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Drive 2 Survive will be at Britain's biggest and best Romany culture festival, Ando Glaso, in Glasgow on September 12^th and 13^th  2025 in one of Scotlands best cultural venues. We are taking a mobile forge and short film competition to the festival.

The Ando Glaso Roma Fest will take place on September 12 and 13, bringing together international performers, speakers, and artists to showcase the richness of Roma heritage and challenge stereotypes. Janos Lang, founder of the festival, said: "We’re delighted to return with a festival that celebrates the richness of Roma culture through powerful performances and creative expression.

"Each year we build on our mission to break down barriers, promote inclusion, and showcase Roma talent — not only from Scotland, but from across Europe and beyond.

"This year’s line-up reflects the strength and diversity of our community, and we can’t wait to share it with audiences in Glasgow."

This year Drive 2 Survive will be at the heart of the festival organising two events. The first, an oppotunity to forge steel on the Drive2Survive mobile forge will allow participants to help make part of one of the 12 sculptures we have been commissioned to make to celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history and culture. We are also organising a short film festival at which Romany and Traveller film makers will be competing for cash prize.

Come and have a go at the original Romani craft of blacksmithing on the Drive2Survive portable forge which will be in the courtyard at BAaD on Saturday afternoon.

"From India to Inverness Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people have long practised the ancient craft of metalwork. Nowadays many Romany families still use the name Smith and our skill with metal even led to us being called Tinkers in Scotland," said Drive 2 Survive co-founder Jake Bowers. "Come and have a go on the anvil and the forge and make part of our Scottish sculpture. If you don't want to get your hands dirty, bring an instrument or a drum and join in the rhythm at the anvil."

This year’s Ando Glaso festival will include a Drive 2 Survive short film competition with cash prizes for the 3 best films. Open to anyone from Gypsy, Roma or Traveller community across Britain, this film competition is designed to amplify the voices of community film makers.The film festival will take over the BaAD mainstage between 2 and 4pm on Saturday where up to 12 shortlisted short films will be screened and the audience will be able to vote for the winner.

The whole festival will take place at BaaD and Elim Church, featuring five main themes: a youth festival, an international concert series, a short film competition, an arts and crafts fair, and a cultural symposium.The opening Youth Festival at Elim Church will feature performances by RnB singer Lucie Bikarova and hip hop artist Bobby Blaze who is known as the ‘Roma Snoop Dogg’ by his fans. Both will also perform at BaaD, alongside Romanian manele singer Marius de la Brasov and Belgian multi-instrumentalist Tcha Limberger.

Glasgow-based group ZOR will also take to the stage, blending contemporary and traditional Roma sounds.

Tickets for the Ando Glaso Roma Fest 2025 are on sale now and cost £25.00 for one day or £40.00 for the whole festival.

For more information, go to andoglaso.org.

Mr Lang said: "Bringing together leading Roma artists, thinkers and activists for the symposium is a real milestone for Ando Glaso and the wider community.

"These conversations are long overdue in the UK’s cultural sector.

"Our aim is to create lasting change — not just during the festival weekend, but in the opportunities and visibility available to Roma creatives going forward.”