Brixton Performs Festival
27 March – 1 April 2023
This March we will be bringing some of the best South London comedy, music, drag and theatre talent to Brixton for our third Brixton Performs Festival!
The Cocoa Butter Club at Brixton House Theatre – 27 March
The Cocoa Butter Club are hitting the stage at Brixton House and presenting a one-off Queer Cabaret from 8pm not to missed.
Celebrating everything from neo-burlesque and poetry, to drag, hoops and voguing The Cocoa Butter Club will have you screaming ‘yaaaaas queen, smell like cocoa butter up in hurr!’
Pecs Drag Kings at Brixton House Theatre – 28 March
Pecs Drag Kings are an all-women & non-binary theatre and cabaret company who’ve been creating critically acclaimed shows for the LGBTQ+ community since 2013.
Through their drag king cabarets and theatre shows, they explore gender identities, politics & sexuality, to create cultural space for queer women, trans* & non-binary folk. Their shows are sexy, raucous and highly entertaining, using songs, dances and comedy to celebrate inclusivity, queerness & community. Join Pecs for a king-filled cabaret featuring some of their greatest hits and incredible guest performers from the local area.
Pecs Drag Kings will be performing from 8pm at Brixton House.
Heidi Vogel & Femi Temowo live at Franzina Trattoria – 29 March
Live jazz returns to the quality Italian eaterie Franzina Trattoria on Coldharbour Lane from 8pm, as part of our 2023 ‘Brixton Performs’ with two ultra talented players!
A highly respected vocalist in the industry, Heidi is part of The Cinematic Orchestra, has opened for Erykah Badu in Dubai, performed at Montreux Jazz festival for Quincy Jones and appeared live on The Jimmy Kimmel Show on ABC , as well as performing at The Sydney Opera House to name a few.
Femi Temowo is a MOBO-Award nominated artist, composer and music producer. Femi’s slick and melodic guitar sound has earned him a place beside many great musicians from across a huge variety of genres, having toured or recorded with artists including George
Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Amy Winehouse, Courtney Pine, Taylor Swift, The Roots, and Omar.
It’s free entry but booking is required.
Comedy Downstairs at the Department Store – 29 March
Join us to laugh out loud Downstairs at the Department Store on 29 March!
Red Richardson is a critically acclaimed stand up comedian, writer, actor and podcaster and is now recognised as one of the most exciting new comics in The UK.
He has twice appeared on The Stand Up Sketch Show on ITV2, is a regular joke writer for ‘8 out of Ten Cats’, ‘8 out of Ten Cats does Countdown’ and ‘Live at The Comedy Store’ on Comedy Central and has written on Mock The Week.
Red’s 2018 Edinburgh debut “Seeing Red” garnered four star reviews from critics and played to packed houses at The Gilded Balloon.
Since then he has co created and co hosted the global smash hit comedy podcast ‘Laughable’ which has charted around the world.
Joining Red will be Ross Smith, Finlay Christie, Erika Elher, Charlie George and Lucy Pearman!
Doors open 7pm for a 7:30pm start.
Shortee Blitz at Chip Shop – 30 March
DJ Shortee Blitz is the UK’s #1 hip-hop and club DJ and one of the scene’s most popular personalities. He is a tireless supporter of urban music and, through his numerous performances with artists ranging from De La Soul and LL Cool J to Jay-Z and Nas, he has
firmly established himself on the international scene.
Shortee’s signature skills of cutting, scratching and mixing as well as an ability to consistently rock the dance floor is recognized by the industry and his global fan base.
Consistently in high demand, Shortee Blitz has toured his innovative style around the world to destinations as diverse as Dubai, Hong Kong, Kenya, New York and Australia. Shortee also holds down residencies in Ibiza and Cyprus throughout the summer and has hosted a number of shows on MTV as well as releasing plenty of well-received mixtapes.
Catch him at cHIP sHOP for music from 9pm – 12am on 23 March!
Billie at The Laundry – 30 March
Visit The Laundry for some live jazz from Billie!
Billie was raised on the music of great soul singers – Sade, Anita Baker and Chaka Khan to name a few.
Billie has also enjoyed success with her original music which fuses together Jazz with elements of dark RnB and electronica. She has toured as an original artist and been featured in Vogue and on Radio 1.
Inspired by a range of different music, Billie has a beautifully unique style of singing – effortless, silky and soulful, and through years of experience performing, Billie has developed an elegance and confidence on stage that has seen her sing at some of London’s most exclusive venues.
Visit The Laundry from 8pm, book a table to avoid disappointment!
Burlesque at the Courtesan
On Thursday 30 March the court of the Courtesan invites you to a night of burlesque and dazzling entertainment with Coco Belle and Mercury.
Enjoy Dim Sum from the all-female kitchen, drink cocktails from the world’s only drinks listing where all wines & spirits have been made by women. Be inspired by this female talent and applaud.
The show is from 9pm – 10:30pm, visit the Courtesan website to make a reservation.
Comedy Downstairs at The Department Store – 30 March
The laughs just keep on going, Downstairs at the Department Store!
Ola Labib will be headlining tonight! Rising star Ola Labib is known for her infectious charm, edgy comedy material and wry humour. Being the only Black, Muslim, female, Sudanese comedian currently performing in the UK she has already gained serious ground on the circuit and has no intention of slowing down. Ola’s mission to smash stereotypes and expectations through stand up has resulted in her gigging at top venues nationwide including The Comedy Store, Hot Water and The Frog and Bucket, and gaining the attention of a host of industry VIPS.
Ola’s charming presence and engaging stories are inspired by both her strict Islamic and traditional African upbringing. Citing her father as her biggest comedy hero, she notes her other influences as Dave Chapelle and Ricky Gervais, which is reflected in her comedy.
With her fast growing reputation, Ola Labib is most definitely one to watch and will be sure to be the perfect the ending to your comedy evening.
Joining Ola will be Jamie D’Souza, Dane Buckley, Rajiv Karia, Marise Gaughan and Freya Mallard.
Doors open at 7pm, for a 7:30pm start.
Pure Vinyl presents an Open Decks Special – 31 March
As part of our Brixton Performs festival programme @purevinyllondon will be hosting an open decks event on Friday 31 March.
6:30pm start, there is limited capacity, so get there early!
Taproom Sessions: Vinyl Nights with Brixton Radio – 31 March
Brixton Radio are back for the next episode of Taproom Sessions from 7pm till late. Their last outing to the Brixton Brewery Taproom was a huge hit; creating the perfect atmosphere for a Friday night with people sipping the night away.
A couple of their resident DJ’s will be making a comeback and will be digging and selecting their way through their vastly diverse vinyl collections, spanning Soul, Funk, Disco and House music.
Visit the Brixton Brewery Taproom website for more information.
Comedy Upstairs at the Ritzy – 1 April
The last night of our Brixton Performs comedy will be held at Upstairs at the iconic Ritzy cinema!
Whether this marks the end of your evening or the start, at at least it will be on a high. The headliner gracing the stage tonight will be actor, writer, producer and comedian Freddie Meredith! He is a regular performer at Moth Club in Hackney as well as starring in Baby Cow Productions short ‘FRANK’.
Freddie will also be joined by Daman Bamrah, Richard Spalding,Bella Hull,Freya McGhee and Joe Thomas, most commonly known for co-starring in the Inbetweeners.
Doors open at 7pm, for a 7:30pm start.
Brixton Chamber Orchestra’s Musical Storytime at Pop – 1 April
From 3pm – 4pm Brixton Chamber Orchestra present a child friendly workshop for those aged 5-10.
BCO’s versatile 7-piece Roving Band will be joined by the wonderful Floetic Lara – local singer, tutor, storyteller and workshop leader.
This musical storytime workshop will combine vibrant performance with heaps of participation, imagined people and places with real interactions and sensory experience.
Set in the central courtyard of Brixton’s quirky Pop, the performers will use the space in exciting ways. The children will learn a song together, and some dance moves too. The session will introduce children to various musical instruments and styles, as well as demonstrating the impact music has on a story’s characters and narratives.
Sweet P DJ Set at Lounge -1 April
Sweet P was part of the 90’s explosion of Manchester’s club scene. She regularly DJ’d at Sankeys, Paradise, Arch Bar, Jam St, Alaska & Hacienda. Her style is a lively mix of soulful jazzy beats, hip hop, funk, rare grooves, soulful house and broken beat.
A 2 year Saturday night residency at Home nightclub featured guest slots from future stars such as Mr Scruff, Mark Rae and Andy Votel, as well as veteran Manchester DJs The Jam MCs, Dean Johnson and Mike Chadwick, with occasional visits by London luminaries such as Patrick Forge, Ross Allen and DJ Food. She also hosted a radio show on pirate stations Frontline and Love Energy, and over the next decade continued to be an integral part of Manchester’s music scene playing at clubs, bars and parties across the city.
Older and wiser and inspired by joining the Eves’ Drop Collective, Sweet P is back for more, billed at several festivals and venues as well as hosting her new monthly radio show on The BoAt Pod.
Join Sweet P at Lounge from 9pm – midnight, free entry!