Automation Controls Integrator

Efficiency drives Guy Sebastian's 100 Times Around the Sun Tour. July 27, 2026 Guy Sebastian recently wrapped up his national 100 Times Around the Sun Tour, performing to sold-out audiences from Perth to Cairns. While audiences experienced a visually rich production that seamlessly complemented the music, behind the scenes the lighting design was driven by a very practical challenge. Touring while diesel prices were at a record high presented unique challenges for Guy's lighting designer Brad Alcock. Maximising creative impact while keeping the touring package as compact and efficient as possible became one of the tour's key challenges, with every fixture needing to deliver multiple creative functions while minimising weight, truck space and setup time. To achieve this, Brad selected a number of flexible lighting fixtures from ULA group's portfolio because they fit this unique requirement. Principal lighting, vision and rigging supplier PRG and BAAC Light combined their inventories of these fixtures to deliver a flexible and dynamic lighting rig that could adapt to venues across the country without compromising the show's visual identity. One of the workhorses of the rig was the ACME Tornado, with 42 fixtures predominately mounted across the pre-rigged trusses in both horizontal and vertical configurations. Brad selected the Tornado for their ability to produce an impressive range of beam looks and dynamic effects from a compact fixture, delivering exceptional creative output relative to its size and weight. Wireless technology also played a significant role in improving the efficiency of the touring production. A total of 50 Astera battery-powered fixtures, including AX1, AX2 and AX3, were deployed throughout the stage. By eliminating the need to run power and data cables across staging risers at every venue, the fixtures significantly reduced setup and pack-down times while providing complete flexibility in fixture placement. Wireless DMX control was delivered using LumenRadio transmitters, ensuring reliable communication across the entire system. Atmospheric effects were generated using two MDG ATMe hazers, Brad's preferred choice for touring productions. Despite the additional logistics involved in transporting gas cylinders across Australia, he believes the quality and consistency of the haze is well worth the extra effort, providing the ideal atmospheric conditions for the lighting design to perform consistently in venues of every size. The tour also marked the live debut of the ACME Pixel Line Slim. Looking for an ultra-lightweight fixture capable of delivering pixel-mapped truss highlights without adding unnecessary weight to the rig, BAAC Light expanded its inventory by flying in the first 32 Pixel Line Slim fixtures directly from ACME Lighting's production line. The fixtures immediately became an integral part of the production, adding clean definition and dynamic pixel effects while maintaining the lightweight design philosophy that underpinned the entire tour. Reflecting on the tour, Brad said the system delivered exactly what the production required. "Every fixture performed as expected, with zero faults or issues for the team to deal with on the road." For ULA Group, supporting BAAC Light and PRG on another major Australian touring production highlights the importance of supplying reliable, tour-proven lighting technology that enables designers to balance creative ambition with the practical realities of life on the road. Leaders in Innovative Visual Technology Contact. About ULA Group. ULA Group take pride in providing its clientele with advanced lighting solutions, including Digital Displays, Architectural Lighting, LED Screens, Digital Retail Signage, Outdoor Media, Entertainment Lighting, Control Systems and Networking.

PRG expands its technical role at American Express presents BST Hyde Park. American Express Presents BST Hyde Park 2026 welcomed an international line-up of artists across three weekends, each bringing its own creative vision, production requirements and touring workflow. Behind the scenes, Production Director Mark Ward, Stage Manager Mike Grove, Proper Productions, LS Events and AEG Presents once again oversaw delivery of one of the UK's most established outdoor concert series. Supporting that production, PRG delivered lighting and video across the festival site, supplying the Great Oak Stage and Rainbow Stage, alongside lighting for the Birdcage Stage. 2026 marked a significant milestone for PRG, delivering the complete video package for the Great Oak Stage for the first time and bringing lighting, video and rigging together under one coordinated delivery team. As with every edition of American Express Presents BST Hyde Park, the project began with the vision of Ward, Grove and the wider production team. Working alongside them, PRG refined the technical solutions needed to realise the creative brief while keeping the build practical, safe and efficient across three consecutive weekends. Ward, a veteran of the live music industry, has spent almost a decade as Production Director of American Express Presents BST Hyde Park, with touring and production credits spanning Coldplay, Tina Turner, Roger Waters, Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift. "We brought PRG our design and worked closely with their team to deliver it," said Ward. "The technical solution came together in good time, the crew list came together the same way, and the schedule was met at every stage. I've had no criticism of their work." Delivering video on the Great Oak Stage for the first time was an opportunity to build a workflow designed around the needs of visiting productions, not just introduce new technology. The mainstage incorporated 1,956 Infiled AR5 Mk2 LED tiles across the IMAG wing screens, a 368-tile ROE Visual Vanish V4ST upstage display, and 200 AR5 tiles forming the delay screens. One of the project's most complex challenges was realising the stage's distinctive curved LED architecture. Working from the production's design, PRG Systems Designer, Alistair McDermott developed a bespoke structural solution using custom header bars and pickup points, delivering the curved installation safely while maintaining the clean lines of the original concept. Despite temperatures reaching 36°C during load-in, the video crew completed construction of every LED screen within three days, keeping the production on schedule. Behind the canvas sat a Disguise VX4 media server platform, chosen for its ability to drive the system's scale while maintaining full redundancy. For 2026, PRG also introduced a dedicated Disguise Editor workstation, letting incoming teams prepare and programme content independently without affecting the live show. "The flexibility this gives incoming productions is a real game changer," said Jordan McMahon, Video Head of Department. "Artists can arrive minutes before they go on stage with new content, programme everything safely offline and be ready to go without interrupting what's already live." That philosophy extended through the wider workflow. A StageRacer infrastructure allowed up to six visiting production systems to connect simultaneously from Front of House, stage left or stage right, distributing camera feeds, timecode, audio, comms and network wherever touring crews preferred to work. PRG also introduced the Barco E3 processing platform across its 2026 festival package. "The move to E3 has given us far greater flexibility," added McMahon. "We're able to drive significantly more pixels with fewer processors, which makes the whole system more efficient while giving us more creative options." The camera infrastructure followed the same principle. PRG supplied four Sony HDC-4300broadcast cameras, two long-lens at Front of House and two track-mounted closer to the stage, supporting programme, ISO and wide-shot recording across 14 channels of embedded SDI. A 128TB storage array archived footage for distribution to artists and media within an hour of each show. The network also integrated with the host broadcaster, incorporating up to ten additional feeds, including drone and jib cameras, for headline performances. That flexibility reached individual artists too: PRG supplied camera systems, prompt monitors, vision mixing and comms for ATEEZ, while Conan Gray's production incorporated a bespoke ROE Visual Vanish V4ST LED riser, fully integrated without requiring additional infrastructure from the touring team. Alongside video, PRG again delivered lighting for the Great Oak Stage, designing a house rig capable of supporting a changing line-up across three weekends. The rig featured GLP JDC Burst 1s, Ayrton Veloces, Ayrton Cobras, GLP X5 and X5 Compacts, with Acme Pixel Line fixtures illuminating the audience. JDC Burst 1s also sat on the delay towers alongside Robe LTX followspots, while VL3600s on the front trusses were controlled via PRG's GroundControl Multi system. For Lighting Head of Department Jason Dixon, reliability mattered as much as creative capability. PRG first invested in the JDC Burst 1 in 2025, expanding the fixture count further for 2026 as it proved itself on site. "The JDC Burst 1 is the ascension of its predecessor, the JDC1," he said. "It does everything the original could and more, but it's the IP rating that's made the real difference outdoors. That fixture was already very well liked, so having the extra functionality on top of being IP rated has made it even stronger." That decision proved its worth during one of the hottest load-ins the festival has seen. "All the fixtures have handled the heat well," Dixon added. A dedicated WYSIWYG pre-visualisation suite supported visiting lighting teams throughout, while the network, built around GrandMA operating systems with Ethercon Luminex nodes distributing signal across site, let touring productions on GrandMA2 and Avolites consoles to integrate seamlessly. The project also coincided with PRG's support of Roundhay Park, BST Hyde Park's sister festival, with several artists appearing at both over the same period. "Having a workflow that supports both festivals at the same time has been seamless," added Dixon. While PRG's scope expanded in 2026, the priority remained the same as every year: giving Ward, Proper Productions and AEG Presents a technical partner capable of adapting to whatever each weekend required. Bringing lighting and video together under a single onsite management structure gave the production team one point of contact across disciplines, simplifying communication through planning, build and show operation. "The process has always worked well, but bringing lighting and video together this year meant Jordan, Luke and I could answer questions under one roof, particularly during planning," reflected Dixon. "It made communication much easier and let us support the production team as one integrated operation." Across three weekends, dozens of artists and touring teams arrived with different creative ambitions, systems and technical requirements. For Ward and the wider production, that meant a festival infrastructure built to adapt to each of them, rather than the other way round. For Proper Productions, LS Events and AEG Presents, 2026 reinforced why the partnership with PRG has lasted this long: a team that delivers what's asked of it, on schedule, and adapts around the production rather than the reverse.

PRG invests in additional Ayrton fixtures. PRG has announced a significant investment in new lighting technology from Ayrton Lighting, further expanding its North American inventory with the addition of 500 Ayrton EagleStrike fixtures and 300 Ayrton Veloce Profile fixtures. Building on previous investments in both product lines, the acquisition reflects continued demand for high-performance lighting solutions across music touring, Broadway, television productions, and large-scale corporate events. The Ayrton EagleStrike is the manufacturer's newest high-impact fixture, launched late last year. Designed for music touring and large-scale live events, EagleStrike is the first LED-source fixture engineered in Ayrton's product line that's engineered for outdoor use at long distances. Modified for use in PRG's GroundControl, it makes an ideal large-venue followspot. PRG also expanded its inventory of Ayrton Veloce Profile fixtures in response to sustained client demand. The versatile fixture has seen broad adoption across entertainment and corporate markets, with recent projects including the Broadway productions Death of a Salesman and Schmigadoon!, as well as events including Netflix Is A Joke Festival and the Fox Upfront. "As demand for premium lighting solutions continues to grow across entertainment and live events, PRG remains focused on investing in the technology and inventory our clients need to create unforgettable experiences," said Scott Hansen, COO of PRG. "Ayrton's fixtures are among the most sought-after in the industry today, and expanding our offerings with the latest technological advancements positions us to support even more ambitious productions across North America." "Ayrton is delighted that PRG has continued to invest in our latest products by bringing more of them into their inventory," added Michael Althaus, Ayrton CEO. "EagleStrike and Veloce Profile fit perfectly into the projects that PRG undertakes in North America. We are extremely happy that a company of its calibre and expertise continues to confirm its faith in our products. PRG is a strong and reliable client whose depth of market knowledge and customer insights, combined with a close relationship with our exclusive distributor for North America, ACT Entertainment, is a sure-fire recipe for success in the territory." The newly acquired fixtures are now available through PRG's North American network and will support productions spanning concert touring, theater, television, corporate events, and experiential activations.