Firmly embedding themselves into the fabric of the modern day Colorado music scene, electronic dance duo, Big Gigantic, hosted two sold out shows at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheater as part of their Rowdytown concert series. The ninth installment saw drummer, Jeremy Salken and saxophonist and producer, Dominic Lalli thrash through their back catalogue of electronic, hip-hop, and jazz tracks, supported by impressive 3D visuals, production and show design. Lighting Designer, Ricardo Rojas, was parachuted in to assemble a team of talented technicians and creatives able to execute the collective vision of Rowdytown IX. Donning multiple [hard]hats – as equal…
Author: Jacob Waite
Brought in by necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of operating a show remotely became a recurring theme in the lockdown – rolled-out to great effect on projects such as Wacken World Wide [TPi #253] and Around The World In 80 Milliseconds [TPi #258]. Involved in both projects was none other than Peter Brandt of Remote Recording Network. Carving out somewhat of a niche, Brandt and his team, while working closely with Riedel Communications, have created a proven workflow, which enables a show to be operated remotely by engineers, using a mirrored console on site. This time round, for…
What do you hope to achieve in your new role as PRG CEO? “My goal is to ensure that all the markets in which PRG is involved pull together to harness the collective talent around the world. This will mean we come back stronger as markets begin to re-emerge and together we can aid the development of new markets, such as virtual production and hybrid events.” How has PRG faired since March 2020? “It varies from region to region. However, our work in the film and TV markets has gone from strength to strength. Nevertheless, like most, we have struggled…
Known for breaking the conventions of classical music, Aurora Orchestra once again welcomed crowds for a genre-bending project, in which attendees were able to share the same physical space as musicians and feel what it is like to be part of an orchestra. With the Printworks, London chosen as the location for this innovative project, Sound Designer, Tim Hands was tasked with transforming the venue into a space boasting the audio quality of a concert hall. To emulate the natural acoustics he sought after Southby Productions who provided a d&b audiotechnik Soundscape solution to create an acoustic shell. Southby Productions’…
The obsession with portability is nothing new in the world of live touring. With increasing numbers of productions and performing artists conscious of budgets, Brexit and the overarching concern to be more environmentally conscious, portability has become increasingly important. One company that has been focusing on this mission has been Allen & Heath with one of its latest ‘fly weight’ consoles, the CTi1500. This portable console complete with flight case comes in at 23kg – light enough not to be slapped with an overweight sticker at the airport – while providing engineers the confidence of a mobile offering with control…
Reaffirming its commitment to a sustainable future, LED manufacturer, Absen has launched a new green initiative, Absen Green, with the goal of uniting its efforts in sustainability, environmental protection, energy efficiency and corporate social responsibility. Absen has long had some of the most energy efficient products on the market, but the launch of Absen Green marks the first time the LED manufacturer has brought together its environmental efforts under one brand and signals a major statement of intent in the company’s 20th-anniversary year. “Energy saving is a virtue, but environmental protection is an attitude. This is our attitude,” explained Absen…
Considered by live musos and critics alike as one of the most exciting young bands on the touring circuit today, Irish post-punk outfit, Fontaines D.C. have experienced the trials and tribulations of touring amid the pandemic. Having seen their campaign for second album, A Hero’s Death, postponed, then a subsequent resumption curtailed by a positive COVID-19 test, their return saw them play to larger crowds and venues than originally anticipated due to popular demand. Keeping pace with the rollercoaster ride that is post-lockdown productions was a tight-knit team of creatives and technicians, supported by Only Helix, SSE Audio, Patchwork London,…
Marking one of the first touring campaigns out of the gates post-lockdown, The Neon Tour – announced following the release of Erasure’s 18th studio album – celebrated a return to some semblance of normality for the live events sector in the UK. Having steadily toured the globe and released new music over the past 36 years, the British synthpop duo have experienced somewhat of a career renaissance in recent years, making a step back up to large-scale shows reminiscent of their early commercial success. Despite the growing popularity of the band, their cult following and DIY ethos remains as relevant…
Following the success of her Live From Union Chapel livestream [see TPi #251], and in support of her critically acclaimed seventh studio album, Song For Our Daughter, English folk singer-songwriter, Laura Marling embarked on her first tour in four-and-half years; a stripped-back, solo acoustic campaign supported by a tight-knit crew. “It has been a privilege to work with such a lovely team,” Tour Manager, Dan McKay began, speaking to TPi as the dust settled on the whirlwind tour. “We were meant to be in the US in 2020 but that was subsequently curtailed with the COVID-19 pandemic, so she had…
With a back catalogue that virtually defines a genre, replicating the songs of the late Bob Marley was no small undertaking for the audio team behind the latest West End production, which looks to tell the real-life story of the singer. Originally planned to open in February 2020 to coincide with Marley’s birthday, Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical eventually opened in October 2021 at London’s Lyric Theatre. Having been at the helm of the audio solution for the project for almost two-and-a-half years, Sound Designer, Tony Gayle discussed the journey he and his team had been on…
The 5G Festival project is arguably one of the most quintessential post-lockdown stories covered in TPi since March 2020. A band performing together, online in real time, and then mixed in a custom built Dolby Atmos studio, with the intention of streaming to an in-person audience, and viewers at home. Along with showing how far networking has come, this project challenged the general conventions of a live concert as it offered a solution to allowing greater access for audiences to enjoy music in multiple locations. The concept has been led by Digital Catapult, one of the UK’s leading advanced digital…
Despite live music grinding to a halt in 2020 and the first part of 2021, there were still some artists experiencing a rise in profile, even with the regular means of gaining support no longer an option. One such artist was Arlo Parks. Claiming Best Breakthrough Artist at the 2021 BRIT Awards and gaining critical acclaim with her debut album, Collapsed In Sunbeams, it’s certainly been a busy year for the artist and her core crew. With live shows returning to the UK, the collective looked to honour several dates that were cancelled in 2020 as well as moving into…
Although the concept of an all-night rave is nothing new in dance music subculture, few DJs have taken the concept to mainstream events spaces in the UK. In 2018, Andy C sought to break this tradition with an all-night event at Wembley’s SSE Arena. Following its success, it is perhaps no surprise that the DJ and his team would return to blow the roof off the venue again. Uniting under the banner of Andy C All Night, most of the creative team from 2018 were brought back to provide revellers an even greater dance experience. Co-Designer and Video Director, Simon…
Taking its four decades of experience and expertise, 5 Star Cases is now producing a new range of custom-designed packing crates, which can be used as a cost-effective alternative when flight cases are not required, or as an added level of protection when they are. Using the same advanced production techniques and extensive infrastructure at its dedicated manufacturing facility in the heart of the Cambridgeshire Fens, 5 Star packing crates are constructed with strength and durability in mind. They can be used for storing and transporting a vast range of products across different industries and applications, from AV, entertainment, engineering…
Rock-It Global has completed its rebrand, launching a new logo and website, and bringing together over four decades of expertise in live event logistics from Rock-It Cargo, Sound Moves, Waiver, Cargo Live, and Rogers Customs Broker. Rock-it Global along with Dietl, Cosdel, and Dynamic International are part of Global Critical Logistics (GCL), a global holding company for mission-critical freight forwarding and global logistics providers to specialty sectors and a portfolio company of ATL Partners. In London, Rock-it Global, has opened a dedicated 15,000 sq ft facility at Heathrow Airport, which offers 13,314 cubic foot (377 cu m) of caged secure…
As one of largest stockists of EM Acoustics equipment with well over 1,000 pieces in its rental inventory, Cardiff-based Stage Sound Services has expanded its arsenal even further with the addition of six R10s and ten R8s from EM Acoustics Reference Series range. The purchase represents the first Reference Series delivery to a rental company. Reference Series represents the ultimate no-compromise solution for point source applications requiring ultra-high quality sound reinforcement in a versatile, low profile package. R10 was first previewed at ISE in 2020. It has since been joined by its 8-inch and 12-inch siblings, R8 and R12 respectively.…
“This is the show that is comedy chaos on stage,” began Mischief’s Magic Goes Wrong Lighting Designer, David Howe. “It must never be the lights that go wrong!” Co-written by Mischief and international magicians, Penn and Teller, Magic Goes Wrong, first opened at London’s Vaudeville Theatre in 2019 before touring the UK since July 2021. A West End version returned to London in October with a relaunch at the Apollo Theatre that will run until February 2022. The comedy play is presented as a fundraiser and features a string of inept magicians doing their best acts to raise money for…
London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks has attracted millions to the city every 31 December. Despite COVID-19-induced safety protocols restricting crowds in London this year, the celebration garnered a customary audience of BBC viewers at home. Developed by Jack Morton, the global brand experience agency, working in partnership with the Mayor of London’s office, the celebration features an impressive 13-minute firework display, kicked off by the ringing of Big Ben’s iconic bell, and a Durham Marenghi lighting design that covers the entire downtown. Since it spanned such a wide area, the NYE lighting was divided into two sections: Central London and…
