DMLab Colchester - October: Hackathon Day

An all-day session where you can explore and create prototypes of new accessible musical instruments. Come along and collaborate with our friendly community!

Everyone is welcome whether you are a complete beginner or super experiened in music or tech.

This session might be of particular interest if you:

-Enjoy creating and tinkering.

-Have an interest in music and/ or technology.

-Are D/deaf, Disabled or Neurodivergent and looking for accessible ways to make music.

-You are looking for accessible music-making tools for a person or community you support.

Please get in touch with [email protected] or let us know on your ticket booking if there is anything particular you would like to create or explore in this session. You can bring your own idea or we'll have lots of ideas and materials to help you get started. This might be a particular access barrier you are facing, or an idea for something you would like to create in the session.

Please note attendees must be aged 18+

DMLab aims to address access barriers to music-making. We have our key accessibility information listed below, but please get in touch with [email protected] if you have any queries relating to access, or if there are any adjustments we can make for you to attend.

An easyread version of the information is available .

Each month the community bring their musicality, ideas, innovations, dreams, specific access needs and technical know-how. From this, amazing new musical instruments and projects will be conceived and developed. Each session will be different, from presentations to jam sessions, hack-a-thons to workshops, all of which will be led by the community.

These friendly get togethers are about coming up with, building and sharing new projects and music. New people are always welcome to join and be part of making music accessible.

DMLab is for musicians and makers. We use the word disabled as we are disabled-led however you do not need to identify as disabled to join us. Everyone is welcome and we will be led by our members who experience access barriers, including people who are Deaf, Blind, Disabled, Neurodivergent, or who have a condition, impairment or chronic illness.

DMLab Colchester takes place at Firstsite, Colchester. There is step-free, level access throughout the building and 4 accessible parking spaces are available outside the main entrance on a first come, first served basis. There is also an additional drop-off area.

Assistance dogs are welcome, and there is a hearing loop available. There are several disabled access toilets in the building, and there will be seating available at the event.

There will be plenty of opportunity to take breaks and you are very welcome to attend for the length of time that works for you.

There is space to let us know of any specific access needs when you book. Alternatively, please get in touch if you would like to to discuss further or need any more information at: [email protected]
Further details about venue accessibility can be found on the Firstsite website.

About DMLab Colchester

DMLab Colchester is an exciting collaboration between CLIP and Drake Music. Since November 2025, we've been hosting monthly meet ups bringing together an inclusive community of makers and musicians on a regular basis, to support the development of new accessible musical instruments.

DMLab Colchester is an inclusive, community-led space for musicians and creative technologists, disabled and nondisabled, to create, hack instruments, jam & explore new ways to make music. All experience levels are welcome. If you have any questions please contact [email protected].

Info: We'll start with a welcome and initial chat and then get started on coming up ideas and the first steps of making your instrument prototypes.

Info: Experiment and refine your creations, ending with the opportunity to share what you've created!

Event venue & nearby stays

Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, Colchester, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

Get the app →