Most Middle East festivals tend do a lot of things right. From record-breaking production levels to a plethora of food and beverage options, there’s very little to complain about for the region’s festivalgoers. However, one area where the admittedly still nascent Middle East festival market doesn’t always hit the mark is that much less tangible characteristic of authenticity, which is earned by a festival returning year after year and building its own legend in the process. This sense of authenticity is in abundance at the original UNTOLD festival, which has taken place annually in Romania for the past decade, and…
Author: Peter Iantorno
Audio delivery at live events has been written about chapter and verse within the pages of TPiMEA, with the relative roles of those up and down the supply chain – from manufacturer to distributor, to rental house to end user – all covered at length. However, one area of sound that has received comparatively little coverage up to now is the music composition and arrangement process. A particularly prominent figure within the region’s live events scene – especially when it comes to the grand ceremonies and launch events that the Middle East is known for – Matt Faddy often finds…
Where does the Q112 fit within DiGiCo’s range of digital mixing consoles? The Quantum 112 (Q112) is a compact yet high-performance console within the Quantum series, positioned just below the Quantum 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8. It unlocks the full power of Quantum processing in the smallest form factor yet, offering a remarkably portable and powerful experience of the world-renowned Quantum platform. It represents a major leap for situations where transportability and space efficiency are critical. The Q112 delivers DiGiCo’s signature Quantum processing power and pristine sound quality in a compact, cost-effective package, ideal for a wide range of…
For most markets, curating, creatively developing, producing and delivering a major show in the space of eight weeks would be unthinkable. However, the UAE is not most markets and, as was recently proved by DAE Global UAE (David Atkins Enterprises), with the right team in place, anything is possible. DAE was entrusted by Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi with delivering a spectacular ceremony to celebrate the reopening of Al Ain Museum – the UAE’s first museum, originally established in 1969 by the country’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed – which recently underwent extensive redevelopment. With time very much…
The Pink Bows Foundation progressed its aim of making events safer, with another positive step towards establishing an international standard. The first courses in the Middle East, in Riyadh and Jeddah, were hosted by ESM Operations, whose own staff were joined by invited attendees from members of The Royal Guard, the Government’s General Entertainment Authority, Onyx Arena, MDLBEAST, F1 Jeddah and Conference Organisers from the World Defence Show. Steve Coleman, Managing Director of ESM Operations, became aware of the introduction of the new Showstop Procedure course, online. When he realised that his former employer and mentor, Dr Mark Hamilton, was…
Gallowglass Health and Safety recently completed a comprehensive training week across its Middle East division, aimed at preparing teams for a demanding events season. In collaboration with 3DB Event Production, Empro Power, and Pains Fireworks LLC, Gallowglass staff gained hands-on experience with several new technologies and safety systems across all three companies. The initiative is part of a global programme led by Gallowglass Health and Safety, enabling the company’s Safety Advisors across all divisions to enhance their technical knowledge, improve communication, and strengthen collaboration with key partners. “It’s been incredibly valuable to connect with colleagues across regions and align on…
Dubai-headquartered technical production house Sound On Stage Events recently invested in a new DiGiCo Quantum 326, and the company wasted no time in getting the console out in the field, deploying it for the Echoes of a Golden Era show as part of the Beiteddine Art Festival in July 2025. A loyal DiGiCo user for over 15 years, Sound On Stage Events’ Managing Director and sound engineer Rawad Saad explained his preference for the brand: “Throughout the time that Sound On Stage Events has been using DiGiCo consoles, we’ve experienced the remarkable evolution in both the technology and audio quality,”…
Linea Research has appointed Audiosure as its exclusive distribution partner for South Africa. The agreement sees the full range of the UK-based manufacturer’s high-performance amplifiers and DSP solutions available from Audiosure, backed by expert support and after-sales service on the ground. “We’re thrilled to bring Linea Research into the Audiosure family,” stated Greg Payne, Director at Audiosure. “Their commitment to cutting-edge innovation, reliability, and sonic excellence aligns perfectly with our mission to provide world-class audio solutions to our partners and clients across Southern Africa.” Linea Research Sales & Marketing Manager, Martin Hildred, added: “Audiosure is an ideal partner for us…
Mediatech Africa has confirmed that co-owner Simon Robinson has returned full-time as Exhibition Director. With the show set to run from 1-3 July 2026 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit & International Convention Centre, Johannesburg, after a six-year hiatus, Robinson returns to the fray after spending time project-managing large-scale productions and events, and serving as Business Development Manager at one of South Africa’s major AV distributors. “Stepping out of the organiser role for a season let me see the industry from other angles,” Robinson stated. “Running projects on the ground and spending time in distribution gave me a better feel for…
From groundbreaking music festivals to immersive theatrical performances, at the sharp end of the live events industry, the most memorable experiences are created somewhere in between imagination and execution. With an ever-growing scope for creativity leading to increasing demands on technical production, the onus is on live events professionals to ensure that a project’s technical delivery matches the creative vision. That’s where A Loud Minority (ALM) comes in. “We created ALM to bridge the gap between creative ambition and technical delivery,” explained the company’s founder and Technical Producer, Karl Jenkins. “We ensure that shows are delivered safely, reliably, cost effectively…
Coca-Cola Arena has long been a flagship indoor venue for Dubai, hosting a variety of live music, comedy, sport and corporate events since it opened in 2019. While the venue has always been busy and popular with promoters and punters alike, it’s no secret that the in-house audio system didn’t quite live up to the high standards of the facilities elsewhere in the venue, resulting in most shows opting to bring in audio from elsewhere. However, this all changed over the summer, as Coca-Cola Arena completed a major upgrade to its audio offering, including the purchase of a brand-new d&b…
The South African live events industry has had to be patient when it comes to L-Acoustics’ L-ISA technology, with the COVID-19 pandemic putting paid to the efforts of early adopters. However, after a long and bumpy road, event design and production company Multi-Media led the way this summer, rolling out the technology on actor and singer Jonathan Roxmouth’s hugely successful My Favourite Broadway produced by Howard Events. Featuring the newly launched 32-piece Egoli Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Adam Howard, the production proved to be a huge hit, with Johannesburg’s Teatro theatre close to capacity for each performance of the…
