Chants for memories as Leeds United fans join art crowd

Invisible Flock artists (from L to R) Richard Warburton, Emma Pratt and Ben Eaton, pictured at Elland Road where they recorded the Leeds United crowd. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

THE roar of the Elland Road faithful will take centre stage in an ambitious new sonic art installation set to be premiered at the Yorkshire Festival in Leeds this month.

Leading interactive Leeds-based artists Invisible Flock used an array of microphones to capture the collective and individual cheers, boos, chants and songs at Leeds United’s last home match of the season against Charlton Athletic on April 3.

The recordings will feature in 105+dB – an ambitious large-scale 3D sonic installation about identity, place and participation that premieres at the Yorkshire Festival and in Lille as part of L’entorse Festival and the Euro 2016 celebrations.

The work recreates the rousing sound footprint of a large football crowd at Leeds United and combines it with pre-existing recording of a match in Lille and in Ghent, merging stadiums and cities.

Installation artists (from L to R) Richard Warburton, Emma Pratt and Ben Eaton at Elland Road

Artist Ben Eaton, said: “105+dB refers to the sound level at which individual voices are lost in a crowd and we’re interested in exploring what it means to belong as an individual or part of a mass. We hope the work will evoke a strong emotional response from a wide range of audiences who experience it in Leeds city centre presenting a playful interaction for people of all ages.” The 105+dB sonic art installation will be presented every hour between 1pm and 9pm in Millennium Square, Leeds, on June 23, and every half hour between 12pm and 2pm and 4pm to 6pm at The Tetley, Leeds, on June 25.