The City Is Full Of Noises Celebrates Electronic Music In 2023

Following a successful pilot earlier this year, The City is Full of Noises returns to the Herbert in 2023 with a month-long celebration of electronic music, culminating in a weekend of workshops, networking and concert performances on 25 and 26 March.

First held on Saturday 21 May 2022, The City is Full of Noises was set up to celebrate the legacy of Delia Derbyshire, an early pioneer of electronic music born and brought up in Coventry. Today, Derbyshire is best remembered for her work on the original Doctor Who theme music during her time with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in the 1960s, but her impact on popular music today is wide-ranging, with her innovations having influenced artists from Paul McCartney to the Chemical Brothers.

This year’s festival included modular synth workshops with Rick Holt of Frequency Central, a “synth meet” for artists and interested parties to gather and share ideas, and an evening concert with performances from Rick Holt, AaltonenStone Anthem, Mashed Swede Café Orchestra, Rhiannon Bigham and Ian Campbell, and Finlay Shakespeare.

In 2023, the extended festival will see a range of activity taking place at the Herbert throughout the month of March, with full details to be confirmed soon. The final weekend will include workshops aimed at beginners and experienced sound-makers alike, and will spotlight both established and emerging synth artists in a series of concert performances.

Visitors will also be able to browse and purchase equipment from a “Makers Marketplace”. Traders interested in booking a stall at the market can email cfon@cvlife.co.uk to enquire.

The City is Full of Noises is a collaboration between the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Frequency Central and Coventry University, with contributions from Dr Benoit Granier, Rick Holt, AaltonenDivKidBen WeatherillLeon Trimble, Ian Campbell and Rhiannon Bigham.

Creative Events Producer Kirstie Lewis said: “We’re really excited to be bringing The City is Full of Noises back for an even bigger synth celebration in 2023, and can’t think of a better time to announce this news than on Delia Derbyshire Day on 23 November – a day dedicated to the trailblazing work of a homegrown electronic artist.

“Delia’s childhood in Coventry had a huge impact on the work she would go on to create, particularly her experiences during the Second World War. As an adult, she would cite the noise of the air raid sirens she grew up hearing as an important influence on the kind of abstract sounds she was drawn to, so it feels especially fitting to be celebrating her legacy here in her hometown.

“Coventry still has a thriving electronic music scene today, and we hope this new festival will help to nurture and champion some of the incredible talent the city has to offer, as well as drawing in artists and visitors from further afield.”

The City is Full of Noises returns to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in March 2023. A full schedule for the festival will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information or to express an interest in attending, please email cfon@cvlife.co.uk.

Visual Sequence//Brume

Visual Sequence, also known as Rhiannon B. is a visual and sound artist, living and working in Coventry (the birthplace of Delia Derbyshire). It’s hard to believe that this collection of four perfectly-mastered pieces, inspired by the different states of sea mist, is her first official release. 

The composer used primarily the Lyra 8 & Pulsar 23 analog synthesizers. The delightfully capricious nature of these instruments, developed by SOMA Laboratory, injects an organic component into the music. Immerse yourself in the splendid and mysterious soundscapes, which are adorned with profound textures, ethereal atmospheres, and emotional harmonies. 

Recorded at Eastern Telephone Works, Coventry.

T shirts

We’ve put a limited number of t-shirts up on Ebay for people who couldn’t make it to our recent events. 2 designs available. Synthesisers not included!

Logo t shirt

Synthcurious t shirt

If you are looking from overseas please contact us before buying to get shipping costs.

 

 

 

 

 

Deliaphonic 2018//Artist profile//White Noise

Born out of the ashes of Unit Delta Plus, White Noise formed when Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson met and started to work with David Vorhaus. Sessions held late at night in the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in Maida Vale eventually gave birth to the seminal album, An Electric Storm.

arton22890-a61b2

A true electronic music pioneer and innovator, David has continued his unique musical journey with further White Noise releases over the years, and is now joined in White Noise by fellow sound artist Mike Painter.

White Noise will be playing some tracks from An Electric Storm, along with more contemporary pieces. The perfect way to celebrate Delia’s birthday.

dv

Deliaphonic tickets

Deliaphonic 2018//Artist profile//Esya

 

esya

A member of the post-punk band Savages, and bass/electronic duo Kite Base, The Tin Music and Arts and Synthcurious welcome Ayse Hassan to the Deliaphonic 2018 line up.

Performing as Esya, her new solo electronic project, we are delighted that she has chosen Deliaphonic for one of her first gigs. Not to be missed!

Deliaphonic tickets

Deliaphonic 2018//Artist Profile//Ian Helliwell

IH

We are delighted to confirm that this year The Tin Music and Arts and Synthcurious welcome Ian Helliwell to open Deliaphonic 2018.

Musician, composer, filmmaker, animator, electronic instrument builder, collagist, performer, writer, creative researcher, installation exhibitor, designer…. and author of the acclaimed book Tape Leaders: A Compendium of Early British Electronic Music Composers.

In 1991, Ian established his bedroom recording lab (still operational today), and began his earliest forays into electronic music with 4 track cassette radio collages. He started building simple tone generators which grew into a series of numbered Hellitrons. More sophisticated multi-circuit machines or Hellisizers, have augmented this unique range of self-constructed, creatively soldered instruments, which provide all the electronically generated sounds for Ian’s compositions.

Ian will start the event with a series of short films, many of which will be screened for the first time. Following this with a live performance.

Deliaphonic tickets

Synthcurious at CET

A big thank you to everyone that came along to yesterdays sound installation. It was another great turnout. Below are a few pics and clips from the day.

The event was a taster for Deliaphonic, which is next Saturday, the 5th May. Headline this year is White Noise, the band Delia was a part of in 1969. Not to be missed!

DSC_0035

DSC_0063

DSC_0103