Our Cov

The circular market hall has held a prominent and central focal point in Coventry’s architectural landscape for over 60 years. So in this soundscape, we slip inside to visit on an ordinary Monday morning in January. As we weave our way around the building for a full 360 tour, we enjoy listening in to the locals and traders’ passing exchanges and purchases.It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.Sound design by Clare Freeman, opening music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.

There’s been a bus station in Coventry since way before the second world war. But it’s had many guises. Now known as Pool Meadow, it’s become a vibrant transport hub for travellers to access all corners of the city.But first we begin over the road in Priory Place - the now underground site of a mediaeval cathedral, once excavated by Tony Robinson and Channel 4’s Time Team programme. There’s no diggers in sight today - just the tranquillity of the birds in a quieter, greener corner of the city centre.It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.

Behind the Sherbourne Fields School is a path leading to Coundon Wedge Drive and Allesley village. Listen closely and we can hear the hum of the rush hour traffic in the distance. This time, we twist and turn walking along the river’s path, with the leaves and twigs crunching under our feet, taking in the birds and wildlife surrounding us on the outskirts of the city. We open and close the gates, and nod our head to a passing dog walker.It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.Sound design by Clare Freeman, opening music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.

Once home to Sir Frank Whittle, the pioneer of the jet engine and a hotspot for the watchmakers of Coventry, Earlsdon is littered with beautiful architecture and historical secrets. Yet today it’s a simple weekday morning as we walk along Earlsdon High street - pass the shops, pubs and workmen - towards a noisy hedge on Albany Road, with some tweeting visitors. The cars and buses pass us none the wiser.It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.Sound design by Clare Freeman, opening music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.

As 12 o’clock strikes, the Broadgate clock sees Lady Godiva appear whilst an ogling Peeping Tom looks on from above. Back in the city centre, we continue where we finished on episode four. We turn 180 degrees and walk across Broadgate, past the towering marble statue of Earl Leofric’s wife. We pay thanks to the accordion player outside Primark and head past the bus stops along The Burgess.It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.Sound design by Clare Freeman, opening music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.

On the south west of the city, turning off the A45, just a stone’s throw from the main campus of the ironically named University of Warwick, is Canley. On this episode, we’re not far from the birthplace of the late political activist Sir Henry Parkes - a staunch advocate for improving the conditions of the working classes. We’re inside Cannon Park Shopping Centre.If we listen closely, we catch snippets of multiple languages from the shoppers wandering past. Our thoughts are interrupted often by the sound of yet another Tesco trolley, as we sit opposite the opticians and let the world pass us by. It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.Sound design by Clare Freeman, opening music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.

We’re back in the city centre in this episode, beside the central circular fountain where both precincts meet with Market Way and Smithford Way. We follow the water, taking in the poetry on the floor titled ‘Weaving Coventry’ towards the Upper Precinct fountains, drop a pound in the pot of the saxophonist busker and head towards the Lady Godiva statue in Broadgate.It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.Sound design by Clare Freeman, opening music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.

Once a part of the Forest of Arden, Limbrick Woods is one of several woodlands that still exist amongst the housing estates in Tile Hill. If you were driving past, you could blink and miss it. Wondering where it is? It’s just a stone's throw from Jardine Crescent. Take a few minutes out to listen to the birds and the wind above you, to your side, in front and behind…It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.Sound design by Clare Freeman, opening music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.

It’s cold and cloudy in Riley Square. Shoppers are headed to the supermarket, a child zips about on his bike, people are sipping coffee outside the cafe, and there’s even an event outside the library today.Riley Square was once one of the hottest shopping destinations of the city, but some say it’s become grey and dreary, it’s often forgotten and overlooked. We’ve included Bell Green in our soundscape series to remind people that Riley Square is still standing, and there’s still life in the old dog yet…It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.Sound design by Clare Freeman, opening music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.

In our first episode of the Our Cov soundscape series we begin by standing not far from the steps of The Herbert Art Gallery. We’re looking across University Square towards the sculpture of St Michael and the Devil, as skateboarders move around us. Soon a tour guide interrupts our thoughts with an “over here please”, ushering us to shift our gaze towards the cathedrals. We skip ahead of them to follow some students, taking the steps up along St Michael’s Way as a workman sweeps the steps and builders continue in the distance at St Mary’s Guildhall. We close the soundscape with the tunes played by accordionist Andrew, on route towards Holy Trinity Church.It’s not compulsory, but these soundscapes are best listened to while wearing headphones! All conversations are authentic and real. The recordings were captured using a binaural microphone between January and April 2022. You can also hear these soundscapes in the accompanying storyteller episodes in our first series.Sound design by Clare Freeman, opening music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.

From reading aloud at school to writing poetry for the stage; thanks to Coventry City of Culture, 15 year old Hawwa is city’s first ever young poet laureate!Having played a part in Little Amal’s visit to the city and the 60th anniversary of Coventry’s Cathedral production ‘Ghost in the Ruins’, Hawwa shares her amazement at escaping the classroom to get a taste of the real arts and cultural world. Her ethos? Is simply that “poetry is for everyone”.Hawwa lives in the Stoke area of the city, and goes to school in Hillfields. Yet in this episode of Our Cov Podcast, we walk with her amongst the boutiques and market stalls of Coventry’s creative quarter - Fargo Village.This episode includes an illustrated reading of Hawwa's poem simply titled: ‘Coventry’. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.Sound design and exec producer: Clare Freeman. Assistant producer: Holly Close.Features music by Mintakaa. You can hear their songs on Spotify. Thanks for listening, and if you like what you’ve heard - tell a friend!

Sorrelle grew up in Coventry in the 1970s and 1980s. She begins by reminding us how it used to be.These days, Sorrelle plays a key role in developing the city’s libraries. Over the last year, her job has grown and expanded more than she could ever imagine.Gone are the days of silent spaces and shushing, now Coventry Libraries are a space for art and community, with bigger and bolder ambition supported by the City of Culture’s producers.If you’re wondering where exactly we are whilst recording - then picture us starting sat on a bench at the top of City Arcade (once home to a bird cage!). We move through the neighbouring alleyways, pass the market, through the precincts, head towards West Orchard Shopping Centre and finish standing in front of the Central Library (the former Locarno ballroom). ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.Sound design and exec producer: Clare Freeman. Assistant producer: Holly Close.Features music by Mintakaa. You can hear their songs on Spotify.Thanks for listening, and if you like what you’ve heard - tell a friend!

Until a few months ago, Lawrence was a school teacher. But his voluntary work with the City of Culture as a City Host made him think twice about the direction his career was headed. Now, he’s leaving the classroom behind to work with the local police force.As we revisit Spencer Park, a place Sky Blues fan Lawrence found solace walking through during the pandemic, he reflects on the new connections he’s made and how the last year has given him confidence to reawaken his own artistic ventures. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.Sound design and exec producer: Clare Freeman. Assistant producer: Holly Close.Features music by Mintakaa. You can hear their songs on Spotify. Thanks for listening, and if you like what you’ve heard - tell a friend!

12 years ago Last and her son arrived in Coventry, homeless, seeking refuge. They eventually found a new home in Bannerbrook Park, the former home of Massey Ferguson. But Last admits she was reluctant to embrace the city at first.After witnessing pain, anguish and sorrow living in hostels with fellow asylum seekers, Last went on to graduate with the University of Warwick and set up her own company - Inini, which this year has been supported by Coventry City of Culture.In this episode, over a cup of coffee, we come back to where it started for Last in Coventry - at a social supermarket and food bank, and a venue close to her heart - Foleshill Community Centre.For more about Inini, visit inini.co.uk ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.Sound design and exec producer: Clare Freeman. Assistant producer: Holly Close.Features music by Mintakaa. You can hear their songs on Spotify.Thanks for listening, and if you like what you’ve heard - tell a friend!

Hayley and her family have always visited The Herbert Art Gallery. Yet until she was commissioned by the City of Culture, she never considered herself as an artist.Her home may be Warwick, but Hayley’s creative heart has long been in Coventry - a place she feels she can truly be herself.Now with the support of the Coventry City of Culture producers, she’s found a space where she belongs. A space where regardless of her ADHD and neuro-divergent diagnosis, her ideas and creativity are accepted and celebrated.Find out more about Hayley’s work at alittlebitdistracted.com‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.Sound design and exec producer: Clare Freeman. Assistant producer: Holly Close.Features music by Mintakaa. You can hear their songs on Spotify.Thanks for listening, and if you like what you’ve heard - tell a friend!

Primary school teacher Duncan reflects on what culture means to him and how that perception has changed after playing a leading part in the City of Culture production ‘Symphony of Us’; a project that truly celebrated Coventry's diversity.It’s in these newly formed connections with strangers that’s given him great pride for his hometown, a platform to share his story and a curiosity to do more in the local community moving forward.In this episode of the Our Cov podcast, we follow Duncan to Canley’s Cannon Park Shopping Centre, a part of the city that he’s always called home and now as a married gay man - his safe space.‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.Sound design and exec producer: Clare Freeman. Assistant producer: Holly Close. Features music by Mintakaa. You can hear their songs on Spotify. Thanks for listening, and if you like what you’ve heard - tell a friend!

Grab your headphones and take a walk with a new friend. Explore Coventry through the eyes and ears of the ordinary folk of the city, and hear how their lives have been transformed throughout Coventry’s City of Culture year.6 storytellers. 10 soundscapes.Poetry. Music. And real life inspiration.Just like this…This is Our Cov.Available from May - wherever you get your podcasts.Poetry by Hawwa Hussain, theme music by Mintakaa. ‘Our Cov’ podcast series is a Coventry City of Culture Trust commission, created and produced by A Small Furry Bear Productions.