Best of London’s jazz scene to burst into South London with carnival and concert

From collectives to solo artists, the best of the capital’s Jazz scene will burst onto the streets of South London with a carnival and concert like no other.

On September 21, Woolwich Works, in Royal Arsenal, will debut Brassworks, London’s first brass only festival.

The day kicks off with a free street carnival, parading through Woolwich’s town centre from General Gordon Square to the Woolwich Works Courtyard. 

The vibrant procession will be filled with music from Chineke! Orchestra, Europe’s first majority ethnically diverse concert band, as well as Indian music-inspired Bollywood Brass Band, the all-female She’s Got Brass, trumpeter Byron Wallen, and the Royal Greenwich Music Service. 

All street parade musicians will then perform individually on the carnival stage at Woolwich Works Courtyard in the afternoon. 

Jumping into the evening, head over to The Fireworks Factory where a full line up of some of the capital’s most exciting jazz collectives and artists will host a finale concert.

Headliners included jazz collective Steam Down alongside the National Youth Jazz Orchestra’s horn section.

Steam Down is an artist collective which hosts weekly Jazz jam’s in Deptford. Longform improvisations filled with screeching horn notes, pounding kick drums and breathtaking solo’s have garnered Steam Down a loyal community following.

Following on from their successful 2020 EP, ‘Five Fruit’, Steam Down are currently putting the final touches on their highly anticipated debut album to be released in early 2025.

Elsewhere in the line up, look out for tuba player Theon Cross. Seeing Mr Cross live is to witness the possibilities of the tuba stretched into another dimension. 

Reflecting his own heritage, the young virtuoso melds jazz with dub, hip-hop, soca, grime and other sounds connected to the Afro-Caribbean diaspora.

Also headlining the evening concert will be Ezra Collective trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi and prolific saxophonist Camilla George.

South east London born, Mr Ogunjobi blends Fuji and Afrobeats influences from his Nigerian heritage with Jazz and Hip Hop to create uplifting melodies and beats, whilst Ms George creates mesmerising compositions and solos fusing African and Western music styles. 

Brassworks is a roll call for the most prominent horn players in UK jazz, with many of the lineup having already secured some of the top awards on the scene.

Mr Ogunjobi, with Ezra Collective, received the 2023 Mercury Prize, while Steam Down garnered two nominations at this year’s Jazz FM Awards. Ms George was also crowned Best Jazz Act at this year’s Urban Music Awards, and Theon Mr Cross has also earned accolades from Jazz FM and a Parliamentary Jazz Award nomination. 

Throughout the day, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) will also host two tuba workshops, inspired by Mr Cross and Steam Down, for budding brass musicians. 

Steam Down’s founder, Ahnansé – aka Wayne Francis – said: “This lineup is one of a kind, an absolute game changer in platforming London’s jazz scene, and we can’t wait to bring our high-energy big band performance to the Woolwich Works stage.

“Get ready for a night of infectious afrosonic vibrations from our upcoming debut album alongside the UK’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra.” 

South London has a rich brass music heritage, with Woolwich once being home to the Royal Artillery Band, a historic ensemble of brass musicians dating back to 1557. 

Brassworks continues that legacy, while providing a new, vibrant stage for contemporary jazz to flourish.

You can purchase first release tickets to the Brassworks Finale Concert here. 

Advanced sight up of Jazz Orchestra workshops on the day is mandatory and can be found here. 

Pictured top: Steam Down (Picture: Kate Langton)