For a publication that showcases the best visual creatives, often encyclopaedic in their knowledge of the latest in event technology, it’s amusing to think that, often, the goal in show design is to hide technology to ‘keep the magic’. However, this seemed to be the goal behind the design for French rapper Tiakola’s latest tour, where the creatives sought to create a truly mobile, integrated stage space that would meld with the rapper’s performance and that of his band. TPi caught up with Julien Peyrache and Michael Berzon of Alien le studio, who oversaw scenography and lighting design for the…
Author: Stewart Hume
For the third year running, thanks to generous support from companies within the industry, Roadies in Recovery fundraised to buy two tables at the annual TPi Awards. The goal, as it had been for the previous two years, was to create a safe space at the ceremony for those who are in recovery and live a sober lifestyle. Roadies in Recovery, as an organisation, began during the COVID-19 pandemic with a group of roadies from all walks of life from the touring world, getting together online for mutual aid and support to help keep themselves – and each other -…
The past 12 months have been an interesting time for the live events sector, with several of the rental market’s most notable names that laid the foundations of how tours now go out on the road, celebrating their 50th anniversaries. One such company is Star Live. These days, Star is known globally as a staging company providing the physical infrastructure for stadiums and festivals – most recently seen in the pages of TPi for its work on Oasis’ Live ‘25 Tour. But the company’s origins actually lie in the world of audio. “As a kid, I always wanted a career…
In what has become a staple of the industry’s annual events calendar in the UK, in mid-January, hundreds of audio professionals descend on a hotel just outside Wolverhampton for a full day of discovery, hearing from some of the leading manufacturers operating in the world of pro audio and get hands-on time with some new pieces of kit. This year, the Core Pro Show took up residence in a brand-new location – Hogarths Stone Manor, a stone’s throw from Core Pro Audio’s office outside of Kidderminster. The day saw demos from the likes of L-Acoustics, Meyer Sound, DPA Microphones, Sennheiser,…
In what has quickly become a concrete date in our annual calendar at TPi Magazine, THE Conference: Live at Lititz, now in its fourth year, presents an opportunity for those in the live touring community to gather for one last time before the Christmas break. This year, 1,300 attendees descended on the Rock Lititz campus to enjoy a schedule of 150 different sessions along with plenty of networking opportunities throughout the three-day event. “We have really seen this scale to a global audience with people coming from all over the world,” commented Emily Cassidy, Director of Conferences and Partnerships, Rock…
With a varied career, including experience as an aeronautic engineer and at a large investment bank, Amnon Harman has brought a great deal of business prowess to d&b. Under his 11-year leadership, the company has witnessed significant growth, going from 300 employees with a €67M turnover to a staff base of 1,100 and a €320M revenue. “I think a common theme when you look back at all the jobs I’ve had is that I’m good at aiding in growth and change management, bringing a team from A to Z,” mused Amnon. “d&b has been my longest stay in one company…
Since forming in the early 2000s, the stories of Busted and McFly have always been interwoven. From the days of Popworld’s Simon Amstell joking that they were so similar, to the later years when the shared camaraderie of the groups was seen as they toured together under the moniker of McBusted. However, for some time behind the scenes, a plan was put in place to create a tour that would pit the two bands against each other for the ultimate co-headline tour. The difference between Busted vs McFly compared to many other co-headline tours is that instead of flip-flopping who…
Although TRUCKINGBY has only been on the live touring circuit for 14 years, the history of the company dates back to 1975, when founder Brian Yeardley established the business with a focus on general cargo. This side of TRUCKINGBY – now operating as CARGOBY – still makes up 50% of the business, with the remaining 50% coming from the live events sector. In the company’s 50th year, the founder opted to step away from the business, with longtime employees, Kevin and Sarah Hopper, heading an MBO in October 2024 with Damian Sharpe, the company’s Financial Director and Operations Director Jordan…
There’s no doubt that drones had a greater presence within the live events landscape in the UK throughout 2025. Whether it was hailing the coming of Oasis to stadiums across the country or their multiple appearances at festival grounds throughout the summer, it seems more creatives are looking to extend their visual canvas into the sky. Another famed event that sought aeronautical excellence in ’25 was the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with organisers bringing in AeroAVA to add drones into the wider creative conversation. Discussing the company’s involvement with the project was Tom Rees, Managing Director of AeroAVA. Having first…
Parkway Drive have long been a mainstay of the alternative music zeitgeist, steadily elevating their production values and becoming certified headliners across festivals and arenas worldwide. For their latest anniversary tour, the Aussie metal group pushed their stage show to new heights, deploying an eye-watering level of pyrotechnics and special effects. Clips quickly went viral on social media including one moment where pyrotechnics were fired from an automated bridge above the audience while the entire stage was engulfed in flame, firmly capturing the attention of fans and industry professionals alike. With the tour coming to an end, TPi jumped on…
Last year, TPi had the pleasure of sitting down with Françoise Cardoso, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for L-Acoustics. With a history of working in the food industry, she brought her skills over to the entertainment sector with the goal of helping L-Acoustics formalise a comprehensive strategy for sustainable practices. Now with her feet firmly under the table at the loudspeaker company, we were keen to reconnect and get her thoughts on what companies within the sector could be doing to push the envelope. “When it comes to sustainability, we have three pillars of focus: planet, people and sound,” explained…
Entering Rock-It Cargo’s new UK headquarters – with the roar of jet engines overhead – it’s clear why the freighting experts chose this building, just a stone’s throw from Heathrow Airport. A significant upgrade from its previous office, the 50,000 sq ft facility is now home to several divisions of the Rock-It family, including Rock-It Cargo, SOS Global, Dynamic International, and Dietl International Services. Before Rock-It moved in, the former Air Canada building underwent a full refurbishment, which included the installation of heat pumps, solar panels, and EV charging points – making the facility among the greenest within the Heathrow…
The storied history of Britannia Row Productions can almost be charted through the various facilities the rental house has called home over its 50-year journey. From its Islington birthplace – established to keep Pink Floyd’s equipment in use during their downtime – the company grew as the live industry itself began to professionalise. With increasing demand came the need for more space, prompting several moves further from central London to ever-larger premises. From Wandsworth, then Twickenham, and most recently, Weybridge, Surrey, on the historical Brooklands site. While the new facility houses the company’s existing stock and staff, it was also…
In a world of social media finger-pointing, it is hard not to feel sympathy for transport companies in the live touring industry. Anytime the topic of sustainability comes up, too often naysayers in the comment sections state how terrible the vehicles are for the environment. But often, these are the very companies that are thinking outside the box to create more sustainable solutions for their customers. It was for this reason that we opted to put together an article to highlight this hard work. Then, serendipitously, the topic made headline news when it broke that Sam Fender’s latest summer run…
With a 40-year history as a key player within the theatre market, Unusual Rigging has grown from strength to strength – which is evident from the major expansion at the company’s Northampton HQ. Opened last year, the wood-clad, two-storey building is a feat of engineering that pushes the boundaries of sustainable construction, reflecting some of the core principles of Unusual Rigging. Founded in 1983 by Alan ‘AJ’ Jacobi following a successful career as a freelance production electrician, Unusual Rigging started with the aim of providing a service for the theatre world. This remit soon expanded to providing large-scale national and…
With an esteemed career behind the faders, Bill Sheppell has mixed for the likes of Beyoncé and Bon Jovi over the years. This year, he lent his talents to Shakira, mixing for her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour. Sheppell sat down with TPi to discuss his workflow for the tour, which included the Universal Audio Apollo X16D. “I started with Shakira in June, mixing the 2024 Copa América final halftime show,” began Sheppell. “Tour rehearsals started in October and went through to January 2025 with the first show taking place in early February in Brazil.” When it came…
How does feel to step into Piers Shepperd’s shoes as Chair of Backup Tech? “Succeeding Piers Shepperd is a privilege. He took on the role after the passing of John Simpson, who had been such a driving force for Backup, personally dedicating so much time to every applicant, trustee, and aspect of the charity. What Piers quickly saw was that John had carried much of this work himself, and while it was done with huge care, it was a manual process which worked well for John because he had the available time, but not so well for others who were…
In what is shaping up to be one of the busiest summer seasons for the live events industry to date, we thought we would take a beat to catch up with the hard-working crew members and companies who have been busy creating magical experiences in the fields of the UK and Europe for the past few months. Although there is an ever-present threat facing the festival industry with many events sadly having to close their gates – in some cases for good – there were still several production highlights from the summer. There does seem to be a shift with…
