For the first time, Metallica used an in-the-round Meyer Sound LEO Family loudspeaker system when the band inaugurated the 20,000-capacity Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada. The Meyer Sound LEO Family loudspeaker system used 1100-LFC low frequency control elements in a TM Array configuration. Mick Hughes, Metallica’s FOH Engineer, said: “Never before have I heard that amount of low end, with such tightness, when we played in the round. The TM Array works fantastically well. The 1100-LFC’s just have an ungodly amount of power. Working in the round, you have to get a grip on what you’re doing and fortunately, LEO…
Author: Stewart Hume
Taiwanese pop singer Jolin Tsai’s new album Play was given the highest accolade by the Chinese music industry in 2015, winning Best Mandarin Album at the 26nd Annual Pop Music Awards. Soon afterwards, her Play World Tour began and after a successful three days in Taipei Arena, the tour visited the Chinese mainland. The production spared nothing. Concert Directors Travis and Stacyz, having worked with Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga, were brought in to create the visual design. MSI Japan was in charge of the sound production and Martin Audio’s MLA system was chosen for the Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai and…
APG, the French loudspeaker manufacturer and inventor of the ‘Modular Line Array’ concept, unveiled its latest innovations and announced new partnerships at the 2015 JTSE in Paris. On the stand, the company previewed two new modular compact line array systems: the UC206W (for wide) and UC206N (for narrow) to complete the existing Uniline range. These new flexible medium and high frequency line source enclosures are based on the same concept that has made the Uniline range such a success, boasting constant horizontal directivity and superior sonic performance. Speaking about the new models, Grégory Dapsanse, APG France Executive Vice President of R&D, Innovation and Marketing,…
Lighting Designers Willie Botha and Matthew Meyer employed an array of Philips Showline SL NITRO 510 LED for the annual Rocking The Daisies festival, one of South Africa’s biggest music events. The 12 SL NITRO 510 strobes, supplied by event producer and supplier Kilowatt AV, were rigged at the Electronic Dome EDM stage. “Our concept was to immerse the crowd in a high-octane visual experience,” explained Botha. “We wanted it to feel as if the action started on the stage and then stretched out over and around the crowd.” Meyer and Botha therefore positioned the strobes behind the DJ booth,…
Sennheiser has announced a partnership agreement with Jordan-based Advanced Solutions. As an authorised partner, the reseller and systems integrator will now offer products from Sennheiser’s System Solutions range which includes conference and translation, tour guide, and a wide range of wired and wireless microphone systems. According to Sami Janho, General Manager at Advanced Solutions, the timing is now right for the aggressive expansion of Sennheiser’s market share in Jordan. He said: “A reasonable portion of the market now demands reputable and reliable products accompanied by a high level of service. Organisations are keen to explore best-in-class solutions which provide a…
Dubai-based event management agency, HQ Creative, successfully delivered the official UAE National Day celebrations in Dubai on 1 December 2015 – the third time the company has produced the event. With just eight weeks lead-time, HQ delivered a show staged entirely upon the water with Dubai’s dramatic skyline as the backdrop. The event was held at Dubai Design District on a body of water that will soon be connected to the Dubai Canal system, providing HQ Creative with a rare opportunity to use a unique location. Holding the event on water presented challenges for the team. Technical Director, Andrew Stevens, commented:…
After staging events for 15 years, across 30 countries, to over two million people, Sensation has become a worldwide phenomenon. United in white, thousands descended on Meydan racecourse to witness the incredible production – TPMEA’s Ste Durham was among them. Since its inaugural outing on 5 July 2008 in Sensation’s native Amsterdam, the aquatically themed Ocean of White show has toured five continents, recently washing up at Dubai’s striking Meydan Racecourse. The set design included gigantic white jellyfish, towering jets of water, and a fully-stocked arsenal of special effects. Alongside showcasing the quite frankly eye-watering production, Sensation actively nurtures a…
Hot on the heels of a successful European tour, record-breaking pop band Take That jetted to the UAE for two exclusive shows. The larger of the two, held at the Dubai Media City amphitheatre, required both inventory and expertise from a number of local suppliers. TPMEA’s Ste Durham visited the site. On a busy weekend in the UAE, legendary British ‘man-band’ Take That treated thousands of fans to an adapted version of their III Tour at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. With tickets to the intimate performance at Hard Rock Cafe, Dubai Festival City the following day hard to come by, this…
It’s been a couple of years since TPi covered a Bon Jovi gig, a world tour that hurtled its way full throttle into UK stadium venues, the way a rock band of their calibre should. This time, we’re dissecting the New Jersey band’s performance in Abu Dhabi, the first concert in the UAE’s capital following a three-month live production break. Turns out, it was worth the wait, as TPMEA’s Kelly Murray reports… The du Arena in Yas Island is a buzzing live venue, a venue which has seen some of the world’s most popular performers grace its stage and a…
Dubbed by wallpaper magazine as a ‘light magician’, Lighting Designer, Creative Director and emerging multi-disciplinary artist, Satore Studio’s founder Tupac Martir, speaks to TPi about setting creative tech and production trends in the fashion world. MFW 2015, what are you lighting and for which fashion designer? Moschino, Pucci, MSGM and Sportmax. It’s our third year with Moschino, we started with ‘Cheap and Chic’ in London, then working with Jeremy Scott and his Menswear Collection. This season, we worked together for Womenswear. Is this a brand you’ve wanted to work with for some time? Fashion is known for being a tough…
The original members of punk rock band, The Professionals, made up of ex-members of the Sex Pistols, reformed for an unsurprisingly sold out gig at London’s 100 club. For the first time in over 30 years, Paul Cook, Ray Mcveigh and Paul Myers appeared along with Tom Spencer in an intimate gig to coincide with the release of the complete professionals triple CD set, released by Universal. Sound Engineer Ben Hammond was tasked with managing the audio, selecting Allen & Heath’s new dlive mixing system. He shares his experience of this very special gig. What duties did you have to…
Main Light Industries of Wilmington, Delaware, has added a large quantity of Elation Professional lighting equipment to its inventory. The purchase included the award-winning Platinum FLX hybrid moving head and products in Elation’s new ACL Series of narrow-beam LED effect lights. “Our previous Elation units have served us well and these new units provide a great value for the price,” commented Main Light Operations Manager Randy Mullican on the purchase. Besides the PLASA award-winning Platinum FLX, the purchase also included the Platinum SBX, a 3-in-1 hybrid luminaire that uses the same patent-pending dual optical system as the FLX. Also in…
Comedian Kevin Hart went on a sold-out tour of the US and Canada in 2015 with a Martin Audio MLA system provided by Showtime Sound LLC of Frederick, Maryland. When asked about the challenges of producing the current tour, Showtime Sound’s Scott Tydings said: “We’ve worked with Kevin since 2010 and did the last tour, so we know what to expect, but there are always a few surprises. Showtime has been in business since 1996 and we do a lot of music tours, but lately there’s been more of an emphasis on comedy artists, including Amy Schumer who we’re on tour…
KV2 Audio’s products played a key part in some of the UK’s most high profile Dance music events. The production company Just Lite have grown its stock of KV2 products from 2012 to 2015 and have been providing audio and production services to a range of high profile Dance events throughout the UK. These events include regular nights at Sankey’s Warehouse, Victoria Warehouse Manchester featuring Basement Jaxx and Arman Van Heldon, Dublin’s Metropolis Music Festival and Blackpool’s Pier Jam. Having formed predominantly as a lighting-based company over 20 years ago, KV2 Audio have worked with Just Lite since the inception…
Faithless hit on the road again in 2015 after a four year break, taking their dance rhythms to the public celebrating 20 years since the formation of the band. Andy Hurst was asked to create a visual concept and Blackburn rental company HSL supplied lighting equipment which included an investment in 300 Martin Professional VDO Sceptron 10 LED battens, which were rigged on custom structures to form a giant ‘88’ digital clock face. The large digital figures were an idea that Hurst and Sister Bliss from the band had thought about in order to have something different from conventional video…
Alexandra Palace in North London was the venue for The Wombats’ largest production during their current tour, and the rig was heavy with fixtures from the Ambersphere Solutions family of brands with Clay Paky and Ayrton units making up over half of the total design and an MA Lighting grandMA2 Lite FoH. Dan Hill was the LD at the helm. He stated: “This was essentially a larger, more intense version of the lighting rig we’ve had out lately. In London earlier this year, The Wombats played Brixton Academy and the show at Alexandra Palace really grew from that. “It was nothing…
Lifting equipment specialists, Hoist UK and its sister company, Truss UK, have relocated to larger premises, a significant expansion and one which will enable both companies to move forward with their growth plans. The new headquarters, comprising offices, specialised workshop areas and warehousing facilities, are situated on the Tarran Way Industrial Estate in Moreton, a location chosen for its accessibility to the M53 and UK motorway network. The expansion reflects both Hoist UK and Truss UK’s continued success and subsequent growth over the past twelve months, a year which has seen developments in staffing numbers, product range and a number…
Landmark album That’s The Spirit, becomes an intercontinental live victory thanks to “some of the best in the industry”. TPi’s editor Kelly Murray talks to the crew behind the curtain… The city of Sheffield typically gives me three reasons to inappropriately high five certain strangers: whoever is within reaching distance when northern accent warrior Sean Bean brings epic death scenes to the silver screen; anyone able to quote the Monty Python genius of steel city gentleman Michael Palin; and Henderson’s Relish advocates for knowing the key to a decent vegan Bloody Mary (this one usually involves hand-slapping barmen when unable…
