airport music

Heathrow Airport has a summer soundtrack

Music, ,

If you travel frequently, many of the sounds of the airport will be familiar and soothing to you and may signal the start of a journey.

That’s the idea behind Music for Heathrow, a unique ambient audio track that Grammy nominee Jordan Rakei has created for London’s Heathrow Airport.

The work incorporates more than 50 real Heathrow airport sounds, including boarding announcements, elevator dings, air traffic control chatter, the sounds of planes taking off and landing and more.

Rakei’s audio composition follows a passenger’s journey from check-in to take-off and is designed to “complement passenger journeys, stir up excitement” and let people “tune into their trip before the plane even leaves the ground,” according to Heathrow Airport officials.

Rakei recorded all the sounds for his audio track in and around Heathrow Airport and says his Music for Heathrow is an homage to Brian Eno’s 1979 work, Music for Airports, which is credited with launching the ambient music genre.

Like Eno’s work, Rakei’s piece is split into four compositions to reflect the airport journey.

Listen closely, and you may be able to make out the percussion created with the sounds of passports being stamped and bags hitting the baggage belt. Or the water fountain gurgle used for ambience.

Rakei also adds sounds from movie scenes, such as the tapping of passengers’ feet waiting at a gate in Terminal 2 in Bend It Like Beckham; the beeps of the security scanner that Sam runs through to catch Joanna in Love Actually; and the engines whirling on the tarmac where Die Another Day was filmed.  

“It’s all about building suspense and setting the mood for wherever you’re headed on your summer holiday,” said Rakei.

Listen to Music for Heathrow on Soundcloud – or at Heathrow Airport – and let us know what you think.

Airport Amenity of the Week: SFO’s Golden Gate Park ‘activation’

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San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has an ongoing program celebrating the city’s neighborhoods and cultural events.

The newest activation shines a light on the rich history of live music performances in Golden Gate Park with a photo essay, live performances, and a photo station in Terminal 3, Boarding Area F.

“From Jimi Hendrix in the 1960s to Lizzo in the 2020s; from the Summer of Love to Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Golden Gate Park has long been a Bay Area epicenter of music and culture,” SFO reminds us.

The new activation, SFO Celebrates: Music in Golden Gate Park will feature live music performances on August 26th and September 1st & 2nd.

On a stage near the F Food Court, there’s a two-sided backdrop where travelers can put themselves into the picture with the Grateful Dead in the 1960s or with Billie Eilish today.

And there’s a photo Exhibition in the F Concourse along the moving walkway, featuring photos of memorable performances in Golden Gate Park that have taken place over the past 60 years.

IAH: 5 Thing We Love About George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Airport guides, , , ,

Our “5 Things We Love About...” series celebrating features and amenities at airports around the country and the world lands at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

The airport is located about 23 miles north of downtown Houston and is served by more than two dozen airlines offering flights to about 185 non-destinations.

Keep in mind that some of the amenities we list may be temporarily unavailable due to health concerns. We’re confident they’ll be back.

If we miss one of the things you love about George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), be sure to leave a note in the comments section below.

5 Things We Love About George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

1. The art at IAH Airport

The Houston Airport System owns one of the largest collections of public art in Texas and a good amount of that art is on display at IAH Airport.

Travel Light – by The Art Guys
Moonwalking Cow – Silvestri
https://player.vimeo.com/video/188034019

2. Live music at IAH Airport

The Harmony in the Air performing arts program at IAH presents live concerts in Terminal A, Northside Atrium, and in Terminal D, near gate D8.

Concerts are scheduled Monday through Friday and include classical, jazz, pop, and International music. See the IAH website for schedule and concert times.

3. The IAH Yoga studio

IAH has a yoga studio for passengers in Terminal A, near Gate A3.

4. Shopping at IAH

We’ve picked up some great souvenirs in the shops at IAH

5. The Inter-Terminal Train at IAH

All five terminals at IAH are connected by an above-ground automated people-mover (the Skyway) and the underground Subway, which dates to 1981 and runs on a circuit that makes a curving and somewhat amusing round-trip every 18 minutes.

As of September 2020, the subway was undergoing some major repairs, so the video below may be the closest you’ll get to this unusual ride for a while.

The Inter-Terminal Train at IAH has a great backstory.

In the late-1970s a Disney executive who traveled through IAH on a regular basis became irritated with the unreliable tram system then operating between terminals. Not long after, a Disney-made people mover opened at IAH.

That’s why Mickey Mouse was on hand for the subway’s opening day.

Did we miss one your favorite features or amenities at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)? Be sure to leave a note in the comment section below.

Looking ahead: Will we ever be able to travel again? And, if so, what will that be like?

Will we ever be able to travel again? And, if so, what will that be like?

No one knows for sure, but an interesting group of travel experts is going to talk about it on October 7-8 during the online Travel 2021 Summit.

I am on the agenda talking about what airlines and airports are doing to make travelers feel safe now and what air travel may be like in the future.

Want to attend? Here is a link to the Travel 2021 Summit where you can get a discount on tickets.

Early bird pricing ends September 17. 

Use code SEPT50 for $50 off the registration fee.

One-on-one concerts at Stuttgart Airport

Music, ,

Even though few people are hanging out in airports right now, airports are still doing their part to be part of the cultural community.

A perfect example: Germany’s Stuttgart Airport (STR).

This week the airport is hosting several one-on-one concerts in an empty terminal.

On May 8 and 10 single musicians will perform personal concerts for single listeners who will be each be seated at a safe distance.

The idea takes inspiration from artist Marina Abramović’s performance “The Artist Is Present.” The concept is to provide a personal musical experience despite the restrictions being caused by the corona pandemic.

Stuttgart Airport is just one of the sites for the one-on-one concert project, which is the creation of the Stuttgart State Opera and the SWR Symphony Orchestra.

To attend one of the concerts in town, potential audience members apply for a slot. Then, musicians and lucky audience members are paired randomly.

Ten tickets for the concerts in the empty terminal are being offered via a contest on the airport’s website.

The musicians are performing for free, however donations are permitted.

Great idea, right?

Fresh arts/entertainment at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport

Art, Aviation history, , ,

 A fresh program of live local art and entertainment offerings – “ArtsWave Presents” – begins today, March 16, at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and continues on Friday afternoons through May.

Here’s what’s on tap for the next few weeks.  

·         2-3 PM: Friday, March 16: Northern Kentucky University Philharmonic

·         2-3 PM: Friday, March 30: James McCray Choral Ensemble

·        More to come  Fridays: April 6; April 20; May 4; May 25

CVG, which is currently undergoing a $6 million terminal modernization project, is also displaying a nice collection of items from the Cincinnati Museum Center, including the spacesuit of Neil Armstrong.

And, of course, this is the airport that has miniature therapy horses come visit with travelers.

Music returns to Pittsburgh International Airport

Entertainment, Music, ,

 

Thursday afternoons are now a great to time to be stuck at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Starting today, the airport brings backs its Thursday afternoon Performing Arts Series, which will feature local musicians and “artists of all genres,” for shows in the Baggage Claim and in other areas of the airport terminal.

The series began in 2016 with a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and last year featured about 35 artists – pianists, harpists, guitarists, duos, trios, and soloists.

The performance schedule for 2017 is posted here, but the 2017 line-up looks like this so far:

3/30/2017            1-4 pm  Dan Bubien

4/6/2017              1-4pm   The New Mingle

4/13/2017            2-4pm   JuliAnne Wright

4/20/2017            1-4pm   The Squirrel Hillbillies

4/27/2017            1-4pm   Dan Sty

5/4/2017              1-4pm   Samantha Sears

While  you’re at PIT airport, don’t forget to look for the art , which includes work by Andy Warhol from Pittsburgh’s Andy Warhol Museum, a giant robotic figure (Arch) by Jackie Ferrara, Toby Fraley’s Robot Repair installation, Alexander Calder’s Pittsburgh mobile and more.

 

 

 

 

SXSW-bound? Start with music at Austin’s airport

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If you’re headed to Austin for this year’s SXSW festival – lucky you!

If you’re flying to Austin for this year’s SXSW festival you’ll be able to get started on hearing great live, local music right away.

In addition to the 21 regularly-scheduled live music performances offered weekly in various spots in the terminal, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has added some extra shows to welcome arriving fans on March 13 and 14 and send them off on March 20.

Here are the extra shows:

Mon., March 13:
Akina Adderley (Classic-Soul) – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Jeff Plankenhorn (Blues/Soul/Rock/Roots) – 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Tues., March 14:
Miss Lavelle White (Austin Queen of the Blues) – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Barbara Nesbitt (Folk/Rock/Americana/Country) – 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Mon., March 20:
Jackie Venson (Soulful Indie Blues) – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cornerstone (Reggae/Soul/Jazz) – 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

And here’s the link to the full music schedule at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. 

(Photo above courtesy: Sandy Stevens; Austin-Bergstrom International Airport)

Travel Tidbits: Holiday Helpers

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Some music, some shopping deals and some other ways to make holiday travel a bit less stressful.

Both Washington Dulles International and Reagan National Airport have a shopping promotion for the holiday: get a free gift with same-day purchases totaling $100 or more at two or more airport shops and restaurants.

Santa will be strolling about both airports and both airports have a full schedule of music and entertainment planned.  Links here for the schedule at Dulles and Reagan National.

And here’s a great idea: a new company – Holiday in a Box Shop –  offers just that:  themed kits filled with everything you need to create a festive space where you are, including a hotel room or – in a pinch – an airport concourse.

This year there are six themed sets – including the Seaglass Beach Collection above – as well as a nice assortment of ‘extra’ items, including a great assortment of bonus Santas. 

And it looks like everything ships for free.

 

 

 

 

JetBlue’s “Mozart in the Jungle” concert at JFK T5

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The third season of the highly enjoyable “Mozart in the Jungle” series begins streaming on Friday and, to mark the occasion, JetBlue (and Amazon) are presenting a three-set ‘Live From T5’ concert on Monday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. EST at JetBlue’s terminal at JFK Airport.

In addition to music from the series, the concert will include a selection of holiday classics and a performances by the tenor trio Il Volo and classically trained singer Jackie Evancho.

Airport residencies: next big thing?

Art, Entertainment, Events, , , , ,

Brisbane orchestra

Courtesy Brisbane Airport

Airport residencies by cultural arts groups seems to be the next big thing.

Australia’s Brisbane Airport (BNE) just announced that a team from the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) will be the newest Artist-in-Residence and will present six ‘pop-up’ performances in the international and domestic terminals, with three of these performances taking place before the end of the year.

Brisbane Airport started their Artist-in-Residence program last year and first up was Robert Brownhall, who created a series of works featuring different views of the airport.

https://youtu.be/_ZSOV8LW1fk

Here in the United States, airport artist-in-residence programs are happening too. This year, the Fern Street Circus is in residence at San Diego International Airport, so keep an eye out for an unusual number of Bozos.

SAN CIRCUS snip

Courtesy SAN Airport