A grant from The Radcliffe Trust supported Sonic Bothy’s Autonomous Flow Ensemble programme, enabling the development and performance of new access-focused contemporary music at Sound Festival in Aberdeen. Funding for artist fees and rehearsal time allowed the Ensemble to create, refine and present a British Sign Language (BSL)-inspired work-in-progress through an accessible professional process.
Through rehearsals in Glasgow and a residency at a community centre, the Ensemble advanced this work while exploring new approaches to accessible music-making. The grant also funded accessible recruitment, enabling musicians with additional support for learning needs (ASLN) to join the Ensemble and develop their artistic practice through a supported pathway towards professional opportunities.
In Autumn 2025, Sonic Bothy’s Ensemble rehearsed for a public performance at Sound Festival. Led by a d/Deaf Ensemble member, Sonic Bothy developed a BSL-inspired piece that explored signing, gesture, movement, silence, body percussion and sound as compositional and performance material. The Ensemble developed new approaches to co-composition across different communication styles, exploring how BSL, movement and non-verbal communication could shape sound, timing and structure.
The Ensemble performed Public Inconvenience, an audio-visual work inspired by Disabled people’s experiences of the declining availability of accessible public toilets in the UK, highlighting a significant inequality. Three d/Deaf Ensemble musicians, each with different levels of BSL, shared creative decision-making within an accessible process that allowed time for ideas to be explored and developed. The public performance at Sound Festival provided an opportunity to test the work and identify areas for further development.
The Radcliffe Trust has enabled Sonic Bothy to build on their work through experimentation and reflection. Future Ensemble development will continue to centre d/Deaf and Disabled musicians, supported by appropriate BSL expertise and Sign Language Interpreters.
We want to show you who we are. Sonic Bothy are the best in Scotland. We are ready. ~ Disabled Ensemble Musician
It was good to have extended days where we got to work together… I really enjoy doing that ~ Disabled Ensemble Musician
The use of different instruments, as well as all kinds of interesting items and voice, created an atmosphere of expectation and the most interesting pieces of music. ~ Audience Member
The piece dedicated to the public toilets was a treat. At the same time, it raised awareness of the closing of many of them and what it means, which I personally was not aware of. ~ Audience Member