AN OPEN bus tour with a difference closes Colchester’s Gift month of arts events this weekend.

Commissioned by Firstsite, Open Top Sound is the work of Colchester artist Matt Cook and will involve taking people on a unique aural trip around the town on an old double-decker bus.

To create the experience, Matt has gone round Colchester recording sounds and he will play these back when the bus reaches the place where he took the recording.

These sections of ambient noise could include snippets of conversation, the wind rushing through the trees or just traffic passing by, but will be accompanied by recorded descriptions of places in Colchester by local Blue Badge guides.

Matt hopes the tour will be a way of seeing the town from the perspective of those who live there and use it every day.

The route is also designed by Matt to chart his own personal connections to the town, as well as its wider history. Those on the bus will also have the chance to contribute their own memories.

This will be the 29-year-old artist’s first commission in his home town, following a number of performance and installation pieces he has done in Wales, Harlow, Bedford and London.

The former Thomas Lord Audley and Sixth Form College student studied in Cardiff, where he began producing his sound-based installation and performance pieces.

Taking his influence from urban geography, cultural history, natural rhythm and everyday life, his work represents the world in a way that enables people to view their environment differently and notice elements they would normally ignore.

He said: “I’m not really interested in having a collection of work so it’s all rather temporary pieces. The tour fits in with that.

“I’ve managed to hire this 1960s Leyland Atlantian bus, which is white with dark red stripes, and looks great. I’m going to have a laptop on the bus and eight speakers, which will surround the passengers with the sounds I have recorded.”

Tours take place tomorrow, departing from the top of East Hill, Colchester, bet-ween East Hill House and the Minories Art Gallery, at 10.45am, 1.45pm and 3.45pm.

Places are free and can be booked by e-mailing info@ firstsite.net or calling 01206 577067. For more information, visit www.opentopsound.co.uk or www.firstsite.uk.net

Month-long arts event comes to an end

Open Top Sound forms part of Firstsite’s participation in Gift and, along with the last few performances of Depot, marks the end of the month-long arts event which aimed to highlight overlooked and forgotten parts of the town.

Dee Evans, chief executive of the Mercury Theatre, one of the organisations leading Gift, said: “Last night, after a performance of Depot, a member of the audience said to actress Christine Absalom ‘thanks for making Colchester special for the last ten years’ and we reciprocate, with thanks to Colchester for being such a special place to put on plays.

“And we mustn’t forget our special supporters Colchester2020, Colchester Council and the Gazette.”

l Due to the popularity of Depot, taking place in an old bus depot in Magdalen Street, Colchester, the Mercury has added an extra late-night performance at 10.30pm tomorrow. To book, call 01206 573948 or visit www.mercurytheatre.co.uk