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Alternative Gravesham II returned with a day-long open house of experimentation, bringing together artists, technologists, writers, and musicians to share their latest ideas, performances, and innovations. Despite the cold and rain, the event saw a constant flow of performers and visitors, proving that Gravesham’s underground creative scene is thriving, evolving, and ready to push boundaries. Alternative Gravesham II < Back 27 April 2024 Alternative Gravesham II returned with a day-long open house of experimentation, bringing together artists, technologists, writers, and musicians to share their latest ideas, performances, and innovations. Despite the cold and rain, the event saw a constant flow of performers and visitors, proving that Gravesham’s underground creative scene is thriving, evolving, and ready to push boundaries. Previous Next Alternative Gravesham II – 2024 Alternative Gravesham returned for its second all-day experimental open house event, inviting artists, technologists, writers, and inventors to bring their latest ideas, performances, artworks, and innovations into an open, collaborative space. A Space for Experimentation With a focu s on relaxation and creativity, Alternative Gravesham encourages local residents to share what they’re creating - whether in their bedrooms, sheds, or studios. The invitation was wide open: if it could be performed, shown, or discussed, it had a place at the Fourth Portal. Visitors were invited to engage with the work, grab a beer or coffee, and explore the underground scene shaping Gravesham’s creative future. Unexpected Encounters & International Reviews Review from America Three pre-teen Gravesenders walked into Fourth Portal on Saturday morning, ready to sing t ogether on stage for the first time. They weren’t expecting to find a professional sound engineer balancing their vocals. Minutes into their performance, two visitors arrived; one from Rochester, Kent, the other from Massachusetts, USA. This is how they encountered Alternative Gravesham. Review from Massachusetts The Performances & Atmosphere Despite a free zing spring day and heavy rain in the evening, the performers kept arriving, and the stage stayed busy. With Oli May engineering the sound, the event followed a first-come, first-served approach, allowing the day to evolve organically. The first to step up were three pre-teen girls, eager to perform together with microphones. They were followed by local poet Nick and the PNG Media Collective, who delivered their first-ever live gig. Lorcan Borj created another incredible film and soundscape, blending poetry, visuals, and experimental sound throughout the afternoon and night. PNG Media Collective A standout moment saw raxil4 strap up the 1870s St Andrew's organ with synths, electronics, and cables, while Hywel Jones accompanied on trombone and euphonium. Despite the rain and cold, the event drew a packed house until the 11pm close. Andrew Page attaching electronics to the St Andrew's organ. Alternative Gravesham isn’t just about performance—it’s about experimentation and exchange. Raxil4’s performance directly inspired the PNG Media Collective, sparking their interest in incorporating drone music into their work. Featured Performers & Artists Andrew Page (aka raxil4) London-based sound and sculptural artist, known for dark, brooding dronescapes blending analogue and digital sound sources. His work incorporates field recordings, detuned radios, and handmade sculptural instruments, including the “Bone Guitar Thing” - a zither-like instrument crafted from bones and driftwood reclaimed from the River Thames. 🔗 ResearchGate Hywel Jones Originally from Pontardawe, South Wales, Hywel Jones studied music at Goldsmiths, University of London. A versatile trombonist and euphonium player, he has performed with The Apocalypse Jazz Unit, rapper WONDRWOMN, and drone group Endolyph. He also composes music exploring the intersection of mathematics, improvisation, and indeterminacy, recently launching Mr. Jones' Loud Music Group. PNG Media Collective Emerging from Gravesend’s underground music scene, PNG Media Collective made their live debut at Alternative Gravesham II, bringing an energetic hip-hop set to the Fourth Portal. Their raw talent and DIY ethos were captured in a short film, highlighting the importance of giving new artists a space to develop and experiment. Since this performance, PNG has gone on to release an album. Plaid Matter Gravesend-based modular electronic project led by Matt Donald. Plaid Matter creates wondrous and immersive journeys into sound, pushing the boundaries of electronic composition and improvisation. How New Genres Form Events like Alternative Gravesham provide the fertile ground where new music genres take root. In spaces that foster experimentation, collaboration, and open exchange, artists push boundaries and discover unexpected intersections between sounds and styles. The following video captures a pivotal moment - a discussion between Raxil4, Hywel Jones, and PNG Media Collective - exploring how to share, adapt, and acknowledge artistic influences with openness and mutual respect. Raxil4’s performance on the 1870s St. Andrew’s organ, merging drone music with electronic processing, directly inspired PNG Media Collective to consider incorporating drone elements into their hip-hop sound. This is how innovation happens - not in isolation, but in shared spaces where ideas evolve collectively, shaping the future of music. How New Genres Form (Watch on YouTube) Visit Event Page MORE ON THIS EVENT BELOW Previous Next Event Documentation Previous Next

< Back WorldRadioHistory.com WorldRadioHistory.com is a non-profit, free online library dedicated to preserving and providing access to a vast collection of radio, broadcasting, and electronics publications. The vast online archive of WorldRadioHistory.com, preserving decades of radio, television, and electronics publications, perfectly reflects the philosophy behind the Fourth Portal strapline: The Past and Future always meet in the Present. WorldRadioHistory.com 10 Feb 2025 The vast online archive of WorldRadioHistory.com , preserving decades of radio, television, and electronics publications, perfectly reflects the philosophy behind the Fourth Portal strapline: The Past and Future always meet in the Present. More than just historical records, these magazines remain valuable learning tools. They contain detailed technical explanations of circuits and electronics projects, offering insights that are still relevant today. While the technology may have evolved, the fundamental principles remain unchanged - making this archive an invaluable resource for anyone looking to understand electronics, experiment with ideas, or explore the foundat ions of modern innovation. ___Read More_ __ WorldRadioHistory.com The Past and Future always meet in the Present. At the Fourth Portal, we explore the intersections of history, technology, and innovation, creating spaces where knowledge, ideas, and creativity evolve in hybrid digital and real-world environments. Understanding the past is essential to shaping the future, and preserving historical knowledge ensures that new generations can build upon it. One of the most comprehensive resources for broadcasting and electronics history is WorldRadioHistory.com . This non-profit online archive, founded by David E. F. Gleason, provides free access to an extensive collection of radio, television, and electronics publications spanning over a century. From early radio technology to modern broad casting, this resource is invaluable for researchers, historians, and enthusiasts. Explore their vast library here: WorldRadioHistory.com What is WorldRadioHistory.com ? WorldRadioHistory.com is a non-profit, free online library dedicated to preserving and providing ac cess to a vast collection of radio, broadcasting, and electronics publications. Founded and published by David E. F. Gleason, the website offers an extensive archive of magazines, books, and documents spanning from the early 20th century to the p resent day. Its mission is to make the history of all aspects of radio and TV more accessible, especially as many printed materials become increasingly scarce. Categories & Archives The site is organized into various sections, including: Radio and Music – Publications related to music programming and radio. Early Radio – Documents focusing on radio stations and technology from 1900 to World War II. Technical & Audio & Companies – Materials covering broadcast, audio, and equipment manufacturers. Bookshelf – Over 1,000 books on electronics, radio programming, and music. United Kingdom – Publications from the UK related to music, radio, and electronics. World Pages – International publications from Europe, Canada, Oceania, and Latin America. Amate ur & DX – Resources for radio hobbyists, including ham radio and DXing. A Living Resource for Learning These old magazines hold immense value—not just as historical records but as living re sources for learning. Many contain detailed technical explanations of circuits and electronics projects, breaking down how components interact in a way that remains relevant today. Even though the technology may be outdated, the fundamental knowledge is timeless—making this archive an invaluable resource for anyo ne looking to understand electronics, experiment with ideas, or explore the foundations of modern innovation. Discover More For a visual overvie w of the site's offerings, watch this vid eo ▶ WorldRadioHistory.com : An Amazing Archive of Radio and Electronics Publications Excerpt from video: “...name and find every magazine that referenced him by name. But that search function is just awesome. I absolutely love that you can search through all of these catalogs for a particular subject. Now what I was going to tell you is I went and I, when I was browsing around in here, this thing is a complete rabbit hole. You can blow days and days and days in here. I think it was the May of 72 issue of 73 magazine. And this is a big, big one, so it'll take a moment for it to download. So while it's downloading, I've spent the last couple of days in here just reading and looking and reading, and it's just fascinating stuff. There's a lot of value in these old magazines if you're an electronics experimenter. The projects that were in them generally have really good technical descriptions of how the circuit works. So if you're learning electronics, and you're just beginning to mess around with transistors and so on, you can go and you can look at some of these old projects that are in here, and they'll break it down for you and explain how the circuit works. And so you can actually learn more about electronics. You don't have to build the projects, you can just read about them and learn more about how the components and things are working and interacting and what's going on. So there's a lot of value in these magazines still, even though they're way outdated technology wise. The basic skills you need for electronics are all there, and this is an incredible resource for that alone ," Recognised for Excellence In recog nition of its significant contribution to preserving broadcast history, WorldRadioHistory.com received the 2023 National Association of Broadc asters and Library of American Broadcasting Foundation's Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award . Cautionary Note (from WorldHistoryRadio.com ) "'This website's collection includes historical documents containing language, images or photographs which, today, may or should be viewed as offensive, Such inclusions should not be interpreted in any way as an approval or endorsement by the site contributors and publishers, who do not share, endorse or condone any offensive language or materials. On the contrary, we hope that accurate portrayals of hist orical realities will further our understandings of the challenges of today. The greatest goal of communications must be to bring people together!" https://www.worldradiohistory.com/index.htm For more: Previous Next

Two sell-out shows saw the Laserium transport audiences beyond the usual live performance, immersing them in a visual and sound mindscape. Post-event reviews described the experience as evoking the creation of the universe, forming unexpected narratives, and delivering sensorial experiences that transcended traditional perception. Funki Porcini Laserium Sunday < Back 28 January 2024 Two sell-out shows saw the Laserium transport audiences beyond the usual live performance, immersing them in a visual and sound mindscape. Post-event reviews described the experience as evoking the creation of the universe, forming unexpected narratives, and delivering sensorial experiences that transcended traditional perception. Previous Next "Scrambled brains," "unexpected connections of characters with the sounds," and "took the brain to many different places and calming" are just a few of the comments from attendees of the full Laserium at the Fourth Portal. The hundred-plus comments from the hundreds who viewed the 10-minute Laserium tasters during the Gravesham Light Festival had already piqued audience anticipation. What was encountered took the full-show audience well beyond typical live performance expectations. With over 800 lasers pulsating to a specially written composition, the Laserium is a masterpiece by Ninja Tune veteran Funki Porcini (James Braddell). Sitting in a blacked-out Fourth Portal, a former seafarers' chapel, the Laserium took the audience on a unique and surprising journey that "fully immersed" yet "allowed space within the mind to make your own narrative" (audience comments). Full Laserium show audience reviews, Sunday, 29 January 2024 Who is Funki Porcini? James Braddell, aka Funki Porcini, is a British music provocateur and humorist of the early Ninja Tune period. He mixes surreal jazz, found noise, synthetic strangeness, and dream logic. The name "Funki Porcini" is a twist on "Funghi Porcini," the Italian name for the mushroom Boletus edulis, commonly known as "penny bun." He spent ten years in Italy making music for film and television. Thereafter, he returned to England. In 1994, he signed to independent record label Ninja Tune and set up his own studio, The Uterus Goldmine. This event has ended. Visit Event Page MORE ON THIS EVENT BELOW Previous Next Event Documentation Previous Next

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Viv Corringham Voice Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs Flimflam 24 September 2025 Boat-Ting Nov24 4 November 2024 ImproVox #07 10 March 2025 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

< Back Visual Speech In Real Noisy Environments (VISION) A Novel BenchmarkDataset and Deep Learning-based Baseline System ResearchGate 1 Oct 2022 In this paper, we present VIsual Speech In real nOisy eNvi- ronments (VISION), a first of its kind audio-visual (AV) cor- pus comprising 2500 utterances from 209 speakers, recorded in real noisy environments including social gatherings, streets, cafeterias and restaurants. While a number of speech enhance- ment frameworks have been proposed in the literature that ex- ploit AV cues, there are no visual speech corpora recorded in real environments with a sufficient variety of speakers, to en- able evaluation of AV frameworks’ generalisation capability in a wide range of background visual and acoustic noises. The main purpose of our AV corpus is to foster research in the area of AV signal processing and to provide a benchmark corpus that can be used for reliable evaluation of AV speech enhancement systems in everyday noisy settings. In addition, we present a baseline deep neural network (DNN) based spectral mask es- timation model for speech enhancement. Comparative simula- tion results with subjective listening tests demonstrate signifi- cant performance improvement of the baseline DNN compared to state-of-the-art speech enhancement approache https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354141486_Visual_Speech_In_Real_Noisy_Environments_VISION_A_Novel_Benchmark_Dataset_and_Deep_Learning-Based_Baseline_System For more: Audio Previous Next

< Back The Internet Is About to Get Weird Again 2024 offers many of the promises of an online moment we haven’t seen in a quarter-century. RollingStone 30 Dec 2023 Across today’s internet, the stores that deliver all the apps on our phones are cracking open, the walls between social media platforms are coming down as the old networks fail, the headlong rush towards AI is making our search engines and work apps weirder (and often worse!). But amidst it all, the human web, the one made by regular people, is resurgent. We are about to see the biggest reshuffling of power on the internet in 25 years, in a way that most of the internet’s current users have never seen before. And while some of the drivers of this change have been hyped up, or even over-hyped, a few of the most important changes haven’t gotten any discussion at all. The first thing to understand about this new era of the internet is that power is, undoubtedly, shifting. That’s not just good news for the billions of people who own smartphones. It’s part of a sea change for the coders and designers who build the apps, sites, and games we all use. For an entire generation, the imagination of people making the web has been hemmed in by the control of a handful of giant companies that have had enormous control over things like search results, or app stores, or ad platforms, or payment systems. Going back to the more free-for-all nature of the Nineties internet could mean we see a proliferation of unexpected, strange new products and services. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-commentary/internet-future-about-to-get-weird-1234938403/ For more: Previous Next

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Chris Prosser Violin Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs Boat-Ting Sep24 2 September 2024 Boat-Ting Sep 2024 http://Website or social media email or phone number

< Back Matt Davies Fourth Portal Lab, Gravesend Textiles Artist In Residence Matt Davies is a designer specialising in sportswear and outdoor equipment and the curator of the Fourth Portal's 'Textiles, Garb and the Thames', which kicks off the Fourth Portal's Textiles spring season. Matt, a designer specialising in sportswear and outdoor equipment, is based in Kent, drawing inspiration from his surroundings for fresh concepts and design ideas. With a design ethos primarily focused on maximising functionality and performance, Matt extensively researches new fabric advancements. He experiments with innovative pattern-cutting concepts to enhance clothing performance while maintaining a sleek appearance. Having gained experience from studying at the London College of Fashion and working at companies like Vollebak and Purple Mountain Observatory, Matt's goal is to establish a studio in Kent and launch his own tailored clothing range for various conditions. Matt's workflow revolves around digital methods, incorporating 3D software and machine learning algorithms into his pieces. An enthusiastic graphic designer and illustrator, he explores new concepts in his free time and integrates them into future projects. His contributions to the Fourth Portal include organising the 'Textiles, Garb, and the Thames' event, spanning ten days. This event aims to raise awareness about local maritime industries and textile technologies, showcasing their evolution over time. Matt plans to integrate these insights into his future work, exploring how modern maritime clothing can be both functional and stylish. Explore Matt's work at mattlorcan.com or on Instagram @mattlorcandavies. info@fourthportal.com 01-10 February 2024 To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

< Back A First Step Toward AI Regulation With Tom Wheeler Podcast: Tom Wheeler, former chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission, shares his insights on what’s next in the push toward AI regulation. Centre For Humane Technology 1 Nov 2023 On Monday, 30 October 2023, US President Biden released a sweeping executive order that addresses many risks of artificial intelligence. Tom Wheeler, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, shares his insights on the order with Tristan and Aza from the Centre for Humane Technology and discusses what’s next in the push toward AI regulation. Businessman, venture capitalist, and former chairman of the Federal Communication Corporation during the Obama administration, Tom Wheele r is the author TECHLASH: Who Makes the Rules in the Digital Gilded Age (Brookings, October 2023) and From Gutenberg to Google: The History of Our Future (Brookings, 2019). He resides in Washington, DC. Listen. https://www.humanetech.com/podcast/a-first-step-toward-ai-regulation-with-tom-wheeler For more: Protocols, Security, Machine Learning, Decoupling, Regulation, Standards Previous Next

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Adrian Northover Alto & Soprano Sax Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs Boat-Ting Nov24 4 November 2024 Boat-Ting Oct25 6 October 2025 Boat-Ting Nov 2024 http://Website or social media email or phone number

All Improv Perfomers All Improv Gigs Mihee Kim Performer Bio (Max 1000 characters) London and South East improv gigs SKRONK #2 21 June 2016 Performer notes, message or style description http://Website or social media email or phone number

Coastal Electronauts' Estuary Waves brought a night of hypnotic electronics and immersive visuals to Fourth Portal. A diverse lineup of artists delivered experimental soundscapes, deep drones, and glitch-infused performances, creating a rich, atmospheric experience. Coastal Electronauts Estuary Waves < Back 26 April 2024 Coastal Electronauts' Estuary Waves brought a night of hypnotic electronics and immersive visuals to Fourth Portal. A diverse lineup of artists delivered experimental soundscapes, deep drones, and glitch-infused performances, creating a rich, atmospheric experience. Previous Next The Coastal Electronauts' Estuary Waves at Fourth Portal was marked by a powerful performance from Graham Dowdall, known as Gagarin, who sadly passed on 16 June 2024, soon after this event. His set blended deep ambient textures with atmospheric soundscapes, a poignant reminder of his immense talent and immersive performance. Estuary Waves featured a diverse lineup from the Coastal Electronauts' collective, including Sophie Sirota’s haunting melodies, Shape Navigator’s intricate sonic explorations, and AnalogueMechanic’s unpredictable synth improvisations. Smelliott’s glitch-infused set, the Freegk Brothers’ hypnotic drones, and whthponsfpshthtbttn?'s provocative fusion of noise added to the night’s experimental energy. Visual artist diz_qo’s reactive projections seamlessly synchronised each performance with the stunning architecture of St. Andrew's, home to the Fourth Portal. The evening was a rich, immersive tribute to experimental sound, with Gagarin’s set leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. Watch excerpts below. Gagarin – A pioneering electronic artist, Gagarin performed an atmospheric set filled with deep ambient textures. Blending field recordings with experimental rhythms, he created an immersive sonic journey. Sophie Sirota – A classically trained musician, Sophie Sirota explored the intersection of experimental electronics and contemporary composition. Her performance wove haunting melodies with layered textures, producing an ethereal yet powerful soundscape. Shape Navigator – Shape Navigator pushed the boundaries of sonic abstraction with a dynamic electronic set. Using modular synthesis and evolving loops, their performance transported the audience through intricate, shifting sound environments. A nalogueMechanic – Specialising in hardware-driven improvisation, AnalogueMechanic crafted evolving sequences using vintage synths and custom-built effects. His set explored raw sound, balancing structure with unpredictability. smelliott – Smelliott delivered an experimental set blending glitch aesthetics and fractured rhythms. Merging lo-fi textures with intricate beat structures, he offered a unique take on electronic composition. Freegk Brothers – The Freegk Brothers performed a hypnotic set combining drone and pulsating electronic rhythms. Their music created an expansive, trance-like atmosphere, drawing from avant-garde and psychedelic influences. whthponsfpshthtbttn? – A cryptically named artist, whthponsfpshthtbttn? presented a boundary-pushing live set. Fusing noise, spoken word, and manipulated audio fragments, they delivered a provocative and immersive experience. diz_qo (Visuals) – Visual artist diz_qo provided abstract, reactive projections that synchronised with the live performances. Their work enhanced the event with shifting colours, glitch aesthetics, and immersive motion graphics. Visit Event Page MORE ON THIS EVENT BELOW Previous Next Event Documentation Previous Next