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You might remember that here at All In London we tied up with Red Bull Reporter on one of their exciting assignments to find a photographer and a writer to report from this year’s Notting Hill Carnival.
Xavier Fiddes was selected by Red Bull Reporter to photograph the day, whilst Clodagh Dunne joined him as the Red Bull Reporter writer. They began their experience of Notting Hill Carnival at The Tabernacle, where they met The Mangrove Steel Band and spent the morning following their float. Come midday, they were due at Red Bull Music Academy’s Mazor Lazor Sound System party that featured DJs such as Switch & Diplo. This seven hour party was unbelievable and we have the report from the Red Bull Reporter Clodagh Dunne chosen to write up on the day so you can see exactly what went down...
You can also check out Xavier’s photos from the event and all other Red Bull Reporter assignments and reports at www.redbullreporter.com
See the article below...
Notting Hill Carnival – Red Bull Reporter Article
Clodagh Dunne
Stepping out of the stuffy tube into the streets of Notting Hill I instantly feel excited. It’s about ten to nine in the morning and I’m on my way to meet the Mangrove Steel Band, whose float will later be in the carnival. The roads seem eerily deserted. I check my watch again. Not one to rise before 11am, I wondered if this is what London looks like so early in the morning. Was everyone in bed? It is a bank holiday after all. Then I noticed people staring at clusters of police men with confused looks on their faces as they ask for directions. I saw groups of men unloading heavy boxes and intimidating equipment from the back of vans and could hear the distant sound of music seeping out of café windows. It was official, another day of the carnival was about to begin.
Eventually finding The Tabernacle, where the Steel Band are getting ready, I made my way through a large group of men standing by the entrance in search of Matt Phillip, the manager of the steel band, who was kindly going to show me around. Matt, a member of the Steel Orchestra since he was eleven (his dad was the founder of the band), greets me with a warm handshake and takes me into the building. I am met by a sea of girls dressed in blue hot-pants and bras, their faces covered in white paint, the glitter on their eyelids sparkling under the lights, running around holding makeup brushes or greeting friends. Men wearing sailor caps and deep blue trousers laugh with one another and blue-feathered head-dresses sit patiently on a table, row after row. “The theme this year is nautical madness,” Matt tells me. That explains all the blue, then. But what about the men in the white suits? The golden buttons on the jacket look freshly polished, the white cap and black cane, one man is wearing, looks incredibly dapper. “They’re the traditional costumes. They’re warn every year.”
Matt takes me on a tour of the building. The recording studio, the rehearsal space, the numerous trophies; it’s all very impressive. The Steel Band have played everywhere, with up to seventy five people playing at one time, and Matt told me they’d come second in a competition a couple of days ago. “It took six weeks to rehearse.” Six weeks? Is that all? For seventy-five people to get to second-place standard is almost incomprehensible. I pretty much say this and he modestly shrugs. As the time ticks on, more and more people flood in. Hugs all round, old friends tell in jokes and the queue for makeup gets longer. There’s such a great atmosphere of unity and fun; it’s hectic but people are relaxed, as though they are just having a normal day out with their friends. “Different people play different roles,” Matt told me during the tour. “Everything works because we’re all one team.” I can definitely see that and I’m actually quite envious I’m not a part of it.
Speaking too soon tends to be a habit of mine. “Are you walking the carnival with us?” Matt asks me. My tummy flutters, rammed full of butterflies. I nod and say, “Yes, please” in a high pitched squeal. “Let’s get you a t-shirt then.” Wearing the T-Shirt I feel part of the gang. Ok, so I’m walking around with a notepad and pen, observing everything as if it’s the day before my eyesight vanishes, but I’m wearing something everyone else is and it feels good.
Music begins to blare out. A man comes in through the front and shouts “Everyone to the float please. We’re about to leave.” Internally I jump up and down. I follow the stream of people out to the street, and take my place in the crowd. People are swaying on the spot, their feet itchy to dance. It’s time for me to overcome by stiff-upper lip mentality and relax. For now I am part of the Mangrove Steel Band float, and I’m going to damn well act like it! The tractor pulling the two floats begins to move. The music gets louder. The MC shouts into the microphone, “Come on everyone, line up. Let’s get ready for the carnival.” Boom, boom, boom goes the base. Shake, shake, shake go the hips. We’re off, travelling slowly through the musical streets of Notting Hill.
As we get further into the carnival, more crowds appear. I notice as soon as they see us they smile. Some point at the extravagant costumes, others are enthralled with the amazing dancers. Families and tourists lean against us to pose for photos. I noticed some people put their bags on the ground and dance, whilst others in their houses climb onto the balconies above, holding cold beers and cameras. Usually I would feel awkward; I’m not used to being gawked at by hundreds of people. But it’s not like that. It’s a group thing and everyone is concentrating on having a good time.
I walk the Mangrove revellers for about an hour. Many friends from the streets have joined us, dancing with their pals and having a good time. Whistles blow, and the crowd cheer when asked “Are you ready for Carnival, 2009?” Exhilarated, I sadly pull myself away. It’s time for me to go to RedBull’s ‘Major Laser Soundsystem’ and still feeling the buzz from my parade experience, I enter the venue with a smile on my face.
It’s a completely different scene. If the float was tropical, urban fun then this place is urban chic. Morrisey lookalikes and Top Shop fashionistas flood the place. They either lounge on the big gold cushions, chatting to their equally attractive friends, or they wait patiently at the bar, looking forward to their free Red Bull cocktails. The brick arches (we are under a railway line) are covered with brightly coloured graffiti, and plastic flamingos perch in any corner which will have them. The chequered shirts and skinny jeans are polar opposites from the blue feathers and sequins but, my God, these people look good.
By the stage and dancing area, naked robots gyrate against poles (no, I’m not lying) and a giant aeroplane sits stoically next to a giant stack of speakers, another robot posing as the pilot. Everything clashes, but it all comes together perfectly. All of a sudden, real crowds start to appear. Girls with peroxide blonde hair, boys in ripped vests showing off their tattoos. I also spot Marquita Oliver looking, shall we say, in the party mood. It’s trendy but it’s not alienating. As reggae and dub-step blare out of the speakers, there’s obviously something for everyone here.
Fast forward an hour or so and the DJ’s begin. Jillionaire gets everyone in the mood followed by Paul Devro who, without a doubt, generates a massive buzz. His mix of electro, dub and Balkan beats are flawless. I hear ‘Everybody Dance Now’ and let’s just say people follow his command. “I like how everyone comes together here,” he tells me backstage. “London’s such a big city with so much diversity. You can see that in the carnival and I love the crowd at the Soundsystem.” He sips on a beer and ponders. “I saw an amazing float. It had Popeye and Olive Oil on it. I thought it was genius.” It sounds it, Paul Devro.
Rusko’s set blends a mixture of Calvin Harris, drum and bass and electro. As he leaps into the air and points his fingers to the sky, people lap it up. It’s intense, as the crowd wait for the music to drop and when it does, it comes crashing down with a bang. After speaking to Rusko I came to the conclusion that not only is he a brilliant DJ, but probably the nicest guy… ever! Today was his last set in England for a while. “It went really well. I’m so tired though! I had such a wicked last gig - the crowd were really feeling it.” I asked him how he felt about playing his last set at the Soundsystem. “It’s great that it was here. I’m moving to America because dub-step is getting so massive out there. But the carnival’s great because people like a mixture of different things.” But will he ever come back? “Of course! I love England. I love London.” With the knowledge that I officially have a crush on Rusko, I go back out to the party and watch DJ Wow cause a stir and then see Paul Devro take the stage again, this time with Maluka in tow.
Maluka is gorgeous. Wearing silver leggings and giant flower headpiece, she commands the stage with grace and has perfect control over her bellowing lyrics. The crowd respond to her by blowing whistles, the boys staring with open mouths. The New Yorker relaxes back stage with her equally attractive back up dancers. “What I like most about London, is that there are no specific sounds,” she tells me in her brilliant New York drawl. “There’s not just a hip-hop night or a dub-step night; it’s all mixed together. Music in London is really bass heavy. So put me in between Rusko and Elvis and I’m like “Oh my God!” Her modesty is very endearing. It’s almost as though she doesn’t realise what a good musician she is. “People in England are so musically forward. We take a lot from you guys in New York because you’re so musically ahead.” I’m sure we could say the same about you, Maluka!
It’s time for Diplo and Switch to take the stage. The atmosphere is tense, excitement rushing through everyone’s veins. I knew my friend Louise was desperate to see them so I assumed everyone else was too. Before he went on, I spoke to Switch. He’s wearing a very impressive black suit. I can’t help but think he must be boiling, but he obviously wants to dress to impress. “There is such an amazing vibe here,” he shouts over the music. “I can’t get on soon enough. We’re having a right party here. Just look!” He points to the stage where there are about twelve people dancing on it. “I love the carnival. I live in Ladbroke Grove so yeah, it’s always been with me.” He shuffles his feet. “I’m ready for it!” The set was amazing and everyone in the venue went crazy. I even noticed the bar men giving in to the music. They were definitely worth the wait, responding to the crowd and partying with them.
The day was amazing and people left either completely exhausted or ready for more. Either way, they still looked fabulous! It was a fantastic carnival Monday and I don’t know how it will be topped next year but I have a sneaking suspicion with will be brilliant!
