4:30am to 6:30am, Sunday 2nd May 2021: My contribution to International Dawn Chorus Day recorded from our front garden in Newcastle upon Tyne. Thank you to all the birds in attendance, not least the vocal blackbird who got the intricate cacophony underway as soon as I'd set up my equipment and vacated the area.

Read more here 👉🏻 https://jacklowe.com/dawn-chorus-day-2021

Dawn Chorus Day 2021 [Full Version]

A few clips from Sunday's Dawn Chorus Day that put me in mind of a certain droid. Listen to the full recording here 👇🏻 

https://soundcloud.com/mrjacklowe/dawn-chorus-day-2021

R2D2 or Blackbird?

29th April 2021: Once we'd installed the giant Lucy Lavers poster in Stiffkey, North Norfolk, Jetstream and I made our way to the neighbouring coastal path and marshes to make a soundscape. 

We were hoping for a strong evening chorus. However, we soon realised the birds will have been acutely aware that the spring tide would mean the marsh would be barren of any safe roosting spots. As is the way here, the landscape would soon be a seascape.

The natural sounds were still beautiful, of course, with waders and gulls making themselves known. A stiff Arctic wind blew constantly from the north and the sea rumbled ominously some 2 miles in the distance. The large roaring waves formed a frothing white stripe on the horizon, like an army rolling towards us with great purpose and intent.

A third of the way through the recording, listen out for the women passing by for a wild swim in the freezing creek. Their banter stopped when they saw the microphones and they apologetically shuffled by wearing silent grins instead. Towards the end, you can hear their whoops of joy and laughter weaving into the chattering of the birds. A proper night out all round.

As always, good quality headphones recommended. I use the Audio-Technica ATH-M40x headphone when creating my soundscapes.

Stiffkey Marshes

"We could see passengers hanging out over the hole" — Tony Hawkins, Dover RNLI Retired Coxswain

1 October 2018: Tony Hawkins talking to Jack Lowe about a very unusual call for the Dover lifeboat — the rescue of passengers from the Princess Margaret SRN4 Cross Channel hovercraft following a fatal collision with the harbour wall on 30th March 1985.

Postcards from the Coast: Tony Hawkins, Dover RNLI Retired Coxswain

6th April 2022: A very windy day at Lytham St Annes RNLI lifeboat station as the volunteer shore crew take the Shannon class out of the boathouse on its mobile slipway to undergo beach trials.

You'll hear all kinds of things including a cyclist and dog walkers passing by, as well as an aeroplane flying overhead just as the launch tractor passes the microphones — a veritable onslaught of heavy machinery! 

You might also notice that the tractor, lifeboat and mobile slipway are so large that they act as a windbreak for a short while, the wind returning as it passes the microphones.

However, the real surprise comes right at the end when I hear something for the first time — the huge tractor and mobile slipway travelling at speed, sounding more akin to a haunting air-raid siren as the hi-tech unit makes its way across the sand.

A Windy Day at Lytham St Annes

Wednesday 13th April 2022: My final station on Mission 21 of The Lifeboat Station Project was Barrow in Cumbria on the north west coast of England.

All-weather lifeboat stations like this one are incredible places. I love standing at the top of the vast metal slipways. Such peace and tranquility, at odds with the lifesaving emergencies they're built for.

Before leaving, I recorded the gentle high tide sounds of Barrow's slipway and made them into this soundscape for you. You can feel the presence (and hear the slight white noise hum) of the huge lifeboat and cavernous boathouse looming over the microphones. And listen out for the sea birds, the fishing boats, the aeroplanes, the roosting pigeons, the beep of the boathouse door and, of course, the water sloshing all around — not much happening but so much going.

Good quality headphones or speakers recommended to fully enjoy the sonic space.

Learn more at https://lifeboatstationproject.com

Slipway Sounds: High Tide at Barrow Lifeboat Station

“If you send that mayday out, you know there’s only one ship that’s going to come and save you. While others are turning back, they’ll be coming out.” ~ Tony Cowell’s grandfather on the RNLI

9th April 2022: A chat with Tony Cowell, former Fleetwood RNLI Coxswain and current volunteer crew member. Tony talks me through the maritime history of the area including the formation of the lifeboat station. Also, his continuation of long traditions not only on the Fleetwood lifeboat but also the Wyre Estuary Ferry.

Listen to the full 23 minute recording in the Members' Area of The LSP Society: https://lifeboatstationproject.com/audio-members/

Cuppa with a Coxswain: Tony Cowell, Fleetwood RNLI [PREVIEW]

Conversation between Ashley and Terry (local father and son), Tom (XR), Kate (XR) and Jack Lowe (me), a clip from the full length recording in this playlist.

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10th December 2022: What's it really like to be at an environmental protest? The divisions may not be as strong as the media and government would have us believe!

I travelled with Extinction Rebellion North East to join Friends of the Earth and other campaigners to protest about the proposed Cumbrian coalmine just outside Whitehaven, and made this recording as the conversations unfolded.

At the time of the protest, Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove had just given the green light for the coalmine to go ahead, the first time this has happened in over 30 years.

At the time of publication (January 2023), Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was seeking more ways to criminalise protest.

Listen carefully and you'll hear how the protest gradually moves from a 'classic' scenario of tensions between those 'for and against' the coalmine to constructive conversations between the two parties as they hammer out the issues.

Like me, you'll hear opinions that you do and don't agree with. But what did I learn that cold December day? That the two parties are actually more unified than we realise.

Our perceived divisions are often completely fabricated by the state to set people against one another. As Hazel Graham says in her speech, we would be so much more powerful and greater in number if we could overcome those false divisions and unite.

Perceived divisions were healed that day and it was very moving to be a part of it in some small way.

Cumbrian Coalmine Protest: Conversation No.2 [CLIP]

Conversation between Tom (a local), Tom (from XR) and Jack Lowe (me), a clip from the full length recording in this playlist.

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10th December 2022: What's it really like to be at an environmental protest? The divisions may not be as strong as the media and government would have us believe!

I travelled with Extinction Rebellion North East to join Friends of the Earth and other campaigners to protest about the proposed Cumbrian coalmine just outside Whitehaven, and made this recording as the conversations unfolded.

At the time of the protest, Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove had just given the green light for the coalmine to go ahead, the first time this has happened in over 30 years.

At the time of publication (January 2023), Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was seeking more ways to criminalise protest.

Listen carefully and you'll hear how the protest gradually moves from a 'classic' scenario of tensions between those 'for and against' the coalmine to constructive conversations between the two parties as they hammer out the issues.

Like me, you'll hear opinions that you do and don't agree with. But what did I learn that cold December day? That the two parties are actually more unified than we realise.

Our perceived divisions are often completely fabricated by the state to set people against one another. As Hazel Graham says in her speech, we would be so much more powerful and greater in number if we could overcome those false divisions and unite.

Perceived divisions were healed that day and it was very moving to be a part of it in some small way.

Cumbrian Coalmine Protest: Conversation No.1 [CLIP]

22nd December 2023: We've been lucky enough to have a handful of starlings hanging out in our garden lately.

We just love them. Their sounds, mimicry and sheer visual beauty.

Yet many aren't aware that they're an endangered species. At current rates of decline, they could soon be gone from our skies altogether.

That will be a tragedy. Indeed, their crashing population is already a tragedy.

Check out this page on the BTO's to see the disturbing long-term trend of starlings in the UK:

https://data.bto.org/trends_explorer/?species=Starling

So, on a blustery December day, I felt the need to record them while they're still here chattering in our rose bush.

Listen out for the starlings mimicking blackbirds and magpies. Truly extraordinary.

The traffic on the central motorway can be heard rumbling away in the background along with the stormy winds blowing through the streets and gardens.

I hope this recording helps to remind people of the beauty right under our noses and how we must do our utmost to aid ecological survival...please share it far and wide!

The Endangered Starlings In Our Garden

1 April 2022: A chat with New Brighton RNLI lifeboat volunteer Mike Jones about his portrait on a gable end in his local town, recorded as part of The Lifeboat Station Project by Jack Lowe.

Read more here: https://lifeboatstationproject.com/new-brighton-revisited/

New Brighton's Lifeboat Mural

March 2022: A guided tour of Hoylake RNLI's state-of-the-art Shannon class lifeboat with Coxswain Howie Owen and retired Coxswain Davy Dodd.

Hoylake RNLI: Guided Tour of a Shannon Class Lifeboat

An audio version of this blog post: https://jacklowe.com/2025/07/15/have-you-clocked-the-white-hot-silvery-sunshine/

Have You Clocked The White Hot Silvery Sunshine?

"Beautiful isn’t it? How would you get better than that? The little growl on her. Lovely." ~ Brendan Copeland, Wicklow Station Mechanic, after listening to this  special recording by Jack Lowe, creator of The Lifeboat Station Project.

The last operational RNLI Tyne class lifeboat, Annie Blaker, ON1153, taking a short trip out of Wicklow harbour on 26th March 2019 before returning to the station to be recovered on the slipway.

Complete with commentary by Deputy 2nd Coxswain Ciaran Doyle, this recording documents a truly historical moment on the RNLI timeline.

TECHNICAL NOTES:

For those who would like to know, this recording was made using a DPA 4007 microphone plugged into my iPhone 7 Plus via the DPA d:vice MM-A digital audio interface. The mic was housed inside a Bubblebee Industries Windkiller.

Recorded on the iPhone using Hindenburg and edited on a MacBook Pro using Hindenburg Journalist.

With thanks to Ingram AV for loaning the microphone to record such loud engines!

End of an Era: The Wicklow Tyne Class Lifeboat, Annie Blaker, ON1153

Saturday 25 April 2020: This morning, I got up early to record the dawn chorus for the first time as part of Ambient Isolation's lockdown sound project for International Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday 3 May.

I've included the finished piece in my Dawn Chorus playlist. It was also published on the Ambient Isolation website where you can find out more details...

https://www.ambientisolation.com/dawn.html

...listen out for my contribution at the 22 minute mark!

Contributors were asked to record from 5-7am on 25 April and then submit "the most interesting minute".

However, when I examined the final recording, I realised the strongest part of this morning's dawn chorus coincidentally lasted for exactly one hour, so that's what I've prepared for you here.

If you're feeling cooped up, I hope it helps to soothe the head and the heart by bringing a little bit of nature into your room.

The full length recording will take you on quite a sonic journey, an hour long story with a beginning, middle and end. It starts off very quietly and gradually becomes stronger before tailing off towards the end when you'll hear the first cars passing on the main road nearby.

I'll also be sharing my three shortlisted clips here, so look out for those too.

Enjoy!

Ambient Isolation: Dawn Chorus [Full Version]

Friday 13 March 2020: While working in Plymouth, the 149th lifeboat station on my journey and the penultimate before the COVID-19 lockdown, the squeaking and creaking of the lifeboat's fenders formed a permanent aural backdrop.

Before leaving, I couldn't resist putting my microphones right next to one of the fenders to make this recording. I held one mic and naval historian Iain Ballantyne held the other!

I then used this clip to close the recent podcast featuring the conversation with Plymouth Coxswain, Dave Milford. 

The recording stirred a lot of interest in its own right, so I've made this standalone clip for you all to enjoy.

If you'd like to listen to the full 40 minute podcast, you can hear it in the Members' Area of The LSP Society — a place where a community of kind people are pledging whatever they feel comfortable with from £1 per month to help fund my project.

If you'd like to join them, here's the link you need: lifeboatstationproject.com/society

I've also shared two previews of the podcast right here on SoundCloud in my 'Sounds from the Coast' playlist.

Sounds from the Coast: Sonic Portrait of a Lifeboat Fender No.1

Thursday 16th July 2020: As always, good quality headphones or speakers recommended to fully enjoy this soundscape made where the River Tyne meets the North Sea.

Listen out for the terns and gulls, and the freighter that entering the port midway through.

The Mouth of the River Tyne

“Is anybody else coming in that could relieve me of this fate?” — Mark Mitchell, Portrush RNLI

When he was just 22 years old, Portrush RNLI Deputy Coxswain Mark Mitchell was on board the lifeboat when an iconic photograph was made by Iain Watson.

30 years on, I spoke to Mark about what it felt like to go to sea in those horrendous conditions.

Hear the full 17 minute recording in the Members' Area of The LSP Society: https://lifeboatstationproject.com/society/

Postcards from the Coast: Mark Mitchell, Portrush RNLI Deputy Coxswain [PREVIEW]

Wednesday 27th January 2021: Lockdown 3.0 is nowhere near as quiet as Lockdown 1.0, particularly in our back yard. Listen out for our chickens peacefully pecking away at their food and a myriad of other feathered friends flitting about the neighbourhood, all set against the background hum of city life.

A bit like lockdown itself, this recording is a little bit long and repetitive but with some nice details along the way. Gentle listening nonetheless.

As always, good quality headphones or speakers recommended to fully enjoy the sonic experience.

Yard Life

Lockdown 3.0: Yard Life

“Nobody makes an appointment for us” — Dupre Strutt, Kirkwall RNLI

16 June 2016: This is very much a recording of two parts. The first takes us to the 18 minute mark when I thank Dupre because I think the conversation has reached a natural conclusion.

However, he became a little more relaxed after that point so we kept the tape rolling and learned even more.

You’ll hear Dupre rewind the clock to the very beginning. By the end, I can’t help but feel that we’ve really learned so much about what it takes to live and breathe the lifeboat life.

You’ll also hear the moments in which the importance of the lifeboat mechanic's role became galvanised for me, the point from which I decided to include them in the project wherever possible: lifeboatstationproject.com/mechanics

Listen to the full 29 minute recording in the Members' Area of The LSP Society: lifeboatstationproject.com/society

Postcards from the Coast: Dupre Strutt, Kirkwall RNLI Station Mechanic [PREVIEW]

Active Messenger in The Metacrisis, creator of The Lifeboat Station Project

Jack Lowe

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