A weekend of electronic music, exploration & community in the unique space that is the Q121 wind tunnel at Farnborough, Hampshire.
The Modular Café Aldershot are a vibrant community of people who share a common interest in all things to do with electronic music. With a focus on sharing knowledge, performance and development, our monthly meetings have become a highly accessible and friendly environment to come and talk about creativity, music and technology.
Project TESTCHAMBER has given us the opportunity for 24 of our artists (including guest artists Adrian Utley from Portishead) to make spatial recordings of pieces composed for the Q121 Wind tunnel at Farnborough. The wind tunnel is a heritage building dating back to the 1930’s and the start of the aviation industry in the UK and has exceptional acoustics that need to be explored by musicians and audiences a like. So this weekend gives us the opportunity for many folk to explore this incredible space for the first time, whilst learning about the ongoing work of The Modular Café Aldershot and it’s growing community. Come and join us!
There will be a local artisan coffee / drinks / snacks vendor on site and toilets provided.
Venue details:
The Wind Tunnel Project (Q121), Hall Rd, Farnborough GU14 7EP
What3Words ///fruit.thick.allows
Venue Parking:
The Multi-Storey Car Park at The HUB, Farnborough Business Park, off Fowler Avenue, GU14 7JP.
What3Words ///rash.thinks.straw (FREE).
(PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO ACCESS TO FOWLER AVENUE FROM THE A325 AT THE BMW GARAGE LIGHTS. THE PARKING NEEDS TO BE APPROACHED FROM THE AIRPORT RING ROADS IN EITHER DIRECTION).
PLEASE WRAP UP WARM! The ambient temperature in the tunnel is always lower than that outside, so it’s always advisable to bring layers to any of the sessions in order to keep warm. Also, please be aware that there are many un-even surfaces, flat/sensible foot wear is highly recommended.
Please also bring some kind of small torch with you – ie a mobile phone as some of the areas of the tunnel are very dark – and whilst there will be lights in those areas, it’s a good idea to have some kind of light source to hand.
ALL sessions are ticketed, including the FREE ones.
All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult for any session.
THE VENUE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR DISABLED OR WHEEL CHAIR ACCESS – OUR APOLOGIES.
SATURDAY 30th September
Session 1 – 11:00 – The Modular Café Aldershot monthly meeting. FREE (dur 3 hours)
Come and join us as we host our regular monthly meeting of The Modular Café Aldershot in the Aeroplane Shed inside the Q121 wind tunnel – an informal meeting of friendly electronic music enthusiasts.
There will be performances, tech-spots and the opportunity to have a hands-on play with some weird and wonderful synthesizers, as well as chat with our regular members about all things Modular Cafe! Open to all ages and levels of experience.
Although this event is free, we will be doing our regular thing and asking for donations towards the cost of its running. There will be some seating available for this session.
Session 2 – 15:00 – Electronic Collaboration and Exploration FREE – donations welcome (dur 2 hours)
Members of our team have been scheming and developing collaborations with various local community groups, including the traditional Nepali 1st Naumati Baja Gulmi UK band, the brilliant Forward4Wiz trust, a local choir and the ‘AUTISM POET’ Daniel Jeffery. This session is a chance for the local community to not only explore the space of Q121, but to experience some fun and formative sonic collaborations with some extraordinary talent. Standing only audience – again, seating will be available in other areas of the venue.
Session 3 – 19:30 – TESTCHAMBER LIVE – part 1 £16.50 per person (dur 3 hours)
Eleven of our Modular Café Aldershot artists perform their TESTCHAMBER pieces – electronic composition created specifically for Q121. As an audience you’ll be able to explore the extraordinary acoustics of the space by moving around as the pieces are performed. This is a standing only performance due to safety considerations within the venue, but there will be seating available in other parts of the venue. There will also be short breaks in the program.
SUNDAY 1st October
Session 4 – 11:00 – THE FAST MUSEUM TOUR – SOLD OUT
The FAST Museum tour is now full…
If you would like to organise a tour another time you can do so by heading here https://airsciences.org.uk/wind-tunnel-tours/
Come and explore the Q121 wind tunnel and learn about it’s story from the men that really know the building – the team from the FAST Museum at Farnborough. An informal tour, presentation, opportunity to take great photos and ask all the questions in the world. Suitable for all ages.
Session 5 – 13:00 – Build Your Own Synth (Makers Session) – £35 per person (including build kit) – dur 2 hours
Under the watchful eye of synth DIYer Gareth Millar (PnP Modular) and the Surrey Makers, this session gives you everything you need to build your own ‘Crackle Synth’ from a kit (ticket price includes the kit, batteries, use of tools etc). There will be some soldering involved, but no real previous experience is necessary. And you’ll be taking away an electronic instrument that you built yourself! Due to the nature of this session, spaces will be limited so book early. Full training will be provided. PLEASE BRING A PAIR OF HEADPHONES WITH A 3.5MM JACK TO TEST YOUR SYNTH! Not suitable for young children – we’d suggest maybe 12 upwards – accompanied by an adult over 18 who will need to do the soldering.
Session 6 – 16:00 – void_null LIVE AV SHOW – COLLAPSE £12 per person (dur 1 hour)
Void_null are an acclaimed LiveAV act, who will be performing their immersive show COLLAPSE in the space of Q121 – the perfect environment for one of their shows. Merging live modular synths and visuals, examining the idea and theories surrounding the nature of black holes and the role they play in our universe, this will be an experience not to be missed. Please note this is a standing only performance – but there will be additional seating available in other areas of the venue.
Session 7 – 19:30 – TESTCHAMBER LIVE Part 2 £16.50 per person (dur 3 hours) featuring Adrian Utley and band – SOLD OUT
Our second and final evening of electronic music from 10 different MODCAF artists, playing their individual pieces specifically composed for the space and acoustics of Q121. Adrian Utley, our guest artist on the project will also be performing his composed piece with his band. Again, the audience will be free to move around the space and explore the acoustics as the pieces are played live. This is also a standing only performance, but there will be seating available in other areas of the venue. There will also be short breaks in the performance.
