Brixton Chamber Orchestra takes over Lambeth Estates this July joined by special guest rapper

The Brixton Chamber Orchestra (BCO) is back for another unmatched series of performances with its free Summer Estates Tour.

This two-weekend tour running across July 19, 21 and July 26, 28, throws open the concert hall doors, bringing the power of live orchestral music straight to your neighbourhood for a string of open-air concerts.

BCO will be touring their 30-piece orchestra alongside local singers, rappers and open-mic guests, with an hour-long genre-bending set, from Bach to Afrobeats.

They will assemble their programme of music in genres including swing, baroque dances, grime and hip hop, joined by emerging singers and rappers from the area.

Audience participation is a huge element to these performances, and this year, like always, the BCO will invite residents up to perform with the orchestra in open-mic sessions.

Rappers, singers, dancers, poets and instrumentalists are invited to perform something – sometimes on a backing beat they have prepared, and other times with their own material which BCO will improvise behind.

Whether you’re a seasoned music aficionado or simply seeking a melodious and entertaining summer evening under the open sky, the BCO’s Summer Estates Tour promises an unforgettable afternoon or evening.

The orchestra’s rising star vocalist on the tour, B MELA, is an Afro Pop and R&B singer-songwriter. She featured on BBC radio on BBC 1Xtra’s Track of the Week, and was also the chosen artist on BBC 1Xtra’s RnB cypher at Maida Vale studios and headlined the BBC Music Introducing stage at Latitude festival.

BCO will also be joined by a special guest rapper on the tour.

Founded in 2018, by born and bred Brixton local, Mr O’Keeffe, the BCO is a product of South London talent and the unique blend of creative energy and cultural diversity that characterises Brixton.

Known for their unique set-lists and arrangements, BCO’s performances span a wide range of genres and venues, from classical to jazz, grime to gospel, and beyond.

They are known to seek out new audiences in unexpected venues and frequently appear all over Brixton – in markets, pubs, clubs, parks, churches, and community centres.

For more information, please visit BCO’s Summer Estates Tour 2024 webpage: www.brixchamber.com/gigs/summer-estates-tour-2024

Pictured top: BCO perform during their last estates tour (Picture: BCO)