International News

FRANKFURT, Germany — The 2014 edition of Prolight + Sound finished strong after four days on March 15, with 897 exhibitors from 42 countries on par with stats from the 2013 event (901 from 41 counties) despite the 2014 event’s month-earlier time frame. Combined with Musikmesse, there were a total 2,242 exhibitors from 57 countries, with a total 110,000 visitors from 142 countries attending the March 12-15 event. 

TEXCOCO, Mexico — The two-day Hell and Heaven Metal Fest that had been scheduled to take place March 15 and 16 at the fairgrounds in this Mexico City suburb has been canceled. State officials cited public safety as the reason for pulling the plug, but town officials and concert organizers, including town spokesman Francisco Vazquez, speculated that politics and economics might have played a role.

WEST LONDON — Colour Sound Experiment continued its working relationship with BRIT Award winning band Rudimental and the band’s LD, Jonny Gaskell, on the most recent U.K. leg of their ongoing live campaign. Fresh from winning the 2014 BRIT Best British Single Award for ‘Waiting All Night’ the bands sold out tour included three consecutive shows at Brixton Academy.

LONDON – Nick Gray, the UK’s leading fashion lighting designer once again brought his imagination and flair to the mix for London Fashion Week. Gray brings his distinctive crossover style to the world of fashion  show – a dynamic mix of rock ‘n roll attitude, industrial chic and a hint of adventure! 

LONDON – Presented by the Society of London Theatres, the Olivier Awards honor productions opening in London’s West End. In the lighting category, Paule Constable was nominated for her work on The Light Princess at the National Theatre, Paul Pyant for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Peter Mumford for Ghosts at the Almeida and then the Trafalgar Studios, and Tim Lutkin & Finn Ross for Chimerica at the Almeida and then the Harold Pinter Theatre. Lighting designer Michael Hulls was nominated in the Outstanding Achievement in Dance category for his body of lighting work, including Ballet Boyz – The Talent at Sadler’s Wells.

LONDON — With a big rig for the 2014 BRIT Awards staged at the O2 Arena here Feb. 19, PRG was able to give LD Dave Davey enough firepower and versatility to transform the lighting looks for each of the acts. The artist roster included Artic Monkeys; Beyoncé; Bastille and Rudimental; Pharrell & Nile Rodgers; Ellie Goulding; Katy Perry; Disclosure, Lorde & Aluna George; and Bruno Mars.

JERUSALEM – Robe continues to be a popular choice for Israel’s top TV lighting designers. A case in point: LD Ronen Najar’s design for the singing contest show, Rising Star. The rig for the first 24-episode series included Robin MMX Spot and LEDBeam 100 fixtures.  The show was recorded in the Globus Group Studios in Jerusalem and broadcast on national Channel 2.