Universal Pixels (UP) recently supplied three upstage Roe V4ST LED walls with Brompton Technology processing, Panasonic RQ35 projectors, UC4000 and UE150 cameras, and Disguise media servers for Snow Patrol’s latest tour – in celebration of the band’s eighth LP, The Forest is the Path. The album gave the sell-out tour a theme of growth and overgrowth. Roll drops coming in and out are among the unique production elements bringing an extra dimension to Atticus Finch and Flint Studio’s imagery in front of the band’s trademark projection and LED layers. Snow Patrol are on the road infrequently, it’s six years since…
Author: Jacob Waite
How did it feel to be awarded the TPi Industry Recognition Award? “From the first school show, I instinctively knew that somehow, I needed to make this my career. The fact that it has since allowed me to travel the world in an industry that creates amazing experiences for communities everywhere has been incredible. To realise my peers regard me as an influencer and an advocate for change is a true honour and I am beyond grateful.” What were some of your highlights from the 2025 TPi Awards? “Seeing Nicole Erin Massey getting the award for Production Manager of the…
Celebrating over four decades since the release of their first two albums, 1982s Kissing to be Clever and 1983s Colour By Numbers, Culture Club toured arenas across the UK and Ireland with special guests Tony Hadley and Heaven 17. Considered by many as British music icons who captured the zeitgeist of the ’80s, they were accompanied by exceptional production values and a modernised sound, supplemented by impressive session musicians on stage, and supported by a dedicated, almost completely Northern touring crew behind the scenes. Advance Production Manager, Joe Stenhouse of SJM Concerts and Touring Production Manager, Peter Shorten of Axiom…
What is CORE+ technology and how can it benefit those operating in live events? “CORE+ is an innovative technology within DPA miniature microphones that neutralises distortion across the entire dynamic range of a microphone. For live events, CORE+ ensures sound is captured with even greater authenticity at any volume. The real benefit of CORE+ lies in maintaining a consistent sound character as SPL increases.” What was the idea and guiding principles behind the creation of CORE+ technology? “We are committed to providing audio professionals with the best possible tools — ensuring exceptional sound quality with minimal effort. We continuously push…
In times of globalisation and the ‘self-preservation-at-all-costs’ ethic, it’s almost a quaint oddity to see Entec entering its 57th year as a family-run business, with its independence intact, stock running high and welcoming a new member to the main board – Head of Audio for the past five years, Dan Scantlebury, who recently took a seat at the high table under the new title of Operations and Technical Director. Scantlebury’s arrival at Entec – the longest serving independent lighting and PA rental company in the UK – was arguably a marriage made in heaven and not only because it gave…
What market needs or gaps did you aim to fill with the development of PARAGON? “PARAGON was designed as a refined workhorse fixture that is at home in almost any application. You can take it from a live music show to a rave to a corporate event before lighting a theatre play. It performs perfect in any of those and many other use cases. To achieve the most versatility, we designed it from the ground up with some primary goals. Namely, to create the best light quality in its class while retaining very high output and incorporate a variable CRI…
“What is often forgotten is that a person in the wardrobe department is often the last person an artist sees before they go on stage; as well as helping them change, they are the one who can help a performer calm down or alternatively put them on edge. The costumes are only part of the conversation,” began Go For Wardrobe Co-Director, Mike Bolton, discussing the role of the wardrobe department with TPi. Looking back at the progression of the live events industry, we now have departments serviced by dedicated companies that never existed several decades ago, with video and automation…
Established in 1997 by husband and wife duo, Don (CEO) and Tina (CFO) Romeka, cloud-based event rental business management software, IntelliEvent, is on a mission to develop, enhance and support business-critical software for the rental and event industry – harnessing its team’s industry knowledge and experience to act as trusted advisors and partners for its global userbase. In 2024, the firm launched Lightning v.6 to improve user experience, speeds, and functionality of its business management software, based on the feedback of end users. “Our team’s industry knowledge and experience are extensive, and we aim to act as trusted advisors and…
Jacob Collier’s live shows weave together free-timed segments, improvisation and fragments of playback and timecode, allowing him and his band to experiment and change their performance each night, while having the technology in tow to follow along in ‘lock step’. This approach is unorthodox, and the camp experimented with ways of scaling the show accordingly. Timecode is used unconventionally on this show – triggered via sampler with no pre-roll. The team had to come up with workarounds to ensure a smooth show, unifying control networks to blur lines between departments with JavaScript-distributed timecode, show control, RTP MIDI, digital audio and…
After documenting his breakout shows in 2016 [see TPi #203], Kygo has since had a successful career in the dance scene, one that has seen him launch his own festival, garner multiple top 10 hits, and embark on his first 35-date worldwide arena tour since 2018, supported by a dedicated crew. With the show described by the artist as ‘the biggest production we’ve ever done’ on his social channels, TPi caught up with Production Manager, Joel Stanley of Production Value, to get an insight into the production. “This tour has been amazing, we have a really good bunch on the…
At Lightware, we believe the future of live events is about creating experiences that truly resonate with audiences. The rise of immersive events has changed how we approach live production, and technology is at the heart of these experiences. However, it’s not just about flashy tech; it’s about making sure every detail comes together seamlessly to deliver an unforgettable moment. As we move further into 2025, there’s a noticeable shift in the live event industry. Audiences now expect more than just a performance — they want to be immersed, with interactive visuals, soundscapes, and environments that pull them into the…
LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment), has underlined its commitment to eradicating misogyny in the live music Industry, with a four point strategic plan backed by all 15 member organisations. This plan was launched in response to the last UK Government’s rejection of recommendations made in the ‘Misogyny in Music’ Report from the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC), which was published in January 2024. The cross party WEC holds the Government to account on equality law and policy, including the Equality Act 2010 and cross Government activity on equalities. Its report, ‘Misogyny in Music’, concluded that women working in…
At ISE 2025, TPi launched the Live Events Stage. Building on previous year’s work hosting the Live Events Summit, the Live Events Stage was a three-day event that saw 21 panels take place over three days. The stage was situated in Hall 6 on the show floor, among the lighting exhibitors. The goal of the programme was to bring voices from throughout the live events industry to share an insight into the world of live touring and events. Covering a range of topics from audio, video, lighting, staging, transport, special effects, and more – there was a little something for…
Over its 100-year history, more than 50,000 different electronics products have been developed by Shure. At NAMM 2025, TPi tracked down Monitor Engineer, Kyle Woodrow, following a successful touring campaign with Noah Cyrus, to discover how Shure’s latest advanced digital in-ear monitor system benefitted the American singer and actor and her band in the lead up to Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. “I did my first tour with Noah Cyrus two summers ago now. Everyone in the camp is super fun, easy to work with, and importantly, the music is great,” Woodrow said, speaking to TPi at Shure’s bustling…
Lengthy tech specs are nothing new for us at TPi, but we’re not ashamed to admit when we were sent the kit list from the Jiangsu TV NYE Gala, we did a double take. The annual event once again saw the team from Arf & Yes oversee a lighting rig of over 3,000 fixtures, all of which were controlled by several ChamSys desks. With the event being broadcast live, the show design had to be on point for the entire four-hour run time, with 53 songs performed by a plethora of artists. This year, the staging was design by Skywalker…
Celebrating its 26th year in 2025, The Cluny is one of over 200 venues that took part in Independent Venue Week (IVW), with over 5,000 gigs taking place over the organisation’s 12-year tenure. The Cluny’s Production Manager, Ross Lewis, and staff were honoured by Music Venue Trust (MVT) for Outstanding Contribution to Grassroots Music in November last year alongside other independent venues. Following the award, Lewis was keen to speak to TPi about how the venue is giving young people opportunities to forge a career in production. “It’s important to give kids opportunities through the arts,” he began. “I was…
Since winning a Breakthrough Talent Award in 2023, Emily Haigh has soared to new heights beginning her role as Venue Manager at Stylus Leeds, stage managing Leeds Pride, and working Boomtown festival as well as being awarded one of AAA’s 30underThirty accolades. “My confidence has grown, my career path now seems clearer and overall I am much more excited about the opportunities that await me,” Haigh commented, reflecting on her whirlwind journey while speaking to TPi. What first sparked your interest in live events? “My first experience in the live events industry was wristbanding at Leeds Festival. I was absolutely…
It’s been a period of healthy reflection at the Production Services Association over the past 10 months… It’s also been a busy period of communication, outreach and delivery with our members, partners and industry advocacy working groups. As a newly elected executive team, last May we took a breath, reached out to our membership and reviewed what was important to them. With that initial work almost complete, now is the time for delivering sustained growth and evolution of the PSA. After a successful AGM last week and attendance at ILMC, Production Futures and the Event Production Show, we look forward…
