Immersive audio walk takes visitors through 60 years of Hull’s music history
DISCOVERY: A sign to access Diamond Life
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
A free guided audio tour of Hull’s rich music history is now live.
Diamond Life is a collaboration between Hull City Council, Visit Hull & East Yorkshire (VHEY) and artist collective Mutiny.
It offers over 60 minutes of discovery into Hull’s music past, guided and narrated through iconic sites, including Humber Street and Queen Victoria Square, by much-loved city comedian and actor Lucy Beaumont.
The work includes many of Hull’s legendary voices talking about life in the city, including some of its finest musicians, such as Roland Gift, from Fine Young Cannibals, folk legends Eliza and Martin Carthy, and industrial music pioneer Cosey Fanni Tutti, with a strong focus on women in music.
In addition to the trail, the Reveal Hull website includes the full interviews with, and biographies of, each artist featured on Diamond Life.
NARRATOR: Lucy Beaumont
Along the walk, listeners are encouraged to look out for the ten orange ‘Reveal Hull Way Points’ with bonus content, such as original artwork, depicting historical moments from Hull’s history, just a QR code-scan away.
Head of culture, place and city centre, Kath Wynne Hague, said: “We’re so excited to be offering Diamond Life to everyone in Hull.
“It’s a fantastic audio walk that showcases the very best of our city – from its brilliant architecture and thriving music scene, to the household names that bring this audio walk together. It’s also a great example of why we are bidding to UNESCO to become a future City of Music.”
Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure at the city council, said: “Hull has an incredibly rich history in music and it’s excellent we’re able to showcase it in this way.
“I look forward to spotting the way-point signs and taking a walk through our stunning city centre, listening to what I know will be fascinating tales.”
IMMERSIVE: Visitors scan a QR code to listen to Diamond Life
Writer Dave Windass added: “Diamond Life is a celebration of our beloved city.
“It really shows off our links to legendary groups like Fine Young Cannibals and the Housemartins, and great new music today, like the group Wench.
“The walk puts a spotlight on Hull’s vibrant musical history over the past 60 years – showing that the city has always been a brilliant place to experiment and make music.”
Marcus Romer, artist at Mutiny, said: “We’re delighted to have partnered with comedian and actor Lucy Beaumont for the narration of Diamond Life.
“She’s a fantastic ambassador for Hull – a truly warm, knowledgeable and approachable voice. In short, she’s everything we’ve come to know and love from the city.”
Diamond Life also includes an archive interview with legendary guitarist Mick Ronson, as well as interviews with electronica group Fila Brazillia, Lynda Harrison from one of the original girl groups, Mandy and The Girlfriends, and up-and-coming Hull musicians Jodie Langford, a spoken word artist, and young garage / punk group Wench.
