Float Tank is the second in a series of experimental gigs taking part on Friday 16th June at the Railway Institute, the working men’s club next to the station.
This is the second in a series of experimental gigs called Float Tank, organised by Kai West of Young Thugs Records and Sam Griffiths of The Howl & The Hum / Wilderland.
A Float Tank is a lightless, soundproof tank filled with water at skin temperature, in which individuals float in isolation, used to test the effects of sensory deprivation.
The artists will perform with the audience plunged into complete darkness.
At the first of these events a couple of weeks ago, our friend Oli Knight (performing as ambient musician Owl) played with projections shining over him in a very small room, and we as an audience crowded round shoulder-to-shoulder.
For the main act, The Howl & The Hum, there wasn’t a single spot of light in the room, and the band played behind a black curtain in case any lights from the pedalboards would disrupt the sensation.
We heard afterwards that people lost their inhibitions in the darkness and danced like nobody was watching (I guess they couldn’t) and the experience of listening to live music, that you know is right there in front of you but you can’t even see the person standing next to you, is so at odds with what people are used to at a gig.
It shines complete attention on the songs and the sounds we’re using – the music itself.
At the gig at the Railway Institute, we’re making even more of a show of this unusual type of gig, with walk around immersive elements, added projection features, and some things that if we announced them they wouldn’t be a surprise, now would they?
We hope this is the second of many Float Tank events, as we (and we’re sure many gig attendees) can get bored of the conventional gig setup – why not try something different?
Tickets £5 in advance, £7 OTD
Tickets available here: https://www.musicglue.com/thehowlandthehum/events/2017-06-16-float-tank-number-2-york-railway-institute
Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/304669176650483/
Performances from 8pm