The experimental music weekender ArcTanGent is set to become what organisers call the “UK’s first safe listening festival,” in a move that “places hearing health and audience wellbeing at the heart of the live music experience.“
This year ArcTanGent, taking place 19-22 August at Fernhill Farm (nr. Bristol), will introduce a number of regulations and research projects to promote healthy listening practices and protect audiences, crews and performers. This is in partnership with Healthy Ears, Limited Annoyance (HELA), an initiative which promotes safe sound practices to those working in the live industry to deliver the project, and other industry organisations.
At the festival, access to the HELA Certification training course will be provided to performing artists, crew members, volunteers, and the ArcTanGent audience.
The festival will also be conducting on-site safe listening research throughout the event, which will gather feedback from audiences and stakeholders to better understand listening behaviours, hearing health awareness, and the overall festival sound experience.
This, says ArcTanGent, is “setting a new benchmark for responsible sound management and hearing protection in the live entertainment space, particularly where there is loud music.“
The move was developed in partnership with the University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, and University of Derby, and supported by industry partner ACS Custom, and charity partner Metal for Good. The initiative has also worked with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Standard for Safe Listening Venues and Events.
Goc O’Callaghan, co-Founder and director of ArcTanGent, said: “Great sound and safe listening can
go hand in hand, and at ArcTanGent, this is what we want to achieve. By becoming the UK’s first Safe Listening Festival, this reflects our commitment to innovation, audience wellbeing, and responsible event management without diluting any of the full immersion in a sound-based experience.
We want to demonstrate that festivals can deliver exceptional live music experiences while actively supporting hearing health.“
Adam Hill, associate professor of electroacoustics at the University of Derby, and a Chair of the HELA
Initiative said: “ArcTanGent’s embrace of safe listening practices through alignment with the WHO
Global Standard and the HELA Initiative is significant, especially considering the scale and genre of the festival.
Through Goc’s efforts, the festival is leading by example, proving that first-class live music experiences and responsible sound management don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”
Tickets for ArcTanGent are available now.
