Notting Hill Carnival is under way for another year. An opportunity for one of the hardest working cities in the world to let its hair down and revel in this multicultural spectacle, it's difficult to imagine a London without it. Whilst heavy rain may have put some people off turning up first thing this Sunday, there's something invigorating about wondering around Notting Hill in this weather as it amplifies the intoxicating smell of the jerk chicken barrel's and petrol run generators powering the stalls and stages; makes a change from buses anyway. WE had a blast, and this is the best of what we saw:
Jungle on the Rampage soundsystem at 11am
Walking along the beautiful leafy road void of cars with soundsystems along practically every road, it can be bothersome to work out which one to head to. Rampage, though, is a magnet. An absolute behemoth. We hear ‘Champion Sound’ by Q Project being emitted from the speakers and wander closer. It’s early still and not many people are here yet, except of course a few lads with cans and a carefree attitude who look like they got lost on the way to Creamfields.
Surprisingly, there’s more people over on the decks than the floor at this time, so we get chatting to Treble T, one of the select crew that runs Rampage. Stood by what looks like enough power to blow away 70,000 people, but will see around 4,000 max stood within its firing distance, we ask: what does it take to put together something on this scale? “It takes all year, a whole heap of money, loads and loads of meetings and a lot of hard work, and passion,” he answers thoughtfully and patiently, despite being in the midst of running the most important time in Rampage’s year. What about the sound, what are we hearing? “It's about 55k in total, 35k bass, and the rest is mid and tops,” he tells us proudly.
Well, it certainly works. Hearing it at this quality you hear the melody and the rhythm and get the full experience whereas some sound systems are occasionally imbalanced or lacking that sucker punch. No such problem at Rampage. As for what you’ll hear, should you be tempted to go to Rampage tomorrow, you’ll get a bit of everything: “I think we were the first multi genre sound system, we kind of came to prominence for that. Because we were the first guys on 1Xtra and the whole idea of 1Xtra was you get one reggae, one hip-hop, one R&B, one soul tune, and that's how it is on the Rampage Sound System.
Hearing Mist might show up at Rampage on Monday
“We might have Mist tomorrow (27 Aug), I'm not sure, if he makes it down from Leeds Festival,” says Treble T. Well, getting the chance to hear Mist, who, earlier this year, released his debut EP through his label Sickmade which is licensed through Warner, will undoubtedly get the crowd going - we truly hope he’s on his way back. The Brummie rapper embodies the spirit of Carnival even at his small gigs. Gigwise saw him at Tape London for his EP launch party and he had the tequila flowing and made sure everyone had a drink in their hand before performing tracks from it.
As for the invitation from Rampage extended to Mist it’s indicative of the longstanding soundsystem’s awareness of new acts and knowledge of how important it is to nurture budding talent: “The thing that's getting through immediately is this whole new wave of artists, the Ramz’, the MoStacks, your Mist, those guys are really on fire at the moment. They're selling a lot of records. They're getting the instant recognition,” he says, finger on the pulse.
Seeing Notting hill boarded up – yes, really, it looks great
In a brilliant change from the ordinary plethora of Sainsbury’s, Tescos and boutique-y shops that fill your eyes, Carnival is an opportunity to forget about the monotony of Capitalism thanks to the boards that cover the windows. As you wander between the thumping might of each soundsystem, you’re treated to colourful graffiti with the occasional political slogan – A Brexshit, literally painted as a turd with a face being one fine example – and it fills you with a more playful, happy view of the world, and confidence our artists are still focused on speaking the truth. And the lack of shop fronts channels the focus on to the procession, the music and on one another, allowing us to enjoy this egalitarian environment switched off from the sometimes hard day-to-day.
Girl powered sound
Women are always well represented everywhere at Carnival, but there were a couple of systems where the sisters' collective presence was particularly pronounced. Seduction City, nestled somewhere in the warren-like maze of backstreets to the north side of the Westway, had a healthy showing of female DJs and punters alike. Their playlist of slinky old skool UK garage sounds also seemed very fem-focussed, although the arrival of Craig David's debut hit 'Rewind' on the system was also one of the more visibly celebrated tunes of the day. Similarly, you could feel the oestrogen levels rising down at King Tubby's Sound when we checked in with the North London crew at their spot in on Clydesdale Road. Beyoncé’s 'Independent Women' was blasting out of the speakers, accompanied by some animated reggae-style toasting from MC, and it seemed like every women in the area descended to sing it at the top of their lungs,
Seeing tradition woven with the future
Tradition appears to be a thread by which young people weave their own vision of the present. The first float we see are kids wearing traditional Taino costume and dancing like an ancient army preparing for battle to the tribal beat. Given the archaic designs they're adorned in, one might expect the sounds to hark back to acoustic made music too. But the music blaring out of the speakers - like the majority of the roaming sound systems - is at the very forefront of electronic music. Manipulating old rhythms with a taste for heavy bass and lush, layers of samples treated to bring out a wall of sound. Thunderous, life-affirming stuff that you can’t help but begin to lose yourself to.
The respect shown to Notting Hill legend Daddy Vego
In honour of Daddy Vego, who died in 2016, Bushman’s headline performance under the gazebo in front of the People’s Sound record shop, is a touching tribute. With the microphone passed around his entourage, Bushman reaps a massive response when dedicating a cut to Vego. A lady stood at the door leans over and proudly points at the photo of Vega put in pride of place on the wall in front of the counter, and says, “he was the first to put reggae music in clubs in North West London, you know. He did a lot for reggae music.” The warmth of people sharing the stories of the people who know the area leaves us itching to return to proceedings tomorrow; and - hopefully, fingers crossed - see sound system veteran Sir Coxsone who is set to play at People’s Sound. As for what time exactly? This kind of information doesn't’ travel very easily at Carnival. But we’ll pop back throughout the day and hope to catch this legend.
This year the system is in the hands of Daddy Vego's son Dexter for the first time and again, there's a vibe of old meeting new as 70s reggae anthems that the crowd know every word are mixed with junglist hard hitters like Shy FX's cheeky remake of 'Sound Of Da Beast' by KRS-One. Rapping from the Bronx re-routed via Jamaica and remodelled in East London? The ingredients for proper carnival mayhem for sure.
Soca’s remedy for the soaked
With the rain showing no signs of abating, indeed intensifying as the afternoon continues, we head to the London Association of Calypsonians' stage in Powis Square. It turns out that keeping pace with the frenetic rhythms of soca and calypso is the perfect way to warm yourself up and shake off the drizzle that's collected on your plastic poncho.
The stage is a riot of colour, the house band coming complete with a dazzling brass section and backing singers in glittering, green African headdresses, backing a succession of larger than life lead singers. The good vibes quickly spread to the crowd – one man, arriving in the square in a formal looking jacket, insists on shaking hands with everyone nearby and wishing them “good evening” in the poshest tones imaginable,
Latin rave adding a dash of salsa
All twerk and no play makes Jack a dull boy so full marks to the Latin Rave system for filling the top end of Portobello Road with couples executing well-rehearsed, highly choreographed salsa moves, twirling their partners around at top speed and vigorously swinging their hips to a potent hybrid of Latin and house flavours. It takes all sorts to make a good carnival.
The Jesus army on the March
Definitely one of the most amusing sites of the day was the tiny and rather ramshackle band of half a dozen Christians trailing behind the end of the procession. Pulling a mini float with the words Jesus Is Lord on its side, their sonic accompaniment was not musical, but rather an unintentionally hilarious monologue from a bearded man with a microphone voicing the lord's apparent disapproval of the partying.. “Look at that man,” he hectors as they reached the top of Ladbroke Grove, “he can hardly stand upright!” It's quite possible he was doubled up with laughter – we certainly were.
1Xtra’s Seani B keeping it sexy
In contrast to the prudish nature of the anti-carnival six, Seani B wastes no words on the Red Bull stage: “What’s your favourite style of sex?” he asks the crowd after incessantly urging everyone to put down their Whats App and umbrellas and find a partner to grind with - “In Jamaica we party whatever weather”. After a few encouraging words towards the audience, the crowd are more amped, and it’s as if people did need reminding that they’re gathered to let go of their inhibitions and have a wild time. Being on the receiving end of the mushrooming crowd, all lapping up the dancehall sounds, the MC teems with energy; he’s rushing. What a natural born performer - a no shits-given powerhouse.
Pineapple tribe’s fruity techno treats
Tucked away in a cul de sac behind Ladbroke Grove, a short walk from the Red Bull and Aba Shanti's systems, we're delighted to discover Pineapple Tribe catering to those with tastes leaning towards techno and electro. A remix of Moby's 'Go' is doing its thumping business when we stumble across their rig, generously draped in military camouflage netting. But after a faithfully observed minute's silence for the victims of Grenfell, the vibe turns to the polyrhythmic synchopations of Detroit electro. It's another refreshing change for our battered ears.
