After what has felt like forever, summer’s three-day holiday has arrived, and you know what that means – Carnival!
In its 56th year, Notting Hill Carnival continues to grow and flourish. A true gem to London, the carnival unites everyone and over two days, in an area with the largest wealth divide, the streets are truly transformed into a shared explosion of community, love and celebration for Caribbean culture.
A 72-second silence will once again be held this year at 3 pm on Sunday and Monday to remember the 72 lives that were lost at Grenfell.
To celebrate this legendary weekend, HUNGER has selected the best events; warm-up, during and after the Carnival. Enjoy!
Boko! Boko! Carnival Warm-up
The girls are back with a bang: Boko! Boko! are throwing a Carnival warm-up you’re not going to want to miss.
Behind Boko! Boko! are a collective of three women, Chinwe, Tashan and Hannah, who have been spotlighting diasporic-inspired dance music and championing positive female energy.
For their carnival warm-up, the trio has curated a night of afro-fusion, reggaeton, highlight and bashment with selectors and musicians including Kitoko Diva, Heny Envy, Pure Life and Tash LC.
The night is also taking place at the beautiful canal-side Grow Hackney, so why aren’t you buying your ticket already?!
Purchase tickets here.
Price £5, 20:00 – 04:00
Location: Grow, 98C Wallis Road, Main Yard, London, E9 5LN
Channel One Sound System – Carnival Warm Up Party
A taster for Sunday and Monday, Channel One is prepping for their stage at the Carnival with a warm-up party at Village Underground – bringing along their hand-built, custom-made sound system.
Expect heavy bass, dubplates and friendly vibes till late.
Price £10, 22:00 – 06:00
Buy tickets here.
Location: Village Underground, 54 Holywell Lane, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3PQ
Kartel Carnival Warm Up: Scratcha DVA + Pedro
Kicking off the weekend to a good start, Kartel is back with their pre-Carnival party.
Featuring Scratcha DVA’s debut appearance at a Kartel party, a superstar of UK club music; notorious for his sets of UK Funky, House, Dubstep and now creating his own spin on South Africa’s Gqom sound.
Joining Scratcha DVA is Pedro, a fast-rising talent form Lisbon; Afro-Bass specialist Hagan; Glastonbury native Boa Kususa, who’s heavy, percussive beats have put them on the map and Portata alongside a mysterious DJ who’s only known as Gqom Lennon.
Expect a high-energy party filled with global dance music sounds, including but not limited to from highlife, soca, dancehall, gqom, kuduro, soulous, coupe decale, afrobeats, benga, UKFunky, tribal house, and who knows what else.
Price £7.50, 23:00 – 05:00
Find out more information here.
Location: CLF Art Café, Block A, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST
Little Gay Brother’s Queer Carnival II and Afters
The after-party to Little Gay Brother’s open-air day rave at Flat Iron Square. Taking place at OMEARA expect fabulousness, a touch of madness and everything in between.
Little Gay Brother run festival stages, and they are treating today just like any other festival – the event includes an outside stage, 3 x bars, drag queens on treadmills, breathtaking lewks, superstar DJs, food traders and high-energy dance shows.
For afters, the crew turn to OMEARA.
Buy tickets for the afters here.
Notting Hill Carnival Party – Carnival Energy
Be careful not to use up all of your energy for the actual carnival at this though…
E1 have curated the best to bring you the spirit of carnival, A-Star bringing his afrobeats, Blackboy on soca and K More representing dancehall.
Buy tickets here.
Price £13, 23:00 – 06:00
Location: E1 London, 110 Pennington Street, Wapping, London, E1W 2BB
Benji’s Deviation sound system
Benji B’s Deviation stage is returning to Notting Hill Carnival this Sunday in collaboration with Stüssy, who have created a collection of merch in celebration of Carnival.
Deviation was founded by Benji B in 2007, the highly-regarded London party famed for an open-minded music policy has welcomed countless legendary guests including Skepta and Flying Lotus.
The location will be revealed on Deviation’s and Benji’s socials on Sunday, so keep your eyes peeled.
Price FREE, n/a
Location: TBA (Notting Hill)
Red Bull Sound System at Notting Hill Carnival: SPICE
It’s third-year running, Red Bull’s notorious stage presents the best in dancehall, bashment, rap and afrobeats from the UK’s and Caribbean’s best selectors.
Headlining on Sunday is Spice, the dancehall queen and winner of 2016 Red Bull Culture Clash winner, joining her is Vybz Kartel, Sneakbo, Yxng Bane, Alicai Harley, Br3nya, The Rara and plenty more.
Find out more info here.
Price FREE, n/a
Location: Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park, Notting Hill
World Unknown Carnival Party
Dubbed London’s ‘wildest night out’, World Unknown is back for their debut Carnival afters – in a fully-functioning LGBTQ friendly venue in East London.
Featuring a main room throb, house basement, feel-X, and an ambient loft, Monday morning will be calling before you know it.
The line-up includes World Unknown regular Andy Blake, Jaye Ward, Twinkat Soul, Luca Schiavoni, and Marco Pi.
Buy tickets here.
Price £10, 22:00 – 05:00
Location: Metropolis Club, 234 Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9NN London, United Kingdom
BEATS BY DR. DRE PRESENTS: INKLU:SIV SOUND AT NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 2019
This debut party from INKLU:SIV SOUND celebrates the cultural dispora through music which is curated by Irene TTYA and Corinne Allen.
Price FREE, n/a
Location: Powis Square, Notting Hill
Notting Hill Carnival Parade
Arguably the best part of the weekend, steel pan players and bejewelled dancers twirling around Notting Hill. Beverly Tony, an adjudicator for NHC (Notting Hill Carnival), told The Guardian: “You wear your costume (pretty mas), and it’s about expressing yourself. You feel total freedom on the road – how often do you get to do that? It’s a wonderful sight.”
The parade will route will encircle the carnival and run for the majority of the day.
Over 70 groups will ‘play mas’ (take part in the parade), and each group will have its own unique theme and story.
Find out more information here.
Price FREE, 10:00 – 19:00
Location: Notting Hill
Rinse – Carnival After Party
With an elusive line-up strictly TBA by one of the best underground dance music radio stations in the country, you know there’s a pleasant surprise hiding up Rinse FM’s sleeve.
Buy tickets here.
Price £15, 18:00 – 01:00
Location: 9 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, London, W10 4AE
