It’s been running since 1955, attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year and is a week-long celebration of music, dance and song. Now, the Sidmouth Folk Festival is adding Auracast to its mix.
The annual event runs from Friday, 31 July through to Friday, 7 August, and includes a youth programme, storytelling, dance classes and ceilidhs and performances from some of the biggest names in the folk music industry.
They include The Fisherman’s Friends, The Bootleg Beatles in pre-festival warm-up shows. Also on the lineup is Kate Rusby, Gigspanner Big Band, Capercaillie, Spiers and Boden, Blowzabella, Lindisfarne, and Steve Knightley and Friends.
That’s just scratching the surface: visitors will be able to explore a wide range of musicians, bands, and styles. Special shows look at some of the untold stories from the First World War, recovered songs from the Crimean War, and a mumming play that recreates the cult film The Wicker Man.
And for the first time, three stages will have Auracast available, thanks to Open Door Audio, the same company that helped Beverley Knight with her recent UK tour.
The three main venues for the festival will all feature an Auracast system.
Visitors can use their own Auracast-enabled earbuds, headphones, Cochlear, or hearing aids. Alternatively, they can borrow a pebble-sized receiver and connect via their hearing aid’s Telecoil and a personal neck loop or 3.5mm wired headphones.
The Festival will be providing receivers and neckloops or headphones if people do not have their own.
And volunteers will have training to ensure they are familiar with the system so they can help people connect either with their own equipment or if they need support when borrowing devices.
In a post on their website, the Sidmouth Folk Festival team noted: “We’re excited to introduce a new hearing accessibility technology at this year’s Sidmouth Folk Festival, making it easier than ever to enjoy clear, high-quality sound at festival performances.
“Auracast broadcast audio will be available at these three main venues: The Ham, Blackmore Gardens Marquee and The Bulverton. Whether you use hearing technology or simply want to enjoy a clearer listening experience, you can connect in the way that works best for you.”
The Auracast installation comes in the wake of a survey from Attitude is Everything (AiE), the UK charity championing access and inclusion across live music and events, which the Sidmouth Folk Festival team supported in May. Announcing it, they wrote: “We know how important accessibility is for many of our customers, artists and volunteers, and we are always looking at ways we can improve the festival experience for everyone.
“The findings will help shape AiE’s new Live Events Access Charter, supporting venues and festivals to make meaningful improvements to accessibility and inclusion across the industry.”
Anyone with questions about accessing the Auracast broadcast audio at Sidmouth Folk Festival, can email info@opendooraudio.co.uk
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