When the Barbican throws a summer party, it doesn’t just turn up the volume—it reprograms your entire sonic reality. Enter Frequencies: the sounds that shape us, a high-voltage season running from 22 May to 31 August 2025. Designed to tune your brain, body, and everything in between, the programme redefines how we listen, move, and think about sound. And yes, for all you Shoreditch creatives—this one’s wired straight to your wavelength.
Frequencies and the Power of Sound: From Acid Raves to Activism
Sound isn’t just something you hear. It’s something you feel—especially when you’re in East London. The Frequencies programme launches with an unapologetically bold goal: to examine the raw, rebellious power of sound and how it fuels culture, protest, and personal transformation.
The Barbican’s summer programme opens with Feel the Sound, a multi-sensory exhibition that turns your body into a listening device. Think immersive installations, ambient sculpture, and deep sound baths that will have you rethinking the very concept of “silence.” Spanning everything from Silk Street to the underground car parks, this show quite literally vibrates through the Barbican.
It’s all very Shoreditch, really—smart, experimental, and rooted in community energy.
Immersive Innovation: In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats
Let’s take a collective VR trip, shall we? In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats returns in a newly souped-up edition. Darren Emerson’s cult classic VR experience has been reengineered for maximum euphoria. Now you can rave through 1989 Britain with your mates in a shared virtual space. Acid house heads, rejoice.
And yes, it’s more than nostalgia. It’s a tech-powered love letter to the DIY spirit of dance music and the gritty resilience of youth culture. Frankly, this VR experience should be prescribed on the NHS.
Pirate Radio Gets a Reboot: Rebel Radio Takes Over
This June, Rebel Radio plants its antennae firmly in the Barbican’s foyer. Broadcasting live with Reprezent Radio, the programme spotlights the chaotic brilliance of London’s pirate radio scene. Expect themed shows, panel talks, club nights, and even a Sunday Selecta session where the public picks the soundtrack.
There’s also a 6-episode podcast Gaps in the Dial, curated listening posts, and even the opportunity to record your own pirate radio memories. If that doesn’t scream “cultural heritage with headphones on,” what does?
Also, can we please talk about ClubStage? This night brings back legendary pirate DJs to spin original sets, alongside modern tastemakers. It’s sweaty. It’s underground. It’s basically your best Shoreditch basement rave—just upgraded.
Concerts That Push Boundaries: Sound as Sensation
Summer 2025’s concert programme is a genre-busting mashup of classical meets club. Highlights include:
- Actress x Suzanne Ciani joining forces for Concrète Waves, a fusion of electronic and avant-garde sound art.
- Moin, in their Barbican debut, blurring the lines between punk, electronica, and experimental rock.
- Jeff Mills + London Symphony Orchestra, celebrating 20 years of Blue Potential in a techno-meets-symphony fusion.
- Rampage: Carnival Classics 2, an orchestral remix of Notting Hill Carnival’s greatest hits.
Every one of these performances celebrates the potential of sound to shake foundations—both literal and metaphorical.
Cinema with a Pulse: Sonic Film Experiences
In case you thought the Barbican had forgotten about cinema, rest assured. The film programme dives deep into sonic storytelling, from performance lectures like God Bless the Child to Good Vibrations, exploring neurodivergence through sound.
In August, the Barbican’s Outdoor Cinema series returns with films that turn soundtracks into soul-shaking art. Curated by people who actually care about sonic design (bless them), it’s set to be a late-summer highlight.
Talks, Panels and Workshops: Think Loud
Of course, Frequencies isn’t just for listening—it’s for learning. Talks and workshops include:
- Listening as Activism: Exploring how deep attention becomes a revolutionary act.
- Dancefloor Solidarity: A workshop on rave culture, healing, and community.
- A special session with sonic resistance pioneer Paul Purgas, diving into the politics of sound and experimental electronic music.
In true Barbican style, every event is as brainy as it is bass-heavy.
Shoreditch’s Influence Echoes Loudly
Let’s be honest—Shoreditch energy is all over this. From the rebellious soul of pirate radio to the DIY spirit of acid house, this programme practically screams E1 attitude. Whether it’s experimental tech, audio art, or cultural subversion, you’ll find Shoreditch’s influence pulsing through Frequencies like a bassline.
Step Into the Sound
Ready to hear the world differently? Don’t just scroll past. Join the movement. Whether you’re tuning into a pirate podcast, dancing through a VR rave, or vibing with a sculpture that plays back, Frequencies invites you to immerse yourself in the world of sound.
Tickets and updates are available via barbican.org.uk. Make sure you’re following Made in Shoreditch Magazine for insider picks and creative takes throughout the season.
