Project details
Project lead | Adrian Bossey |
---|---|
Centre alignment | Centre for Blended Realities |
Start date | 31 January 2023 |
End date | 30 September 2024 |
Four LAAA projects evaluated audience experiences of engaging with authentic ‘live’ music performances, augmented with haptic technology which transforms sound into felt vibration, while facilitating knowledge exchange and outreach activity. Delivered by Cornwall Business School, in partnership with AMATA, the first LAAA events installed the BEAT BLOCKS haptic dancefloor and programmed DEAF RAVE DJ workshops in May 2023. LAAA2F field tested haptic vests, at Boomtown Fair and the Deaf Rave Festival in 2023. LAAA2BB measured audience and policy maker perceptions of the haptic dancefloor, with colleagues from the University of Brighton, at Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Meltdown Festival and Tropical Pressure in 2024. LAAA2BB co-convened the Access to Music Conference, at Cheltenham Jazz Festival. LAAA3 delivered knowledge exchange through Launchpad Futures and included Bellatrix performing at AMATA with a haptic floor tile on stage.
Project aim
The UK live music industry faces challenges to inclusivity relating to accessibility for people who are d/Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent. Information Communication Technologies (‘ICT’) can be deployed to augment the way in which many audiences experience live music and offer some potential to increase access. The general term haptics relates to the sense of touch (Brewster 2005: 2). Introducing touch into multimedia applications concerned with sight and sound has been described as the “next critical step” in their development (El Saddik 2007: 11).
The LAAA projects addressed Audience perceptions of live music performances augmented with haptic ICT and piloted iterations of a ‘Liveness 4:0’ scale regarding ICT enhanced performances at music festivals. The research team also explored policy maker perceptions of the BEAT BLOCKS haptic floor and considered a performer perspective of the technology.
The immersive experience provided by LAAA intersected with other collaborative research inquiries underway in AMATA, particularly in relation to immersive performance, sound and the environment, health and wellbeing.
Project context
The LAAA projects built on previous work by Adrian Bossey, (ORCHID iD 0000-0002-9874-6323) who has been undertaking research into potential digital futures for live performance in the staging and consumption of music festivals including:
BOSSEY, A. (2019) Industry perceptions of potential digital futures for live performance in the staging and consumption of music festivals. The Routledge Handbook of Festivals, Abingdon: Routledge. https://doi.org?10.4324/9781315186320-41
BOSSEY, A. (2020) Accessibility All Areas? UK live music industry perceptions of current practice and Information and Communication Technology improvements to accessibility for music festival attendees who are Deaf or disabled. International Journal of Event and Festival Management. Volume 11. Issue 1. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijefm-03-2019-0022
BOSSEY, A. (2023) Liveness 4.0: a new paradigm for accessible performances at music festivals. In Virtual Events Management. Oxford: Goodfellow Publishers. ISBN 978-1-915097-03-3
BOSSEY, A. (2023) Do you think ICT enhanced performances are really ‘live’ music? In, International Case Studies in Event Management
ed. by MAIR, J, AKTAS, G and KOZAK, M. Abingdon: Routledge https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003390381
BOSSEY, A. (2023) Piloting test scales to measure perceptions of liveness regarding ICT enhanced performances at music festivals. Event Management. Volume 27, Issue 5. (pp.1-28) https://doi.org/10.3727/152599523X16896548396798
BOSSEY, A (2024) ‘Considering the potential for increasing sustainability at UK music festivals by monetising ICT enhanced content to fund reductions in overall on-site capacity.’ The Routledge Handbook of Events and Sustainability. Routledge.
These works contribute to international discourse around liveness, accessibility, teaching and pedagogy relating to music festivals.
The LAAA projects contributed to research, knowledge exchange, APP outreach, course promotion and student experience/employability outputs.
One journal article relating to the LAAA project and another from the LAAA2F project have been submitted to publishers. Research from LAAA2BB is currently being analysed in preparation for additional journal articles.
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Falmouth
09 June 2023
Falmouth welcomed HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh to its Penryn Campus.
Harnessing technology to make live events more inclusive
05 June 2023
In May 2023, the Live Audience Accessibility & Augmentation knowledge exchange project hosted a seri...
Honorary Fellowship for founder of Attitude is Everything
05 July 2022
Falmouth University is delighted to announce that Suzanne Bull MBE, founder of Attitude is Everythin...
Access is Everything for Falmouth University
05 January 2022
Falmouth University courses have received a groundbreaking event accessibility accreditation. Fal...
Project process
Following a literature review, previous research and expert feedback. LAAA events were devised to support field research, knowledge exchange and outreach:
The initial LAAA project facilitated: Live performances presented by In Place of War: Around the World in 80 Raves. In-conversation events with Suzanne Bull, founder of Attitude is Everything and Lucy Evans, Producer for In Place of War. Deaf Rave DJ Workshops for school groups including The Deaf Academy to experience Woojer Haptic Vests and watch Music student performances on BEAT BLOCKS. Haptic Thresholds: Feeling the World Through Sound. A sound installation by researchers working at the intersection of soundscape ecology, aural diversity, voice studies, and sound-based composition. Accessing Culture & Tourism Workshops with Access Cornwall provided a Haptic Flooring demonstration of BEAT BLOCKS for local businesses. Subsidised places on the Attitude is Everything course, to visitor attractions and/or music venues.
LAAA2F: Worked with Deaf Rave to evaluate user experience/perceptions of their live experience when wearing Woojer Haptic Vests at selected music festivals. The project focused on the disruption of an existing haptic technology to facilitate accessibility and inclusive participation of people who are Deaf or disabled. This project successfully stimulated a research partnership between academics from Falmouth University and the University of Brighton.
The first field test took place at Boomtown Fair in August 2023. A second field test took place at the Deaf Rave Festival in October. Gathering completed questionnaires in the hectic environment of a DJ/MC performance at a music festival is not without challenges, so we agreed to experiment with other methodologies in future projects.
LAAA2BB deployed questionnaires and photo elicitation techniques while working with partners to introduce audience members who are d/Deaf, disabled or neurodiverse to BEAT BLOCKS. At Cheltenham Jazz Festival; LAAA2BB partnered with National Star, Gloucestershire Deaf Association and Gloucester Disability Arts Association to provide a haptic experience for their students and members. In London, Attitude is Everything organised Mystery Shopper attendees for Meltdown. Finally, LAAA2BB worked with Access Cornwall, Hearing Loss Cornwall and iSight Cornwall to source participants for Tropical Pressure.
LAAA3 delivered a workshop for businesses to consider accessibility and experience the BEAT BLOCKS haptic dancefloor.
Outcomes & outputs
LAAA Outputs:
KPI | Actual project totals | (Vs initial Target) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Attendees at events | 255 | 430 | Including a royal visit |
Businesses Supported | 17 | 21 | |
Schools supported | 2 | 4 | |
Performers showcased | 5 | 5 | Deaf Rave AND student performers Ghetto Orange + Lobisen + Achilles Heal + The Beau Bennett Collective |
Students Engaged | 124 | 300 | |
Completed research questionnaires | 76 | 75 | |
Media coverage | BBC Spotlight (TV) and BBC Radio Cornwall. |
LAAA2f Outputs:
KPI | Actual project totals | (Vs initial Target) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Completed research questionnaires | 141 | 120 | Including 72 respondents who considered themselves Deaf or hearing impaired. |
Media coverage | Standout Magazine. |
LAAA2BB Outputs:
KPI | Actual Project Outcomes | Bid Target Numbers | Detail |
---|---|---|---|
Businesses Supported | 5 | 5 | |
Schools/Community Groups supported | 7 | 3 | |
Schools/community Groups beneficiaries | 79 | 45 | |
Performances supported | 10 | 3 |
Jack Of The Suburbs, Tom Spice, Sasha & Bryony, Fussie, Cherrysmoke, Bittersweet AND Bellatrix Les Amazones d’Afrique DJ Countryman |
Students Engaged (Research Assistant Roles Created) | 13 | 12 | |
Conference Attendees | 79 | Access to Music Conference (co-convened by Adrian Bossey). | |
Keynotes Delivered | 1 | ||
Films Produced | 2 | ||
Micro-placement facilitated | 1 | To deliver access audits for Tropical Pressure LTD and Mount Pleasant Eco Park. | |
Completed research questionnaires | |||
Media coverage | Mail on Sunday, Digital Frontiers Magazine. |
LAAA3 Outputs:
KPI | Actual project totals | (Vs initial Target) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Businesses Supported | 8 | 10 | |
Performers showcased | 2 | 2 | Bellatrix, Elowen |
Students Engaged | 70 | 100 | |
Media coverage | 1 | - | BBC Radio Cornwall. |
Funders
The LAAA and LAAA2BB projects were funded by HEIF. LAAA2F was funded by the Association for Events Management Education. LAAA3 was supported by Launchpad Futures and funded by Good Growth shared Prosperity Fund.
Partners
Beat Blocks: Provided the haptic floor. Beat Blocks
Deaf Rave: Provided workshops, Woojer vests and performances. Deaf Rave
Attitude is Everything: Provided in-conversation speaker. Attitude is Everything
In Place of War: Presented performances as part of Around the World in 80 Raves and provided an in-conversation speaker. Around the World in 80 Raves
ASONE Hub: Promoted workshops to schools.
Cheltenham Festival Ltd: Presented Access to Music Conference
Project team
Adrian Bossey
Head of Business & Experience Design
Adrian Bossey is Head of Subject at the Cornwall Business School, Falmouth University and a former a...
Dr Antti Saario
Head of Music
Dr Antti Sakari Saario is an award-winning post-acousmatic composer, sound and audio practitioner, r...
Dr D Ferrett
Associate Professor in Music, Sound and Culture
Dr D Ferrett is Associate Professor of Music, Sound and Culture and the Research Lead for the Academ...
Peter Hooper
Technical & Facilities Manager
Peter trained in Stage Management and Technical Theatre at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama...
James Randell
Front of House Manager, The Academy of Music & Theatre Arts
I have been working as a project manager and producer for over ten years. I have delivered a large n...
Natalie Semley
Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Tourism Management
Growing up in a traditional seaside resort on the North coast of Cornwall, Natalie Semley has a deta...
The project’s lead investigator is Adrian Bossey, (ORCHID iD 0000-0002-9874-6323) who has been undertaking research into potential digital futures for live performance in the staging and consumption of music festivals for approximately 6 years. Adrian wrote the project bids, devised the overarching methodology, approached key partner organisations and leads project publications.
Dr Antti Saario acted as academic lead for AMATA and contributed to ‘Haptic Thresholds’ with Dr D Ferrett and PhD researchers Dinah Hayward and Tom Hull. Antti also conceived and managed an experimental performance setup for the award-winning beatboxer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Bellatrix, exploring haptic feedback and feedforward effects and haptic-performance-affect in a semi-improvised performance context.
Sam Murray, Pete Hooper, James Randell, Alex Smith and James Scarle supported live performances at Falmouth University.
Dr Mandy Curtis and Dr Adam Jones, from the University of Brighton, assisted with methodology, delivery and field research at two LAAA2 events AND co-presented the project at the Association for Events Management Education Forum 2024 in Sheffield Hallam University and will co-author resultant paper(s).
Helen Worthington managed complex access related partners for two LAAA2BB events, managed elements of field research at Cheltenham and will co-author resultant paper(s).
Andrew Lansley from Cheltenham Festivals Ltd conceived and co-convened the Access to Music Conference supported field research at Cheltenham and will co-author resultant paper(s).
Our partners Beat Blocks, Deaf Rave, Attitude is Everything and Cheltenham Festivals Ltd all made essential contributions to LAAA.
A highlight for many involved was the visit of students from Exeter Deaf School, who had the opportunity to experience the AMATA Function Band’s performance led by Senior Lecturer, Sam Murray. This encounter resonated deeply with all involved and the joy of music was palpable in the room.
Special recognition is due to the remarkable performances by Ghetto Orange, Lobisen, The Beau Bennett Collective, Achilles Heel, and Pete Hooper and the AMATA Technicians Alex Smith and James Scarle for the work throughout the week.
Our partners Beat Blocks, Deaf Rave, Attitude is Everything and In Place of War all made essential contributions to LAAA.
Falmouth staff
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Adrian Bossey
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Nat Semley
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Antti Saario
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D Ferret
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Sam Murray
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Pete Hooper
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Alex Smith
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James Scarle
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James Randall
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Helen Worthington
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Jo Lake-Jones
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Teresa Van Woerkom
Falmouth students
- Dinah Hayward
- Tom Hull
- Tom Bird
- Freya Pretty
- Izzy Davies
- LJ Downs-Ahearn
- Sass Brennan
- Osian Webster-Bidder
- Madeline Nicholls
- Sam Judd
- Ruby Jordan-Burrows
- Kirk Davies
- Mihaela Georges
- Louisa Anderson
- Lana Jones
External partners
- Rowan James (Beat Blocks)
- Claude & Fergie (Beat Blocks)
- Troi Lee (Deaf Rave)
- Matthew (Deaf Rave)
- Suzanne Bull (Attitude is Everything)
- Stephan (Attitude is Everything)
- Lucy Evans (In Place of War)
- Andrew Lansley (Cheltenham Festivals)
- Claire Marshall (Tropical Pressure)
Project media & news
To date there has been two films produced and multiple images and ten posters. There have also been three magazine/newspaper articles, two radio interviews and one TV interview. Individual project reports are available via FURR.