How the Lambrini Girls Evolved from Chaos to Call-to-Action
12 December 2025
Woolwich has always had brass running proudly through its veins. From the regal sounds of the Royal Court in Greenwich to the thundering Artillery Bands of the Woolwich Arsenal, to the intoxicating pulse of London’s South Bank jazz scene, it has long been a hotbed of horn-driven music. With its deep-rooted musical heritage, this vibrant corner south of the river provides the ultimate backdrop for a festival brimming with life and brass-powered brilliance. This is not just any festival – it’s a moment for both seasoned jazz heads and first-time listeners to experience music together in its most explosive, joyful form. Here are our ones to watch for the 2024 lineup:
Once the street carnival has quietened to a dull roar, Chineke! Orchestra will set the tone for the rest of the day at 1:30 PM with a traditional yet transformative performance. As Europe’s first major ethnically diverse orchestra, Chineke! have always set out to challenge the status quo of classical music and the outdated ideas that often come with it.
By 2:30 PM, the Bollywood Brass Band will guide festivalgoers on a whirlwind journey from India to Woolwich with a hypnotic blend of trumpets, saxophones, dhol drums, and colossal sousaphone. The group have metamorphosised the traditional brass ensemble into a dancing, breathing embodiment of Indian cinema at its finest.
At 3:45 PM, prepare for a colossal shift in the festival’s vibe as She’s Got Brass takes to the stage. This 10-piece, all-female-fronted brass band aren’t just going through the motions – they’re completely rewriting the rules of the game. In a genre that continues to be dominated by men, She’s Got Brass are expected to arrive with an electric stage presence.
The band features some of the most accomplished female musicians on London’s jazz scene who have brought an extraordinary level of mastery to their instrument, with members having played alongside respected acts like Seed Ensemble, Colectiva, and the New Regency Orchestra.
Visionary saxophonist Camilla George promises to kick the party up a notch as the first headliner of the finale concert. Her sound is rich and layered, drawing listeners into a beautiful concoction where Afrofuturism, hip hop, and jazz have a musical meet-cute. Her playing is more than just technical brilliance – it’s a personal form of storytelling. The politically-charged undercurrent in George’s work is impossible to ignore – this is jazz as activism, a form of cultural reclamation where every composition becomes a way of voicing the things that truly matter. Having jammed with the likes of Nubya Garcia and Shabaka Hutchings, George is undeniably the embodiment of everything modern jazz is striving to become: a fusion of sounds and styles that nod to the past but move boldly toward the future.
Jazz lovers are in for an even bigger treat as the night goes on, with the remaining three headline acts boasting some of the brightest talent in UK jazz today. Expect to see Ezra Collective’s Ife Ogunjobi, whose trumpet cuts through with razor-sharp precision, the unstoppable Theon Cross, whose mastery of the tuba has redefined what the instrument can do, as well as the Deptford-based powerhouse and artist collective Steam Down. Add them all into the mix, and you have a night that’s simply unmissable.
Woolwich remains a beloved, eclectic tapestry. The festival isn’t just a celebration of sound, it’s a celebration of ancestry, of stories and romance passed down through music. It’s a reminder that every beat is tied to something much deeper, something that speaks to where we’ve come from and where we’re going. Each note carries the weight of generations. At Brassworks, the music never stops, because the past and future are always playing in harmony.
Brassworks Street Carnival and Festival of Horns takes place on Saturday 21 September. You can grab tickets here.
