So many great things to do this month…

Things to do this September. Cross the Tracks Festival – Brixton’s top jazz, funk and soul festival, Cross the Tracks is back with a bang.

Welcome to all ages, South Londoners can celebrate the incredible music and culture that surrounds the area.

Crowds can look forward to headline act Lianne La Havas and a wide range of musicians and bands.

Having achieved success in 2021, when her debut record Is Your Love Big Enough? was named iTunes Album of the Year and she was nominated as BBC’s Sound of 2021, Lianne La Havas has received innumerable plaudits for her heartfelt brand of folk, jazz and neo soul.

Last year, she released her eponymous third album, a concept record depicting the stages of relationship, which was met with rave reviews from critics and fans.

Expect big names alongside La Havas including British jazz group Sons of Kemet, whose trio of albums encompassing rock, Caribbean folk and Afrobeat have seen them win numerous awards including Best Jazz Act at the MOBOs.

South London’s own singer-songwriter Sasha Keable; 10-piece jazz group SEED Ensemble, whose debut album Driftglass was nominated for the 2019 Mercury Prize; and rapper Kofi Stone, who’ll be performing songs from his acclaimed debut record, Nobody Cares Till Everybody Does.

The lineup also includes: En Vogue, The Cinematic Orchestra, Sister Sledge, Jordan Rakei, Giles Peterson, Greentea Peng, Nubya Garcia, Yussef Dayes, Ashley Henry, Channel One, Children of Zeus and Norman Jay, plus many more acts.

As well as an impressive musical line-up, Cross the Tracks will feature 40 street-food traders, a vintage fair, a wellness tent, an independent creative market, numerous workshops and panels from festival partner Black Minds Matter.

It takes place on Sunday at Brockwell Park. Tickets start at £69.50 + booking and are on sale now via www.xthetracks.com

Hollywood Bowl

Got some spare time this weekend? Here’s one for the kids – and the big kids.

The Hollywood Bowl bowling alley in Surrey Quays or the O2 arena, Greenwich, is a perfect fun filled start to September.

The venues offer various games of bowling, alcoholic and soft drinks, and tasty food in a true American diner style – think shakes, beefy burgers and juicy hot dogs.

Guests can also expect the full A-list treatment with VIP packages and party bookings for all age groups.

After the bowling and food, there are plenty of other amusements to get your teeth into.

Take to the wheel and go head-to-head on the latest racing games, or try and get your score to the top of the arcade leaderboards.

You can even test out your skills on the 2p machines, slot machines, and air hockey, or try and win a plush toy from the grabbers.

Visit www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk to guarantee your booking.

Horniman Museum Aquarium and Butterfly House

The Horiniman Museum in Forest Hill is a perfect way to spend a quiet afternoon, whatever the weather.

The museum plays host to a range of events but two constants that are worth a visit include the aquarium and the butterfly house.

You can enjoy 15 exhibits in the aquarium showcasing aquatic environments from around the globe, ranging from the Great British pond to the Fijian coral reefs.

You can get close to a live coral display and see reef fish move between and interact with this complex and vibrant habitat, or wonder at the bizarre structure and movement of jellyfish, as they journey around their purpose built aquarium.

During your visit, you’ll not only get to see amazing animals up close, but also learn about their interesting lives and the places where they live in the wild.

A visit to the beautiful butterfly house will see a specially-planted habitat that is the perfect place to experience butterflies free-flying all around you while you discover amazing facts about the life-cycle and behaviour of these fascinating creatures.

While you are there, why not also grab a coffee from the park cafe and wander around the gardens that are full of exotic and native plants – ­you may even spy an alpaca or two.

Find out more information or book tickets via www.horniman.ac.uk/whats-on/

Creekside Discovery Centre

Deptford, Lewisham and Greenwich residents are being offered the chance to help document wildlife changes in their area.

The Creekside Discovery Centre has a number of exciting events including community wildlife mapping and pond dipping.

The centre was developed in response to a need to protect and nurture the urban habitat.

Since opening in 2002, Creekside has welcomed 50,000 visitors and each year 7,000 people have a chance to wade safely in Deptford Creek, equipped with wading boots, waterproof coats and walking sticks.

The sloping habitat into Deptford Creek is a historical feature of the Tidal Thames with only two per cent of the Tidal Thames’ edges remaining natural in London.

In July, Creekside was awarded £18,000 by the Deptford Challenge Trust to help with the centre’s running costs, allowing them to continue hosting events and raising awareness of how important the wild environment is, and the vital role it plays in fighting climate change.

Creekside Founder Jill Goddard said: “The Deptford Challenge Trust grant was a lifeline for our Creekside Discovery Centre – without it we would struggle to keep the doors open to welcome the local community to this amazing urban paradise.

“Our work is about communicating and sharing the conservation and urban habitats that make our spaces greener and our neighbourhood a friend to wildlife.

“It’s vital that we share how we can all be wildlife heroes, even in the heart of a city.”

STEM after school club – The club is split into two separate age groups, 11 -13 years and 14 – 15 years, and is only £10 for three sessions.

It’s a hands-on learning experience with visits from Tideway staff to talk about their engineering roles and offer insight on career paths for young people thinking about getting into engineering as a career.

There are currently dates on September 16 and October 1.

One day river course – This course for people who want to learn more about being safe in a wild river.

These are free and take place on September 11 and October 30.

Open day on September 25.

The details of this event have not been fully released yet but the day will include a chance to go pond dipping and bug hunting and get onto the river for free with experienced guides.

For full details of upcoming events visit www.creeksidecentre.org.uk/events

Main Pic: Lianne La Havas