ALMA Winter Arts Weekend: Neil Halstead Sound Installation at The Huer’s Hut

For the ALMA Winter Arts Weekend, musician, producer and songwriter Neil Halstead has created a thoughtful, looping soundscape that will emanate from the Huer’s Hut - a symbol of Newquay’s historic past.

Perched high above the sea, the striking white structure is a grade II listed building, dating back to the 14th Century. Echoing its original use as a shelter for the Huer, (who would sound a cry of ‘hevva hevva!’ to alert the town to the arrival of pilchard shoals on the horizon), Halstead’s soundscape will act as a beacon – encouraging passers by to follow the sounds – pause, listen and reflect.

Neil Halstead is a founding member of the iconic shoegaze band Slowdive. Renowned for his atmospheric guitar work and introspective songwriting, he played a pivotal role in shaping the genre’s ethereal sound in the 1990s. After Slowdive disbanded in 1995, Halstead shifted towards a more acoustic, folk-influenced sound with Mojave 3 and his solo-career. Slowdive reunited in 2014, and the band embarked on a highly successful reunion tour, reintroducing their dreamy shoegaze sound to a new generation of fans. Their latest album “Everything Is Alive” from 2023 was met with critical acclaim, expanding on their signature sound while incorporating more electronic elements, reinforcing their status as one of the genre’s most influential bands. Halstead also produced LA-harpist Mary Lattimore’s widely praised album “Silver Ladders” and co-composed the score for the award-winning film The Unknown Country with Lily Gladstone.

This activity is forming part of ALMA’s Winter Arts Festival which is on the closing weekend of Be Newquay Festival – a new season of events, activities and workshops that celebrate Newquay’s culture and creative spirit. Throughout each weekend in November, the festival will be taking place at various venues across the town. Find out what else is on the programme here. Join us and be creatively curious.

The Be Newquay Festival has been curated by Cornwall Council project ‘Experience Newquay’ in collaboration with local project partners Love Newquay and Visit Newquay. It is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.