Ramsgate’s Festival of Sound returns this September with a packed weekend of events and performances – many of which are free – celebrating the wealth of talent and creativity in the community.
The Festival kicks off on Thursday, September 10 with a launch party hosted by the Ramsgate Noise Institute at Unit 2, St Lawrence Industrial Estate (free, but please register as space is limited).
The full programme starts on Friday, September 11 with Sing The Body Electric at St George’s Church. An eclectic line up opens with Hedge Baes – unaccompanied harmonies performed by an all-female singing collective – followed by Kodama, a neo-classical performance weaving together the ethereal sound of the Koto harp and the deep tone of analog synthesisers.
The line-up also features Anatom, the new work by Ramsgate composer Nicholas de Carlo, which explores seven different systems of the human body across the human life cycle, through spellbinding film montages and soundscapes with a vibrant, live string quartet, performed by Modulus Quartet.
St George’s Church, 7pm – 10pm, £17.50/£20 + booking fee. Age: 14+, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult
A jewel in the crown of the Festival, the Sonic Trail has eight local artists commissioned to create work inspired by English Heritage Open Day’s theme of ‘Everyday Histories’. The installations reinterpret the town’s heritage through sound and open up access to spaces you may not have explored on your doorstep.
Various venues, Friday–Sunday noon–4pm, free
On Saturday, September 12 the festival combines two beloved festival highlights. Head to the East Cliff’s Winterstoke Crescent for a free family fun day featuring interactive performances and fun activities.
Enjoy food offerings from local producers, and buy drinks from the bar (hosted by the Honeysuckle Inn) or Shanty Queen’s spice rum shack.
As the sun sets Ramsgate’s Screaming Alley, will take to the stage to deliver a spectacular showcase of performances before you finish the night on a high with East London’s premiere barge-punk supergroup, Rotten Boroughs.
Blending dark “folk-noir” with a rowdy, whiskey-soaked punk theatricality, they are guaranteed to leave the gardens shaking and the crowd on their feet.
Winterstoke Crescent, 10am – 9pm, free, all ages
Also on Saturday, Busk Until Dusk is back! Follow your favourite band on a pub crawl around the town or take a seat and let them come to you. Full line up to be announced.
Various venues,noon-6pm, free
What better way to start your Sunday than with the Big Gospel Sing led by local legends Sabina Desir and Jessica Lauren. The Big Gospel Sing welcomed 150 participants last year and once again, Sabina and Jessica are ready to guide your voices through a dynamic gospel singing experience.
Whether you have a voice like an angel or just love to hum along, everyone is warmly welcomed to lift their spirits, sing together, and experience the pure joy of communal song. Please note, this is not a religious gathering. All faiths and none are welcome!
St George’s Church, 1.00 – 2.30pm, free, all ages
Ramsgate institution the Community Cinema has a programme of film screenings. Monk in Pieces is a documentary about the incredible pioneering composer and choreographer Meredith Monk; The Reason I Jump, a documentary exploring how an autistic mind experiences the world with a Q & A from the composer Nainita Desai; and finally a short by Clare Bligh, Stories and Songs from Bohemia, filmed in Ramsgate Music Hall and featuring some of our best loved local musicians.
Ramsgate Community Cinema, 2.00 – 6.00pm
Prepare your ears for an evening of absolute electronic chaos as Ramsgate superstar, musician, and madcap inventor Sam Battle hits the stage. Already known to millions online as LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER and, since he represented the UK in this year’s Eurovision, about 66 million more, Sam is returning to his home turf to close out this year’s Ramsgate Festival of Sound with a jaw-dropping Sunday night headline slot at Ramsgate’s the Granville Theatre.
Granville Theatre, 6-9pm, £15/£19.50 +booking fee, 16+
Volunteer Opportunities
The festival needs you! Whether you’re looking to get experience working in the Live Music & Festival industry or want to support your local scene get in touch [email protected]
Gemma Dempsey, Festival Producer, said: “Each year we look forward to presenting a festival that reflects the extraordinary creativity within our local community and this year is no exception!
“Whether you fancy exploring the town through specially commissioned Sonic Trail installations, or prefer to follow 20 bands performing a musical pub crawl, or enjoy a string quartet and filmed projections in a church, a gospel singalong, a riotous local cabaret or a performance by the UK’s own Eurovision representative, Look Mum No Computer, we’ve got you covered!”
The festival is made possible by its dedicated volunteers and the support of Ramsgate Town Council Events Fund, Project 200 funded by Canterbury Diocese at St George’s Church, Airbnb Best of British, Arts Council England, and the pubs and bars that support Busk Until Dusk.
Details and booking at: https://www.ramsgatefestival.org/
