South London’s largest free brass festival returns to Woolwich Works this September, and it’s the flagship event in the venue’s fifth birthday celebrations.
Brassworks takes over Woolwich on Saturday 5 September, back for its third year and, organisers say, its biggest programme yet. Entry is completely free, with no booking needed for either the parade or the courtyard performances.
A parade through the heart of Woolwich
The day starts at midday with the Brassworks Parade, gathering in General Gordon Square before winding through Woolwich and the Royal Arsenal, picking up sound the whole way, The Brass Funkeys, the Majorettes and NYJO Second Liners all take turns leading the noise, before the Crystal Palace Band welcomes everyone into Woolwich Works’ courtyard. Anyone is welcome to join in.
From 12.30pm, the courtyard performances take over properly.
Who’s playing
This year’s headliner is Kongo Dia Ntotila, a London-based Afro-fusion collective blending Congolese rhythms, jazz and Afro-dance music, BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson has called them “musicians of the very, very highest” calibre.
They’re joined by Balkanatics, playing Balkan brass and Gypsy jazz, and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, marking 100 years since Miles Davis’s birth. DJ BobaFatt, known from Soho Radio and BBC 6 Music, rounds out the bill alongside Mr Burn and Friends.
Built for families, and for young talent
Beyond the music, the day includes a free morning kazoo workshop, chances to try a brass instrument for the first time, family games, food and drink stalls, children’s ear defenders and a dedicated quiet space for anyone who needs a break from the noise.
Woolwich Works also ran a paid placements programme ahead of this year’s festival, giving young people hands-on experience across festival operations, technical production, artist liaison and marketing in the run-up to the big day.
“What began as a joyful celebration of brass music has quickly become one of the most distinctive events in our calendar,” says Nick Williams, Director at Woolwich Works. “It’s fun, with a huge range of different music, and gets everyone up and dancing.”
The London x London Take: free festivals this well-programmed are genuinely rare, and the parade is the bit worth building your day around, get to General Gordon Square for midday and you’ll follow the music the whole way in rather than just catching the tail end in the courtyard. Woolwich Works has quietly become one of South London’s best cultural venues since it opened in 2021, and Brassworks is as good an introduction to it as any.
Need to know
- Where: Woolwich Works, Woolwich, London SE18, parade starts at General Gordon Square
- When: Saturday 5 September 2026, parade from 12pm, courtyard performances from 12.30pm
- Price: Free, no booking required
- Website: woolwich.works/brassworks
