International News

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands – Dutch band Within Temptation, a symphonic/gothic metal band, is setting off on a European tour of 35 festivals with Clay Paky Sharpys. LD Pim Elberse specified the fixture, supplied by Dutch rental company Purple Group, to accommodate distinguishing looks for the show’s acoustic and electric sets.

TRONDHEIM, Germany – Popular Norwegian pop/rock group DDE is on a 20th Anniversary summer tour with Martin Professional’s MAC Aura wash light in the rig. LD Lars Kristian Mathisen designed a special concert also using MAC 700 Profiles and MAC 550s, for a special broadcast on network NRK1.

SUN CITY, South Africa – It took just 12 Clay Paky Sharpys to deliver the ‘wow factor’ at one of the biggest live music events in South Africa: the annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs). LD Joshua Cutts from Visual Frontier used 12 Sharpys as part of his 15 DMX-universe rig. The set, comprised of inflatable flown discs and dangling inflated legs, used the Sharpys to provided the architecture and lighting drama.

BAKU, Azerbaijan – Robert Juliat followspots have been used for 10 consecutive years on the Eurovision Song Contest. For this year’s event, LD Jerry Appelt used 10 Robert Juliat spots in total to highlight participants from 42 countries.

UTRECHT, Netherlands – A Dutch production of “Saturday Night Fever” touring The Netherlands is using Martin’s compact MAC Aura for the musical’s important disco scenes. LD Andy Voller chose the LED wash light, along with Martin MAC 2000 Performances and MAC TW1 tungsten wash lights, supplied by Ampco Flashlight Rental.

BAKU, Azerbaijan – Cape Cross Studio + Filmlicht GmbH of Cologne, Germany once again supplied the technical equipment for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, held at the 23,000-seat Baku Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan. The long list contained all lighting, truss and control desks with nearly 3,000 lighting fixtures on the roster and full support of all equipment.

DERBY, UK – HSL supplied a substantial lighting and ‘specials’ package for the Prodigy’s headlining performance at the 2012 Download festival at Donnington Race Track. LD Andy Hurst wanted the show to be on a grand scale as it was the band’s only UK fest appearance this summer.

BRISBANE, Australia – Brisbane’s Family Nightclub spreads out over four floors and five bars, and has hosted big names in the DJ world from DJ Tiesto to Paul Van Dyk. In the club’s latest reinvention, Josh Frey Productions installed an all Martin lighting package consisting of 8 MAC 700 Profiles, 8 MAC 101 LED moving head wash lights and 4 MAC Aura compact LED moving head wash lights with zoom.

PARIS – Wireless Solution Sweden AB was recently a quiet and unobtrusive contributor to an exclusive private event at the historic Opera Garnier in Paris. The result was a detailed reveal of the architectural aspects of the interior of the building. Audioscène supplied the lighting and the W-DMX for the event, managed by Paris-based W-DMX distributor CSI-France.

LONDON – LD Paule Constable specified Chroma-Q Color Force 72 RGBA LED battens for “The Phantom of the Opera,” the new Cameron Mackintosh production touring the UK and Ireland. Besides its lighting features, reliability was also a factor in her decision, as the tour will be out for a year.