Sonic Refunct

Explore the history and inner workings of the ghetto blaster with Repair Acts, audio engineer Robert Leadbeater and artist Teresa Dillon.

Invented in the late 1960s, ghetto blasters, or boomboxes, were some of the first portable music systems that allowed people to play the music of their choice, while on move and in public. This act itself not only made sound more visible in space but created forms of public address that led to innovations in music and urban dance culture, particularly hip hop, where it helped spread the music and was used in battles and public performances.

While the ghetto blaster may represent a past era, as devices they have become cultural icons, whose legacy sits within broader Soundsystem cultures. At Repair Acts, we are interested in the traversal practices that emerge when sonic and repair cultures meet, with some of our current work exploring this through the interface of the ghetto blaster.

Proceeding Walkmans, iPods and other portable players, classic components of the ghetto blaster include amplifiers, loudspeakers, radio tuners, cassette players, with later models also incorporating CD players. Adopting creative approaches to media archaeology and media forensics, over the last few months we have been researching such directions, with a focus not on vintage ghetto blaster models - which can be costly - but on cheaper and lesser-known models. In taking this focus, our work explores ongoing questions regarding consumer electronics and salvage, discarded tech and planned obsolescence.

This workshop invites you into our research process. We share some of the techniques that we have been developing including Bluetooth upgrades, tape and speed modifications. Working together, we will share the decisions behind such directions and plans for designing open ‘how-to’ guides for others to learn how they can transform their ghetto blaster.

Workshop costs cover materials, refreshments and lunch.

Access: Ground floor but not wheelchair accessible.

Agenda:

12.00-13.00: Gathering, lunch & discussion

13.00-14.00: Sharing Research, Upgrades & Mods

14.00-15.30: Group Discussion & Play

15.30-16.00: Wrap Up & Thanks

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This workshop is part of Celebrating Repair Cultures (Oct 3rd - 17th), a city-wide Bristol programme exploring our relationship with things through hands-on workshops, talks, performances, and community mending. Bringing together local repair cafés, makers, artists, and researchers across venues like the CUBE, Pervasive Media Studio, Arnolfini, and SPARKS, the two-week series features a dedicated digital repair and debate day at Bristol City Hall, a Material Cabaret on Lightship 55, and the 10th Anniversary of International Repair Day. Discover the full programme and join the conversation at repairacts.net.