The 58th Montreux Jazz Festival returned to the sparkling shores of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva from 5 to 20 July. Since its beginnings in 1967, the festival has become a must-play destination for the world’s most revered musicians, drawing legends of soul, jazz, and blues along with rock stars, rappers, and emerging artists of every genre. For 38 years, sound for the Montreux Jazz Festival has been provided by Meyer Sound, Innovation and Strategic Partner of the festival. “Our decades-spanning collaboration with the Montreux Jazz Festival is about a shared commitment to sonic excellence,” said Andy Davies, Meyer Sound Director of…
Author: Jacob Waite
The recent production of Elektra at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, with a capacity of 2,500 Germany’s largest venue of its kind demonstrated the capabilities of AV Stumpfl’s media server platform, PIXERA. Elektra is a one-act opera by Richard Strauss set to a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, adapted from his 1903 drama Elektra. Directed by Philipp Stölzl and Philipp M. Krenn at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, the show required advanced projection capabilities due to its kinetic staging with complex movements and intricate visual demands. The stage, designed by Philipp Stölzl together with Franziska Hahn, consists of movable steps, stairs and drawers with…
RCF UK partner, JPS Sound & Light, fielded 108 RCF loudspeaker enclosures at the recent Zimfest Live 2024 festival in Hertfordshire — now celebrating its 25th year. Involved with this event for the past five years, John Southee’s company has watched the event—a celebration of Zimbabwean music, culture and music—mature from its old Colesdale Farm site near Potters Bar to the premium Hertfordshire County Show Ground outside St. Albans where up to 10,000 people from across the UK congregate over the two days. JPS were tasked with providing a complete technical infrastructure (sound, lighting and video as well as camera…
An Avolites’ D9 console and AI Qgen media servers running Synergy protocol were at the heart of lighting and video control for Arcadia Spectacular’s Dragonfly at Glastonbury Festival 2024. Originated and designed by Creative Director, Pip Rush and Technical Director, Bert Cole, the 30m-long, 8.5m-high biomechanical Dragonfly is built from an ex Royal Navy Sea King helicopter and was surrounded by a 50,000-capacity evolved geometric ‘energy field’ at the festival. The sculpture ‘awakened’ every night of Glasto at 23:30pm, presenting Warraloo – a breathtaking nine-minute show developed by Arcadia in collaboration with the Wadjuk Noongar nation of Western Australia and…
Given his compelling guitar riffs and fierce, unmistakable vocals, Dimitri Minakakis’ homecoming made huge waves in metal circles. Also making a return on that unseasonably hot night in Brooklyn, though it was after a far shorter hiatus, was Victor Zeiser, owner of Squeek Lights. A longtime Lighting Designer, Zeiser has been busy much of the last five or six years, building Squeek into a successful business. But when Travis Wade, the tour manager for The Dillinger Escape Plan, asked if he could light this very special series of shows, well… the calling was just too hard to resist. “When I got…
Jean-Marc Farré has joined Robe Lighting as a Regional Manager for the South of France. This appointment follows recent internal restructuring related to Robe’s acquisition of Avolites in autumn 2023, resulting in new responsibilities taken on by Terry Di Isernia, who becomes the General All-Markets Manager for Avolites in France. Bruno Garros, Managing Director of Robe Lighting France, commented on the appointment: “We are thrilled to have someone of Jean-Marc’s calibre onboard, someone who is respected particularly for heading up lighting projects and managing technical production for so many events and well-known venues like the Scène de Bayssan near Béziers.…
Vari-Lite has introduced VL3600 LT Profile IP to the market. This long-throw version of the popular VL3600 Series luminaire offers the same excellent colour mixing, powerful effects, and outdoor weather rating as the existing fixture, but with superior output at extremely narrow zoom ranges. “The VL3600 Profile IP is quickly becoming an industry standard on the world’s largest tours, TV events and theatrical productions,” explained Martin Palmer, Vari-Lite Product Management and Marketing Leader at Signify. “Designers love the output, colours and feature set in the fixture, but want an option for longer throw applications. That’s why we designed the VL3600…
Colorado-based Brown Note Productions recently fielded 120 impression X4 Bar 20s and 12 JDC1s from the GLP catalogue to help provide a riveting backdrop and enhance the natural wonder that is the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The show they were brought in to stage was a fast-moving, high-octane performance by South African DJ/producer Black Coffee, with the dance music icon joined by LP Giobbi, THEMBA and DJ Holographic in a non-stop extravaganza. Situated south-west of Denver, at an elevation of 6,500 ft, the amphitheatre itself is a 9,525-capacity, sloped, all-seated venue with an illustrious history since opening in 1941. Working to…
Ed Sanderson has been hired as Executive Vice President of Business Development for ASM Global Europe. Over the past three years, Sanderson has been spearheading the development of ASM Global within Asia, working on ground breaking projects such as the expansive Kai Tak Sports Park Project. His transition to the European division marks a pivotal moment for the company as it continues its mission to elevate the fan experience in key markets across the continent. Sanderson’s global perspective and proven track record in navigating complex commercial landscapes make him well-equipped to lead our growth across Europe and the UK. Chris…
Spa is best known for its mineral water and legendary Formula One circuit, but each July the small Belgian city welcomes almost 200,000 visitors for the annual Francofolies Festival. This internationally renowned festival promotes contemporary music, conceived and designed with respect for the environment and sustainable development. The programming and artists reflect the values upheld by the festival: multiculturalism, the dissemination of Francophilia worldwide, and advocacy for a modern and innovative vision of culture. With headline performances from French singers Christophe Maé and Patrick Bruel, Congolese singer and rapper Gims and French folk-rock band Louise Attaque, this year’s festival took place…
Stadium of Fire is an annual celebration of patriotism held at Brigham Young University’s LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah each 4 July. This year, it featured a performance by the 300-member, Las Vegas-based Zion’s Youth Symphony & Chorus, a flyover by F-35 jets, skydivers, rousing tributes to military and civilian heroes as well as a headline set from pop sensations the Jonas Brothers. Lighting for this epic event was supplied by PSI (Production Services International), which utilised a rig comprised predominantly of ADJ Hydro Series IP65-rated automated luminaires as well as static IP65-rated washes to illuminate both the stage…
Digital Media Technology (DMT) has been named a new distributor for DirectOut’s audio solutions in the Greater China region. This partnership marks a significant step in the expansion of DirectOut’s presence in Asia. Founded in Hong Kong in 1990, DMT has established itself as a leading supplier of audio and video system solutions. With four additional offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Taipei, DMT offers a full range of services, from design to support. “DMT’s technical expertise and deep understanding of the market make them an ideal partner,” said Luca Giaroli, Chief Solution Officer at DirectOut. “This collaboration ensures optimal…
UniverSoul Circus is celebrating 30 years of touring activities in 2024 with its inclusive ethos, which extends to welcoming Eighth Day Sound back for the sixth year. Providing sound design services and equipment delivery since 2018, as overseen by Eighth Day Sound’s Sean Sturge, UniverSoul Circus is one of North America’s most-loved family friendly, non-stop action productions. This year, the show has 10 acts from multiple continents, reinforcing its position as a truly cultural live entertainment offering. Production Manager, Kabelo Mashobane begins: “The idea here is to bring everyone from different cultures together. Soul doesn’t have a colour. It doesn’t…
22live has become one of the live entertainment industry’s first suppliers to achieve the AGF (A Greener Future) Greener Supplier certification. This certification underscores 22live’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the company’s proactive efforts to reduce emissions and waste across its operations and services. The AGF certification is an independently verified acknowledgment of our green credentials, helping events, venues, festivals, and tours easily identify green suppliers. This recognition will save both suppliers and clients time and resources in evidencing their commitment to sustainability. 22live’s journey to certification involved a thorough assessment of its practices in various key areas of environmental sustainability,…
22live and University of Birmingham, with support from DPA Microphones, are hosting a Mic Tech workshop, in the Bramall Music Building’s Elgar concert hall on 18 September 2024 from 10.30am to 4pm. DPA Microphones will lead the event, sharing their expertise in microphone technology and placement. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge in an area that is both crucial for live sound reproduction, and often overlooked. The workshop will be divided into two sessions: Morning Session: Microphone Technology Learn about product functionality, including different types of capsules and coverage patterns, and why specific microphones are better suited for certain applications. Afternoon…
On the eve of his 15-city arena and amphitheater Quit!! tour, HARDY promised a newspaper interviewer that he would “leave it all on the stage.” An ideal claim? Hardly! Like the artist himself, who prefers to have his name stylised in all capital letters, his bold, high-energy performance holds nothing back. Supporting HARDY’s deeply personal and always-enthusiastic performance is an immersive production design by Cort Lawrence and his team at Raw Cereal. Creating a sense of depth on the stage and conveying the artist’s story with evocative content displayed on a massive video screen supported by light from 233 CHAUVET…
Rock music’s legendary sister duo, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, performed a series of US shows from 20 April to May 23 as part of their Royal Flush Tour, with lighting design by Carl Burnett. The LD turned to Elation’s PROTEUS BRUTUS LED Wash FX and PROTEUS MAXIMUS LED Profile moving heads as the foundation of the lighting rig, valuing their immense power while appreciating their refined design qualities. Royal Flush marked the first live show the sisters have shared since 2019. Burnett, who designed lighting for Heart’s 2019 tour and is known for his work with Robert Plant,…
“L-Acoustics was specifically requested for this tour. It’s the system I feel most comfortable with after years of working with it, mixing for other artists,” shared Philip Harvey, FOH Engineer. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Hopes and Fears, Keane embarked on a triumphant UK arena tour that presented a unique set of acoustic challenges. The tour, spanning six arenas for seven shows, including two nights at London’s O2 arena, demanded a concert sound system to deliver both whisper-quiet moments and full-on, high-energy peaks with equal clarity and power. “While Keane is known for their melodic ballads, their…
