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 12pm – 5pm, 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
To keep up to date with all the latest Rockaway Arts Weekend news, check out our Facebook and Instagram pages
(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!
Tickets are £12 & £10 concessions, which can be purchased via Headfirst below.
Saturday 21st September 11am - 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 and 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. Plus, more to be confirmed!
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 - 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.
Tickets are £14 & £12 concessions, and very limited.
So, please visit Headfirst Bristol to secure your seat!
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
House of Jo
Multi-Disciplinary Artist & Printer
Bev Milward
Porcelain Sculptor & Encaustic Collage Artist
Lydia Swann
Lampworker & Jewellery Maker
Grainne Thompson
Painter & Printer
Merny Wernz
Watercolour & Mural Artist
RAW Workshops
House of jO & Studio B - Letterpress Poster Printing
jO is a multidisciplinary artist working with paper, textiles and ink, plus hand setting and hand printing with vintage and antique printers. She also works with type to create letterpress stationery and ephemera at Rockaway Park.
jO and Carl from Studio B will be running 3 sessions of a letterpress poster printing workshop on Sunday 22nd September. Cost is £20 and places are limited. If you'd like to take part, you can book your tickets HERE.
Dr Laura Way - Zine Workshop
Punk scholar and author of 'Punk, Gender and Ageing: Just Typical Girls?' Laura will be hosting a zine workshop that explores what zines are and how they're made. It'll embrace a punk DIY ethos and act as a response to the exhibition at St Nic's Gallery.
Laura’s workshop is FREE.
Patterned Frog & Pawla Rattletat - Painting
Painting drop-ins for adults and children!
PLUS
Rockaway Kids Creative Activities
Rockaway Kids will also be running a free children’s area throughout the weekend with the lovely Claire and Rachel. Based in the Rockaway yard, children can stay as long as they like, being creative and having fun with a range of activities, which will be guided by their interests and enthusiasms. Activities include modelling, puppet making and face painting.
Vegan Café Food
The Vegan Café will be serving a variety of delicious home-made hot food, savoury snacks, cakes, and hot or cold drinks throughout the weekend. On Sunday 22nd, Marta and the team will be serving their famous home-made vegan Sunday roasts. For our evening events, there is bar selling a variety of cans.
If you'd like to enjoy a roast on Sunday 22nd September, you'll need to book your meal by 7pm on Friday 20th September to help us avoid food waste.
ROCKAWAY PARK
"Would those who say it can't be done, please stand clear of those doing it"