Carnival goers at the Channel One Sound System [Holly Ziegler]

Where to be: Notting Hill Carnival, August 30-31

The August Bank Holiday weekend is here, which means there are plenty of events, gigs and parties on offer. Yet despite so much going on in the capital, the Notting Hill Carnival is undoubtedly the place to be.
Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, Carnival has grown into Europe’s largest street event, bringing people from across the world in celebration of Caribbean culture and heritage. Sunday is more family-focused, while Monday has the main adult parade and is usually much busier.

I’ll be there for both days, spending most of my time at Channel One Sound System on Leamington Road Villas as roots reggae and dub is my sort of thing. Head over and see it for yourself. Simply walking through the residential streets of west London filled with people as far as the eye can see is an experience unlike much else in the city.

One artist to check out: Dennis Bovell

Born in Barbados and raised in south London, Dennis Bovell became a key figure in Britain’s reggae scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He ran the Jah Sufferer sound system and was part of the band Matumbi, which (along with his own musical production and songwriting) played a key role in the development of lovers rock.

Bovell also wrote Janet Kay’s iconic hit Silly Games, and also composed the soundtrack to Franco Rosso’s cult 1980 film Babylon – a fascinating snapshot into the lives of Black British youths in London in the 1980s.

Of the music, I’d recommend listening to Brain Damage. It’s a wonderfully varied album, shifting between different tempos, moods, and styles. With Carnival weekend coming up, Bovell is exactly the artist that deserves to be highglighted.

One album to check out: Toots & The Maytals – Funky Kingston

By the time the first version of Funky Kingston was released in 1973, Toots Hibbert and the Maytals were already one of Jamaica’s biggest acts, following a number of hits throughout the 1960s. Their 1968 single Do the Reggay even helped popularise the name of the genre itself. But Funky Kingston was one of the albums that helped bring reggae to a wider international audience.

While its backstory is interesting, you don’t need to know the ins and outs of its history to enjoy the record. The second version of Funky Kingston is one of my favourite reggae albums of all time. Released in 1975, it hosts songs like Time Tough, In the Dark and the title track, providing a distinct upbeat and soulful feel. It also features Country Road and Pressure Drop, some of the group’s biggest tracks. Hibbert’s unmistakable voice and catchy songwriting combined with the Maytals’ simple but infectious grooves make Funky Kingston worth putting on this holiday weekend.