Exhibiting at ISE for the fourth consecutive year and sharing its stand with Groupe Novelty for the second time in Barcelona, Naostage is once again redefining how entertainment experiences are delivered with its latest innovations and technologies, on show on stand 6R100. Across a space of more than 150m², visitors will be able to discover YouTrack, a manual tracking system offering the best price-to-performance ratio on the market and unlimited scalability; the brand new Kore S server; and a preview of Multiview technology, which extends tracking capabilities to and opens up new opportunities in the broadcast, VR/XR, architectural and sports…
Author: Jacob Waite
When pioneering electronic artist Four Tet returned to Alexandra Palace’s Great Hall, the brief was as deceptively simple as it was ambitious: create a vast, communal dancefloor experience anchored not by a performer, but by light, geometry and feeling. For award-winning Production and Lighting Designer Ed Warren, the challenge was irresistible, as TPi discovers. A long-time collaborator, Warren has worked with Four Tet’s Kieran Hebden for 17 years, and that history shapes every iteration of the project. He designed the entire room concept and layout, programmed the artist’s latest show’s, and operated the lighting live, busking. “The core principle has…
With a growing track record across some of the UK’s largest and most demanding live events, Spartan Crew has carved out a reputation as a staffing and multi-discipline agency capable of supplying everything from highly skilled technical personnel to the extra pairs of hands needed to keep a site moving, swiftly and safely. Established with the intention of offering a professional, personal crewing service underpinned by rigorous training, the company now services the full breadth of the live entertainment landscape – from live entertainment and corporate events to major sporting occasions. At the helm is Managing Director, Paz Brennan, whose…
Funktion-One recently invited the professional audio community to Millennium Studios, Bedfordshire, for Funktion-One Live, a two-day showcase of the company’s latest live sound technology and design philosophy. The event brought together press, distributors, promoters, production managers, engineers, and other industry decision-makers for an immersive experience of the company’s latest live sound solutions. Founder and industry legend, Tony Andrews, who has been pioneering live audio for half a century, reflected on the journey that has defined Funktion-One. “I’ve been in this business for around 50 years now. I was there at the beginning of so many things, including Glastonbury, and we’ve…
Sabaton and their 200-strong touring crew have announced themselves on the European arena circuit with a production that matches the Swedish power metal band’s reputation for theatrical, history-infused live performances. Their latest touring design features a towering castle, a support orchestra, an automated drawbridge with integrated lighting and smoke, a rising and descending drum riser encased by inflatable hands, and fire-breathing dragons – an ambitious brief which required equally ambitious engineering. MOTOR Stage Automation, based in Denmark, began its relationship with Sabaton a year ago, flying a tank set piece during the band’s set at Sweden Rock Festival in front…
After seven years away, Radiohead returned to the stage with one of their most technically ambitious productions to date – the band’s first ever ‘in-the-round’ concert experience, featuring an automated video ‘halo’ with 100% real-time driven visual content, a Metallica-inspired TM Array, and the largest ever touring use of kinetic lighting winches among the production highlights. Having wrapped up eight months on the road with Robbie Williams’ BRITPOP Tour [see TPi #289], Production Manager, John Lafferty – who has orchestrated the logistics of the band’s touring exploits since 2017 – flew from Istanbul to London to assemble the campaign. “It’s…
Little Simz has cemented her place as one of the UK’s most compelling and visionary performers on the touring circuit. Her latest live offering is a bold celebration of everything that has defined her career so far – a high-energy journey through her back catalogue and latest album, Lotus. On stage, she’s joined by a stellar band of musicians, backed by a crew of backstage masterminds, and, naturally, a towering, automated set piece that makes a statement as unforgettable as the music. Tour Director, Tom Bielby of Hit Different, oversaw the entire touring operation – from financial planning and logistical…
TAIT has acquired Airworks. This strategic acquisition strengthens TAIT’s commitment to delivering fan experiences by expanding its creative range and production offerings for renowned global performers and live events with Airworks. Since starting in rock ’n’ roll in 1978, TAIT has pushed the boundaries of concert and live event production for the world’s biggest artists. Today, the company has expanded its services and evolved beyond concert touring, bringing creative expertise and engineering innovation to theme parks, world expos, global theatres, festivals, and fan experiences worldwide. Founded in 2002, Airworks has earned a reputation for producing visually stunning, large-scale inflatable works…
What was the idea and inspiration behind the creation of the three-way active line array? MC: “The VIO L1610 now stands as the brand leader of our core business – small to mid-sized line array systems. Historically, the brand began developing powered line arrays two decades ago, and we’ve carried on that legacy with the launch of VIO over 10 years ago. This model targets the dual 10” format – a compact, powerful system designed with ease of use in mind. It’s flyable by a single person. Our early prototype was the two-way VIO L210, followed by the improved version–…
What challenges did you face bringing GX 3+ to the market? “A challenge faced during development was working to ensure that we can guarantee the increase in power requirements for the NVIDIA Blackwell GPU architecture, which has a maximum power consumption of 600W. This has meant that we have had to validate a new power supply unit (PSU), as well as managing the increased cooling requirements. Beyond that, development has been smooth, incorporating extensive validation across GPU, CPU and motherboard types, together with rigorous environmental testing for heat, shock and drops. This level of testing goes beyond standard server requirements…
As flightcases wheel back to warehouses following another whirlwind summer season, Concert Stuff Group (CSG) cemented its reputation as one of the ‘go-to’ names in full-service event solutions. With its headquarters based in North Carolina, CSG capped off the summer in style, delivering five back-to-back concerts at Chicago’s Soldier Field during the final week of August, featuring Oasis, My Chemical Romance, The Lumineers, and a double-bill of System of a Down. Just over eight miles away, CSG’s sister companies – G2 Structures and Guardian Barrier Services – were simultaneously working their magic at Wrigley Field, constructing the live infrastructure for…
It’s been some time since Mumford & Sons hit the road with an arena production, with their last, the Delta Tour, wrapping up in early 2019. Covering the show at Manchester’s AO Arena back then, one element all the crew mentioned at the time was the flexibility the band brought to their live offering – with changing setlists and instruments, as well as one or two trips out into the crowd, being common occurrences. Suffice to say, despite the break and the release of a new album, these hallmarks remain. The difference this time around is several new faces joining…
Neg Earth Lights believes that being ‘job-ready’ is about more than just technical skills. As an employer, the proudly independent lighting and rigging specialist values those who align with its culture and demonstrate a desire to learn – through reliability, attention to detail, and the ability to offer a quality service and collaborate across the teams that make up the live events sector. Millie Weston joined the CAD and Fabrication departments at Neg Earth Lights after discovering the placement programme during her search for a route into the industry following a Fine Art degree. “I was eager to explore how…
In a bid to further foster meaningful dialogue and exchange within the professional audio ecosystem, Sennheiser and Neumann open their doors to the industry press. With over 37 global journalists in attendance, Sennheiser’s 80th Anniversary International Press Trip was designed as a journey through the past, present, and future of the Sennheiser Group – a celebration of 80 years of innovation, independence, and a passion for sound. By hosting the experience across two locations – the Sennheiser headquarters in Wennebostel and Neumann’s home in Berlin, Germany – the brand aimed to showcase the shared DNA that unites the Sennheiser Group…
When Oasis announced their long-awaited return on 27 August 2024, the news instantly struck an emotional chord with live music fans worldwide. As tickets vanished swiftly and speculation swirled around support acts and production details, a dedicated team of touring professionals, creatives, and rental specialists were quietly assembling behind the scenes. Their mission: to deliver a production that not only exceeds expectations but is, above all, ‘biblical’. In response to overwhelming demand, Oasis added extra dates across the UK and Ireland before heading to North America, Australia, South America, and Asia. Support acts included Cast, Richard Ashcroft, Cage the Elephant,…
For the past decade, Portman Lights has quietly built a reputation as one of the most recognisable names in creative lighting design, the sort of kit that instantly adds warmth, texture and a bit of theatre to any space. Once the secret weapon of music video directors and touring LDs, Portman’s unique style is now finding a new home across TV, advertising, film, corporate events and live productions alike. At Artisan Productions, we have been using Portman fixtures across our events for some time, and we are proud to now stock the full range for dry hire and in-house production.…
A familiar name to readers, Lighting Designer Elliot Baines of Spiral is no stranger to Glastonbury Festival. Aged just 10, he was already busking shows at Worthy Farm. Fast forward to 2025, and the creative speaks to TPi’s Jacob Waite to reflect on his latest Glasto milestone – designing the lighting for electronic music duo, Maribou State’s headline set on the festival’s third-largest stage. This project was realised in collaboration with creative directors Unlimited Dream Company (UDC), lighting supplier Liteup, video vendor iMAG, and West Holts stage supplier DPL Production Lighting. What was your role on this project? “For shows…
What really makes light feel right? Lighting designer and neuroaesthetics researcher, Jason Ahn is challenging conventional wisdom with an approach that draws on neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy. In his new Routledge-published book Neuroaesthetic Stage Lighting Design: What Makes Good Light, Ahn offers a framework for understanding audience perception – and why applying neuroaesthetic principles could transform how live events feel, not just how they look. What inspired you to write Neuroaesthetic Stage Lighting Design? “Every creative field has its own unwritten rules – for example, ‘in this situation, this arrangement and colour combination works best.’ I was curious to know…
