Whale Song Soundbath + Q&A
Saturday 20th September, 12:15pm
Dive into the depths with this Whale Song Soundbath – a powerful and moving live bioacoustic experience blending science, storytelling, and sound.
Created by Tom Mustill (BBC filmmaker and author of How To Be A Whale, and Vahakn Matossian (musician, DJ and acoustic inventor), this unforgettable experience weaves together hundreds of rare and extraordinary underwater recordings of whales, dolphins, fish, seals, and more.
After making yourself comfortable lying down – or seated if preferred – you will journey through the lives of seven remarkable creatures – from bowhead whales singing under Arctic ice to orcas hunting in unison – and hear the ocean like never before.
Featuring some of the earliest and rarest sound recordings, alongside newly captured material entrusted by scientists from around the world.
Tom spent eight years exploring recordings from the sea for his book How To Speak Whale, which is about listening to animals. This sound bath brings the best and most unusual marine recordings together with recent discoveries about their lives to imagine what it might be like to be a humpback whale, orca, spotted dolphin, blue whale, bowhead whale, pilot whale and baby sperm whale, and their lives among fishes, coral, crabs, sea urchins and seals, from the tropics to the poles to the deep sea.
This acoustic experience was premiered by Cerys Matthews on BBC 6 Music, featured in the BBC Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, and most recently captivated audiences at Glastonbury Festival, The Natural History Museum, Hay Festival, COP28 and many more global stages.
Suitable for all ages, this is not a performance – it’s an invitation to listen deeply, connect emotionally, and imagine the ocean’s world through sound.
Close your eyes. Open your ears. Be changed by the ocean.
Narrated by Tom Mustill
Mixed by Vahakn Matossian
A live virtual Q&A session with Tom and Vahakn is included in ticket price. This will start shortly after the Whale Sound Bath experience.
The Whale Sound Bath will take place in The Horton’s Performance Space, with its wonderfully resonant acoustics.
To get the most from the experience:
– Wear comfortable loose clothing
– Bring a yoga/exercise mat or a blanket to lie on
– Bring a blanket to go over you
– Bring a small cushion to support your head/under your knees
The whale sound bath will last just over 30 minutes. The Q & A will follow after a short break.
Please note that no-one will be admitted after the session has started as it disturbs the experience for everyone else.
Try to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start to allow time to get settled.
Tickets £19
A £2 booking fee is included in this price. The booking fee covers costs charged to the charity for the booking system and payment processing.
