ROCKAWAY PARK EVENTS
Like everything else, our events are unique, and here is where you'll find all the info, as well as any booking links. If you're a band or performer who would like to play at Rockaway, check out the Performing at Rockaway Park section at the bottom of the page.
For a taster of our events, here's a couple of short videos to give you an idea.
Somerset Arts Week Launch & Gig
Sunday Market, Music & Vegan Roast
Parking at Rockaway for Events
Please be aware that when it's been raining heavily, the parking field at Rockaway can become water-logged. This means we will only have parking available on site for disabled visitors. When the field is unusable, we'll issue any important updates to online ticket holders via email, as well as update this page and our social media channels.
For all our events, ticketed or free, we'd like everyone to try and do their bit for the environment by using public transport, taking a taxi, or car sharing wherever possible. If you'd like a little exercise, you can also park in the nearby village of Temple Cloud and walk to Rockaway, but please
DON'T PARK ON EASTCOURT ROAD.
It's too narrow and we need to have emergency vehicle access at all times.
The 376 bus stops at the end of our road, at Cameley Road Surgery (Temple Cloud).
This bus comes from Bristol, Wells, Glastonbury and many other locations. You can find the full bus timetable below, and thank you for planning your journey to Rockaway.
We really appreciate it.
A handy PDF map with the best route to reach us by car, plus a map of the 5-minute walk from Temple Cloud village to Rockaway across the field, can be downloaded below.
OUR EVENTS
March Sunday Session
Sunday 9th March, 12pm - 4pm
Vegan Roasts, Open Studios, Arts Market, Open Mic & More...
Join us for an unforgettable Sunday at Rockaway where you can check out our open studios and the Rockaway shop, crammed with artwork and other goodies, or browse a fantastic arts market, offering everything from recycled clothing to handcrafted jewellery and mouthwatering condiments.
We're also providing an Open Mic slot at our Sunday Sessions, instead of live music, to give local performers and musicians a chance to entertain the crowd. So, expect a few surprises... More info about a regular Open Mic slot outside our Sunday Sessions will follow soon.
The wonderful Sarah and Tracey from Normal Magic will be on hand offering free mental health advice, as well as their free drop-in family sensory workshop in the Rockaway Classroom, 11.30am - 1.30pm. Inspirational and fun, swing by to explore how we can use our senses to balance our emotional wellbeing and protect our mental health. They will be joined by Dan, Rockaway's lovely safeguarding expert and bargee. So, if you're worried about the safety of someone you care about, or you're looking for some free advice on how to access family support, Dan is your man - all anonymous and off-grid!
You won't want to miss our delicious vegan roasts either, but remember, they must be booked in advance by 7pm on Friday 7th March to help us avoid food waste.
Details about roast options for adults and children, plus some delicious extras, are now available on our Vegan Café page!
Our Sunday Sessions are free to attend, with a £5 fee for each vehicle if the Parking Field is operational. Any donations that you're able to make - from spare change or a couple of quid to more - will help us continue providing live music at our Sunday events, as well as support our ongoing projects, and is very much appreciated.
Thank you. We look forward to you joining us!
Rockaway Climate Café
Sunday 9th March, 1.30pm - 3pm
We're delighted that Ben Anthony and Martha Kenyon, from the Bristol Climate Café Collective, will be joining us for another free session in the new Rockaway Gallery next to the Chapel of Unrest. Open to anyone over 18-years old, this Climate Café will provide a supportive space where people concerned about climate change and the ecological crisis can express their feelings and hear from others.
Climate and ecological breakdown is a real threat to our health and wellbeing, and we need to talk about how these changes affect us, our families, friends and wider society. Sometimes it's hard to talk about these things because they can bring up difficult feelings. A Climate Café provides an opportunity to talk in a safe and supportive space.
There are no special guests or speeches, and nobody gives advice. Participants will just listen to each other and share their own experiences with Martha and Ben, who are trained and experienced facilitators, who will take part in the discussion as well.
So, grab a coffee or tea from the Vegan Café and head to the Gallery at about 1.20pm. There's room for about a dozen people, so once the space is full, the door will be closed for privacy.
Rave On For The Avon
Film Screening + Q&A
Sunday 25th May, 5pm - 8pm
Rated ★★★★ by The Guardian
"Campaigning never looked so fun and friendly as it does in this joyous documentary about Bristol’s clean water campaigners"
Read the review HERE!
We’re thrilled that Rockaway is showing this fantastic film about people-powered community, courage, caring and creativity!
Do humans have the right to nature? In Rave On For The Avon, Director Charlotte Sawyer tells the story of a community of wild swimmers in Bristol affected by raw sewage pollution of the river Avon. England is one of the only two countries in the world to have a fully privatised water and sewage disposal system, and with only 14% of English rivers in good ecological health, the mission to keep the rivers clean is not going well.
In a series of moving, exciting and thought-provoking scenes, the swimmers create a stunning, light-hearted yet fascinating tapestry, probing how activism starts from the grassroots, and carries a profound universal lesson for all of us. There’s a marriage to the river, drum’n’bass, a mermaid who tows an inflatable turd, and a whole lot of cheesecake in this poignant reflection on people’s innovative battles for the natural world they cherish.
For a taste, check out the trailer below.
This exciting film screening is followed by a Q&A with the Rave On community, where you can learn about the journey of the film, and hear first-hand from those involved in the movement. If you've got concerns about your own local waters, this is an ideal opportunity to learn how to take action with a hopeful film that shows how we all have the power to create change!
The Vegan Café will be serving delicious home-made vegan roasts as part of our May Sunday Session, 12pm - 4pm. So, why not book a roast and have a lovely feast before watching the film? Details of the roast options, as well as details about the Sunday Session will be available in April.
In the meantime, you'll need to book your film tickets via Headfirst Bristol to ensure you don't miss out. The screening will take place in our Main Shed at 5pm and seating is limited. So, click below to book your ticket!
UNREST - DIY Punk All Dayer
Saturday 2nd August, 1pm - 11pm
Bristol-based promotions group, Shitty Futures (SF), are hosting their 3rd all-day punk gig at Rockaway on Saturday 2nd August. They’ve invited 14 of the best contemporary international and UK DIY punk bands to join us across two stages – our open-air stage and the main shed - for what promises to be another fantastic Rockaway event!
Unrest in 2023 and last year both sold out, with over 300 people jumping around to some incredible bands, and we're hoping to repeat that success with another exciting array of performers.
First Bands Announced!
Lux (Barcelona)
Awesome melodic UK82 style punk from Spain. First time back in the UK since 2018. Featuring members of Belgrado and the Shitty Limits.
Industry (Berlin)
Berlin-based (but with members from England, Colombia and Spain…) anarcho punk band à la Exit Stance, Amebix, Subdued…Their debut album ruffled a lot of feathers back in 2023, and high time for a Bristol gig!
The Flex (Leeds)
One of the most beloved UKHC bands of the 21st century back in the Southwest for the first time since 2017. Get your moshing shoes on!
Sex Germs (Leicester)
Power violence-infused hardcore punk from the midlands. Quickly gathering a reputation as one of the most impressive live bands in the country.
Retsu (Halifax)
Pummelling Yorkshire D-Beat featuring members of DOOM.
Docile (Bristol)
One of the brightest new bands on the Bristol punk scene. Toeing the fine line between punk and metal à la Sacrilege and Carcass.
The Vegan Café will be serving hot food and snacks throughout the day and there's a bar, plus a distro market, activist stalls, chill-out space and more...
We have a coach option again, which will be picking people up from Bristol city centre at midday, and dropping off near Rockaway Park. Then returning back to Bristol after the bands have played.
Tickets
All tickets need to be booked in advance to avoid disappointment!
£27 ticket or
£36 ticket, including return coach
Kids welcome. No dogs allowed.
Under 14s go free, but require a seat to be purchased in advance if coming on the coach. Please contact Shitty Futures to add a child place for the gig or coach when booking your ticket below.
Save The Date!
Rockaway Arts Weekend (RAW) 2025
Friday 10th - Sunday 12th September
Get ready for our biggest annual event of the year, featuring an incredible array of live music, art exhibitions, art demos, installations, workshops, film, vegan food and a whole lot more! Details will be available over the coming months so watch this space...
To give you an idea of what we offer, you can always check out the Rockaway Arts Weekend page from 2024 by clicking below.
OUR REGULAR EVENTS
Our Sunday Sessions are free - you just need to book your Sunday roast! There is a £5 parking charge and all donations are welcome to support any performers.
Mad also hosts the Yoga + Roast Club, which runs alongside our Sunday Sessions. The club begins at 11.30am with a yoga session in the Rockaway House.
Dates for our Sunday Sessions and the Yoga + Roast Club appear above, in our calendar, our newsletter and social media channels.
If you would like to have a market stall at one of our Sunday Sessions, or during a Rockaway Park event, please contact us below.
PERFORMING AT ROCKAWAY PARK
We often hear from bands and performers who would like to play at Rockaway Park. However, we're not a typical venue with a regular schedule of gigs and performers who just rock up and play! So, here's some useful info about how we operate for you to check through before contacting us.
Like everything else at Rockaway, our events are unique. It's not just the location and setting, with its festival vibe, but also how we actively collaborate with bands and performers to create an event that's a bit special and not like anything you'll see in a pub or music venue. Our calendar of events fills up quickly each year too, with a wide range of activities, so we have a limited number of dates available. However, we're always planning ahead and are happy to hear from bands and performers who are interested in working with us.
We're always on the lookout for performers who would like to play at our Sunday Sessions, which have a relaxed family atmosphere, and feature market stalls showcasing work by local artists and craftspeople, plus our famous vegan roast. We also hold celebrations at Rockaway, along with away days and symposiums, and are often asked about musicians and performers who could help make an event exciting.
So, if you would like to work with us on an event, it would be good to know more about you to help us with our planning. If you could please download the questionnaire below, then once completed, email it to us via the link included, that would be great. We look forward to hearing from you!
ROCKAWAY PARK
"Would those who say it can't be done, please stand clear of those doing it"