Brockley Max Opening Night
Friday 29 May
Time: 4:00pm – 10:30pm
Venue: Corner of Foxberry Road and Coulgate Street
Free
Brockley Max kicks off the festival with our Opening Night from 4.00pm. Local bands and performers bring rock, rockabilly, folk, funk and more! Hosted by MC Dre and PRZ Live.
Brockley Max Opening Night is kindly sponsored by We Are Lewisham and St. Dunstan’s College.
16:00 1Harmony Radio DJ set and through the evening
16:50 Young Mayor’s welcome
17:00 South London Samba Youth
17:30 Ruth Gitau
18:00 Lara Ziff
18:30 Chidimma
19:00 Koder
19:30 South Social
20:00 Gay Skeleton Club
20:30 Restlesstaxis
21:00 Paulie Boy Blues
21.40 Desrene Dekker and Desmond Dekker’s Aces Band
Young Mayor’s
The Young Mayor gives young people in Lewisham a real say in the future of the area. The role is at the core of the Youth Voice Action and Participation (YVAP) strand of Lewisham Youth Service, which brings additional opportunities for young people in the borough to get involved in decision making and influencing change. This will include area Youth Forums which will work on local priorities and feed back to the Young Mayor.
We are South London Samba, a drumming ensemble based in New Cross. We play music inspired by Latin, Brazilian, African and Caribbean rhythms. Although we use drums typically associated with Samba, we don’t confine ourselves to just one style.
Ruth Gitau
Ruth Gitau is an 18 year old indie pop singer and song writer.
Lara Ziff is a London-based artist whose sound blends the richness of classic soul with R&B and jazz influences, brought to life through raw and honest storytelling. Her music drifts between stripped-back intimacy and rich, expressive vocals that stay with you long after the music fades. Inspired by the likes of Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, and Angie Stone to name a few, Lara writes with depth and vulnerability. She invites listeners to find pieces of themselves within the music.
Hailing from the vibrant streets of East London, Chidimma emerges as a beacon of authenticity in the realm of R&B and Neo Soul. Chidimma’s music is a reflection of her deepest emotions and experiences. With poignant lyricism, she delves into the complexities of love and loss, inviting listeners into her world of raw vulnerability and unfiltered truth.
Koder
Hailing from Brockley, Koder commenced his musical journey aged twelve. 2010 saw the release of his debut mixtape Space Shuttle Business, and the successful release of Naked EP, catapulted Koder’s career further. Bringing the 2018 countdown in at the Northern Bass Festival, the wrapped up the summer at the Reading Festival, shutting down the BBC Introducing stage with fellow Brockley MC Yizzy. Koder’s new release Richer, at the end of the year, proves his music goes from strength to strength.
A 5 piece indie pop Rock band from Saaaaf laaandan. Starring Peggy the Ukulele. Get ready for songs that will get you singing along and ready to get up on your feet.
Gay Skeleton Club are a 3-piece band from southeast London who have been described as ‘indie pop meets minimalist punk
Restless Taxis is a DIY queer and POC-led band formed in East London in 2019. The band name comes from two english worksheets featuring tables of different words Michael picked out in year 9. The band’s lineup features Michael Asukyle (vocals, guitar), Jess Nwosu (vocals, bass), Dylan on drums, and Tash (synth/ vocals) whose interpretive dance adds a visual dimension to their already immersive performances.
Paulie Boy Blues’ soulful guitar playing, raw vocals and strong stage presence make him a standout in the new wave of blues and rock. He pulls inspiration from the legends but puts his own spin on it, keeping things authentic while still pushing the sound forward.
Desrene Dekker & Desmond Dekker’s Aces Band
“As the daughter of Desmond Dekker, Desrene Dekker is a dynamic reggae artist whose adaptation of her dad’s famous songs brings a fresh perspective to Desmond Dekker’s soulful melodies and poetic lyrics that will captivate audiences. All the hits are included in Desrene Dekker & the band’s Aces setlist: ‘Israelites’, ‘You Can Get It If You Really Want’, ‘It Mek’, and many more. “Desrene grew up in London surrounded by her dad’s musical influences. Drawing inspiration from her dad, Desrene began performing at her local church singing gospel before breaking into the reggae scene, covering her dad’s music with his original band, the Aces.