An artist has announced a 'unique' ambisonic listening party to be hosted in Helston.
Jamie House, in collaboration with Natural England, invites the public to delve into the hidden sonic realms of Goonhilly Downs, Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on Friday, May 12, 2026, at CAST in Penrose Road.
This experience, which is part of an ongoing project, will unfold within the Black Box space of the arts centre in Helston from 5.30pm until 8pm.
Visitors will engage in a meticulously layered 10-speaker soundscape, built from an archive of field recordings collected at Goonhilly Downs by Jamie.
This archive holds sounds recorded using ambisonic microphones, contact mics, hydrophones, and geophones, which capture everything from the metallic tremor of historic satellite dishes to subterranean textures and surface atmospheres.
Human and non-human sounds are brought together in this collection, along with electromagnetic fields, seismic vibrations, VLF radio, and shortwave transmissions.
The 2025 solar maximum adds more depth to the recordings, embracing atmospheric whistlers, ionospheric crackles, and geomagnetic shifts, bringing out a dynamic mix of ecological, technological, and cosmic frequencies.
The installation unfolds in three interconnected movements, namely Ephemeral Pools, Transitions, and Barrier Thresholds, each lasting for 20 minutes.
Jamie is known for his transformative work in natural and technological soundscapes, establishing immersive experiences that engage audiences.
He collaborates with Natural England at landscapes like Goonhilly Downs and Europe’s oldest oak forests, working with ecologists at Blenheim Palace, Oxford, blending scientific rigour with artistic experimentation.
His work has been recognised globally, featured prominently at esteemed venues and publications.
Besides this, he kindles community interest through collaborative listening, emphasising the concealed sonic life of the environment while exploring biodiversity, climate change, and acoustic ecology.
Free admission is offered for the 'intimate immersive listening experience,' which has strictly limited seating.
Bookings can be made via Eventbrite.
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