Sound Assembly
You don’t need to know what you’re doing to make music. Sound Assembly brings curious adults together in Cambridge for four guided, hands-on sessions, making space for the experiments you might not try on your own.
Part of Night Sweats Music, a creative practice spanning music & cultural projects, hosted spaces & creative experiments.
Why
Sound Assembly grows out of the youth music workshops I run regularly in Cambridge, where some of the best ideas come from a room of people listening and experimenting together.
A record, a rhythm or a stray sound is enough to start. From there we follow it as a group, with no pressure to get it right and no need to know the gear.
What to expect
- Listening together and talking about what you hear: rhythm, texture, mood
- Simple prompts and demonstrations from a host who guides the session
- Hands-on experiments around shared music-making setups
- Group decisions about where a sound or idea goes next
No musical ability or personal equipment needed. You'll leave with new ways of listening and making, more creative confidence, and a few new music-loving connections, rather than a finished track of your own.
Who it's for
Music lovers & record collectors
You listen deeply and are curious about how the music you love is put together.
Absolute beginners
You'd like a way into making music, with no experience, instrument or laptop needed.
Curious adults
You enjoy trying something unfamiliar in good company, without pressure to get it right.
Aspiring music-makers
You've dabbled, and want fresh approaches and people to bounce ideas off.
Programme
- 01Thu 19 Nov 2026
Find Your Sound
Share the music that moves you and listen for rhythm, mood and texture, then choose together the ideas worth starting from.
- 02Thu 26 Nov 2026
Play With Sound
Everyone contributes sounds (sampling, loops, found sounds and rhythms) on shared setups, and we see what turns up.
- 03Thu 10 Dec 2026
Make It Real
Shape sounds through repetition, contrast and arrangement, making the musical decisions as a group.
- 04Thu 17 Dec 2026
Listen, Shape & Share
Listen back to what we’ve explored, discuss what works and try different directions to see how small decisions can transform a piece, leaving with new approaches to developing ideas and the urge to keep experimenting.
Details & pricing
Logistics
- Thursday evenings, 7–8:30pm
- Newnham Croft Social & Sports Club, Cambridge
- Up to 8 places
Recommended
£140
Four-session pass (£35 / session)
£140 + £3 booking fee
£143 including booking fee
Reserves your place across all four dates.
Drop-in
£40
Single session
£40 + £1 booking fee
£41 including booking fee
Single session places subject to availability.
Secure booking and payment are handled through Ticket Tailor, with payment processed via Stripe.
FAQ
Do I need experience?
No. You don't need production experience or to play an instrument.
Do I need equipment?
No. You don't need to bring any music gear, because we work around shared setups. Practical details for joining are sent to everyone who books before their session.
Will I make my own track?
Not as such. These are shared, collaborative sessions: you'll contribute sounds and ideas, help make decisions and sometimes try things yourself where practical. We might end up with one shared piece, several experiments, or simply new ways of hearing and making music, but there's no guaranteed personal recording to take home.
Can I attend just one session?
Yes, subject to availability. The four evenings follow a loose arc, but each works on its own as a drop-in.
How do I book?
Choose Book all 4 sessions or Book 1 session below the prices. Both open the same Ticket Tailor event in a new tab, where you select your tickets and review the total before paying.
How many people will be there?
Up to 8 places per session, keeping things small, relaxed and hands-on.
About
I'm Dave Rendle, a musician, producer and selector who has spent more than 20 years making, selecting and sharing music, and founder of Night Sweats Music. I also DJ and release music as Hazards of Prophecy, and run recurring youth music workshops in Cambridge.
Sound Assembly is guided but informal: I bring prompts, demonstrations and the shared tools, and the group brings the ideas. It's about bringing the conditions and people together so that ideas can turn into sound: Curate · Create · Guide · Gather.