HDD and Friends Favourite Carnival Soundsystems

Here’s HDD’s list of the the best Carnival Soundsystems recommended by our favourite djs, producers and bloggers.
If you missed out on the Food and Carnival anthems post i would suggest you check those out as well as the map for Notting Hill Carnival. Once again a massive thank you to all who contributed to these posts, enjoy carnival.
Please note that this year (2011) Good Times and Rampage will not be at carnival.

Dan Bean (DJ/The Heatwave)

Friday night I go and watch Mangrove steel pan band warm up on All Saints Road. Saturday I get down to Panorama, the steel band competition. Sunday and Monday I like to spend the morning on the corner of Cornwall Crescent on Ladbroke Grove. It’s on the main Carnival route and I watch all the soca trucks passing. Usually in the afternoon I make my way over to King Tubby’s sound system on Westbourne Park Road, their one drop selection always seems to be on point. I definitely pop over to Nasty Love mixing lab on Powis square because they play the most up to date dancehall and it’s a good indication of what’s hot, nearby Lord Gelly’z and Volcano Sound also provide to that effect. Obviously wondering isn’t a luxury but sometimes the best moments are somewhere completely new, so do explore just AVOID RAMPAGE BY ALL MEANS

Gabriel Heatwave (DJ)

Lord Gelly’s at carnival, then Hot Wuk afterwards! The Hot Wuk afterparty is at East Village on Monday 29th August…

Schlachthofbronx (DJs/Producers)

for the sound: usually the truck with the void soundsystem. and of course checkin aba shanty and channel one…
for the music: we usually switch between the parade and the sounds. so wherever we like it we stay…

HDD DJs Kazabon & Hootie Who

Last year we really enjoyed nasty love mainly due to the fact that the djs were 10 years old, killing it with the latest dancehall. We usually wander about settling where the music grabs us. This year look out for Style & Swagger at Extra Stout Soundsystem at Mau Mau on portobello road on Monday.

As for afterparties you can check us out at visions video bar for the Informed London party on Sunday night.

Smutlee (DJ/Yo Yo)

If it’s not a Yoyo party , then I’ll just go to where there’s djs I want to check… This year I’m looking forward to seeing Black Chiney, Been on his mixtapes for years.

Rob Pursey (DJ/Southern Hospitality)

That one thats in the parallel road to Rampage – near the Tabernacle, thats my favourite every year.

Steakhouse Records

Channel one, Its a good place to escape from the general carnival madness and listen to a beautifully tuned system playing sweet music. Mainly though Carnival for me is about the road. I’ll happily spend all day following the trucks.

Mr Veeeeee (MC)

Yes Hdd wait…..! A what dat stan for? Ooooooooooh “Hattention, Devisit, Disorder” looool. Well look ere unnu better listen up. Di trute is dis……..Mr V nu like to been around too many people, carnival just get me bex! Di people dem stan pon mi SNEAKERS, block di sound from di SPEAKERS and spill di juice from dem BEAKERS! But if yu really waan fi know den Notting Hill is di place for di vibes and for di big batty gal dem! When im there I feel like Oliver Twist, I say to the ladies “Please miss can i have some more” yagga yagga yagga ya ya yaaaaaaah!

Famous Eno (DJ/Producer)

favourite carnival soundsystem is Digital Soundboy

Can You Felix (DJ/Heads High)

I’m a bit of a roamer at carnival so I guess the best area for me would be around Colville Gardens and Talbot Road for Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues, Oi You, Rampage and Pineapple Tribe soundsystems.

The Large (DJ/Shimmy Shimmy/Style & Swagger)

i like to do it old school and get my one foot skank on, so i’m well into the roots vibe: channel one, king tubby’s. but it’s also one of the only times i get to hear unadulterated soca, the ones on all saint’s rd are super soca, and disya generation is always good fun.

Lukey (DJ/Stooki/Superflexx)

Channel One Soundsystem – jah rastafariiii roots n culture da bbb-line jeheeeze / Got to big up Red Bull Soundystem Party as well they go all out and I had an amazing time last year, vibe was insane.

Calvin (Hi Def/ Superflexx)

Rampage

Wholesick (DJ/Producer)

Fav Soundsystem is a real tough one, but for me it’s got to be Channel One – always vibes!

Steve Shaw (DJ/Wavy/Wifey)

NASTY LUV

Unknown Soulja (DJ)

My favourite carnival system is Nasty Love on Colville Gardens; always seems to be the best for up to the time dancehall. Always end up at channel one for a bit as well tho.

Clubb Rock (DJs/Producers)

Too many to choose from, Lord Gelly’s, Good Times, Saxon and of course Rampage

Checan (DJ/Producer)

I’ve no real idea what’s on exactly this year although ”Secousse” last year was mighty good – Be cool if that’s on again this year.

Tropical Waste (NTS)

I always go to King Tubby’s soundsystem. They start the day with my favourite new school roots stuff then move through dancehall, bashment and funky. Really fun atmosphere and they play everything I’m into! Lloyd Ambassador sound just up the road from Tubby’s also blew me away last year. They had this haggard looking old rig, but rinsed it in a very large way. Loudest sound at carnival hands down, playing heavy, pounding dub. Very vital!

 Wrongtom (Producer/DJ)

For a long time it’s been Talbot Road – good mix of sounds, people and food. If you start at the Chepstow end and work your way in, you get rare groove with Fun Bunch, roots and dub with ear splitting hi-hats at Jah Observer, good old fashioned ska, rocksteady and rhythm n blues at Gaz’s, hiphop and bashment from Disya and Rampage. Sunday’s good for breaking off from big crowds and wandering round the whole place. If you head up towards Westbourne Park Tube, you can’t beat a bit of Sir Lloyd on Tavistock Rd and you’re spitting distance from Channel One.

When I was younger we’d go back to mate’s houses round the neighbourhood, my friend Jim’s mum used to lay on a spread of sandwiches, better than any fancy after party – big up Jim’s mum.