Outdoor performance brand Merrell has completed the UK’s first club night that was ‘powered entirely by trail running data’.
Called ‘Trail Sonified’, the running x clubbing experience took place at the weekend in an underground car park on the edge of the Lake District in North West England, delivering a fusion of music, movement, and mountain culture.
Merrell, an outdoor performance brand, noted that the event blended the energy of the outdoors with underground rave culture. The event brought together runners, ravers, and festival-goers for an immersive audio experience shaped by the UK’s trail community.
In the lead-up to the event, Merrell collected running data from run crews across the UK. Runners contributed key performance metrics, such as pace, elevation, distance, and heart rate, while wearing the Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx shoe.
This data was then translated into beats, textures, and rhythmic patterns through a process of ‘data sonification’.
Merrell added… ‘On the night, this physical data powered the decks, forming a setlist built on the trails. Headlined by outdoor-driven creative and DJ Advanced Rock, with support from Berwick, the event delivered a sonic journey shaped by the effort and spirit of runners from across the UK.’
Simon Sweeney, Marketing Manager at Merrell, said “Trail Sonified was a manifestation of what happens when movement and music intersect. The energy in the room proved just how connected we are to the environments we move through, and how those environments can inspire the culture we create.”
The club night formed part of Kendal Mountain Festival, an institution at the heart of UK outdoor culture, with Trail Sonified seen as a new step in blending performance, creativity, and community.
www.merrell.com
www.kendalmountainfestival.com
