Independents Day at Ronin Bar: Nottingham’s Underground Rap, Fashion and Art Scene Comes Together

Nottingham’s grassroots creative scene was in full flow on Saturday 4th July 2026 as Independents Day took over Ronin Bar for a celebration of underground rap, DIY fashion and independent art. Curated by Derby fashion designer Soar (Mason Toone), the event brought together artists, musicians, designers and creatives from across the East Midlands for a day and night that perfectly showcased what makes the region’s underground culture so exciting.

We’ve previously featured Soar in one of our Artist Focus articles, highlighting his commitment to creating genuinely original fashion while building opportunities for other independent creatives. Independents Day felt like a natural extension of that vision. Rather than simply putting on another gig, this was an event built around community, collaboration and giving grassroots talent the platform it deserves.

Ronin Bar Was the Perfect Home for Independents Day

If you’ve never ventured down into Ronin Bar in Nottingham, you’re missing one of the city’s coolest underground venues. Better known for its house music nights, the basement venue was the ideal setting for an evening of underground hip hop.

Dark, intimate and effortlessly cool, Ronin has an atmosphere that instantly pulls you in. Booth seating lines the walls, the dancefloor sits directly in front of the DJ booth, and the whole space feels built for close-knit crowds who genuinely want to experience live music rather than simply watch it.

It also helps that the cocktails were absolutely bang on.

The venue managed to strike that perfect balance between feeling raw and underground while still being incredibly welcoming, and it became obvious throughout the night why events like this work so well here.

Grassroots Art and DIY Fashion Took Centre Stage

Before even making your way downstairs, visitors were greeted by a stunning display of artwork from Zah Zah Binks, whose intricate illustrations immediately set the tone for the evening. His work continues to impress every time we see it, packed with incredible detail and unmistakably his own style. It was the perfect introduction before heading into what felt like the belly of the beast.

Inside, one corner of the venue had been transformed into a marketplace for local artists and fashion designers, showcasing exactly why East Midlands creativity deserves far more attention than it often receives.

There was handmade work from Elektrik, beautifully crafted jeans and printed T-shirts from Soar, fashion from Skulls All On You, alongside artwork and clothing from Earth of Suspects, Saarine Art and several other independent creators.

It’s impossible not to appreciate the amount of time, skill and passion that goes into these pieces.

Watching people browse the stalls, pick up stickers, prints and handmade accessories reminded everyone that these events offer far more than live music. They give people the chance to support local creatives directly, buying genuinely handmade work rather than mass-produced products from big retailers.

The handmade denim in particular deserves a mention. These weren’t customised jeans bought from a shop and altered afterwards. These were garments created from scratch by young designers putting countless hours into learning their craft. The quality was exceptional, yet the prices remained incredibly fair.

That’s one of the most refreshing things about grassroots events like Independents Day.

You’re buying something completely unique, made locally, by someone who’s genuinely passionate about what they do. You’re supporting the next generation of artists and designers without spending ridiculous amounts of money, and you’re walking away with something that nobody else owns.

If you’ve never been to an event like this, you’re genuinely missing out on just how much creative talent exists across Derby, Nottingham and the wider East Midlands.

Underground Rap in Every Form

The music reflected that same diversity.

Rather than sticking to one style of hip hop, Independents Day showcased just how broad the underground rap scene has become. Across the evening there were hard-hitting aggressive tracks, emotional emo-inspired performances, laid-back stoner rap and everything in between.

Some artists performed full sets while others jumped onto collaborations throughout the night, creating an atmosphere that felt less like individual performances and more like one huge creative collective enjoying making music together.

The crowd responded to every style.

Whether the tracks were heavy, melodic, emotional or simply made for partying, there was constant energy throughout the venue, with artists supporting one another and the audience giving everyone the reception they deserved.

A Constant Flow of Talent

The lineup featured performances from The Vital Jazz, DVRRYL, Fanetokai, Dyingforrevenge, Tyatron and Will2K, all bringing something different to the stage while constantly feeding off each other’s energy.

Collaboration became a recurring theme throughout the evening, with artists appearing on each other’s tracks and creating moments that felt completely natural rather than rehearsed.

Holding everything together was Fin Birse, who kept the dancefloor moving throughout the night with DJ sets between performances. Rather than feeling like downtime, the transitions became part of the event itself, maintaining momentum from the first act right through to the headline set.

AB’K, VEXT and a Crowd That Knew Every Word

AB’K stepped up with a set packed with some of his best-known tracks, immediately getting the crowd rapping every lyric back at him.

The connection between performer and audience was obvious. Every chorus landed, every bar received a response and the atmosphere only continued to build.

VEXT followed with a hugely entertaining performance blending underground rap with tracks centred around partying, drinking and smoking ganj. It was impossible not to get caught up in the fun as the crowd danced, shouted lyrics back and embraced every moment.

One of the standout collaborations of the evening came when Tino from Porcelain Girl joined VEXT on stage for a verse, offering another reminder that the East Midlands music scene has never been afraid of crossing genre boundaries.

Seeing artists from different backgrounds sharing the same stage is exactly what grassroots music should be about.

The Adult Delivered a Headline Performance Worth the Journey

Headlining the evening was The Adult, who had travelled up from the south and more than justified the trip.

Having chatted with him briefly outside before his set, it was immediately obvious he was a genuinely down-to-earth bloke, but once he stepped onto the stage, everything shifted.

He commanded the room from the first track.

Every song was met with huge reactions, with the audience hanging onto every lyric and rapping almost every word back at him. His track Fugubalung proved such a favourite that he ran it back multiple times to huge cheers.

Throughout the night one running joke became almost a ritual. Every time he shouted “Pungent”, the audience responded in unison with “One.”

It never got old.

It became one of those moments that only exists at grassroots gigs, where artists and audiences build something unique together in real time.

Independents Day Shows What Grassroots Culture Is Really About

Events like Independents Day are becoming increasingly important.

They aren’t driven by huge sponsors or massive production budgets. They’re organised by independent creatives who simply want to give talented people somewhere to perform, exhibit and connect with others who share the same passion.

On one night you could discover your next favourite rapper, buy a handmade piece of clothing that nobody else owns, pick up original artwork directly from the artist who created it and spend the evening surrounded by people genuinely invested in supporting one another.

That’s something money can’t manufacture.

Huge credit goes to Soar for pulling everything together, to every artist, designer and performer who contributed, and to Ronin Bar for continuing to provide Nottingham with a venue willing to champion underground culture.

If this is what Independents Day looks like in its early years, the future looks incredibly exciting.

Long may it continue.

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