Brassworks Festival

On Saturday 21st September, cultural hub Woolwich Works will debut Brassworks, London's first brass only street carnival and grand finale concert.

The finale concert will be headlined by a selection of South London's most dynamic jazz artists. Acclaimed collective Steam Down will headline alongside the National Youth Jazz Orchestra's horn section, with other performances from tuba virtuoso Theon Cross, Ezra Collective trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi and prolific saxophonist Camilla George.

Brassworks will kick off with a free daytime carnival, with a street parade through Woolwich's town centre from General Gordon Square to the Woolwich Works Courtyard. The procession will feature a brass quintet from Europe's first majority ethnically diverse concert band Chineke! Orchestra, as well as the Indian music-inspired Bollywood Brass Band, the all-female She's Got Brass, innovative 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. The National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) will also host two tuba workshops, inspired by Theon Cross and Steam Down, for budding brass musicians. Sign up in advance for these.

Brassworks is a roll call for the most prominent horn players in UK jazz, with many of the lineup award-winners. Ife Ogunjobi, with Ezra Collective, received the 2023 Mercury Prize, while Steam Down garnered two nominations at this year's Jazz FM Awards. Visionary artist Camilla George also was crowned Best Jazz Act at this year's Urban Music Awards, and Theon Cross has also earned accolades from Jazz FM and a Parliamentary Jazz Award nomination.

Steam Down's founder, musical director and conductor, Ahnanse said: "We're absolutely thrilled to be headlining Brassworks 2024! 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.

Time Out named Woolwich Works 'Best New Culture Spot' in 2021 after it was redeveloped from heritage buildings as part of the historic Royal Arsenal. As the venue approaches its third anniversary, Brassworks marks a first event for the South London jazz community's vibrant new hub, with Woolwich Works becoming a premier destination for artists, small businesses, and cultural enthusiasts. Brassworks wraps up the Woolwich Works summer programme, supported by Royal Greenwich Festivals.

More information

CARNIVAL PARADE:
11am - General Gordon Square
Ends - At Woolwich Works 12.30pm

The procession begins at 11.30am in General Gordon Square in Woolwich with Bollywood Brass Band, picking up She's Got Brass at 11.50am, and then Chineke! Orchestra (the brass quintet) at 12.20pm before the procession makes its way into the Courtyard at Woolwich Works around 12.30pm.

ROUTE:
General Gordon Square
Green End
Across Victory Parade
To Dial Arch
Down No.1 Street
Right along Duke of Wellington Avenue
At Wellington Park cut down to the river
Walk along the river path back to the Woolwich Clipper
And on to Woolwich Works.

Please note all timings subject to change.

WOOLWICH WORKS CARNIVAL STAGE LINE UP:
Chineke! Orchestra - 1.30pm
Bollywood Brass Band - 2.30pm
She's Got Brass - 3.45pm
Byron Wallen - 5pm

NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA WORKSHOPS - ADVANCED SIGN UP REQUIRED
Tuba Workshop 1 Inspired by Theon Cross: 3.15pm - 4.15pm
Tuba Workshop 2 Inspired by Steam Down: 4.30pm - 5.30pm

FINALE CONCERT LINE UP:
Camilla George - 6.45pm
Ife Ogunjobi - 7.45pm
Theon Cross - 8.45pm
Steam Down Big Band feat. NYJO Brass - 9.45pm

FINALE CONCERT LOCATION:
The Fireworks Factory
11 No 1 St
Royal Arsenal
London
SE18 6HD

TICKETING INFORMATION:
Finale Concert first release tickets: £18
Finale Concert second release tickets: £22
Finale Concert third release tickets: £25
Street Brass Carnival - free entry

TRAVEL INFORMATION:
By train
Woolwich station accessible via Elizabeth Line
Woolwich Arsenal station accessible via Thameslink and DLR
Woolwich Dockyard accessible via Southeastern rail network

Price: Brassworks Finale Concert: GBP 19.80

Artists: Ife Ogunjobi, Steam Down, Camilla George, Theon Cross, Bollywood Brass Band, Chineke! Orchestra, Byron Wallen, National Youth Jazz Orchestra