RamFete 24

Dear Ram Fete/Studio 18 Friends,

We’re sorry to announce that Ramfete 24 has been forced to cancel due to loss of access to the site. We were informed of the site issue recently, so have had no chance of securing a new site at such short notice.

Last year the first ever RamFete was a huge success, and a great deal of work had already been put in to making RamFete 24 a bigger and more spectacular event. We’re already on the lookout for a secure site for next year.

We’d like to thank all the artists and organisers that had come forward in massive support as well as Stroud council who were very supportive in the licensing application and Brimscombe and Thrupp Parish council for their ongoing help with Studio 18 projects. We still have the Ram theatre festival at Studio 18, during September as well as some very exciting events coming up at the studios. So please come along and say Hi.

All ticket holders will be contacted within the next 30 days about refunds and voucher options. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this process.

We look forward to your continued support.

With love from all..Zach and Studio 18 team

Ramfete 24 is shaping up to be a smasher with icons such as Nicky Blackmarket in a rare performance alongside Ragga Twins, Spanning multiple stages, talks, workshops, food stalls, bars and some wild ceremonies this is not a festival to miss!

There will be a festival warm up session on Friday with favourites pulled together by the Loose Joints team: always a sell out at Studio 18. Saturday will be a full packed day with an emphasis on dance with the main Ram stage running alongside the Valley Steppas stage providing you with a massive array of sounds.

Sunday at Ramfete sees the Sentient Rash takeover of the Ram stage drawing in bands from Bristol & Brighton as well as some of the best underground local talent. Expect a royal knees up, some festival veterans like Balkan Ska alongside some indie & grunge avant gardes, the wildest of the underground psych punk & some heavy brass funk.

The live bands will bring a heady mix of dancy & rocky vibes, a bit of something for everyone to get their ears into, get their bodies moving and to cap off this year’s festival season with joyous catharsis.

Throughout July and August Taylor Ayling, a Bristonian theatre producer, has been hosting Tuesday night physical theatre acting sessions and costume design, an exciting project that will culminate in an outdoor theatre performance at the festival based on Ancient Greek theatre, a real spectacle to celebrate the festivities of Ramfete.

While Ramfete has it jammed for the adults we’ll have plenty for the kids too with performances from local favourite the Magnificent Mr Kai, art workshops, play area, and of course a bit of face painting.

Also programmed into the arts areas will be wellness and well being with local alternative therapists invited to either give taster sessions or workshops. To kick off the festival a quick yoga and meditation session will be in place, leading to an opening ceremonial  performance, a way of putting a nice blessing on ‘RamFete’.

If you’re looking for something fun for all the family, then look no further! Ramfete is Studio 18’s festival, celebrating arts, culture, and community. With live music, DJs, talks, and workshops, Ram Fete is sure to be a fun-filled weekend for all ages.

So far the confirmed and incredible lineup is as follows but do expect a plenty more surprises.

RAGGA TWINS. NICKY BLACKMARKET. AMELIE. BUFFOS WAKE. CAREFUL SPIDER. CHERRY CHAIN. COMPRESSOR. CROOKED STYLUS. DJ D’OLI. DOG OF MAN. DUBSHIRE. EARL TEMPLE FOUNDATION. FIDGET & THE TWITHCERS. GLOBAL BEATS. GOOD VIBES ONLY. GURF. J CHALKS. K-DEE. LOOSE JOINTS. MAN SIZED CREATURE. MAXI DREAD. MENDOZA. MONOBROW. MILLZ. NEON PUMPS. RIGATONI. SELECTRESS MACKA GE. SHAYBAE. THREEBAGSFULL. VALLEY STEPPAS.  WIDEBEAM SOUND SYSTEM. WIZARDTREE.

A little more about Ramfete and Studio 18.

Studio 18 is now in its 7th year, a truly grassroots and independent arts and music organisation nestled in the Brimscombe and Thrupp area of Stroud. Well known for its championing of local talent and youth initiatives, taking risks to bring a real celebration of underground music and arts culture. Studio 18 draws on an expansive connection of established makers from all mediums and provides a platform for younger less established but no less talented makers. It's a space where people naturally find ownership and belonging,  no one feels like an outsider and all generations feel connected, a true community space. Studio 18 is fiercely independent, operating without funding so as to have a voice unhindered by agenda. Through this approach groups that come into the studios are not curated or dictated to but left free to flourish and develop their own creative ideas. Ramfete firstly conceived as a fundraiser to bolster Studio 18 in its ability to improve facilities, it also offers a further platform to support local talent and create stronger community ties. It pushes young burgeoning acts alongside national icons in the aim to further career and strengthen and sustain cultural and creative expression within the Stroud area. Studio 18, following Ramfete, also has Ram theatre festival, a 13 day event chockablock with 8 performances. Another great example of the way studio 18 develops young creative and offers opportunities to grass root groups. Therefore it's massively important to attend these events to support and to encourage, things like this don't exist without you and your wonderful energy!

It’s not too late to get involved!

At its core Ram Fete is an Arts festival aiming to bring the community together, just like we do at the Studios. If you’d like to get involved in any capacity - whether it be running a stall, doing a talk/workshop, performance art, or lending a sculpture to our sculpture garden - please get in touch!

Volunteers needed!

We’re looking for people to get involved in Ram Fete! We’ll be needing volunteers to help set up on Wednesday and Thursday, to steward the event throughout, and help take down on the Monday. We can offer a free ticket to Ram Fete and a meal for your generous time. If you’re free and able to lend a hand, please get in touch at ramfete18@gmail.com.