Max SteventonArcTanGent has revealed plans to become the UK’s first safe listening festival, introducing a programme focused on hearing health and audience wellbeing.
The initiative has been developed in partnership with the University of Manchester, the University of Nottingham and the University of Derby, with support from hearing protection specialist ACS Custom and charity Metal For Good. It aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Standard for safe listening venues and events.
As part of the programme, ArcTanGent is working with the Healthy Ears, Limited Annoyance (HELA) Initiative to provide safe listening training and certification for core staff working in loud environments. The training will also be made available to artists, crew, volunteers and festivalgoers.
The 10,000-capacity festival said it will conduct on-site research during this year’s event to gather data on audience listening behaviours, hearing health awareness and perceptions of the live sound experience. The findings will contribute to ongoing academic research and industry best practice.
ArcTanGent will also work with researchers and production partners, including sound provider Peak Hire, to review stage sound systems, monitor sound levels and develop hearing protection strategies designed to support both sound quality and safer listening environments.
ACS Custom, which has supplied reusable hearing protection for the festival through a fundraising partnership with Metal For Good, is supporting the initiative as an industry partner.
“Great sound and safe listening can go hand in hand,” said ArcTanGent co-founder and director Goc O’Callaghan. “By becoming the UK’s first Safe Listening Festival, this reflects our commitment to innovation, audience wellbeing, and responsible event management without diluting any of the full immersion in a sound-based experience.”
University of Derby associate professor of electroacoustics and chair of the HELA Initiative Adam Hill said, “ArcTanGent’s embrace of safe listening practices through alignment with the WHO Global Standard and the HELA Initiative is significant, especially considering the scale and genre of the festival.”