut, TWICE’s THIS IS FOR WORLD TOUR saw the nine-member powerhouse K-pop group tour a 360° stage show for the first time. With the stage setup featuring extended runways, B-stages, and multiple performer lifts, the rigging department was put through its paces. Head Rigger and Owner of Ronin Rigging, Clay Hutson, was onboard to take the show worldwide with over 200 rigging points, a mother grid of over 98,000lbs, and an overall show weight of 205,000lbs. “I have done a few K-pop tours and shows now and the standard is always very high, so I…
Based in the Netherlands, the Tronios Group covers multiple disciplines from consumer electronics to sound and light for a range of sectors, including the live events industry. The family-run company was founded in 1985 by Mario Velders, whose aim was to bring audio and visual products to a wider audience. Today, Tronios encompasses eight professional brands – beamZ, beamZ Pro, Audizio, Fenton, Fuzzix, Max-Music, Power Dynamics and Vonyx. Following a tour of the brand’s impressive Almelo headquarters, Mario’s son, Sales Director, Rudy Velders, caught up with TPi to reflect on four decades of business and the changing structure of the…
With 42 open-air shows programmed taking place between June to August, the stunning surroundings of The Piece Hall in Halifax have become a familiar backdrop for gig-goers over the summer period with the likes of CMAT, David Byrne and Turnstile’s respective touring production teams descending on the Grade One-listed site in recent weeks, firmly putting Yorkshire on the live music map. “Our capacity is just 6,000, and we’ve had performing artists that regularly fill football stadium sized venues perform at The Piece Hall, which is a testament to the atmosphere that we have created,” Production Manager, Martin Hudson proudly said,…
Following a 22 year career in sound, working with artists like Maribou State, Biig Piig and The Vaccines, David Goodwin is striving to bring sound systems into the heart of the creative conversation with the launch of Stencil Audio. “I was starting to become aware that creatives put so much effort into the overall vision of a show and then the sound system is traditionally just a set of black boxes surrounding it,” Goodwin said, speaking to TPi. He shared that the inspiration for the creation of Stencil Audio was working as an engineer on a premiere and a director…
Having cut his teeth preparing and maintaining technical equipment for some of the world’s biggest tours, Sam Pemberton, Director at Make Noise Pro Audio, has turned his proficiency in taking apart old or broken kit and giving it a new lease of life into a business. In 2020, he formally established Make Noise Pro Audio, which he modestly referred to as a “selfish venture” to learn more about gear. Speaking exclusively to TPi, the service engineer turned entrepreneur shares the brand’s unique approach to reconditioning, and now, renting outboard equipment to the studio and live sector. The height of the…
Avolites recently introduced Prism, an intuitive media control interface that allows users to introduce dynamic visuals to their shows without the need for complicated programming, to the market. The launch followed an extensive period of early access. “Our goal is to bring intuitive media control to both lighting and video professionals – not oversimplifying the result but simplifying the process,” Avolites Product and Marketing Manager, Jon Hole said, sharing the inspiration for the solution. “We set out to develop an accessible way to introduce dynamic visuals that look impactful, without needing to navigate complicated programming.” Historically, Avolites’ media portfolio has…
Neg Earth Lights recently welcomed Rick Williamson, Head of Sales and Training at LIFTKET UK (Stage), for two days of comprehensive training with Neg Earth Lights’ Motors Department. The training combined both theory and practical sessions, covering the inspection, maintenance, servicing and testing of CHAINMASTER STAGEKET D8+ ULTRA hoists, CELLMASTER wireless load cells, and new CHAINMASTER EASYLINK XTRA hoist controllers. The hands-on approach gave Neg Earth Lights’ team the opportunity to refresh its existing knowledge, develop its understanding of the latest equipment, and share valuable experience and insight throughout the sessions. With excellence being one of Neg Earth Lights’ core…
Martin Audio has announced its 2026 September Open Days, which will take place between 22 and 25 September. Attendees will be able to experience the full Martin Audio portfolio – alongside its sister brands, TiMax, Optimal Audio and Linea Research – in real life applications, brought to life by projection mapping and immersive sound to showcase how the collection of brands solves challenges that sound professionals experience. Following 10 years of opening up its headquarters to welcome industry professionals, 2026’s September Open Days look slightly different than usual, with the introduction of a paid-for ticket, with all funds raised going…
How did you first enter the industry? “I studied set design at NIDA in Sydney, and early in my career I had the opportunity to work on the Sydney 2000 Olympics. It was an incredible introduction to designing for live audiences on a huge scale, and really set the course for everything that followed – television, live music, award shows and eventually Yellow Studio.” What stands out about the 2026 GRAMMYs and the Super Bowl Halftime Show? “They were both incredibly special projects, but completely different experiences. The GRAMMYs is a show I know well and have loved reinventing each…
NAMM has announced the expanded schedule of events and experiences for The 2027 NAMM Show, taking place January 26–30, 2027, at the Anaheim Convention Center. Designed as a five-day celebration of the global music products community, The 2027 NAMM Show will bring together music makers, creators, artists, retailers, manufacturers, educators, technology professionals and industry leaders for a week of networking, professional development, live performances, special events and industry recognition. The main exhibition floors will be open January 28–30, offering three days of product discovery, demonstrations, business meetings and brand experiences. “The NAMM Show has evolved into a global platform that…
frame:work, the community for live pixel people that has been organising conferences, meetups, and the New Talent List through countless volunteered hours since 2019, today announces the next step: a professional society for our community, built by our community. The new framework.video website is live and membership is open. “Twenty+ years ago, video was an accent piece on the stage,” explained frame:work executive director Laura Frank. “Today it is the stage. And yet the people who design, build, and run those surfaces—the creatives, technologists, and producers of creative video—still fight for a place in the pre-production conversation.” That’s what frame:work…
