London’s Notting Hill Carnival

I’m afraid that our must hear for this month is a little belated as it comes after the event…  Carnival in all its varied and wonderful forms. Notting Hill Carnival has been a firm feature of London life since 1966- a date I believe means something else to many people !

Actually the Carnival began life in 1959 as an indoor event and was in response to race relations experienced at the time, inflamed by Oswald Mosley and culminating in the Notting Hill race riots of September ’58 Originally started as a small festival by and for the West Indian community of West London, Carnival has grown from strength to strength and now attracts millions of people from all over the World. I honestly don’t believe there is anywhere else that attracts such an eclectic mix of people. All ages, creeds, sizes, colours, physical abilities and states of undress, they are all there and smiling.

This year Saxon Soundsystem, one of London’s longest running systems, were graced with a surprise visit from some of the Marley family, Damian stopped for an impromptu appearance delighting everyone lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time.

My good friends who run Solution soundsystem played alongside Austin ‘Jah Observer’ Palmer who had returned from Jamaica especially for Carnival. This was Solution’s second appearance at Carnival and is already one of the best places to be.

My final mention has to go to Channel One Soundsystem, run by the great Mikey Dread with Ras Kayleb picking up the mic. Channel One are veterans having gone from a modest audience thirty years ago to one of the largest that any system attracts. They truly are masters.

Hopefully some of you made it down or perhaps you will next year ?