A series on sound transmission and listening to landscapes, Summer 2024-Autumn 2024
Inspired by WWII-era BBC recording practices and celebrating the collection housed at Watchet’s Radio Museum, we are inviting you to take part in a series of talks and recording sessions exploring the soundscapes from opposite sides of the U.K.
This summer-long project of listening, recording and exchanging sounds is kicked off in Watchet, Somerset. We invite you to be part of this sound exchange between West Somerset and Bloomsbury, London, one mile from where the BBC started.
This series of events is a collaboration between the Radio Museum and East Quay in Watchet and the BIRMAC (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Media and Culture).
Dispatches consists of five events – a public launch hosted by East Quay with Emily Best (Birkbeck) and Neil Wilson (The Radio Museum) as keynote speakers, 2 soundwalks where participants listen to and are invited to record the sounds they hear around them in their environments (one in Watchet, one in central London), a mixing session and a final release party where we celebrate the exchange of sound recordings generated by the public.
Image courtesy of Neil Wilson (curator), The Radio Museum, Watchet
Series schedule
Radio talk and sound walk – Watchet
DATE: Saturday 6 July
TIME: 6pm
LOCATION: Gallery 1, East Quay, East Quay, Watchet, Somerset TA23 0AQ
Join us in Watchet, Somereset for the series launch of Dispatches from the Air.
The launch event will take place at East Quay Gallery at 6pm on Saturday 6th July, where Neil Wilson (curator, Watchet Radio Museum) and Emily Best (sound researcher, Birkbeck, University of London) will lead a discussion on how we think about sound across space and the messages it carries.
After the talk we will take you on a guided sound walk, where you’ll be invited to listen to the environment around you and even make some sound recordings on-the-go. The walk will finish at a local pub (location tbc) for those who want to continue the discussion.
Read more here.
This is a Free event, however, please book a free ticket in advance as there are limited seats available.
Radio talk and sound walk – Bloomsbury
DATE: Monday 8 July
TIME: 6pm
LOCATION: Keynes Library, 43 Gordon Square, Birkbeck, University of London
Not able to travel to Watchet for our launch? Join us in Bloomsbury instead where we will be joined by Emily Best (sound researcher, Birkbeck) and Neil Wilson (curator, The Radio Museum) for a talk on radio history, sound transmission and listening. This will be followed by a soundwalk and recording excursion in the Bloomsbury surrounds.
Read more here.
This is a Free event open to all, however, please book a free ticket in advance as there are limited seats available.
Listening Salon
DATE: TBD (Autumn 2024)
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: East Quay, Watchet & 43 Gordon Square, Birkbeck, University of London
Over the summer we’re hoping to build up our Library of Sounds from Watchet and London. Returning to the sounds transmissions of the BBC/MSS Midget Disc relays, we will imitate the transferance of analogue sound with a digital version.
A listening booth installed at 43 Gordon Square where students, staff and visitors can hear the sounds of Somerset + a QR code installed at the Radio Museum and East Quay, where Somerset residents, artists and visitors can hear the sounds of London.
Editing Session
DATE: TBD (Autumn 2024)
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Malet St, Birkbeck, University of London
Students and registered participants will be invited to attend a drop-in editing session on a Saturday in November, 11:00-14:00. Here, you will be able to edit and create their own mix tracks using the sound bites recorded and stored in our Library of Sounds. You don’t have to do the mixing at the labs, registered participants who want to take part in the remixing but don’t want to come to the labs, will be given instructions on how to mix tracks using their smart phones or laptops using free software. These remixes will be uploaded to our Library of Sounds and stored in an open repository (providing permission has been given – it will be explicitly requested) and played out our release party.
Release Party
DATE: TBD (Christmas 2024)
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: East Quay, Watchet & Malet St, Birkbeck, University of London
The series ends with a listening event and release party where remixes and originals will be shared. The release party will be an online event, and possibly in-person (TBC).
Make sure to sign up to our mailing list so you can keep up with the series or follow us on X @BIRMAC_BBK for information on follow up events.
