The Week Ahead in Brixton - 11th June 2025

Your guide to culture, community and connection in Brixton this week.

Brixton never sleeps, and this week proves it. From jazz sessions in intimate Tuscan restaurants to heritage walks uncovering forgotten stories, the neighbourhood is serving up another week of cultural richness that reminds you why South London has such a magnetic pull.

Whether you're a long time resident or new to the area, here's what's worth your attention across the Brixton postcodes this coming week.

Jazz, Wild Boar and Thursday Night Magic

This Thursday 12th June, Il Maremmano on Tulse Hill is creating something special. This authentic Tuscan restaurant – already beloved for its wild boar specialities and carefully selected wines from centuries-old vineyards – is hosting local jazz outfit The Funk Hunt for an evening that perfectly captures Brixton's creative spirit. Check out or previous blog about this amazing place here.

Two sittings are on offer: 5-8pm for the early crowd, or 8:15-9:30pm for those who prefer fashionably late arrivals. The Funk Hunt will perform two sets (7-8pm and 8:30-9:30pm), ensuring excellent live music regardless of when you arrive. Can't make this Thursday? The restaurant plans to continue these jazz evenings every fortnight, so there'll be plenty of opportunities to experience this winning combination of exceptional food and live music.

Your Week's Entertainment Menu

Wednesday 11th brings Leeds jazz collective Plantfood to Hootananny. This group has been making serious waves with their innovative blend of jazz, acoustic and electronic elements. At £8 on the door (£6 if you book ahead), it's an affordable chance to catch emerging talent in an intimate setting.

Thursday 12th offers relief for end-of-week fatigue: the Blues Kitchen's "Just One Drink" night provides free entry until 1am – perfect for those spontaneous Thursday evening decisions.

Friday 13th might be considered unlucky by some, but not if you're at the Windmill (the pub, not the historic mill). Four acts – Gaol Bird, Madame Claude, Cosmorat, and Fionnuala Bradbury – for just £9. It's the sort of lineup that makes Brixton's music scene so compelling: quality acts at accessible prices.

Saturday 14th sees the Prince of Wales hosting their weekly DJ House Party with free entry – ideal for those Saturday nights when you want good vibes without the premium price tag.

Sunday 15th offers something bigger: LCD Soundsystem continues their eight-night residency at the O2 Academy Brixton. Tickets are still available if you're quick, and witnessing this legendary group in Brixton's most iconic music venue is not to be missed.

Discovering Your Neighbourhood's Hidden Stories

Wednesday 11th brings a free guided walk with Incredible Edible Lambeth, starting at Wyck Forest Garden on Millbrook Road at 11am. This 90-minute, step-free exploration of Brixton's hidden green spaces offers the chance to discover corners of your neighbourhood you've probably walked past countless times without noticing. The local experts leading the walk provide insights into urban food growing and community gardening that might just inspire your own green initiatives.

Thursday 12th sees Brixton Tate Library hosting writer and scholar SJ Kim discussing her new work "This Part is Silent: A Life Between Cultures". Kim's book comprises letters to institutions that simultaneously support and fail her, with intimate accounts of rising anti-Black and anti-Asian racism. She draws inspiration from K-dramas and writers across cultures, promising an evening of thoughtful discussion about identity and belonging in contemporary Britain.

Weekend Heritage Adventures

Saturday 14th offers two excellent options for local history enthusiasts. Brixton Society's Heritage Walk around Brixton Market (90 minutes, £5, booking essential) tells the fascinating story of how this area transformed from open fields to become South London's shopping capital by the 1920s. The walk reveals layers of economic and social history that illuminate how communities shape commercial spaces over time.

Alternatively, Brixton Windmill - London's last working inner-city windmill - hosts an Open Day with guided tours. Built in 1816, this Grade II listed building has witnessed nearly two centuries of neighbourhood change whilst continuing to grind organic flour. The windmill's café and shop will also be open, offering locally produced goods and refreshments.

Sunday 15th provides another opportunity to visit the Windmill if Saturday's schedule doesn't accommodate it.

Literary Sanctuary Worth Discovering

For book lovers, Bookmongers on Coldharbour Lane deserves attention any day of the week. Owner Rob has spent over thirty years curating an exceptional collection of second-hand books covering arts, politics, fiction and children's literature. The shop's jazz soundtrack and cosy back seating area create perfect conditions for browsing, whilst Pop Eye the cat serves as the establishment's charming unofficial greeter.

What makes Bookmongers special isn't just its selection – it's Rob's genuine expertise in connecting readers with books they'll love. His recommendations have introduced countless locals to authors they might never have discovered otherwise, whilst the affordable pricing ensures quality literature remains accessible across all income levels.

Why This Week Matters

This week's events illustrate something fundamental about Brixton's appeal: the neighbourhood offers multiple entry points into deeper community engagement. Whether you're drawn to live music, local history, environmental initiatives, or literary discovery, there are genuine opportunities to connect with both place and people.

These aren't tourist attractions or manufactured experiences - they're authentic expressions of a community that values creativity, knowledge-sharing, and accessible culture. In an era when many urban areas feel increasingly homogenised, Brixton maintains its distinctive character through exactly these sorts of grassroots cultural activities.

The mix of free and affordable events ensures that financial barriers don't prevent participation, whilst the variety of options means different interests and schedules can be accommodated. That's what makes a neighbourhood genuinely inclusive: not just diversity of residents, but diversity of ways to engage with local life.

LAGORA connects South London residents with the people, places and stories that make their neighbourhoods unique. Based in Brixton and expanding across South London, we believe the best communities are built through genuine local knowledge and authentic connection.