Archive for the
‘Live Events’ Category

As the automation supplier for Dave’s The Boy Who Played the Harp 2026 tour, we designed and fabricated a custom tracking truss system to support eight rotating video screens, each weighing 1,000kg, positioned either side of the stage. From the initial design through to fabrication and testing, there were plenty of steps involved in bringing the system to life.

Let’s go behind the scenes to see how it all came together…

Bringing Military History to Life

The Capel Military Show is an annual not-for-profit event, held at Aldhurst Farm, Capel, Surrey. Spanning five fields, the three-day event features a diverse range of military exhibitors, including more than 750 vehicles, alongside British, German, Russian, and American re-enactment groups. Together, these displays bring military history to life, tracing the journey from the Second World War through to modern day. The show attracts more than 25,000 visitors and raising over £10,000 for military charities.

Supporting a Worthwhile Cause

We were delighted to provide both our support and sponsorship for the event, supplying the lighting package alongside our professional expertise. Our ongoing commitment to excellence was reflected in both the equipment and support provided. As the director of Capel Military Show, Squadron Leader Andrew Davidson MBE RAF, commented,

“The quality of the equipment and support provided helped transform the arena environment and contributed greatly to the polished professional appearance of the event.”

For Andrew Davidson’s full testimonial, read below:

“Dear Dave, Melissa, Sam and the Neg Earth Team,

On behalf of everyone involved in the Capel Military Show, I would like to extend my sincere thanks for the outstanding support and sponsorship that Neg Earth provided to this year’s event.

The lighting package and professional expertise supplied by your team had an incredible impact on the overall delivery and presentation of the show.   

The quality of the equipment and support provided helped transform the arena environment and contributed greatly to the polished professional appearance of the event. 

With over 25,000 visitors attending across the weekend, the enhanced lighting played an important role in showcasing the displays, supporting public engagement and helping us deliver the high-standard experience that our visitors have come to expect. The support from Neg Earth enabled us to achieve an effect that would otherwise have been beyond the reach of a charitable event of our size.

Beyond the equipment itself, I would also like to recognise the professionalism, flexibility and enthusiasm shown by your team throughout the planning and execution phases. It was clear that everyone involved wanted to help make the event a success, and that commitment was noticed and appreciated by both the directors and our exhibitors.

As a not-for-profit event raising funds for military charities and local good causes, we rely heavily on the generosity of organisations such as Neg Earth. Your support has not only enhanced the visitor experience but has also directly contributed to our ability to continue supporting the military community and local charitable causes.

Please pass on my thanks to everyone involved, including the wider crew who helped make the lighting support possible. It was a pleasure working with you all and I very much hope that we can continue our relationship; planning for the 2027 Capel Military Show will commence later this year, and I would be grateful if Neg Earth would consider supporting the event once again. Given the outstanding impact your lighting package had on the show, I believe there is significant scope for us to build on this year’s success and further showcase Neg Earth’s capabilities to our audience of over 25,000 visitors. I would welcome an opportunity to discuss potential options with you in the coming months.

Please pass on my thanks to everyone involved, including the wider crew who helped make the lighting support possible. It was a pleasure working with you all and I very much hope that we can continue our relationship and welcome Neg Earth back to the Capel Military Show in future years.

Thank you once again for your generosity, professionalism, and valued support.

Kind regards,

Sqn Ldr Andrew Davidson MBE RAF 
Director 
Capel Military Show”

A Landmark Production

The iconic English heavy metal band, Iron Maiden, embarked on their 18-month ‘Run For Your Lives’ world tour in May 2025, and we are proud to have provided the lighting package for this landmark production. Celebrating half a century of heavy metal magic, the tour brings an ambitious production and creative vision to audiences across North and South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. The tour has already demonstrated its global appeal, with more than one million tickets sold across the first 32 shows in Europe alone.

Five Decades of Heavy Metal

Few acts can claim a legacy spanning five decades, and even less have continued to release new music and perform at the very highest level throughout that time. Formed in 1975, Iron Maiden have built a reputation not only for their music, but for the scale and visual identity of their live productions. For the ‘Run For Your Lives’ world tour, the band’s production and creative teams have once again pushed the boundaries to create a show worthy of this historic milestone. It is a privilege for us to contribute to a tour celebrating such a significant milestone in Iron Maiden’s history, and to support one of Britain’s most iconic bands as they take this production to fans around the world.

A Setlist Celebrating Iron Maiden’s Legacy

To mark the occasion, the 18-month tour features a setlist spanning the band’s remarkable career, including songs that haven’t been performed in North America in over 20 years, including: Run to the Hills, 2 Minutes to Midnight, and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. The popularity of Iron Maiden continues to grow, with Pollstar ranking the band as the 19th most popular touring artist of the millennium. Fifty years after forming, Iron Maiden continue to attract audiences across generations, cementing their position as one of the world’s greatest heavy metal bands.

What does it take to light one of the most complex live broadcasts in the world?

We caught up with Tim Routledge of @Tim Routledge Design, the creative force behind the Eurovision Song Contest lighting design, to get an inside look at the process behind the spectacle.

From managing vast teams across multiple departments to balancing the intense daily routine of rehearsals and live shows, Tim shares how collaboration sits at the heart of Eurovision. With dozens of national delegations contributing to the overall production, the design is never created in isolation—it’s a dynamic, evolving process that brings together creative visions from across Europe.

Now designing Eurovision for a third time, Tim reflects on how those first experiences shaped his approach today—refining workflows, embracing scale, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with lighting technology.

And while months of planning and pre-visualisation set the stage, there are always elements that only truly come alive in the moment—when the arena is full, the cameras are rolling, and millions are watching.

It’s this blend of preparation, collaboration, and live energy that makes Eurovision unlike anything else.

Saturday the 9th of May marked the return of the annual Hanwell Hootie Festival – a free, volunteer-led music festival, spread across 14 venues, including pubs, parks, and public spaces throughout Hanwell. Originally founded as a celebration of Hanwell’s heritage and its legendary connection to Jim Marshall, the festival has grown into a vibrant platform dedicated to nurturing emerging talent and keeping the spirit of live music accessible for all. This year, we were proud to sponsor the Terry Marshall Youth Stage.

By supplying the stage lighting, we were able to support 12 up-and-coming solo artists and bands, helping them build confidence through meaningful exposure while developing new skills and gaining valuable live performance experience. For many younger performers, opportunities like this are an important step in building both experience and belief in their creative potential.

As part of the collaboration, Kev Westbury, Head of Artist Development at the Terry Marshall Academy, shared his appreciation for the support from Neg Earth Lights, saying:
“The Terry Marshall Academy is delighted to have “Neg Earth Lights” joining our stage this year to provide not only some amazing lights but also connecting with the youth team. This is a massive privilege to have such a prestigious company wanting to provide a youth stage with a professional light show for free. So we at Terry Marshall Academy want to give a huge thank you to “Neg Earth Lights” and we really hope it will be an experience we can repeat again in the future to support our youth teams and bands.”

At Neg Earth, community is at the heart of what we do. We believe the future of live events depends on creating inclusive opportunities for the next generation – not only for performers, but for the wider network of creatives, technicians, and production professionals who make live music possible. Supporting initiatives like the Terry Marshall Youth Stage allows us to give young people access to real-world industry environments, helping them build connections and find their place within the live events community.

As a company rooted in live entertainment, we recognise the importance of investing in the future of the industry. Whether through technical support, placements, or creating opportunities for visibility and growth, we remain committed to championing the next generation and helping keep live music culture thriving for years to come.

Testimonial

“We just wanted to say a huge thank you from Terry Marshall Academy and the Hanwell Hootie for providing a great team and fab light show. It made all the difference between a good show and a great show. We really hope we can do some more together. We have a few more dates for local festivals and I wondered if we might talk about training for young people on lighting?”

Kev Westbury, Head of Artist Development at the Terry Marshall

We’re excited to be sponsoring the Terry Marshall Academy Stage at the upcoming Hanwell Hootie Festival. The stage is dedicated to giving young people a pathway into live music, no matter their starting point, with a focus on the social and collaborative side of making music rather than it being seen as a solo pursuit. By supporting emerging musicians, providing access to industry insight, and creating real performance opportunities, Hanwell Hootie helps young people build confidence, develop their skills, and gain valuable experience as they grow.

At Neg Earth, we’re committed to supporting the future of live events by opening up opportunities to a more diverse group of young people. With so much time spent on screens today, spaces like this matter more than ever – bringing young people together, building confidence, and creating a sense of belonging. Through creative opportunities and real-world experience, we aim to support the next generation as they find their place within the music industry.

We’re really proud to be part of it.

This milestone marks another exciting chapter for our team, as this will be the third time we’ve supported the Eurovision Song Contest in this capacity. Eurovision is one of the world’s most iconic live broadcast events, known for its scale, complexity, and global audience.

We are incredibly proud of our team, whose expertise and dedication have made this achievement possible. Their passion for excellence continues to drive us forward, and Eurovision 2026 will be a powerful showcase of what we can accomplish together.

Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare for this spectacular event.

Neg Earth Lights are absolutely delighted to share that we have been awarded this year’s @tpimagazine Award for ‘Favourite Lighting Rental Company’ award!

This recognition means the world to us and is a testament to the dedication, creativity, and hard work of everyone involved.

A huge thank you to our incredible team—your passion, expertise, and commitment to excellence are the backbone of our success. To our amazing clients, thank you for trusting us with your visions and allowing us to be part of your unforgettable moments. And to our dedicated crew on the ground.

We couldn’t have achieved this without you.

Thank you for being part of our journey.