Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd September
Join us at Rockaway for our biggest event of the year, featuring a stunning mix of art installations, exhibitions, workshops, open studios, creative activities for children, live music, performances, film, Q&As, vegan food and more!
For a taster of RAW, check out the video highlights from last year's event:
Packed with incredible art, music, film, and community vibes,
daytime entry Saturday and Sunday, is FREE!
Explore stunning art displays, enjoy delicious vegan food, and experience the unique atmosphere of Rockaway Park, where art is king.
“It’s like Disneyland meets Scrapheap Challenge.” VICE Magazine
(NB: There is no overnight camping available at Rockaway Park for this event)
Friday 20th September 6.30pm - 10pm
We kick off the weekend with an epic live performance by one-man rock 'n' roll sensation, Cam Cole, supported by the savage folk sounds of Arthur Buezo.
Hailed as “the most impressive one-man band you will ever see,” Cam Cole blends Folk, Delta Blues, Grunge, and Rock 'n' Roll into an unforgettable live performance. From busking on the streets to international tours, Cam’s show has evolved into a fully-fledged rock 'n' roll circus that’s sure to captivate the audience.
(Photo Credit: dontmakemeshootyou)
Arthur Buezo is a one-man band who mesmerises audiences with his deep, edgy voice and rustic, soulful performance. With a career spanning over a decade, Arthur’s raw energy and storytelling make for a compelling live experience.
For a taste of both these incredible performers, check out the videos below!
Saturday 21st September 12pm - 5pm & 6.30pm - 10pm
Join us for some incredible open studios, workshops, exhibitions, installations and vegan food during the day, 12pm - 5pm.
Saturday night, 6.30pm - 10pm, there's an exciting mix of DJs with
the mighty Ray Mighty (Sledgehead Bristol) joining us to create stunning musical sensations for your aural pleasure! Credited with pioneering the ‘Bristol sound’ that spawned bands like Massive Attack and Portishead (Smith & Mighty), expect a delicious set of crossover tunes that will blow you away.
Alongside Ray, we have the wonderful Jane & Gabe, as well as DJ Dad, who, 50 years in, is still fresh and buying new tunes daily to play at clubs and festivals.
Plus, there's stunning illuminations, like Paka the Uncredible’s fire show and Jack Wimperis’s light art, as well as delicious vegan food, a bar and the Rockaway firepit.
Entry is £5 on the door, with proceeds supporting a good cause, plus Rockaway’s ongoing community work. We look forward to you joining us for what promises to be another magical evening of art, music, food and creative community vibes!
Sunday 22nd September 12pm - 4pm & 4.30pm - 8pm
Open studios, art demos, workshops, exhibitions, installations and delicious vegan Sunday roasts, 12pm - 4pm. Followed by a very special ticketed event - a screening of Ken Loach's film 'The Old Oak,' 4.30pm - 8pm.
Ken’s latest masterpiece explores the complexities of community, resilience, and hope in a rapidly changing world. Check out the trailer below for a taster.
We’re also honoured that Ken Loach will be joining us in person for an introduction and intimate Q&A session, offering insights into the making of the film, his inspirations, and the powerful themes that run through his work.
The Q&A will be hosted by the awesome Steve Lake, guiding the conversation, and diving deep into the storytelling craft of one of the most influential filmmakers of our time.
RAW Guest Artists
Below is info about some of the fantastic artists joining us for the weekend.
Giles Walker
Giles Walker has been building sculpture for the last 27 years. As a full-time member of the guerrilla-art group, The Mutoid Waste Company, he started building sculptures from materials found in scrapyards as the collective travelled around Europe.
In the mid-90s, he introduced basic motors into his sculptures and his work became kinetic. He plays with the relationship between technology and the human being, and the ever-dissolving boundary that separates man from machine. His ‘machines’ often allude to the underbelly of the human obsession with increased technology; the displaced and redundant.
Paka the Uncredible
Simon Collins, also known as Paka, is a unique interdisciplinary artist who creates spectacular and engrossing performance from a mix of large-scale mechanical sculpture, digital media, special effects, dramatic characters, circus skills, puppetry, and audience involvement.
He’s worked extensively in Europe and the UK for 25 years, both collaborating and producing his own solo work. His individual hybrid art-form has been developed and influenced by circus performers, such as Archaos, and the edgy, daring and dangerous traditions of European spectacular street theatre and festivals. Traditions which have also spawned contemporary companies such as Mutoid Waste, La Fura dels Baus, Derevo & the infamous DNTT, of which Paka was a founding member and Artistic Director,1989 -1997.
W.O.T.W
W.O.T.W (Wankers of the World) is a London-based satirical artist creating provocative and often hilarious works. He gained notoriety in 2017 with a range of prostitute advertisement cards portraying right-wing politicians, followed in 2018 by a saucy video installation in a Soho shop window depicting Boris Johnson and Donald Trump dancing provocatively.
He's also undertaken various interventions, including adding subversive Prince Andrew souvenir mugs into the Buckingham Palace shop and leaving abusive Philip Green T-shirts in Topshop. His work, Churchill Fiver Reboot, was recently taken into the permanent collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum and shown as part of Defaced! - an exhibition exploring money and protest.
Liam O'Farrell
Influenced by the painters L. S. Lowry and Stanley Spencer, alongside Walter Sickert and the narratives of William Hogarth, Liam prefers to work in front of the subject if possible: “You can capture so much more in the moment and space – I also get to chat to passers-by who feed into my work with rich stories and fascinating conversation. For me, working purely in the studio would be like painting through a letter box.”
Liam has exhibited at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition on several occasions, as well as annual open exhibitions at The Mall Galleries for The Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, The New English Art Club, The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, The Royal Society of British Artist, and The Royal Society of Marine Artists.
Extensively published, his work has featured in The Guardian, The Times, Tatler and many art magazines, including Artists & Illustrators, and Paint & Draw.
Kate Chidley
Kate is a Somerset-based artist, renowned for her vibrant and imaginative depictions of the Glastonbury Festival, which will be the focus of her upcoming art exhibition. Her work is deeply influenced by her personal experiences at the festival, where she’s been a regular attendee. Her paintings are celebrated for their bright colours, intricate details, and the ability to capture the unique atmosphere of Glastonbury. Rather than simply depicting the festival's iconic stages and landscapes, Kate's art evokes the joy, community, and freedom that define the Glastonbury experience, making her work resonate deeply with both festival-goers and art enthusiasts alike.
In addition to her Glastonbury-themed pieces, Kate is also known for her 'Castles in the Sky' series, which showcases fantastical castles floating amidst clouds. Her work continues to inspire and delight, preserving the magic and memories of Glastonbury through her unique artistic lens. Kate's exhibition will offer a chance for audiences to immerse themselves in her enchanting interpretations of the festival, celebrating its spirit in a new and visually captivating way.
Getting up to Stuff
Tim Floyd, a Bristol-based sculptor, is gaining recognition for his inventive and socially conscious works, which are now prominently featured throughout the city. Cleverly blending humour with deeper themes, he reimagines everyday objects and public spaces, encouraging viewers to engage with their surroundings in new and unexpected ways. One of his standout pieces, ‘Bear With Me,’ is part of a series of installations placed around Bristol. Each one challenges the public to reconsider the ordinary and explore the nuances of consumerism, identity, and the human condition.
Floyd’s ability to transform familiar environments with his art has established him as a significant figure in Bristol's contemporary art scene.
PLUS
Rockaway Artists & Open Studios
Our amazing Rockaway Artists will be opening their studio doors over the weekend for visitors to look around, with some artists offering workshops. For info about each artist, including links to their website or social media, just click on the relevant gallery image.
Demian Bellaart
Artistic Blacksmith
Liz Buckfield
Mixed Media Artist
Billy Colours
Visual Artist
Carry on Screening
Ethical Screen Printers & Designers
Ben Ford
Stained Glass Artist
Get Rowdy
Street Artist & Painter