Glastonbury’s first quadrophonic ambient soundsystem to be unveiled this year
The festival’s new open-air ambient stage is due to open for the first time at Woodsies
Glastonbury’s first-ever quadrophonic soundsystem is set to be unveiled this year with the addition of the festival’s new ambient stage.
The new soundsystem will be fitted at the Woodsies new Tree Stage, which sits under an oak tree canopy offering a five-day music and art programme focused on ambient music.
The stage also features immersive and visual art, combined with “natural science, body immersion and synchronicity” with experimental music, all through a quadrophonic audio system.
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Speaking on the new soundsystem, sound designer Jamie Harley, explains: “Usually, a system is stereo and you stand in front of a pair of speakers. With quadrophonic, the music surrounds you.”
“You are immersed in a bubble of sound. Anywhere within the circle will be an interesting area to be - you can move around, and get a different sensation wherever you are.”
The Tree Stage will host sets from the likes of The Orb, KMRU, Ana Roxanne, Max Cooper with his live A/V set, and Jon Hopkins presenting his new album, ‘RITUAL’ in an “exclusive playback listening experience”.
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The new stage opens after dark when the main stage headliners have finished, running until 3:AM on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30AM on Sunday.
“The great thing about the Tree Stage is that it opens when everything else closes,” says Harley. “So you’ve got a choice after you’ve been watching your bands all day to either go back to your tent and fall asleep or come up to Woodsies and get cosmic.”
“It’s a very communal and open space. You can walk around and find your space where you’re enjoying listening. If the weather is good it’s a perfect place to lie down and float off.”
The full programme for the Tree Stage will be available in the coming weeks.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter