ASHBURNHAM — The Ramble music festival held in town over the summer was once again a great success, raising a record $171,079 for veterans facing homelessness.
The volunteer-powered, pay-what-you-can event draws a large crowd to Ashburnham every year and these funds push its lifetime support for the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV) past $900,000 total. RallySound, the nonprofit founded by singer-songwriter Adam Ezra, recently made the announcement and the musician and RallySound representatives marked the achievement on Oct. 8 with a check presentation at NECHV’s Boston headquarters.
“At a time when so much energy is being spent dividing neighbors by politics and ideology, The Ramble is a reminder of what we can do when we remember that we belong to one another, and there has never been a more important time to look out for our neighbors,” said Ezra, who organizes and headlines The Ramble with his band.
Funds raised through The Ramble support NECHV’s work with veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness through housing assistance, employment and training programs, behavioral health services, and other resources that help veterans achieve successful and dignified independent living.
“On behalf of the veterans we serve and the New England Center and Home for Veterans, I would like to express a profound thank you to Adam Ezra and his entire RallySound/Ramble team for their generous and consequential donation. We are truly grateful,” said NECHV President and CEO Andrew McCawley. “In the past year, we were able to move 243 veterans into permanent housing, largely as a result of their generous support. It is amazing what a community of dedicated ‘Ramblers’ and talented musicians has accomplished for vulnerable veterans in need of services.”
Held Aug. 29 on a remote mountaintop in Ashburnham, the 17th iteration of The Ramble drew nearly 2,000 people, was powered by more than 230 volunteers, and featured musicians and bands from throughout the Northeast. There is no required ticket price as The Ramble operates on a pay-what-you-can model and anyone is welcome, regardless of what they are able to contribute.
“This whole thing started as an experiment,” Ezra said. “What happens if you create an event where paying is optional, almost nobody gets paid, and you simply trust people to show up for each other? Seventeen years later, I think we have our answer. Every year this community proves what ordinary people can accomplish when we work together.”
The Ramble is produced by RallySound, a nonprofit organization founded by Ezra in 2011 whose mission is to empower communities through music. Beyond The Ramble, RallySound organizes and supports service benefit concerts, projects, schools, arts programs, local nonprofits, and volunteer and community initiatives throughout the country, bringing people together around the idea that meaningful change can begin with ordinary people deciding to do a little good.
“We have big dreams for what this village can become,” said RallySound President Kim Ansin. “The Ramble shows us what’s possible. This isn’t really about a concert. It’s about proving that grassroots communities have enormous power to make the world around them better.”
Music remains at the center of The Ramble. This year’s festival featured artists from across the region, with Boston-based folk-rock band Adam Ezra Group — fresh off the June release of their new album “Revelate” and subsequent celebration at Boston’s House of Blues — closing the popular event.
Each year, Ezra invites the day’s other artists back to the stage during the closing set. By the finale, the stage is filled with musicians singing together — a scene reflecting the community The Ramble has spent 17 years building. Fans of Adam Ezra Group call themselves “The Traveling Village,” a loyal following surrounding the band that has become increasingly involved in RallySound’s charitable and service work.
The 18th Ramble will return to Ashburnham on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2027. Organizers say the mountaintop venue is nearing capacity and encourage those hoping to attend to reserve tickets well in advance. As always, everyone is welcome and all levels of contribution are accepted and RallySound is seeking businesses, foundations, and community partners interested in helping the organization continue to grow its reach and impact.
For more information visit RallySound.org, getrambled.com, NECHV.org, and follow them all on socials.
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