Down by Ramsgate harbour, under a stretch of old brick arches, sits Arco Barco, a studio built the hard way. No investors, no blueprint, just love, borrowed tools, and the need to make something that felt alive. When Filipe Gomes talks about it, you can hear the sea in his voice. He’s not selling a dream, he’s remembering the noise, the sweat, the blood, and the small victories that turned an empty arch into a heartbeat.
In this conversation with Alissa Taylor from the Ramsgate Recorder, we hear about those early days, and we hear about what’s grown from them - the years of steady work, the community that formed around a shared space, and the slow, quiet evolution of an idea that refused to stay still.
Over time, Arco Barco became a magnet for strange, brilliant sounds. Experimental musicians like Evan Parker found their way here, drawn by the acoustics and the atmosphere - that rare combination of care and freedom. It’s a space where someone’s mixing a track while another person’s just sitting, thinking, trying to figure out what comes next. The lines blur. That’s the point.
It’s a space built on trust, the kind that allows mistakes, experiments, and moments that don’t always fit the plan. That openness is what gives it its edge. And somehow, that sense of place carried beyond Ramsgate. It's gone as far as playing a part in Oscar-winning scores, conceiving and capturing brilliant creative moments. Not because Arco Barco was chasing prestige, but because its sound, that raw and resonant air, and the energy contained within its walls, was exactly what was needed. Those kind of coincidences don’t happen by accident. They happen when you build something honest and let it speak for itself.
It’s a reminder that culture doesn’t have to be packaged, branded, or monetised to matter. It just has to be made, and shared.
So when Filipe Gomes talks about the future, it’s not about expansion or growth. It’s about keeping the door open, keeping the kettle on, and holding space for people who still believe in making things for the right reasons. Because in the end, that’s what Arco Barco is, a reminder that sharing space, at its best, is an act of faith. A small, stubborn miracle built under an arch by the sea.
Producer & Presenter: Alissa Taylor
The Independent Resistance
The Independent Resistance is a documentary-style audio series exploring the lives and landscapes of independent businesses and creatives who are shaping local culture on their own terms. Through intimate interviews, on-location recordings, and rich storytelling, the series captures the values, challenges, and quiet determination behind ventures that choose to do things differently.
Each episode profiles a distinct voice from the independent scene—whether a record shop, a fashion label, a food space, or an arts collective—revealing the personal convictions, creative processes, and daily realities behind their work. It’s a series about independence not as a trend, but as a way of living and making meaning in the world.