SHIFTING SOUNDSCAPES

How does the shifting soundscape of a Suffolk village reflect changes to class structures, national identity, and the growing environmental crisis?

Join us for this special audio performance exploring how the sounds of the Suffolk village of Holbrook have changed over the past 100 years.

Old pictures of the village give a glimpse into the daily life of the community, but what might the village have sounded like? Matthew’s interest began after he read the 'Sounds and Noise’ chapter in the book ‘Holbrook, The Story of a Village 1900-1983’ by local author Warrenton Page. Matthew was inspired by the book’s descriptions of a rich tapestry of working noises and sounds that drifted over the landscape; most, if not all, of these sounds are no longer heard. This performance uncovers them, using manipulated field recordings, homemade instruments, and modified electronics.

About the Artist

Matthew Shenton is an experimental musician whose work is shaped by the landscape and soundscape of rural communities.

His practice mixes manipulated lo-fi field recordings, modified electronics, found objects, and homemade instruments. The resulting compositions are textural explorations of timbre with instinctive arrangements that mimic how he experiences the rural soundscape.