Plug it Up is a DIY sound art festival combining workshops and performances led by female and marginalised gender artists who are working with sound in innovative ways. Local artists will be platformed alongside national and international artists in the three-day event.

Abstract turntablist Maria Chávez will be flying in from LA to construct her hauntingly unique live sound collages using broken up vinyl and shellac. Artist Ann Rosén will be arriving from Sweden to perform Drawing Sounds using her invention the Pencil Barrier/Graphite Barrier, an instrument that relies on the conductive quality of graphite to produce electronic sounds.

There will be interludes of sound poetry and music where audiences can also participate if they book a slot in advance, and workshops to learn how to compose sound spatially using graphic scores and deep listening, build synthesisers from pom-poms, and make a radio. Sunday will be a family day, making musical instruments from upcycled junk and emerging Bradford sound artists will present work they have developed as part of our seed commission.

The festival is produced by Bradford Sound Wom*n Network, with the support of Yorkshire Sound Women Network, in-kind support from Theatre in the Mill and funded by Bradford 2025. Friday and Saturday’s workshops are open to women and marginalised gender people; Sunday’s workshop and all of the performances are open to everyone. All events are free; places can be booked via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/plug-it-up-bradford-2025-2475239

Friday 17 October
3pm Bells & Whistles Scratch Orchestra workshop with Rebekah Okpoti
5pm Spitting Yarns – Sound Poetry Open Mic
7pm Drawing Session – Ann Rosén performance

Saturday 18 October
1pm Pom-Pom Synth workshop with Sam Topley
3pm Open Wave-Receiver Radio workshop with Shortwave Collective
5pm Spin-Off Open Decks DJ
7pm Abstract Turntablism – Maria Chavéz performance

Sunday 19 October
2pm Junk Instrument Orchestra workshop with Margarita Novikova
4pm Soundbleed open view – three new sound art commissions by local artists

For more programme details visit bradfordsoundwomen.wordpress.com/plug-it-up