Brixton Culture Capital | 22.05.2025
Brockwell Standoff: the battle over Brixton's Green Heart.
Brixton’s Brockwell Park became a battleground of culture and community this week. More than 150 residents staged a dramatic “No Walls” protest, lying on the grass to spell out the slogan in opposition to Lambeth Council’s plan to fence off huge areas of the park for summer festivals. The grassroots group Protect Brockwell Park argues that six large-scale events – expected to draw nearly 300,000 attendees over nine days – would cause lasting damage to this treasured green space. Their visual protest struck a chord locally, highlighting fears that over-commercialising the park could undermine Brixton’s community spirit and environmental wellbeing.
The clash escalated to the High Court, where campaigners scored a landmark victory. A judge ruled that Lambeth acted unlawfully by approving the festivals without proper planning scrutiny, a decision hailed as a win for residents defending public space. However, the story isn’t over – festival organisers Brockwell Live insist that all events (from pop extravaganza Mighty Hoopla to jazz-funk fiesta Cross The Tracks, plus the beloved Lambeth Country Show) will go as planned. The debate has lit up local social media and forums, asking: What defines Brixton’s cultural capital? For Protect Brockwell Park, keeping the area open and accessible is paramount, while others counter that these festivals “bring life, joy and connection” to the borough. This unfolding saga captures Brixton’s microcosm—a community balancing celebration and change with the preservation of its soul.
🎭 Upcoming Events in Brixton May 15–21, 2025
🎶 Section 1: Music & Nightlife
Thu 22 May – Phonox – Ofenbach (Exclusive Live 360° Concert) – Parisian electronic duo Ofenbach bring their first-ever immersive 360° live show to Brixton . 🕒 7:00pm–11:00pm – 🎟️ Skiddle
Thu 22 May – Hootananny – Free Bank Holiday Boogie – A funky night of disco grooves to kick off the bank holiday weekend, with DJs spinning feel-good boogie anthems – and it’s free . 🕒 8:30pm (till late) – 🎟️ Dice
Fri 23 May – Phonox – Vegyn & SASSY 009 (DJ Set) – Genre-blurring producer Vegyn returns to Brixton alongside Norwegian alt-pop act SASSY 009 for an eclectic late-night DJ set . 🕒 10:00pm–4:00am – 🎟️ Resident Advisor
Sat 24 May – Brockwell Park – Field Day 2025 – An all-day festival in Brockwell Park headlined by superstar DJ Peggy Gou, plus a cutting-edge lineup of electronic and dance artists in multiple stages . 🕒 All day (18+ event) – 🎟️ Eventbrite
Sat 24 May – Brixton Jamm – SummerJam Day Party – Afrobeats, dancehall, soca, hip-hop and more collide at this daytime bank holiday bash – a high-energy pre-summer party with top DJs, street food, games and tropical vibes. 🕒 3:00pm–11:00pm – 🎟️ Eventbrite
Sat 24 May – Brixton Jamm – Field Day Afterparty: Mala + Y U QT – Bass heads unite at Field Day’s official afterparty with dubstep pioneer Mala, UKG duo Y U QT, Just Jane, Skala and more – an all-night rave to cap off the festival. 🕒 10:00pm–4:00am – 🎟️ Skiddle
Sat 24 May – Phonox – Osunlade (All Night Long) – Legendary house DJ Osunlade takes over Phonox for an extended solo set, spinning soulful deep house grooves until dawn . 🕒 11:00pm–5:00am – 🎟️ Resident Advisor
Sun 25 May – Brockwell Park – Cross The Tracks 2025 – London’s flagship jazz, funk & soul festival returns with live sets by Michael Kiwanuka, Ezra Collective, Jordan Rakei, Cymande, Free Nationals, Gilles Peterson and many more . 🕒 All day (family-friendly) – 🎟️ Eventbrite
Sun 25 May – Brixton Storeys (Rooftop) – Low Life “Up On The Roof” – Celebrating 30 years of the Low Life party with veteran DJs Bill Brewster and friends hosting a rooftop get-together of house, disco and funk lovers . 🕒 4:00pm–2:00am – 🎟️ Skiddle
🎨 Section 2: Art & Heritage
SELECT/25 – Photography Exhibition (Photofusion) – Ongoing, now through Sat 31 May, open Tue–Sat 10am–6pm – Photofusion’s gallery presents SELECT/25, showcasing 25 stunning new works by emerging local photographers to mark the gallery’s 25th anniversary . (Free entry) – 🕒 10:00am–6:00pm – 🎟️ Photofusion
Ask BCA About: Legacy through Architecture (Black Cultural Archives) – Tue 27 May, 6:30pm–8:00pm – An evening of reflection and conversation on the future of Black architecture and spaces, featuring architects Stephanie Edwards and Julian McIntosh. This in-person talk explores who gets to shape our built environment and honors the legacy of Stephen Lawrence . (Free, RSVP required) – 🕒 6:30–8:00pm – 🎟️ Eventbrite
Millennium Girls (Brixton House Theatre) – Now playing, through 31 May – A joyful ’90s-set coming-of-age drama following three Brixton girls through first crushes, garage rave-ups and growing pains – complete with an all-female cast and a bumping UK Garage soundtrack . 🕒 7:45pm showtimes (Tue–Sat) – 🎟️ Brixton House
🧩 Section 3: Everything Else
Neon Naked Life Drawing (Trinity Arms Pub) – Thu 22 May, 7:00pm–9:00pm – A one-of-a-kind glow-in-the-dark art class turning life drawing into a UV-lit adventure. Get creative with reactive neon materials, sketching radiant live models under ultraviolet light in a fun, upbeat pub setting . (18+ only) – 🕒 7:00–9:00pm – 🎟️ DesignMyNight
Cosy Craft Workshop (Brixton Library) – Sun 25 May, 12:30pm–2:30pm – A free drop-in Cre8tive Arts session for all ages – explore and learn both old and new crafts in a friendly community setting. Try your hand at drawing, painting, flower-pressing and more, with all materials provided . (Family-friendly, no booking needed) – 🕒 12:30–2:30pm – 🎟️ Lambeth Council
Fly-Kid Family Rave (Pop Brixton) – Mon 26 May, 11:00am–3:00pm – A daytime dance party for kids and parents – bring the whole family to groove to nostalgic 80s/90s/00s hits (from Beyoncé to Bruno Mars, Missy Elliott to Madonna) while the little ones enjoy face-painting, street-dance lessons, hip-hop dress-up and dance-offs . (All ages; babies in slings go free) – 🕒 11:00am–3:00pm – 🎟️ TicketWeb
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🎭 🎬 The BCClist Film Must-Watch at the Brixton Ritzy Cinema
The Phoenician Scheme – Friday 23 May, 8:30 pm. Wes Anderson’s latest quirky caper follows Zsa-zsa Korda, a roguish millionaire, and his estranged daughter (a nun) who reunite when she unexpectedly inherits his fortune. Their reunion triggers an ambitious new enterprise – and quickly lands them in the crosshairs of scheming tycoons, terrorists and assassins . Rotten Tomatoes: 76% (critics) .
Final Destination: Bloodlines – Saturday 24 May, 12:00 pm. Plagued by violent recurring nightmares, college student Stefanie heads home to find the one person who might break a deadly family curse and save her relatives from the grisly fate that awaits them all . This sixth Final Destination entry is earning praise for its inventive, gleefully macabre set pieces, making it the highest-rated film of the franchise on Rotten Tomatoes at 93% .
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Sunday 25 May, 8:00 pm. Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt in the action event of the weekend, with Hunt and his IMF team embarking on perhaps their most dangerous mission yet – a globe-trotting race to destroy a rogue A.I. known as “The Entity” before it wreaks havoc. Rotten Tomatoes: 80% (certified fresh) , promising an explosive finale that lives up to the series’ highest standards.
Brixton Discounts
Free Drink with Every Main at Clover’s
We’re obsessed with the food at Clover’s, one of our favourite brunch spots in Brixton. Enjoy a complimentary drink with us when you order any main meal. For an unforgettable experience, try their Caribbean breakfast—it’s a crowd favourite that never disappoints.
En Root – 10% Off Plant-Based Delights
Plant-based Indian fusion cuisine that’s both nutritious and delicious. 10% off.
Mamalan – Authentic Chinese Street Food
Authentic Beijing street food in the heart of Brixton Village: 10% off.
Until next Thursday, 11.11 am
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