Drake Music hosted the first-ever DMLab Festival Day at Rich Mix in London on Sunday 24 May. This full-day event explored music, instruments, and technology by and for Disabled and Non-Disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent musicians and makers.
Drake Music's DMLab Festival Day features three main segments — a hands-on 'Instrument Building Workshop' using new Spoke Boards and basic crafting materials to create accessible touch-based instruments, an afternoon session titled 'Exploring Accessible Music Tech' with presentations and demonstrations from various makers and musicians, as well as an evening live performance showcase called 'DMLab: LIVE,' featuring Clarion Trio, Liza Bec with her Roborecorder, Tim Palm with live electronics, and DJ Jeffo from Deaf Rave.
The entire event was available via YouTube livestream and offered Woojer haptic vests on-site for audience feedback. The festival was designed to be fully accessible with BSL interpretation, live captions, and an online access guide.
Image Credit: Drake Music
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Inclusive Music Labs
- Accessible co-creation spaces are reshaping music experimentation by bringing Disabled, d/Deaf, neurodivergent, and non-disabled makers into shared environments where new instruments and performance formats can emerge.
- Haptic Audience Experiences
- Haptic wearables introduce tactile feedback as a parallel layer of live entertainment, expanding how concerts, festivals, and digital broadcasts can be experienced beyond sound alone.
- DIY Accessible Instruments
- Low-cost boards, craft materials, and modular interfaces are widening participation in instrument design, creating room for customizable tools built around diverse physical and sensory needs.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Music Technology
- Adaptive hardware, accessible software, and experimental interfaces signal a growing market for music tools designed around a broader spectrum of creators and performers.
- Live Events
- Hybrid festivals with captions, sign-language interpretation, livestreams, haptics, and access guides reflect a shift toward event models where accessibility is integrated into the core experience.
- Assistive Technology
- Creative applications of assistive design are expanding beyond healthcare and education into cultural participation, positioning accessibility as a driver of entertainment innovation.
