DMLab London: Accessible Practices

Doors open 6.30pm, with presentations starting at 7pm

DMLab is a space for Disabled and Non-Disabled musicians, technologists, and makers to exchange practices and explore new accessible instruments.

At this event, we are excited to learn from 3 guest presenters who will talk about their accesible music practices, plus a special live performance!

Featuring presentations from:

• Alice Gilmour (she/her): A musician and post-production sound engineer with a background in community engagement. Alice's recent work has focused on making the arts more accessible, hosting a podcast series, as well as working as a captioner, audio describer and sound designer for opera and theatre.

• Stuart Grimshaw (he/him): A UK-based composer, technologist, and founder of creative technology company, Headsoup. With a background spanning professional performance, experimental jazz, and software development, Stuart brings together music and innovation to create inclusive tools. His latest project, LIFT Music, is a gesture-based app empowering people with cognitive and physical impairments to engage with music in new and accessible ways.

• Lia Mice (she/her): A London-based instrument designer and live performer. Lia’s music has been described by Boomkat as “neon-hued and jagged art-pop weirdness”. She has released four self-produced solo albums on labels including Optimo Music and Objects Ltd.

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The event will also include opportunities for networking and music making and testing a selection of instruments from Drake Music’s Accessible Musical Instrument Collection.

While this will be an in-person event, there will also be the opportunity to view the presentations online. Register for an online ticket to receive the YouTube link, which will be shared ahead of the event.

• Rich Mix, is wheelchair accessible, via a permanent entrance ramp and internal lifts.
• The event will be held in The Studio, which is level throughout, located on the 4th floor.
• There are accessible toilets (with RADAR locks) on the ground, 1st, 2nd and 4th floors.
• We will have live captions and BSL interpreters at the session (also on the livestream).
• There is a hearing loop in the Studio that can be used by switching most hearing aids to the ‘T’ position.
• There is also an infrared system in The Studio which requires the use of headsets, provided by Rich Mix.
• There will be a quiet space available.

Please let us know of any specific access requirements when registering for the event.

Find out more about accessibility at Rich Mix

Image description: Headshot showing a white woman with blond-ish grey curly hair in a bob and glasses wearing black top and smiling. 

Alice Gilmour has spent her career working in the arts - as a musician, post-production sound engineer, and in community engagement. More recently, she has focused on making the arts more accessible. She hosts a podcast of the same name and works primarily as an audio describer for opera and theatre, as well as a captioner and sound designer. 

She’ll be sharing what she’s learned - from the latest technologies, to the organisations doing great things (and those that could be doing more!). She’s also keen to have a Q&A, to hear about people’s own experiences and find out where there’s room to improve. 

Image description: White man in black trousers and grey T-shirt playing a 2-rack modular synthesizer, with his foot resting on a black and white electric guitar. 

Stuart Grimshaw began his career as a professional musician working in theatres and musicals, playing in several bands in the UK, and involved in the experimental jazz and electronics music scene in Germany. Stuart holds two degrees in Music Composition and Music Performance & Education from the Conservatoire of the Arts, Arnheim and led his own orchestra for two years.

After moving to New Zealand, he combined his musical background with technology, authoring two books on Apple development. Now based in the UK, Stuart founded creative technology company Headsoup, where he focuses on inclusive music tools.

His latest project, LIFT Music, is a gesture-based app designed for people with cognitive impairments and limited mobility, bringing a unique perspective that bridges technical innovation, creativity, and accessible music. 

Image description: A close up of a woman with a short blonde bob looking directly at the camera. She is wearing a black coat.

Lia Mice is a London-based instrument designer and live performer. Lia’s music has been described by Boomkat as “neon-hued and jagged art-pop weirdness”. She has released four self-produced solo albums on labels including Optimo Music and Objects Ltd. At DMLab, Lia will perform a semi-improvised experimental set exploring live vocal looping and manipulation. You can out more about Lia here: www.liamice.com

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