Notting Hill Carnival returns to London as Europe’s largest street celebration on August bank holiday weekend.
The streets of West London will be filled with bright colours, music, and flavours that make the Caribbean party come alive!
The party used to take place on every August bank holiday weekend, before a two-year pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
So now that it's back, we spoke with Matthew Philip, CEO of Notting Hill Carnival Lt,d who gave us great insight into the essence of the festivities and revealed his plans for the event's long-awaited return.
Seasoned: Hi Matthew! How do you feel about Notting Hill Carnival coming back to the streets after such a long wait?
Matthew: I’m really looking forward to the carnival returning, it’s been a long three years and we're ready to give the people the enjoyment they love so much.
Has there been a lot of planning going into this year's antics?
Matthew: Well going back three years, we thought we were planning for 2021, as Carnival is a huge event, amongst the biggest in the world so it takes a lot of organisation. Our normal cycle would be 11 months of planning leading up to the event – then we execute the event and have a month of de-briefing. So it’s a constant cycle really.
For those who haven’t experienced it, what is the essence of Notting Hill Carnival?
Matthew: Carnival's essence is a celebration of freedom and inclusivity. It’s been that way for over 50 years. When I speak to new visitors who are experiencing it for the first time, they’re often taken aback by the sheer diversity of people that you see.
"At Carnival, everybody comes together and is at ease with one another."
Can you tell us more about the culture behind Notting Hill Carnival?
Matthew: It originates from Caribbean culture, but in essence the roots of that are African. Notting Hill Carnival is unique in that there are deep roots in both areas, but it’s taken on its own identity because of London and the diversity that we have here.
Predominantly, it's Black culture, but there is a lot of inclusivity within that. Amongst the sound systems, for instance, some are playing dance and house music or Latin music, then we have the foundation reggae sound systems. We’ve got Brazilian bands on the roads of our parades and much more so it’s all infused with London’s stamp, bringing people together from all over the world.
"Everyone is welcomed to not only spectate but participate."
Since the “mega-event” celebrations have been three years in the making, the pandemic has afforded organisers the time to “focus” and the ability to “get the plan as good as it can be”, Matthew tells us.
So, what can people experience this year – is there anything new going on?
Matthew: This year, as far as the parade goes there will be approximately 70 bands on each day parading around the route of the carnival, from 10am to 8:30pm. We’ve got two stages which operate from 12 mid-day to 7pm, and performances from well-known artists from different genres of music.
Matthew: Then we have 37 sound-system sites where people can hear a variety of music. We’ve also got an app called 'Notting Hill Carnival' that people can download and find out more about the sound systems and the type of music they play. It's a great navigational tool for Carnival because it provides information on transfer hubs, toilets, dietary requirements regarding food, and much more.
Not only can people expect the traditional settings of Carnival and get involved in the wicked musical scenes, but there are also going to be new and improved ways to keep the celebration going in a more environmentally friendly way!
Can you tell us about the new eco- truck and the difference it’ll make to this year's carnival?
Matthew: This electric vehicle was made possible through a partnership with Spotify, who’s supported its development. We believe it’s really going to have a major impact on Carnival going forward. It’s got a number of benefits – there's no emission so we're taking away a diesel lorry and a diesel generator from each band alone.
How Carnival parades usually operate are floats built on trucks, and to power the music we use generators. So we’ve prototyped an electric float which we first tested at this year's Glastonbury Festival, and we’ll be doing further tests before rolling it out at this year's Carnival. This battery technology will be pushed forward for future carnivals to come as it's a healthier alternative.
Now if you want to get the party started early you're in luck, because there are events and competitions starting earlier in the week, following through right up to the bank holiday.
Is there anything going on that people can enjoy before the Carnival begins?
Matthew: From Saturday there's a steel band competition that sort of starts the spirit of the carnival. The energy starts to build with small events that take place before the actual Sunday like a big show we're having on the 25th, called the Queens of the Caribbean featuring Spice, Patra, and more artists, then there are various parties on Friday and Saturday right throughout.
The CEO also serves as the manager of the Mangrove Mas Band, which is one of the UK's oldest steel bands. Steel bands are synonymous with Caribbean culture and are liked by many from young to old, so we found out more.
What impact do steel bands have on an event like Notting Hill carnival?
Matthew: It's a huge part of the carnival, and how I even got involved in it. My father is one of the co-founders of Mangrove Mas, and I’ve played in the band since I was a young teenager and have been managing it for over 20-something years now. The band is born out of the Mangrove community association, with a rich Caribbean community, and a big element of carnival enjoyment.
So there you have it, everything you need to know about the exciting few days ahead. It's been long-awaited, but the time has come to have fun, and let loose – Carnival style! So have a dance, grab some yummy food, and enjoy the music that surrounds you!
