Noise Control at Large Open-Air Musical Events - Jon Burton

The environmental impact of large open-air musical events can be significant, particularly in terms of their acoustic output. This is often referred to in terms of noise and annoyance. This talk will explore firstly what we mean by large musical events, followed by an exploration into how they are monitored and the sound levels they produce measured and mitigated. With over thirty years as a live sound engineer, Jon Burton will be exploring this topic from the perspective of not just an academic but also one of the key technicians responsible for the sound pressure levels that this talk will be examining.If you have ever been to or wanted to know more about music festivals and similar events this should be an interesting and engaging talk.


Jon: "In my role as a live sound engineer, I have worked at the highest level for many years, touring internationally with a wide variety of acts at a diverse array of venues. In recent years I have worked primarily in arenas and stadiums, as well as a large number of open-air festivals, including Glastonbury, Roskilde, Rock am Ring/Park and Miami Ultra Festivals. This work has predominantly been as the sound engineer for the headline act, with responsibility for many aspects of the sound design and implementation. Most recently I have been the front-of-house sound engineer for Biffy Clyro and since 2004, The Prodigy. I am also a Senior Lecturer in Entertainment Engineering at the University of Derby. I have co-authored several papers, primarily in the field of perception of low-frequency sound and noise control. I am currently working on an international certification for noise awareness, HELA, in conjunction with the AES and the Night Time Industries Association. I have an MSc from the University of York and am currently doing a PhD in audience auditory responses."