Notting Hill Carnival

When: 29 -30 August 2010 (August Bank Holiday Weekend)
Where: Notting Hill to Kensal Rise
How much: free!

Info | Past Performers | Guide &  Map | After Parties

Everybody loves Notting Hill Carnival, the two-day street party in West London celebrating Caribbean culture and offering the chance to dance in the streets to a variety of different sounds, from laid back reggae and dub to funk, soul, house, bassline, grime, dubstep, drum n bass and hip hop. The predominant sound is Soca, and Calypso from the steel bands for which Notting Hill Carnival is famous.

Info

Each day of the Notting Hill Carnival revolves around a parade of floats, some extravagantly decorated and followed by teams of dressed-up dancers, others just piled high with speakers. There are dozens of fixed soundsystems as well offering similar variety, from the bone-shaking dub of Abashanti to the balearic beats of Sancho Panza, via the fresh urban selections at Radio One and the iconic Good Times, helmed by national treasure Norman Jay MBE. Read about his plans for this year and thoughts on Carnival in general in our exclusive Norman Jay interview.

Past Performers

Over the years a massive array of performers have wowed the crowds and danced the routes themselves, from early susperstars like Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Decker and Jimmy Cliff to modern heroes including the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Roots Manuva, Beenie Man, Redrat, Skepta, Robbo Ranx, Wiley, Ironik and The Game. It's the only place to be on Bank Holiday weekend and you will reliably see massive UK and Caribbean stars performing live for Radio One. But for most people, the joy of Carnival is listening to records played at loud volume, on street corners.

Guide & Map

Check out Spoonfed's Notting Hill Carnival Guide. This includes a map to the fixed sound systems, along with tips on what to bring and how to get in and out. And how to go to the loo!

It's often a lot of fun to stumble upon soundsystems for yourself but most Carnival veterans will recommend checking out the following:

• Gaz's Rocking Blues
  Best For: Live reggae, costumes
• Channel One
  Best For: Bone shaking dub, topping up ganja supplies
• Studio 1
  Best For: Lovers reggae, food stalls
• Rampage
  Best For: Hard edged hip hop, grime, bashment and dancehall
• Sir Lloyd
  Best for: Rare reggae grooves, authentic sound system vibes
• KCC
  Best For: Freshest sounds, this year probably pure bassline n grime
• Aba Shanti
  Best For: Dub, roots, conscious reggae, and dancing with eyes closed
• Sancho Panza
  Best For: Ibiza sounds
• Good Times
  Best For: Norman Jay making love to your ears

• A quick mention to the Red Bull Music Academy Carnival Party, which is relatively new but fast achieving "legendary" status, and this year Major Lazer Sound System return... It's free, but surging popularity means you need a ticket. 

• Trouble Vision kick start the weekend's proceedings with Congo Natty on Friday.
• Good Times Carnival Warm Up on Saturday.
• Urban Nerds pre carnival mash up, which is also on Saturday. It's over in Shoreditch, but sure to get you in the carnival mood (or possibly delay your arrival at the carnival by a day).

After Parties

Carnival is strictly a daytime event, so get there early and throw yourself into it! But after a few hours dancing and drinking in the street, you're not going to feel like going home. There are dozens of parties all over London on both nights, with some incredible line-ups (many with super secret surprise special guests to be announced), to keep your Carnival going til dawn. Our top picks are all based near the Carnival route.

Paradise, By Way of Kensal Green is a magnificent three-floored pub a few yards from the north end of the route, and they have awesome parties both nights, with line ups that include Krafty Kuts at their Sunday after party, and Fake Blood tearing it up on Monday.

The Mason's Arms as standard, host mega parties, and this is where Block Down The Block will be held on Sunday; and then the incongruous but no doubt superb Snowbombing Party come Monday, featuring Matthew Bushwacka! and Dub Pistols Soundsystem. If in doubt, just stay there for the weekend!

A more chic, glossy affair will be taking place over at the Supperclub on Acklam road, where Mistinguette, the team behind The End will be launching new night Fandango, with a special guest line up that includes Layo and Russ Jay. The event is invitation only. 

The Metropolitan is a favourite meeting place year-round thanks to a prime location right by Westbourne Grove. Last year, there were two wicked parties; the S.L.A.C.K soundsystem on Monday was, frankly, ridiculous, and the same team, Lively, return to host the party on Monday this year. Part Time Heroes host on Sunday.

Two seriously popular choices are the Good Times and Sancho Panza afterparties – both huge, semi legal affairs, with the exact location announced on the day. Or for something completely different and a bit more relaxed (if you've thrown yourself into the dance all day) head to Ginglik in Shepherd's Bush for comfortable seats, cheap beer and impressive live music from The Severed Limb and rare reggae grooves from Count Sizzle at their Carnival After Party. 

Last on the list, but by no means least, bang amongst it all is the Notting Hill Arts Club, where, if you really wanted to, you could get your place for the warm up on Saturday, and drift home some point on Monday morning. The Secousse Carnival Special on Sunday stands out for us, where the infamous sound system is sure to raise the roof and rustle a few feathers, courtesy of a line up that includes Radioclit and another (not so) secret special dancehall guest. Cor.

Notting Hilll Carnival Q&As
Gaz Mayall Interview
Norman Jay Interview
Notting Hill Carnival: The Buzz with DJ Tayo, Big Chuck Reed & Co.
Click to view all pre- and after- Carnival parties announced so far.
Click here for all London Live Music.