News

HILLSIDE, NJ — AV racks serve as an organizational tool and a means to showcase the high-end audio and video gear installed, yet the name of the company that spec’d and installed all the gear is rarely in sight. 

NASHVILLE — Some 35 years ago, Bob Heil built one of his now-famous talk boxes and gave it to Peter Frampton as a Christmas present. Frampton had left Humble Pie and was embarking on a solo career. As history would show, that Talkbox played a key role. Frampton Comes Alive!, released in 1976, went on to become the best-selling album that year, and still ranks as one of the best-selling live albums.

LAS VEGAS — Cirque du Soleil opened its new training center based at the company’s Resident Show Division (RSD) in Las Vegas earlier this year. There, technical staff can advance their skills in the use of the lighting, audio, rigging, and automation equipment behind Cirque’s theatrical spectacles.

JACKSON, MS — The Auditorium is a new performance hall and restaurant that opened in the restored Fondren neighborhood of Jackson after a two-year renovation process. It features a pro-audio system from Peavey that lets this casual-dining destination double as a live performance hall. 

NILES, IL — Shure Inc. named Audio Biz Michigan as the company’s Representative of the Year for fiscal year 2008/2009.  Audio Biz Michigan president Randy Stenson, vice president Rick Brown and Steve Meyers, sales representative, received the award at InfoComm in Orlando, Fla.

MILWAUKEE, WI — Sennheiser’s K-array self-powered live performance speakers made their U.S. debut at Milwaukee’s 11-day Summerfest. The event’s principal production provider, Clearwing Productions, put the K-array systems to use at JoJo’s Martini Lounge, one of 11 stages at the lakefront festival park.

BRESCIA, Italy — Italian soundco Cipiesse Produzioni per lo Spettacolo supported folk-rock artist Tracy Chapman’s recent performance at the Piazza della Loggia using an Outlinearray loudspeaker system for the 40-by-90 meter outdoor seating area.

SAN DIEGO, CA — The University of California, San Diego (UCSD)’s 150-seat Experimental Theater, part of the $53 million Conrad Prebys Music Center, has been equipped with Meyer Sound’s Constellation electroacoustic architecture.

HALIFAX, NS — Now celebrating its 30th year, the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo (RNSIT) is one of the largest annual indoor shows in the world, with thousands of performers including everything from operatic vocalists to motorcycle stuntmen appearing before tens of thousands of spectators at the Halifax Metro for 10 days.

MILWAUKEE, WI — Summerfest, established in 1968, spans 11 days and attracts up to a million people with 700 bands performing on 11 stages along the Lake Michigan shoreline at Henry Maier Festival Park.