Brainchild

Desire Lines on film by our very own @jerome_toole 💜 💌 P.S. there are more than a hundred of these beauties Jerome shot and many more of you are featured — if you came to the festival and want to see/download, they’re in the google drive we emailed you in the thank you email! @the.shipwright

🩵🥭Rye Lane Fruit Palace, 20-28 Sept 🍓🧡 Our first real foray into art & play for public space, in the heart of Peckham, with an original pop-up playground, co-designed with local kids and inspired by fruit… from the seed of a funding app in December, we can’t really believe it happened!  After months of co-designing, building and risk assessing, and frankly, being quite out of our depth, we immersed for nine days straight in the joys of children’s play. How it is seemingly possible to go down a slide or throw yourself onto a giant watermelon an infinite amount of times with ever increasing glee. In all its 45 hours of hosted play time, it was only empty for about two hours, and it struck us that really, the hours of play are just as meaningful as the numbers of children who came.  Marie Williams (@dreamnetworks_play4all ) told us, you want the playspace to be like the Ice Cream van - it invites excitement in every child, but every child also gets something different, e.g. imaginary play, role-play, locomotive play... 🍦 Even just placing our surreal dragonfruit slide in a surprising place, we hope we subtly invited everyone into a state of imaginary play. We were SO lucky to work with the most generous and brilliant artists, @maiamagoga and @llllika , whose artistic vision, care and selfless dedication made this manifest so beautifully, despite our shoestring budget. Our co-desigers were Year 3 at Angel Oak Primary, whose unfiltered creativity for how you could make a playground from fruit, and invent up fruits like “blue black straw-mega-berries”, was the DNA of this project.  This was made technically possible with the play safety, design and carpentry skills of Matt Corless, Ed Haslam and Callum Sida-Murray, invaluable consulting with Marie Williams, and hours of support sanding, sewing, weaving, sawing from Dre, Davis, Christina, Josie, Juliet, Tash, Phoebe, Louise, India, Hetty, Carli, Chloe, Josh & Georgie. 💓 And finally, thank you to our partners @peckhamfestival and @peckhamlevels , whose in-kind support literally made this possible, with @southwarkcouncil ’s Cultural Celebrations Fund. 📸 @jerome_toole @froudonfilm @marinasblake

Hello World! After a 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱 needed break, we’re excited to tell you that there are Brainchild plans afoot. (BIG tip, put the 19th July in your diaries!) ✨👀 Boy what a journey it’s been! To really let go of a chapter, and not know what will come next. It’s been hard, but also so, so good - we’ve grown so much, enjoyed many new personal and professional adventures and found wholly new perspectives. And gradually, bit by bit, we’ve felt the fresh shoots of new belief, new ideas and new energy begin to come through. 🌱 So we’re here today to tell you that we’re gonna be making some special and brand new things happen this year, which will give us all big doses of creative energy, expression, joy, connection, inspiration and “YES” feelings amidst very challenging times. We’ll be coming to all of this from a place of playful experimentation, seeing how it feels in our lives now, and figuring out what kind of long term plans we might like to make. ❣️ For a long time, we imagined that if we re-emerged, it would have to be with shiny new programmes and total certainty about our future. But we want to be more playful than that! We don’t want perfectionism to hold us back from just getting on with the things we love to do. So rather than trying to figure it all out from a remote place of inaction, fuelled by imagination and spreadsheets, we want to figure things out together in real life. 🌀 So for now, we’ll be running this pretty organically and DIY. Some of our work will be voluntary, some will be paid. We will do things because we want to, when ideas feel ready and the time is right, rather than because a business model demands that we do. We will seek to maximise what is fun, collaborative, creative and communal about what we do. We know many of you will be wondering whether there’s a camping festival on the horizon, and the answer is: we aren’t ruling out a Brainchild Festival 2.0 in the future, but for now we are flexing some different muscles, and we’re very excited to tell you about all that’s to come. Big love as always, Brainchild HQ 💛 Artwork by our gal @_josie_tucker_ ✨

Our dear friend and collaborator @zoehuntergordon led our “Reimagining Grief” series at the festival and at @southbankcentre back in 2019, and together with @samsampetherbridge created this gorgeous book of your thoughts and reflections: how can we best support each other through grief, and why are we so afraid to talk about death?  This series was especially meaningful for her, for us and for so many of you, so we wanted to tell you about her new play that’s about to open, “1:17AM, or until the words run out” @1.17amtheplay where in a story of two friends, Katie and Roni, she continues this important work - untangling knotty questions about how grief affects our friendships and how we choose to live.   Zoe began writing the play after her father died in 2017, and the “Reimaging Grief” series we made together changed and morphed her own experience of grief, and directly fed into the writing of the play. If all of this is resonating with you, then we recommend going on Thu 26 Feb, when after the show, Zoe will be in conversation with bereavement specialist Dr Meherangiz Press, talking about the complexity of grief when it’s challenged by the different memories of others, and what role creativity can play as we move through these feelings.  🔗 Link to book + find out more in our bio ❣️ 1-6: Your contributions to our book with Samsam Petherbridge  7: 1:17AM, or Until the Words Run Out @1.17amtheplay 8: Zoe on the origins of the play and what it will be like at the Finborough 9: Reimagining grief conversation at the festival, with @ed.haslam , @ceciliaknapp , @jessicabutcherstory & @jdsrowland . 📸 @jerome_toole 10: @ed.haslam ’s piece: “Nothing to Be Frightened Of”, also part of our 2019 festival and a response to recent personal experiences of grief. Each reflective flag symbolises a moon cycle he will live through in his remaining life expectancy. Set at the boundary of our woodland, it addressed the fear of what’s beyond, and questioned whether it need be feared at all. 📸 Laura Troop

We won an award!! The Rye Lane Fruit Palace won a TET Inspire 2025 award for “Healthy Spaces”, and we can’t really believe it. We’re so happy. TET (@thorntoneducationtrust ) are all about getting young people engaged with their built environment. In their words: “this project provided a powerful and true connection to its place, illustrating a holistic interpretation of health that went far beyond the physical.” In case you missed it, the Rye Lane Fruit Palace was our pop-up playground installation outside of Peckhamplex, co-designed with local children and inspired by the fruits of Rye Lane market. Kids made up fruits and we made them IRL. Together with artists @maiamagoga and @llllika we ran workshops, designed and built the installation, with the help of dozens of amazing volunteers and experts, including consultants @dreamnetworks_play4all on the principles of co-design, play design and safety. In giving this to us, TET have not only supported a DIY project/collective on the outside of normal art/architecture practice, but they’ve recognised the beliefs that underpinned it: that PLAY and FUN, and the surprise of encountering things like dragonfruit slides on your walk home, is a positive thing for our health and communities. Some kids, about 8 y/o, came up to us on the first day and said, “what’s this for?” We just replied, “for fun”. It looked like a gear was shifting in their minds… the value of fun, in and of itself. Enough of a reason. Equally, it was sad and kind of predictable how many kids asked if it was free/how much it was to go on the slide. We’re feeling the need to do more things like this, and feel so encouraged to have had our creative work received like this in the world, especially for something beyond our festival. So please holler if you’d like to talk about anything else relating to kids co-design, re-imagining play spaces or the great outdoors. Big love and thanks again to Dream Networks, to the children at Angel Oak Primary, and our partners @peckhamlevels @peckhamfestival , founders @southwarkcouncil and epic team of volunteers. Straw-mega-berries forever.

This Sunday we brimming with excitement to welcome the new project from @rosie.turton aka Nomineye, creator of cosmic trombone and modular synth experiments, and enchanting vocalist and composer Miryam Solomon, into the fold of our @londonjazzfest showcase @lowerthirdsoho . 💌 They’ll be sharing and riffing from their gorgeous new ambient album “Maar” — a conversation between voice, trombone and modular synths, floating, dancing, searching together across two sides of long unedited improvisations. Made on the waterways, and at home, it’s their ode to slow journeys. 💧 It will be an invitation to immerse in layers of sound, and experience their musical dialogue unfolding in real time. 📆 6pm, Sunday 16 Nov  📍 The Lower Third, @lowerthirdsoho ⁕ Flur + Rosie Turton & Miryam Solomon 🎟️ Tickets from £12, link in bio  Gather with us for an intimate autumnal evening of ethereal and experimental music, also joined by mighty new trio Flur, from @miriamadefris , @dillonharrisonn and @isaacrobskrrtson . We can’t wait 🍂

A moment for Flur ahead of our @londonjazzfest showcase this sunday evening, where we’ll be gathering in one of soho’s cosiest live music joints @lowerthirdsoho for a warm and healing mid November evening of ethereal and experimental music. 🕯️ Flur - the new trio from @miriamadefris , @dillonharrisonn and @isaacrobskrrtson - have just released their debut record ‘Plunge’ on @__latency . It is a journey of intricate and glimmering harp, electronics, percussion and saxophone with so, so much depth. The kind of thing that you have to rewind on first listen, just to let a melody or a mood that’s hit you really sink in. For anyone who missed them at our takeover at We Out Here, this is a special opportunity to see them play one of their first London shows in a lovely intimate setting. ❣️ Words on the album from some their admirers below… swipe for the full tea! 📆 6pm, Sunday 16 Nov  📍 The Lower Third, @lowerthirdsoho ⁕ Flur + @rosie.turton  & @miryamsolomon   🎟️ Tickets from £12, link in bio  “Off-kilter London trio match lush arrangements with angular melodies and textural rhythm to take them on altogether fresh sonic adventures.” @guardian “Fans of Alice Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby or Nala Sinephro don't sleep - London-based trio Flur's debut album simmers worldly ambient sounds with spiritual free jazz, layering transcendent harp flourishes over skittering drums and breathy horns.” @boomkatonline “On harp, saxophone, and percussion, the London trio fuses composition and improvisation in a vaporous, polyrhythmic style somewhere between astral jazz and cosmic minimalism.” @pitchfork

After every set in our day at @weoutherefest we got a little portrait while everyone was in their own post-show high and looseness. It was such a gorgeous day! And the mood of these very non shiny casual point n shoot pictures reflects that 🌞 @astridsonne_ @fl_ock @_leasen @footshootersound Flur (@miriamadefris @isaacrobskrrtson @dillonharrisonn ) 📸 @marinasblake

A @ruby_francis appreciation post 🫶 📷: @imogens.jpgs

We’re part of London Jazz Festival this year!! 🪅Come join us for an intimate and cosy evening of ethereal and experimental music from @rosie.turton & @miryamsolomon and Flur, the new trio from @miriamadefris , @dillonharrisonn and @isaacrobskrrtson .  When we heard that Rosie Turton aka Nomineye, creator of cosmic trombone and modular synth experiments, was working with vocalist and composer Miryam Solomon, we were so happy, and knew we had to find a way to put them on. They’ll be sharing and riffing from their gorgeous new ambient and improvised album “Maar” 🍃 It will be an invitation to immerse in layers of sound, and experience their musical dialogue unfolding in real time.  Flur have just released their debut record “Plunge” on @__latency . It is a journey of intricate and glimmering harp, electronics, percussion and saxophone with so, so much depth. The kind of thing that you have to rewind on first listen, just to let a melody or a mood that’s hit you really sink in. For anyone who missed them at our takeover at We Out Here, this is a special opportunity to see them play one of their first London shows in a lovely intimate setting.  📆 6pm, Sunday 16 Nov  📍 The Lower Third, @lowerthirdsoho ⁕ Flur + Rosie Turton & Miryam Solomon 🎟️ Tickets from £12, link in bio  Thank you @londonjazzfest for inviting us and giving us this stage to present two such beautiful projects together, and to make what we hope will be a warm and healing mid November evening for us all 🕯️

We are very excited to announce the first of our series of ‘Rhythm Changes: In Conversation’ - panels that explore creativity with a forward looking drive for positive change. Our first talk will explore the various intersections between music, visual art, studio practice and community spirit featuring @jeremydeller @brainchildfest @sistermidnightldn & @mo_notice . Alongside this discussion, we have asked panellists to bring a small snippet of their work to illustrate their work in the wider world. After the panel we will have the fantastic @sistermidnightldn joining us for a DJ set, alongside a very special guest selector TBA 🤫 Free entry ! Tickets for the panel in bio & available on See Tickets. November 7th, panel 8-10 pm/DJs 10-1am. @thesociallondon ——- ABOUT OUR PANELLISTS: Jeremy Deller is a conceptual, video and installation artist. Deller often involves audiences in his creative practice, delving into a vast array of topics including British sociology, the history of rave culture, Roman Mosaics and life drawing with Iggy Pop. Brainchild is a not-for-profit arts organisation & festival. Their mission is to celebrate and develop emerging artists and young adults by giving them the space, confidence and network to creatively engage with what matters to them. George Nelson is a published music photographer and curator, working with and around the UK’s jazz musicians. His nights ‘Moment’s Notice’ showcase five leading lights in the art of spontaneous composition, whilst his photography explores these artists behind the scenes in their day to day practice. Sister Midnight is a not-for-profit co-operative organisation based in south east London. Since 2021, they’ve been campaigning to create Lewisham’s first community owned music venue, bringing a much needed cultural community hub to their local area. At the core of Sister Midnight’s work is their understanding of the sociopolitical power music holds in uniting and creating communities. ———— Graphics : @ggskips

Hello you wonderful bunch of humans 💖 Apologies for the radio silence, we’ve all been recuperating and tying up post-festival admin… But, now that the dust has settled and we’ve really been able to take stock, we can’t believe what a special day that was. We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better crowd for our first event – it was a real dream come true to see such a diverse mix of friendly faces all dancing ‘til sundown. It really felt like the start of something seeing this extended musical family come together for a magical day in the Wick. Thank you SO much for putting your trust in us and being part of our first festival. The whole area felt buzzing, with every single DJ, jam session and band performance truly outdoing themselves. The level of talent and energy… It was a real testament to the way this movement is blossoming and expanding to higher heights. We are so excited to get started on next year ❤️ Once more, thank you to all of the incredible crew and volunteers, all the host venues and our exceptional artists and collectives for being part of this. For news about 2026 and other Jazz on Wick goings on over the next 12 months, make sure to sign up to our mailing list at jazzonwick.co.uk. Big love, the Jazz on Wick team (@brainchildfest , @colourfactorylondon , @orii.community and @voices_radio ). P.S.: If you want to get in touch about taking part in next year, or you have feedback you’d like to share on how you’d like to see it improve, please send an email to [email protected] ✨ 📷: @courteneyfrisby