diff --git a/lightsync/frontend/app.js b/lightsync/frontend/app.js
index f3dc9a8..842acdf 100644
--- a/lightsync/frontend/app.js
+++ b/lightsync/frontend/app.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 import { TimelineCanvas } from './timeline/timeline.js';
 import { BlockInspector } from './timeline/inspector.js';
-import { DeleteBlockCommand } from './timeline/commands.js';
+import { DeleteBlockCommand, setCurrentShowId } from './timeline/commands.js';
 
 const WS_URL = `${location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss' : 'ws'}://${location.host}/ws`;
 
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ class LightSyncClient {
         this.ws.onmessage = (e) => {
             const msg = JSON.parse(e.data);
             if (msg.type === 'beat') flashBeat();
+            else if (msg.type === 'preview_update') updatePreviewStrip(msg.device_id, msg.animation, msg.color);
         };
     }
 
@@ -71,6 +72,25 @@ function flashBeat() {
     setTimeout(() => dot.classList.remove('beat-flash'), 180);
 }
 
+// ── Preview strip update ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function updatePreviewStrip(deviceId, animation, color) {
+    const strip = document.querySelector(`.device-strip[data-device-id="${deviceId}"]`);
+    if (!strip) return;
+    const colorEl = strip.querySelector('.strip-color');
+    const animEl = strip.querySelector('.strip-anim');
+    if (animation && color) {
+        const [r, g, b] = color;
+        colorEl.style.backgroundColor = `rgb(${r},${g},${b})`;
+        animEl.textContent = animation.toUpperCase().replace('_', ' ');
+        strip.classList.add('active');
+    } else {
+        colorEl.style.backgroundColor = '';  // revert to CSS default (--text-dim)
+        animEl.textContent = '\u2014';  // em dash
+        strip.classList.remove('active');
+    }
+}
+
 // ── 10Hz position tick loop ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 let _tickInterval = null;
@@ -143,6 +163,12 @@ function wireAudio() {
         if (audio.duration > 0) {
             audio.currentTime = (seek.value / 100) * audio.duration;
             client.send({ type: 'seek', position: audio.currentTime });
+            // Clear preview strips on seek (strips re-light when next cue fires)
+            document.querySelectorAll('.device-strip').forEach(s => {
+                s.classList.remove('active');
+                s.querySelector('.strip-color').style.backgroundColor = '';
+                s.querySelector('.strip-anim').textContent = '\u2014';
+            });
         }
     });
 }
@@ -252,6 +278,20 @@ document.getElementById('add-device-form')?.addEventListener('submit', async (e)
 
 wireAudio();
 
+// ── Preview strip builder ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function buildPreviewStrips(devices) {
+    const panel = document.getElementById('live-preview');
+    if (!panel) return;
+    panel.innerHTML = devices.map(d => `
+        <div class="device-strip" data-device-id="${d.id}">
+            <span class="strip-label">${d.name}</span>
+            <div class="strip-color"></div>
+            <span class="strip-anim">\u2014</span>
+        </div>
+    `).join('');
+}
+
 // ── Timeline ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 let timeline = null;
@@ -285,6 +325,7 @@ function initTimeline() {
     fetch('/api/devices').then(r => r.json()).then(devices => {
         timeline.loadTracks(devices);
         inspector.tracks = timeline.tracks;  // keep reference in sync
+        buildPreviewStrips(devices);  // populate preview strips
     }).catch(e => console.warn('[timeline]', e));
 
     // When audio loads, fetch waveform + beats
@@ -377,3 +418,78 @@ function initTimeline() {
 }
 
 initTimeline();
+
+// ── Show Selector ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+async function refreshShows() {
+    const sel = document.getElementById('show-select');
+    if (!sel) return;
+    try {
+        const shows = await (await fetch('/api/shows')).json();
+        sel.innerHTML = shows.length
+            ? '<option value="">\u2014 select show \u2014</option>'
+            : '<option value="">\u2014 no shows \u2014</option>';
+        shows.forEach(s => {
+            const opt = document.createElement('option');
+            opt.value = s.id;
+            opt.textContent = s.name;
+            sel.appendChild(opt);
+        });
+    } catch (e) { console.error('[shows]', e); }
+}
+
+refreshShows();
+
+document.getElementById('btn-load-show')?.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+    const sel = document.getElementById('show-select');
+    const showId = sel?.value;
+    if (!showId) return;
+
+    const btn = document.getElementById('btn-load-show');
+    btn.textContent = '...';
+
+    try {
+        const show = await (await fetch(`/api/shows/${showId}`)).json();
+
+        // Populate timeline tracks with saved cues
+        if (timeline && show.tracks) {
+            for (const showTrack of show.tracks) {
+                const existing = timeline.tracks.find(
+                    t => String(t.device_id) === String(showTrack.device_id)
+                );
+                if (existing) {
+                    existing.cues = (showTrack.cues || []).map(c => ({...c}));
+                } else {
+                    console.warn('[show] track for unknown device', showTrack.device_id);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Set current show ID for auto-save
+        if (timeline) timeline.showId = showId;
+        setCurrentShowId(showId);
+
+        // Load audio if show has audio path
+        if (show.audio?.path) {
+            const filename = show.audio.path.split('/').pop();
+            const audio = document.getElementById('player');
+            if (audio && filename) {
+                audio.src = `/shows/${filename}`;
+                audio.load();
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Tell server to load show cue list for scheduling
+        client.send({ type: 'load', show_id: showId, path: show.audio?.path || '' });
+
+        // Show preview panel
+        const preview = document.getElementById('live-preview');
+        if (preview) preview.style.display = 'flex';
+
+        console.log('[show] loaded', show.name, 'with', show.tracks?.length || 0, 'tracks');
+    } catch (e) {
+        console.error('[show] failed to load', showId, e);
+    } finally {
+        btn.textContent = 'LOAD';
+    }
+});